LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- For the second weekend in a row, music fans will pack the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center to see some of the top acts in the world.
Featuring more than 100 groups set to perform from Sept. 21-24, Louder Than Life producer Danny Wimmer Presents calls it "America's Biggest Rock Festival."
Headliners include Foo Fighters, Weezer and Green Day. Setup continued Wednesday for the festival that's expected to attract more than 160,000 people. While "loud mouths" who attended last year's festival may notice a few changes, one thing will be the same: rock and roll on blast.
"We have over 100 bands on five stages so, yeah, there is going to be something for everyone," Chamie McCurry with Danny Wimmer Presents said. "We do make changes to the infrastructure throughout with our experiences."
Pictured: this image dated Sept. 20, 2023, shows the main Louder Than Life stage as crews make final preparations for the 4-day festival that kicks off Sept. 21 at the Kentucky Expo Center. (WDRB/Joel Schipper)
Fans are coming from all over the world to be part of it. McCurry gave WDRB an exclusive tour of the Highland Festival Grounds on Wednesday.
Merch stations were already going up Wednesday for performers like Green Day, Tool, Foo Fighters and Limp Bizkit.
Pictured: this image dated Sept. 20, 2023, shows one of the Louder Than Life merch tents as crews make final preparations for the 4-day festival that kicks off Sept. 21 at the Kentucky Expo Center. (WDRB/Joel Schipper)
In total, more than 2,000 people will be working behind the scenes, many of them local. Their tasks will include everything from hanging banners to setting up the rigging to staffing vendor areas and fan experiences.
McCurry said some staff must be "able to anticipate the moves and what needs to happen, before they happen, in order to make sure set times stay on time, the bands are loaded in properly, that they are safe to perform."
Pictured: this image dated Sept. 20, 2023, shows crews making final preparations for the 4-day Louder Than Life festival that kicks off Sept. 21 at the Kentucky Expo Center. (WDRB/Joel Schipper)
Also Wednesday, two new stages were being set up. A total of five stages will now surround the property, set up in a way where the sound from one group won't distract other artists who are performing at the same time.
The more elaborate sets for headlining acts are set up first, even though the performance might not be for a couple days.
And McCurry reminded festival-goers that they don't have to keep their eyes glued to the stage.
"We will have the performances on the screen, so people can relax and get out of the sun for a little bit," McCurry said.
The VIP area will be the place to be for invited guests and those with top-shelf passes.
Pictured: this image dated Sept. 20, 2023, shows one of the Louder Than Life VIP tents as crews make final preparations for the 4-day festival that kicks off Sept. 21 at the Kentucky Expo Center. (WDRB/Joel Schipper)
While much of the work is happening at ground level, the festival is also working closely with its neighbor, the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, to close the airspace above the festival grounds for a couple hours each night to allow for the festival's drones and pyrotechnics.
The final countdown is ticking down, but organizers have been working "year-round — ungodly hours — in the planning and prep because of the fans."
In fact, acts are already being lined up for next year's festivals: tickets for next year's Bourbon & Beyond go on sale Friday (Sept. 22), with Louder than life 2024 going on sale next Friday (Sept. 29).
Line-ups will be announced in the upcoming months, and fans will be ready for what McCurry said will be "a magical experience, something that they will remember forever. That is why we all get up in the morning, and that is why we do what we do."
A limited number of daily and weekend passes are still available, but camping passes are already sold out.
IMAGES | Fans come ready to rock at Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville
The four day festival draws people from all walks of life -- some in costumes.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
WDRB's Scott Reynolds interviewing Slipknot singer Corey Taylor at Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. while photojournalist Emily Evans rolls video. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. brought out music fans in all types of colorful outfits. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
WDRB's Scott Reynolds with Slipknot singer Corey Taylor at Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
WDRB photojournalist Emily Evans with Slipknot singer Corey Taylor at Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
WDRB photojournalist Emily Evans and intern Delany Brister with Slipknot singer Corey Taylor at Louder Than Life 2022 in Louisville, Ky. (WDRB Image) Sept. 23, 2022.
Weekend general admission passes start at $279.99, not including fees. VIP weekend passes start at $669.99, not including fees. Single-day passes and other weekend options will be available starting at 12 p.m. Wednesday.
For more information and to purchase passes, click here.
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- List of road closures, TARC info for Bourbon & Beyond, Louder Than Life
- Louder Than Life's 2023 festival in Louisville headlined by Foo Fighters, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold
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