2016 Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY

Louisville Kentucky’s Forecastle Festival has been going strong since 2002. This fest has continued to grow over the years and has moved to larger venues, but has managed stay true to it’s roots as an event that fosters and promotes music, art, and environmental activism.

The Forecastle Foundation is the activism arm of the Forecastle Festival. The foundation is dedicated to protecting the world’s “natural awesome” through work with local and international conservation partners. In 2015, the foundation contributed over $75,000 to conservation projects in Kentucky, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Kentucky culture, including music, art, food, and beverages is featured throughout the festival. The venue’s Kentucky Landing features Kentucky craft brews, local foods, and local crafters and non-profit organizations. And since one of Kentucky’s best know products is Kentucky bourbon, the Forecastle Bourbon Lodge partners with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to provide samplings of local bourbons and food.

The festival takes place in Louisville’s Waterfront Park along the Ohio River.  There’s no camping on site for this festival, but there is a KOA campground nearby and there are primitive campsites for tent camping available in the Jefferson National Forest.  And, of course, there are lots of hotels in the Louisville area to choose from.

The line-up of performers for 2016 includes The Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes, Death Cab for Cutie, Ryan Adams, Walk the Moon, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Grouplove, Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr., Glass Animals, Big Gigantic, Ghostland Obervatory, The Arcs, Dr. Dog, Blackberry Smoke, Sylvan Esso, Moon Taxi, Danny Brown, Phosporescent, Shakey Graves, Washed Out, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Pokey Lafarge, Baaur, Femi Kuti & Positive Force, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Hudson Mohawke, Alunageorge, White Denim, Tourist, Heartless Bastards, Speedy Ortiz, Sarah Jorosz, Caveman, All Them Witches, Liz Vice, Anderson East, Wild Child, Banners, Nothing, Madisen Ward & Mama Bear, Steve Gunn, the Surfers, Alex G, Saintseneca, Los Colognes, Jazz Cartier, River Tiber, Seratones, Black Pistol Fire, Joan Shelley, 1200, Future Theives, and Myzica.

The “Forecastle” name, by the way, comes from the name for the superstructure on a ship where the crew is housed and gathers after a long day’s work.

The 2016 Forecastle Festival takes place July 15 – 17. Visit the official event website for details and ticket information.