Even with Forecastle's rise to be one the best music festivals in country, Louisville's unique ability to be in the middle of everything affords the opportunity to venture out to other music festivals as well. Many people in the Louisville area travel south for this specific reason. Some of those festivals announced their lineups this week.
Bonnaroo
A festival that needs little introduction is Bonnaroo. One of the best music festivals in the world, many Louisvillians takes the short-ish trek to "The Farm" for four days of (hopefully) sun.
June 11-14 in Manchester, Tennessee (3 hours and 30 minutes from Louisville). Tickets will go on sale Saturday, January 17 at 12 p.m.
The lineup, as always, boasts a very diverse crowd of some of the world's best music. Headliners include Billy Joel, Mumford & Sons, Deadmau5, and Kendrick Lamar. Other bands include My Morning Jacket (their seventh appearance at Bonnaroo), Houndmouth, Florence + the Machine, Alabama Shakes, Spoon, The War on Drugs, Gary Clark Jr., Dawes, Trampled By Turtles, Sturgill Simpson, Moon Taxi, and many more.
You can find the full lineup plus all other Bonnaroo information at bonnaroo.com.
ROMP Fest
If you are looking for something closer to home, you can stay in Kentucky by visiting ROMP Fest. ROMP Fest calls Owensboro home and hosts some of the best Americana and string music around.
June 24-27 in Owensboro, Kentucky (1 hour and 45 minutes from Louisville). Tickets are now on sale.
The lineup is led by John Prine and Punch Brothers with other great acts like Sam Bush Band, Leftover Salmon, The Lone Bellow, and Del McCoury & David Grisman.
Check out all ROMP info at rompfest.com
Hangout Festival
Gulf Shores, Alabama is already a premiere spring break destination for many Louisville families but did you know that it also hosts a huge music festival on the beach?
May 15-17 in Gulf Shores, Alabama (9 hours and 45 minutes from Louisville). Tickets are now on sale.
The lineup boats headliners in Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, and Beck but also follows that up with a solid mid-card including My Morning Jacket, Foster The People, Spoon, Umphrey's McGee, TV on the Radio, Dirty Heads, Future Islands, Galactic with Macy Gray, Father John Misty, St. Lucia and many more.
For all thing Hangout, their website is hangoutmusicfest.com.
Shaky Knees Festival
Shaky Knees Festival, the newest of all festivals mentioned, took no time at all in its second year to boast a terrific lineup.
May 8-10 in Atlanta, Georgia (6 hours and 30 minutes from Louisville). Tickets are now on sale.
The lineup is impressively headlined by The Strokes, The Avett Brothers, and Wilco follows by Pixies, Ryan Adams, Tame Impala, Old Crow Medicine Show, Neutral Milk Hotel, Flogging Molly, Dr. Dog and many more.
See all Shaky Knees information at shakykneesfestival.com
Stay tuned for lineups coming from Forecastle, Bunbury (Cincinnati), Lollapalooza (Chicago), LouFest (St. Louis), and Moontower (Lexington).
Photo courtesy of Bonnaroo.
