LOUISVILLE, Ky (WDRB) -- JK McKnight is in charge of making sure thousands of music fans this weekend receive a sensory overload. "I always had a fascination with large gathering of people," says McKnight.
He's the organizer and self-proclaimed "Captain" if you will behind Forecastle, a 3-day experience of music, art, and activism. With less than 24 hours to go until the doors open, McKnight's having to contend with Mother Nature. "We've got a problem there is lightning coming in and we can't set up scaffolding with lightning," says McKnight to one of his workers.
He's definitely a hands-on multi-tasker, coordinating with vendors, artists, and road crews for the
"What's up man," he says into a cell phone. "Jump in the car with me and have your crew on call."
It's a pretty hectic pace this 29-year-old never imagined when he started this festival near the playground in Tyler Park. "It started pretty simply," says McKnight. "It started as a musician camaraderie in Louisville."
Simple indeed. It only cost him$ 500 and a few dozen people showed up. In it's 9th year, McKnight hopes for a record of 30-thousand fans. But it's not the only milestone he's achieving. Over 115 bands which is a record by 25," says McKnight.
5 stages will feature everything from rock, electronic, to local Kentucky musicians. McKnight just doesn't want this to be a feast for the ears, but also for the eyes with creations like a plastic bottle sustainable art instillation. "Afterwards, we'll cut the zip ties, unstring the bottles, and then the bottles get recycled. so the piece has a full life," says artist Leticia Bajuyo.
McKnight named this festival after a place on a ship where people met and gather. Pretty fitting for a guy who was born under the Aquarius sign. There's just one problem. No one can agree on how to pronounce it.
"Forecastle (Foke-sile) is the technical term. I don't call it that though. Forecastle is fine or if you're a real mariner you can call it Forecastle (Foke-sile). It's fine with me too."
No matter how you say it, definitely sounds like success.
"I always envisioned it in my head as going to a certain level. I always had an image of what that looked like. I think Saturday night, Friday night, I think we'll hit that," says McKnight.
