Bourbon & Beyond returns to the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center September 11-14 with some absolutely stellar headliners such as Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill Simpson, The Lumineers, and Jack White, among many others. In fact, the lineup may be a little too good because amongst all the major acts, there are tons of incredible bands/artists buried in the lineup. And since they go on before 7:00 p.m., which is when the crowds start rolling in for the headliners, they get skipped. So do yourself a favor and get there early to check these 10 acts out and show them some love!
(Lineup and set times subject to change)
And don’t miss our “Under-The-Radar Bands/Artists Not To Miss” Spotify playlist for Bourbon & Beyond (above), featuring a selected track from each band/artist on this list.
Bourbon RevivalThe Band Feel
Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.Revival Stage
With chops like Led Zeppelin, the swagger of The Rolling Stones, and the charm of Lynyrd Skynyrd, St. Louis rockers The Band Feel might just be the biggest hidden treasure at Bourbon & Beyond 2025. While the band packs a hell of a punch with their heavy, solid, early 70’s rock groove, they’re also not afraid to explore R&B, soul, blues, and psychedelic territory as well, and do so often. Although they’ve only been together as a band for two years and only have two EPs under their belt, they’ve already amassed over 70 million views and gained more than 400K followers across social platforms in the past year alone. This is a band on the rise, get in on the ground floor! Photo credit: Cameron AhlversNRBQ
Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 2:35 p.m. – 3:05 p.m.100 Proof Stage
My first thought at seeing NRBQ on the bill for Thursday was disbelieve that they were listed so far down in the lineup. This is a Louisville legacy band! It’s been 60 years now since sole remaining original member Terry Adams and his brother Donn began rehearsing in their Shively home to form what they dubbed the New Rhythm and Blues Quintet. They have gone on to release numerous albums, (including one with the late, great Carl Perkins), and can count the likes of Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, The Replacements, and John Sebastian as fans. This is a legendary band who deserved a better spot and longer set! Go support them!Kevin SmileyFriday, September 12, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.The Bluegrass Situation StageAt only 21 years of age, Okeechobee, FL-native Kevin Smiley might be one of the youngest performers at Bourbon & Beyond this year. But don’t let his age fool you, this is a man that writes, plays, and sings like a seasoned pro. While his music is firmly planted in country music’s roots, Smiley blends nuances of folk, pop, indie rock, hip hop, and R&B, allowing the listener to experience country music’s past while offering a glimpse into the genre’s future. Smiley is already making waves on a major level with his debut EP, Hurts Worse, which features his hit single “Paralyzed,” and a collaboration with rap superstar YoungBoy Never Broke Again on the song “Matador.” Kevin Smiley is further expanding expectations of what country music can accomplish as a genre. Photo credit: Matthew LinmanJett HoldenFriday, September 12, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.The Bluegrass Situation StageThis might come as a shock to some, but country music isn’t exactly known for being a bastion of open-mindedness. So imagine trying to make it as an artist in the country music scene when you’re an openly gay African-American male. Yeah, Jett Holden has faced more than a few major hurdles in his career! But after more than a decade of struggles in the music business, Holden is now standing in the spotlight he so richly deserves. Holden’s debut album, The Phoenix, produced by Will Hoge and released by Black Opry Records, mixes traditional country with folk, alt-rock, indie rock, and R&B, breathing new life into an often-forgotten genre. Here’s your chance to catch the future of country music for yourself! Photo credit: Kai LendzionMichael Cleveland and Jason CarterFriday, September 12, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.The Bluegrass Situation StageWhat happens when two legendary bluegrass fiddle players come together to create music? Magic! With 18 Fiddle Player of the Year Awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, 17 GRAMMY Award nominations, and four GRAMMY wins between them, Henryville, IN-native Michael Cleveland (of Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper) and Ashland, KY-native Jason Carter (of the Del McCoury Band, and the Travelin’ McCourys) are nothing short of Bluegrass royalty. Their 30+ years of friendship finally culminated in the collaboration of the full-length album Carter & Cleveland, released in March of this year. Across its eleven tracks there’s bluegrass, fiddle tune standards, rip roarin’ alt-country, and endlessly rich and lush double- and triple-stop harmonies, all backed by an extensive lineup of all-star special guests. And their set at Bourbon & Beyond will without a doubt be one of the highlights of the festival. Photo credit: Laci MackBrit TaylorSaturday, September 13, 2025 | 12:25 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.Barrel StageCountry and bluegrass singer/guitarist/songwriter and Hindman, KY native Brit Taylor has a pretty typical story. She began performing at age seven, grew up singing with the Kentucky Opry Junior Pros, moved to Nashville, signed a publishing contract, joined the country duo Triple Run, got married, started a small farm, had her band brake up, got divorced, lost her publishing deal, almost lost her home, met Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, co-wrote several songs with him that ended up on her debut record, started a cleaning business to fund her solo music career, sang on Broadway seven nights a week, created her own record label, got remarried, released a highly-acclaimed debut album, then followed it up by having Grammy-winners Sturgill Simpson and David R. Ferguson produce her second album. Certainly nothing out of the ordinary at all. Photo credit: David McClisterGooseberrySaturday, September 13, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.Revival StageIt’s easy to overlook Gooseberry listed amongst the early Saturday country and bluegrass performers, but this is not a band that you should be overlooking. Having only just formed in the Fall of 2019, the Brooklyn, NY-based trio have been making significant waves in the music scene with their distinctive blend of alternative, indie, grunge, prog-rock, and blues, earning millions of total streams and immense high praise along the way. They’ve released two EPs and several singles leading up to their debut album, All My Friends Are Cattle, in September 2024. From punchy punk rock to Beatles-y singer/songwriter tunes, Gooseberry is proving they can do it all, and will constantly keep you guessing about what’s next. Photo credit: Alex SK BrownWonder Women Of CountrySaturday, September 13, 2025 | 6:10 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.The Bluegrass Situation StageWhen Kelly Willis, Melissa Carper and Brennen Leigh – three accomplished singer-songwriters who have forged their own unique lanes in country music – joined forces as a power trio, there was no more appropriate moniker than Wonder Women of Country. With Leigh playing lead guitar and mandolin, Carper on upright bass, and Willis playing rhythm guitar, they support each other’s distinctive original material with beautiful three-part harmonies. Their debut EP is an amazing showcase of what each of these women bring to the table; whether its Willis’ flair contemporary country, Carper’s golden era country swing, or Leigh’s throwback Western style, there is something very special and distinctly original in their sound that is both modern and nostalgic. Wonder Women of Country are the superheroes we’ve all been waiting for. Photo credit: Lyza ReneeThe Baseball ProjectSunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:20 P.M. – 1:50 p.m.Barrel StageGiven their placement in the bottom half of Bourbon & Beyond’s lineup and their surprisingly low Spotify streaming numbers, it’s safe to assume that most people have no clue as to just who they may be missing at this year’s B&B. The Baseball Project is a supergroup made up of Peter Buck and Mike Mills (both original members of the legendary band R.E.M.), as well as Scott McCaughey (R.E.M., The Fresh Young Fellows, The Minus 5), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate) and Linda Pitmon (Psycher, Golden Smog, Filthy Friends). Not surprisingly, all members love America’s national pastime as much as music; writing songs about baseball legends, events and culture. They’ve been doing the band off and on since 2007 and have released four full-length albums in that time. Don’t miss your chance to catch these legendary musicians live! Photo credit: Marty PerezBourbon RevivalSunday, September 14, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.The Bluegrass Situation Stage“Plugged-in vibes. Unplugged sound. 100 proof. Bourbon Revival is Kentucky’s own bluegrass-rock cover band, blending the raw spirit of bluegrass with the energy of plugged-in rock,” reads the bio of 2025’s Bourbon & Beyond Battle of the Strings winning band. If you’re not already familiar with the quartet, you’re in for a treat! Sure, they can play Flatt & Scruggs, Bill Monroe, and Hank Williams Sr. as well as, if not better, than any bluegrass band. However, it’s their 70’s rock – 2010’s pop covers that have everyone talking. Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Radiohead, Journey, Cheap Trick to Michael Jackson, Tears For Fears, Walk The Moon, and even Miley Cyrus, Bourbon Revival gives them all a bluegrass makeover; somehow maintaining the integrity of the original song, while at the same time completely reinventing them. Don’t miss them! Trust me, you’ll thank me later!
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Jeff Polk is a contributing music writer for LEO Weekly. A Louisville native and grizzled old veteran of the local music scene since the early ‘90s, he has played drums in several bands that you’ve...
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