Bourbon and Beyond is back yet again with another outstanding lineup after being forced to cancel the 2nd day in 2018, due to flooding and heavy rainfall. This rained also caused the whole Louder Than Life festival to be cancelled last year as well. But not to worry, the Danny Wimmer Presents team and the City of Louisville have came together and found an incredible place to have Bourbon and Beyond this year. The Bourbon and Beyond festival along with Louder Than Life and the brand spanking new festival “Hometown Rising” will be home to the Highland Festival Grounds in Louisville, KY. This new location will prevent the rain from stopping the great music and the heads moving! Last year’s Bourbon and Beyond festival was super thrilling even though it just went for one day. Acts like Larkin Poe, Swimming With Bears, Lenny Kravitz, John Mayer, Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, you can’t go wrong! I had such a good experience last year watching all these acts come together and showing Louisville what it was all about! The rain didn’t stop the crowd from rocking! Even though I thought for sure we were going to be washed away, it did not stop the crowd from enjoying the music whatsoever! When you have a heart for music, nothing gets in the way!
Unlike the last 2 years, this year’s Bourbon and Beyond is going to be 3 days of rocking music and Kentucky’s finest Bourbon. Bourbon and Beyond has multiple acts that will have fans grabbing tickets like hot cakes! To start, how about The Foo Fighters? This is their debut for Bourbon and Beyond. They are mostly playing overseas right now but will return to the states for Bourbon and Beyond and another music festival in Tennessee. The Foo Fighters always puts on an interesting show that will have you wanting more and more with each song! How about a musical icon in the rock world? His name is John Fogerty! John had a band back in the late 60’s, early 70’s called Creedence Clearwater Revival. Sound familiar? Songs like “Up Around the Bend”, “Down on The Corner”, “Fortunate Son” still leave their mark on rock radio and playlists all around the world! If you want to see a man get down on the stage like he is a fan in the crowd himself, then this is a show you need to watch! While I am talking about legends in rock n roll, no one can forget this lady! She’s a leather wearing, guitar shredding, does not give a crap what anyone says rocker! This lady’s name is Joan Jett! And her band, The Blackhearts. How awesome will this be? Joan Jett got her start in a band called The Runaways, an all-female rock band! Some of you may notice another familiar name that was in The Runaways, Lita Ford. Both Joan and Lita went on to be big hits in the rock world! Joan having songs like “I Hate Myself for Loving You”, “I Love Rock N Roll”, “Bad Reputation” she never lets down while performing! She is up in your face with a guitar and she makes sure you leave with your face melted and begging for more! Already, I have discussed 3 acts that tear the house down! Now let’s add Blackberry Smoke to that list! Blackberry Smoke hails from Atlanta, Georgia and man, do they know how to make you feel good! Their music is like a blend of McDonald’s sweet tea and a southern night of listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Talk about cracking open a cold one and wanting to lay back in the bed of a pickup truck. You’ll feel like you took the DeLorean from Back to The Future to watch a 70’s southern rock show. But it doesn’t stop there! Oh yes, there is more to come! Now if this next artist doesn’t grab your attention, nothing will. The artist I’m talking about is none other than Robert Plant! Yes, you read that right! Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters! The frontman of Led Zeppelin! Robert was supposed to be at last year’s Bourbon and Beyond, but his performance and the whole second day sadly got cancelled. Me personally, I am so glad the DWP team got him to come back! On a side note, Alison Krauss is also playing the same day as Robert which is day 2 this year. You might get to see both artists do a spectacular duet together! In 2007, they made an album together titled ‘Raising Sand.’ A big hit from that album being “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On).” Could this possibly be the song we hear them perform together? Whatever the song, it will be something you do not want to miss! Robert already sounds fantastic by himself, but with Allison by his side, you’ll think you passed on and went to musical heaven. One act I did not expect to see, but I think is very cool because I am a fan! Daryl Hall and John Oates will be making their debut to Bourbon and Beyond! You might recognize some hits such as “She’s Gone”, “Out of Touch”, “Sara Smile”, “Maneater” etc.… I’m sure the crowd is going to love it when they walk out on stage! The soul feeling will be real in Louisville when these 2 get on stage. Get ready to grab your partner and do some dancing! Fast and slow! They will have you grooving until the cows come home and then some. Now, for what I think might be the greatest act at Bourbon and Beyond and one band I have been dying to see is none other than ZZ Top! This is ZZ Top’s 50th anniversary. They formed in 1969 with Billy Gibbons on guitar, Dusty Hill on bass and Frank Beard behind the drums. 50 years later and the band still retains an all original lineup. Very rarely does that happen. This is for sure to be an outstanding performance and anyone who is a fan of ZZ Top, you better get out and see them while you can! Same with all these other artists! Lastly, there is Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. If you are a fan of Bruce Springsteen, you should know who Little Steven is’ also known by Steven Van Zandt who is Bruce Springsteen’s guitar and mandolin player. He has his own radio show called “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” which actually broadcasts on East Kentucky radio station, “WZQQ 97.9 FM.” You can tune in and catch it on the weekends! All this tremendous rock music is coming into your back yard! Rock N Roll will never die with your support for festivals like this! Without your support, none of these acts would even happen! These dream lineups would be just that, in your dreams if you don’t continue the support for rock n roll and for the artists that are making your next favorite album! Buy your tickets and let’s make this the best Bourbon and Beyond yet!
Other acts gracing the lineup : The Zac Brown Band, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The Flaming Lips, +Live+, Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real, Greensky Bluegrass, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pearl, Mipso, Amythyst Kiah, Trey Anastasio Band, Grace Potter, Squeeze, Jenny Lewis, Del McCoury Band, Samantha Fish, The White Buffalo, Maggie Rose, Patrick Droney, The Travelin’ McCourys, Fruition, Cedric Burnside, Ben Sollee, Leon Bridges, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Kurt Ville and The Violators, Margo Price, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, White Reaper, Whiskey Myers, Southern Avenue, Caroline Jones, Dustbowl Revival, The Lil Smokies, Front Country, The Record Company, Birds of Chicago, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, and more.
Make sure to pick up your tickets now here.
