Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Poet Ron Whitehead and Denny Humphrey, founders of Gonzofest. Photo by Jinn

Ron Whitehead, co-founder of Gonzofest and lifetime beat poet laureate, has announced the 10th and final Gonzofest is set for July 14-15 at High Horse Bar from 2 p.m.- 4 a.m. Whitehead and his co-founder Dennie Humphrey agreed that this year’s festival will be their last hurrah saying “We’ve done our job!” 

Gonzofest will include two panel discussions, a screening of the film “Outlaw Poet,” which traces the work of Whitehead, and, according to Whitehead, “poets & bands & poets & bands & poets & bands.”

The lineup has yet to be announced but Whitehead and Humphrey promise to make this year’s festival “extra special in every way we can.”

Gonzofest is the prelude to Hunter S. Thompson birthday — revered author, journalist, Louisville native and festival honoree.

Paying Homage to Thompson’s legacy means showcasing Louisville talent in spoken word, art, live music and poetry. With previous performances from Hannah Drake, The Jesse Lees and Electric Garden, the co-founders thank all the performers and patrons for supporting Gonzofest all these years.

“We are grateful for all the amazing performers and the thousands of folks who have come out for all the amazing Gonzofests,” said Whitehead in an email.

Whitehead and Humphrey believe this festival’s final bow will be a sold-out event with only 400 tickets available.

More information and ticket sales coming soon. 

This article appears in February 1, 2023.

Do you have a news tip?

SEND A NEWS TIP

Subscribe to LEO Weekly Newsletters

Sign up. We hope you like us, but if you don't, you can unsubscribe by following the links in the email, or by dropping us a note at leo@leoweekly.com.

Signup

By clicking “subscribe” above, you consent to allow us to contact you via email, and store your information using our third-party Service Provider. To see more information about how your information is stored and privacy protected, visit our policies page.

Subscribe to LEO Weekly Newsletters

Sign up. We hope you like us, but if you don't, you can unsubscribe by following the links in the email, or by dropping us a note at leo@leoweekly.com.

To sign up now, enter your email address in the field below and click the Subscribe button.

By clicking “Subscribe” above, you consent to allow us to contact you via email, and store your information using our third-party Service Provider. To see more information about how your information is stored and privacy protected, visit our policies page.

Giselle Rhoden is a graduate student at Bellarmine University studying digital media. She has interned with CNN Digital, where she wrote for the National Race and Equality Team. She is originally from...