Premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents continues to show its love for Louisville with a third addition to a massive fall festival series in the one-of-a-kind city.Hometown Rising, the first-ever Country Music & Bourbon Festival, will make its debut Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center, combining two of Louisville’s cultural cornerstones—great music and incredible bourbon.
Hometown Rising’s incredible music lineup will be led by country heavyweights including Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Little Big Town with additional appearances fromDwight Yoakam, Brett Young, Jake Owen, Bret Michaels, Frankie Ballard, and many more. In total, more than 30 artists will play on three stages, including two side-by-side main stages, over the course of the weekend.
Hometown Rising exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets go on sale Friday, February 15 at 12:00 PM EDT.Visit www.HometownRising.com for more details.
With three back-to-back festival weekends in Louisville in 2019, Danny Wimmer Presents wants to ensure all fans have the chance to enjoy multiple events with an affordable and convenient ticketing option. New this year, fans can purchase a special “Trifesta” Pass for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees. The pass allows General Admission weekend access to all three DWP fall festivals in Louisville—Hometown Rising (September 14 & 15), Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22) and Louder Than Life (September 27-29). Check out https://trifestapass.com for more information.
“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.
Adds festival producer Danny Wimmer, “Hometown Rising is a blend of the music and culture I grew up around, in a place I now consider a second home. 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.”
Bourbon authority and best-selling author Fred Minnick is the festival’s official spirits curator and has helped assemble incredible onsite experiences, including bourbon tastings and workshops for fans 21+ during Bourbon Heritage Month. The centerpiece, the legendary Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen hand-selected bourbons from top distilleries, and a unique opportunity to enjoy bourbons and exclusive one-time specialty cocktails. Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar presented by The Bourbon Women Association will showcase craft selections. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles. The initial list of participating bourbon brands at Hometown Rising includes Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon, Boone County, Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Larceny, Maker’s Mark, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Bourbon and Kentucky Peerless, with many more to be announced.
Hometown Rising will be followed by two consecutive weekends of festivals including Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22) and Louder Than Life (September 27-29). The creation and success of these events recently garnered Danny Wimmer Presents the Greater Louisville Inc. 2018 Silver Fleur-De-Lis Award, recognizing DWP for its outstanding commitment and achievement in making the Louisville community a better place in which to live and work. In addition, further strengthening DWP’s commitment to the community, 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.
The current music lineup for Hometown Rising is as follows (subject to change):
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
Festival doors open at 11:00 AM daily.
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
In addition to performances from top music artists, and various onsite attractions, attendees can enjoy a variety of local and regional food and beverage offerings provided by DWP’s affiliate concessionaire, Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC. Festival attendees will be able to experience a taste of Louisville with selections from the following local and regional restaurants:Boss Hog BBQ, Couvillion, Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar, Eli’s BBQ, Heine Brothers Coffee, Hull And Highwater, Joella’s Hot Chicken, Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, Seviche, and more.
Initial ticket prices for Hometown Rising will be as follows:
● 2-Day Weekend General Admission: starting at $99.50 + fees
● 2-Day Weekend VIP: starting at $399.50 + fees
● 2-Day Top Shelf Weekend VIP: $999.50 + fees
● Single Day General Admission: starting at $69.50 + fees
● Single Day VIP: starting at $229.50 + fees
VIP tickets include entry to a VIP hang area featuring a shaded space with dedicated bars, comfortable furniture, and live audio/video streams of the both main stages, front-of-stage viewing of the main stages, dedicated merchandise stand, premium, dedicated food offerings (for purchase), air-conditioned and flushable restrooms, dedicated entrance lanes into the festival and a commemorative laminate and RFID wristband.
Top Shelf VIP tickets include access to all VIP experience amenities PLUS a shaded viewing deck, front-of-stage viewing area of main/closing stage, air-conditioned lounge/tent with live audio/video streams of both main stages, all-inclusive premium drinks at two private bars within the hang area, complimentary hors d’oeuvres during lunch and dinner hours, dedicated air-conditioned and flushable restrooms, massage station, complimentary lockers with cell-phone chargers, complimentary Wi-Fi access, Top Shelf VIP concierge staff and commemorative Top Shelf VIP laminate and RFID wristband.
Hometown Rising sponsors include:
Kentucky Department of Tourism, Louisville Tourism, Fxck Cancer x Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program, Jack Daniel’s, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Music Experience, Zyn, Take Me Home, and more.
The Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hometown Rising is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination rock music festivals in America. DWP events include Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air, Epicenter Festival, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville.
For more information on Hometown Rising, please visit:
Website: HometownRising.com
Facebook: @HometownRising
Instagram: @HometownRising
Twitter: @HometownRising
Hashtag: #HometownRising
We believe in quality before quantity. Please drink responsibly.
About Danny Wimmer Presents: Since 1993, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he formed Danny Wimmer Presents, which now produces several of the largest rock and alternative festivals in the U.S. By combining A-list talent with local cuisine and culture, DWP has become recognized within the industry for delivering the highest-quality entertainment experiences to fans, artists, sponsors, partners and host cities. DWP creates memorable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both consumers and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already stellar portfolio, which currently includes Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air, Epicenter Festival, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville. Previous DWP festivals include Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion and more.
Ashton-Magnuson Media