Bourbon & Beyond returns bigger than before
Bourbon & Beyond began in 2017. In 2019, after a move from the flood-prone Champions Park to its current location (the Highlands Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center), the festival drew more than 91,000 people and earned the title “The World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival.” After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, Bourbon & Beyond is back…in a big way. Organizers have announced that this year’s crowd hit the 140,000 mark.
Memorable music performances included a rousing set by fan favorites Pearl Jam on Saturday in their only U.S. festival appearance this year. It was their first time back in Louisville since 1994. The quartet played a number of hits from their classic debut album Ten and ended with a cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Earlier in the day, singer Eddie Vedder made a surprise appearance during a set from Crowded House’s Neil Finn and son Liam Finn.
Sunday’s headliner and Kentucky native Chris Stapleton delivered a stacked set that merged country, southern rock and blues and showed why he’s been named the Academy of Country Music’s first-ever Artist-Songwriter of the Decade. In addition to his mega hits like “Parachute,” Stapleton also brought out guitarist Mike Campbell for a few songs. Campbell – known as a member of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – had a set earlier in the day with his band and later joined Stapleton for the song “Arkansas” that he wrote with Stapleton.
Thursday night closed with a knock-out set from Jack White who covered parts of his entire catalog with solo works as well as numbers from The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather.
Friday night featured headliner Kings Of Leon fresh off a summer tour of Europe and their first show in Louisville since 2017.
Other memorable performances included The Doobie Brothers 50th anniversary celebration featuring Michael McDonald, Brandi Carlile, Alanis Morissette, Greta Van Fleet, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, St. Vincent, NEEDTOBREATHE, Caamp, Japanese Breakfast, Cold War Kids, Marcus King and many more. In total, 80 artists played on four stages throughout the weekend.
The festival also featured more numerous culinary and bourbon workshops and a seemingly endless variety of bourbons and whiskeys on hand for tastings and purchase.
Bourbon & Beyond will return September 14-17, 2023!
