Bourbon & Beyond, Hometown Rising: Danny Wimmer Presents Brings Major September Festivals To Louisville

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Two bourbon-themed events have been announced for Louisville, Ky., with Bourbon & Beyond bringing major rock and roots artists and Hometown Rising bringing top country music talent to the new Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center over separate weekends in September, produced by major indie festival promoter Danny Wimmer Presents.

Bourbon & Beyond returns to Louisville Sep. 20-22, with a stacked lineup topped by Foo Fighters, Robert Plant, and the Zac Brown Band.

Other musical artists, to go along with the bourbon and culinary-related attractions, include John Fogerty, Daryl Hall & John Oates, ZZ Top, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Trey Anastasio Band, Leon Bridges, The Flaming Lips, Alison Krauss, Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes, Grace Potter, Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, among many others. More than 45 artists will play on three stages, including the side-by-side Oak and Barrel main stages and a bluegrass stage that will be curated by the genre’s leading authority, The Bluegrass Situation. 

“If you could capture America in a bottle, it would be a bottle of bourbon. It’s a uniquely American creation, like jazz and baseball, and its beating heart is in Louisville,” Danny Wimmer said in a statement. “This connection to the past has transformed Louisville into a city of the future. One of the most vibrant and diverse food scenes in the country has grown around bourbon’s resurgence, and we tried to mirror that spirit with the great music lineup that we put together. I can’t wait for people to visit this city in September and experience something that goes far beyond their preconception of what Louisville is.” 

Held during Bourbon Heritage Month, Bourbon & Beyond also celebrates the craftsmanship behind award-winning spirits, master distillers and world-class chefs. Bourbon author, Amazon Prime host (Bourbon Up) and expert Fred Minnick has curated one-of-a-kind tastings and seminars celebrating Louisville’s world-renowned distilleries, while culinary curators Edward Lee (The Mind of A Chef) and Anthony Lamas (Seviche) will team up to arrange special food experiences to be announced soon. 

The Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center will be home to all of DWP’s Louisville festivals, including the first- ever Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival (Sept. 14-15) and Louder Than Life (Sept. 27-29). Fans interested in attending all three weekends can purchase a special Trifesta Pass, which allows General Admission weekend access for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees. 

The “first ever country and bourbon festival,” Hometown Rising’s music lineup is led by country heavyweights including Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan and Keith Urban with others including from Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Frankie Ballard, and many more. More than 30 artists will play on three stages, including two side-by-side main stages, over the Sept. 14-15 weekend. 

Hometown Rising combines two of Louisville’s cultural cornerstones—great music and incredible bourbon—and is the newest addition to the Louisville fall festival series from Danny Wimmer Presents.

The Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Ky.

The announcements state that DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already sizable portfolio, which currently includes Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air, Epicenter Festival,Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville. Previous DWP festivals include Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion and more.

DWP and former partner AEG Presents, who worked together on the “World’s Loudest Month” events, had a falling out last year and now the promoters have competing festivals in several markets. AEG Filed suit over the dispute, accusing DWP of walking away from previous agreements without compensation and announcing competing events.