A year after being canceled due to severe weather causing “unsafe conditions” at the festival grounds, Louder Than Life, the “World’s Largest Rock ‘N’ Roll Whiskey Festival,” will return to Louisville, Kentucky, with a loaded lineup featuring Guns N’ Roses, Slipknot, Disturbed, a reunited Staind (in its first public performance in five years), Godsmack, Rob Zombie, A Day to Remember, Ice Cube, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Halestorm and many more.
Produced by premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, Louder Than Life will be held Sept. 27 to 29 at its new home, the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Expo Center.
Louder Than Life will feature more than 50 music acts, with performances on three stages, along with award-winning bourbons, whiskey, spirits, craft beer and the best food Louisville has to offer. Festival attendees also can enjoy a variety of on-site food and beverage experiences, as well as sponsor activations that celebrate the bourbon culture and culinary heritage of Louisville.
“Slipknot has always had some of the most loyal, rabid fans in rock, but now they are at that pivotal moment when they’ve crossed over into iconic status; Disturbed has had their best touring numbers to date this year; then top it off with one of the biggest rock bands of all time in Guns N’ Roses …this year is our most massive lineup yet,” Wimmer said.
VIP packages, general admission tickets, camping and hotel packages are on sale now. Visit www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com for details.
Fans interested in attending all three DWP weekends at Kentucky Expo Center— also including Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival (Sept. 14 and 15) and Bourbon & Beyond (Sept. 20 to 22)—can purchase a special Trifesta Pass, which allows general admission weekend access for the discounted rate of $229 plus fees. Visit https://trifestapass.com for more information.
Danny Wimmer Presents also announced collaboration with Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey and Enter Night Pilsner. Blackened, a super-premium American whiskey blend crafted by the late master distiller Dave Pickerell and finished in the earth shattering music of Metallica, and Enter Night Pilsner, a collaboration with the rockstars of craft brewing Stone Brewing Company, will come together under one roof to offer guests a one-of-kind musical festival experience. The massive BoilerMaker pop-up will feature a Blackened & Enter Night Boilermaker, as well as craft cocktails and ice-cold Enter Night Pilsner. This collaboration marks the latest in a long line of amplified guest experiences only available through Danny Wimmer Presents music festivals.
The festival’s centerpiece, Kroger’s Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen hand-selected bourbons from top distilleries, and a unique opportunity to enjoy bourbons and exclusive one-time specialty cocktails from 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon, Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon, Kentucky Peerless, Michter’s, Old Forester, Rebel Yell, StoneHammer,Wild Turkey and more to be announced.
Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar—hosted by the Louder Than Life bourbon curator, bourbon author/expert and Amazon Prime host (Bourbon Up)—will showcase craft selections from Louisville’s world-renowned distilleries. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar the Silver Dollar will operate the Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles.
The initial list of participating bourbon brands at Louder Than Life includes 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon,Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams,Four Roses, Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon, Jim Beam, Kentucky Peerless,Larceny, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Old Forester, Rebel Yell,StoneHammer, Wild Turkey, Willett and Woodford Reserve.
In addition, attendees can enjoy a variety of local and regional food and beverage offerings provided by DWP’s affiliate concessionaire, Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC. Festival attendees will be able to experience a taste of Louisville with selections from the following restaurants: Boss Hog BBQ, Couvillion, Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar, Ehrler’s Ice Cream, Eli’s BBQ, Heine Brothers Coffee, Hull And Highwater, Joella’s Hot Chicken, Martin’s BBQ, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, River Road BBQ, Sarino, Seviche and more.
Camping spaces for cars, tents and RVs start at $145 and include four nights in the Louder Than Life campgrounds. Camping passes also allow patrons re-entry privileges to and from the festival site all weekend long.
Mint Experience VIP tickets include access to VIP Hang—an exclusive hang area with dedicated bars, comfortable furniture and live audio/video streams of the Monster Energy Barrel Stage and Oak Stage, plus front-of-stage viewing of the Oak Stage—as well as a dedicated merchandise stand, premium dedicated food offerings, air-conditioned and flushable restrooms, dedicated entrance lanes into the festival and a commemorative laminate and wristband.
Louder Than Life sponsors include Kentucky Tourism, Louisville Tourism, Monster Energy, Jack Daniel’s, Kroger, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Southern Comfort, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, f.y.e., The Music Experience, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, Against the Grain and Zyn.
The Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center are at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Festival doors open at 11 a.m. daily.Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. Additional DWP events include Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air, Epicenter Festival, Hometown Rising, Rock Allegiance, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville.