For its size, Louisville and the surrounding area deliver a decent number of music festivals each year. Local and national producers and production companies are investing their dollars in music festivals of various genres to bring out hoards of music lovers from those in crop tops with bejeweled belly buttons to those with dad bods hauling wagons full of toddlers. From spring to fall, if youre looking to get outside more and enjoy listening and supporting a creative music scene, heres a list to get you started.
Forest Fest
Saturday, May 18 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Jefferson Memorial Forest 12304 Holsclaw Road, Fairdale, Kentucky Began in 2005 Genre: Traditional and progressive styles of bluegrass and Americana from local and national artists
2019 Artists: Michael Cleveland, Becky Buller, Amythyst Kiah, Relic, Grizzly Goat, Ida Clare
More Info: Search Facebook
Abbey Road on The River
Thursday, May 23-27 Times vary Big Four Station Park, Jeffersonville, Indiana Began in 2005 Genre: Music honoring the spirit of The Beatles from national artists
2019 Artists: Peter & Jeremy, The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, The Cowsills More Info: arotr.com
Kentucky Reggae Festival
Saturday, May 25-26 2 p.m.-11 p.m. Louisville Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road Began in 2003 Genre: Reggae/Caribbean national bands
2019 Artists: PMA, Universal Xpression, King Jazzy, Roots Vibration, New Kingston, The Quasi Kings, The Ark Band, The Cliftones, Mighty Mystic and the Hard Roots Movement, DJ Mixa
More Info: kentuckyreggaefestival.com
Kentuckiana Pride Festival
Friday, June 14-15 Times vary Big Four Lawn, Waterfront Park Began in 2000 Genre: National/local singer-songwriter/rap/punk/ and various others in support of LGBTA+
2019 Artists: Daya, First Ladies of Disco, Mykki Blanco, Cakes Da Killa, Dusty Ray Bottoms, Brody Ray, Myylo, Cover Me Badd, Bridge 19, GRLwood, Jess Lamb, Sheri Streeter, Marjorie Lee, Siri Imani (of Triiibe), Lung, Delafaye more
More Info: kypride.com/festival/
Blues Brews & BBQ Fest
Friday, June 21-22 5 p.m.-11pm, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Louisville Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road Began in 1998 Genre: New Orleans and Memphis style blues
2019 Artists: The Saints, Big Poppa Stampley, Toronzo Cannon and The Chicago Way, The Revelators, King Bee and The Stingers, Laurie Jane and The 45s and more
More Info: louisvillebluesandbbqfestival.com
Poorcastle Festival
Friday, July 5-7 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Breslin Park, 1388 Lexington Road Began in 2012 Genre: Highlighting local music from rock/hip-hop/indie/funk and various others 2019 Artists: Jaxon Lee Swain, Peter Wesley, Twenty First Century Fox, Phourist & The Photons, ATOMO, The Cut Family Foundation, Lung, Typhoid Beach, Comforter, Barrel & Biscuit and more
More Info: poorcastle.com
Forecastle Festival
Friday, July 12-14 Times vary Waterfront Park, 401 River Road Began in 2002 Genre: Current national/regional headlining artists plus local artists and local DJ cove
2019 Artists: The Killers, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, The Avett Brothers, Portugal. The Man, Maggie Rogers, Tyler Childers, Judah & The Lion, Nelly, Chvrches, Moon Taxi, First Aid Kit, Dawes, Lettuce, Lucius and more
More Info: forecastlefest.com
GonzoFest
Saturday, July 20 Noon-8 p.m. Louisville Free Public Library, 301 York St. Began in 2010 Genre: A literary and music festival honoring the legacy of Louisville born writer Hunter S. Thompson featuring local bands/artists
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: gonzofestlouisville.com
Grateville Dead Fest
Friday, July 26-28 Times vary Brown-Forman Amphitheater, 1301 River Road Began in 2015 Genre: A celebration of the Grateful Dead featuring a plethora of psych-rock from local bands
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: grateville.com
Derby City Jazz Festival
Saturday, Aug. 10-11 4 p.m.-11 p.m.; 12:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Iroquois Amphitheater, 1080 Amphitheater Road Began in 2015 Genre: National/regional/local artists of smooth jazz
2019 Artists: Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows, Joey Sommerville, Regan Whiteside, Cal Harris Jr., Lindsay Webster, Adam Hawley, Lin Roundtree, Sheryl Rouse, Rahsaan Patterson and more
More Info: derbycityjazzfest.com
Seven Sense Festival
Friday, Aug.16-17 Times vary Headliners and Distillery Commons Began in 2013 Genre: Predominately rock from local and regional artists
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: sevensensefest.com
WorldFest
Friday, Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 Times vary Entrance at Fifth and Main streets Began in 2002 Genre: World music from national/local bands
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: louisvilleky.gov/government/city-events/worldfest/
Rock the Water Tower
Sunday, Sept. 1 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Louisville Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road Began in 1983 Genre: Local/regional rock cover bands
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: rockthewatertower.com
PeteFest
Friday, Sept. 6-8 Times vary 8401 Dawson Hill Road (Camping options) Began in 2016 Genre: Predominately local plus national rock/folk/psych bands to raise funds and awareness for mental health advocacy
2019 Artists: Rebirth Brass Band, Joan Shelley, Vessel, GRLwood, Bendigo Fletcher, The Local Honeys, Zach Longoria Project and more
More Info: petefest.com
National Jug Band Jubilee
Saturday, Sept.14 Noon-11pm Brown-Forman Amphitheater, 1301 River Road Began in 2004 Genre: Local/regional/national jug bands
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: jugbandjubilee.com
Hometown Rising
Saturday, Sept. 14-15 Times vary Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center, 937 Philips Lane (camping options) Began in 2019 Genre: National country music artists
2019 Artists: Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam, Trace Adkins, Brett Young, Bret Michaels and more
More Info: hometownrising.com
Bourbon & Beyond
Friday, Sept. 20-22 Times vary Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center, 937 Philips Lane, Louisville (camping options) Began in 2017 Genre: National rock bands plus bourbon experiences
2019 Artists: Foo Fighters, Robert Plant, Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, Daryl Hall & John Oates, John Fogerty, The Flaming Lips, Grace Potter, Squeeze, Leon Bridges and more
More Info: bourbonandbeyond.com
Louder Than Life
Friday, Sept. 27-29 Times vary Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center, 937 Philips Lane, Louisville (camping options) Began in 2014 Genre: National metal and rock bands
2019 Artists: Guns N Roses, Slipknot, Staind, Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Ice Cube, Marilyn Manson, Die Antwoord, Dropkick Murphys, Stone Temple Pilots and more
More Info: louderthanlifefestival.com
NuLu Fest
Saturday, Sept. 28 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 700 Block E. Market St. Began in 2009 Genre: Local bands/artists featured from local record label SonaBLAST! Records
2019 Artists: TBA More Info: nulubusinessassocation.wildapricot.org
Garvin Gate Blues Fest
Friday, Oct. 11-12 Times vary 500 W. Oak St., Louisville Began in 1994 Genre: National/local blues bands
2019 Artists: TBA
More Info: garvingatebluesfestival.com
This article appears in May 15, 2019.