For music festivals, during the summer months there is something going on most every week. From Waterfront Wednesday’s (sponsored by WFPK) to nationally recognized festivals, Louisville, Kentucky, is a music city. It doesn’t matter what genre, there is something for everyone and being a city on the edge of the south, it can even involve great food.
A local favorite on the music festivals circuit and one that is now getting national attention is Forecastle. Held in July at Waterfront Park, it draws a wide variety of music lovers. A weekend pass will give you access to several different stages arranged around the 85-acre park. There is a VIP pass that offers an air conditioned lounge and exclusive bathrooms. A Bourbon Lodge Membership is available for an additional fee, which in the past has included meet and greets with bands and a special mug that serves as your ticket into the lodge. Some of the more memorable musicians to attend Forecastle include: My Morning Jacket, Sam Smith, The Black Keys, Outkast, and Jack White. This music festival takes place in the middle of the hot and humid season, which makes the VIP pass worth the investment.
Waterfront Park has become one of the most popular music venues in the area, it is also host to WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday, the last Wednesday of the month from April to September. This past season opened with Shakey Graves, JD McPherson, and Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers. This event is a great way to close out the month with a happy hour type of atmosphere. Bring a lawn chair or walk the pedestrian bridge for a different vantage point during these concerts.
Louder than Life was a new festival to the Louisville music scene this past year and one of the best kept secrets, unless you are a fan of hard rock. Billed as a music, whiskey, and gourmet man food festival, this weekend event takes place in October when temperatures and humidity is lower. This past year the lineup was quite impressive for the genre with headliners Rob Zombie, ZZ Top, Godsmack and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In addition to music, this festival featured food from celebrity chefs, mini golf, WWE wrestler autograph sessions, and live matches.
In addition to these larger events, Louisville also offers the Kentucky Reggae Festival at Water Tower Park, Memorial Day Weekend, Big Rock Jazz & Blues Fest in Cherokee Park, and the Kentucky Bluegrass & Bourbon Experience also at Water Tower Park in September.
All of these events are outdoors and subject to change based on our unique weather patterns in the Ohio Valley. Every day there are indoor options for concerts and music at the KFC Yum! Center, Mercury Ballroom, Headliners Music Hall, and other smaller, intimate pub-like venues. Louisville’s music scene benefits from being so close to Nashville, St. Louis, and Chicago, offering a rich and varied music history.
Image Source: Flickr/Garden State Hiker
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