LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CelebrityAccess) Danny Wimmer Presents has announced the debut of the Hometown Rising , the first-ever country music and bourbon festival, set to take place at the Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 14-15.
On the books are Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Little Big Town with appearances by Dwight Yoakam, Brett YOung, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Frankie Ballard and more than 30 others playing on three stages including two side-by-side main stages.
“I am beyond thrilled to be playing the very first year of Hometown Rising, and to have the opportunity to be part of such a prestigious and eclectic lineup of modern country artists,” says performer Alice Wallace.
“Hometown Rising is a blend of the music and culture I grew up around, in a place I now consider a second home,” Danny Wimmer said. “While DWP is best known for our rock festivals, I was surrounded by country music growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, and I’m excited to be expanding our portfolio with a genre and a place that are both close to my heart. I can’t think of a better location to launch a country music festival than right here in bourbon country. Mayor Fischer and the Louisville community continue to be great partners as we take this next step in the marriage of great music, food and bourbon.”
Author Fred Minnick will be the festival’s official spirits curator (the festival takes place during Bourbon Heritage Month). The fest will be followed by two consecutive weekends of festivals including Bourbon & Beyond (Sept. 20-22) and Louder Than Life (Sept. 27-29). Founder Danny Wimmer and CEO Danny Hayes were recently named Kentucky Colonels by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. The Kentucky Colonels is an independent, nonprofit organization with the purpose of aiding and promoting the Commonwealth and its citizens.
Saturday, September 14: Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Dwight Yoakam, [artist TBA], Frankie Ballard, The Cadillac Three, Jimmie Allen, Lindsay Ell, The Steel Woods, Clare Dunn, Gabby Barrett, Kassi Ashton, J.D. Shelburne, Raelyn Nelson Band, Alice Wallace, Imaj
Sunday, September 15: Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Lauren Alaina, LoCash, Drake White and The Big Fire, The Wild Feathers, Mason Ramsey, Noah Guthrie, Everette, Lauren Jenkins, Jeffrey East, Hannah Ellis, Kendall Shaffer
Additional Bourbon, Food & Beverage Experiences available onsite include:
- Craft Beer Bar
- Jack Daniel’s No. 7 Sports Bar
- Tiki Barrel Bar presented by Jim Beam
- Boone County Distilling Back Porch
- Inside The Char House featuring Coopers’ Craft, Jack Daniel’s, Old Forester and Woodford Reserve
- Jailhouse BBQ Presented by Larceny Bourbon
- The Speakeasy
- Buffalo Club presented by Buffalo Trace
- Mash Stage bourbon and food demos
