Bourbon & Beyond named '2024 Festival of the Year' by live music trade organization

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The International Entertainment Buyers Association named Bourbon & Beyond its 2024 Festival of the Year.

IEBA, which calls itself a trade organization for live musicians and music professionals, lauded the sixth installment of the Bourbon & Beyond music festival in Louisville, which drew 210,000 people over four days, a 75% increase over 2023. The award was announced Tuesday night at IEBA's annual conference in Nashville.

"The 2024 award winners represent the very best in live entertainment, showcasing an unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation," IEBA Executive Director Pam Matthews said in a news release Thursday. "Their remarkable achievements have set the standard for our industry, and we are honored to celebrate their contributions."

Festival organizers said the 60,000 people who attended Saturday marked the largest single day for a musical festival in Kentucky history.

Just a few of the artists who took the stage included Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox Twenty, Zach Bryan, The Beach Boys, Tyler Childers and hometown favorite My Morning Jacket.

"We are thrilled that Bourbon & Beyond is getting recognized by our peers in the live events industry as well as others nationally and internationally," Danny Hayes, CEO of Danny Wimmer Presents, organizers of the festival, said in a news release. "Since day one, our goal has been to create something that Kentuckians can proudly say represents this great state, along with our fans and partners. Louisville has an incredible hospitality industry. The teams at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville Tourism, the city, the state, along with local restaurants and hotels, all know how to create a home for a world-class event. This award belongs as much to them as it does to us."