LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville Metro councilwoman will host a community meeting this week to elicit feedback on the new setup for Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
The massive music festivals, held on back-to-back weekends in September, recently announced changes to their layout, taking advantage of a larger location at the fairgrounds.
"The good news is these changes are designed to help reduce noise impacts and improve overall neighborhood quality," Metro Councilwoman Besty Ruhe, D-21, said in a news release Monday. "This meeting is an opportunity for nearby neighbors to view the updated plans, ask questions, and share input with the event producers and my office."
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 in the Russell Shelby Room of the Crowne Plaza hotel on Phillips lane. Everyone in attendance will be entered into a raffle for two sets of weekend passes to the festivals.
"I’m grateful to the Danny Wimmer Presents team for proactively working with us to make this opportunity possible," Ruhe said. "Please join us on Wednesday to learn more and be part of the conversation."
(Map courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents)
Danny Wimmer Presents, the promoter of both festivals, released a new map and video renderings of the sites earlier this month. In short, the festival site will move from just west of Interstate 65 to the open parking lots just south and west of Freedom Hall.
Another big change is all festival passes will now include free access to 18 rides at Kentucky Kingdom, including the Ferris wheel, Skycatcher, Lightning Run and more. The rides will be open from 2-9 p.m., with the Ferris wheel open until 10 p.m.
Merchandise will now be sold inside the Expo Center, featuring lines to purchase gear, concessions, sponsor activations and lounge seating. Danny Wimmer Presents said in a news release Wednesday the new festival grounds will offer more shade, restrooms and room for fans to move around.
The festival site's move surely comes in part because one day of Louder Than Life was canceled in 2024 as the remnants of Hurricane Helen moved through Louisville. This new area for music fans has little grass and will drain better than the previous area. However, Danny Wimmer Presents said several turf zones will be laid down around the main stages and general admission areas so the entire space isn't just concrete.
The Bourbon & Beyond lineup this year includes Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill Simpson, the Lumineers and Jack White. The Louder Than Life lineup includes Slayer, Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones and Bring Me the Horizon.
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