Bourbon & Beyond, The World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival, is returning to Louisville, Kentucky for its 7th year, and producers Danny Wimmer Presents have announced the exciting roster of culinary and spirits talent who will curate elevated food and beverage pairings on-site alongside the stacked music lineup slated for 2025.

The event takes place September 11-14 at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, and will include multi-sensory opportunities and programming showcasing the country’s best chefs and rich bourbon culture.

The 4-day destination event has expanded to a total of five music stages and over 120 music artists, plus the festival’s culinary and bourbon experiences, following Bourbon & Beyond’s record breaking year in 2024 and winning Pollstar’s Global 2025 Festival of the Year.

Leading the Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage culinary demonstrations at Bourbon & Beyond are hosts Chef Chris Santos (Chopped) and Chef Edward Lee (The Mind of a Chef). They will be joined by acclaimed chefs including Chef Claudette Zepeda (Top Chef Season 15 and Founder of Chispa Hospitality), Chef Esther Choi (Food Network TV personality, Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped), Local Louisville Chef Anthony Lamas, (Seviche A Latin Restaurant and Bar Rescue), and Chef Lawrence Weeks (North of Bourbon).

The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage will also include bourbon expert Chris Blandford and Chef Amanda Freitag (Top Chef and Chopped) and feature premium brands including Old Rip Van Winkle, Angel’s Envy, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Buffalo Trace and more.  This year’s programming will also spotlight Kentucky Proud products, celebrating locally sourced ingredients and the farmers and producers who help make Kentucky a world-class culinary destination.

Programming highlights throughout the weekend include a taping of the Firkin Podcast with Redferrin and “Family Cookin” with Terry Bradshaw and his son-in-law Chef Noah Hester, who just announced their family cookbook. New panels include “New School of American Whiskey” and “Buzzed About Bourbon,” bringing together the voices that shape how we discover, discuss, and drink bourbon- from podcasts and social media to behind the scenes branding.

Join actress Elizabeth Banks (Archer Roose Wines) Unscripted & Uncorked for a refreshingly unfiltered Q&A on how music, movies and a good drink can bring people together. Beloved comedian and Fathertime founder Jim Gaffigan returns to Bourbon & Beyond for another round of laughs, stories and bourbon-fueled insights. World renowned bourbon expert Fred Minnick is back with his Blind Bourbon LIVE workshop, and many more opportunities for fans to get up close and personal with bourbon experts.

Other special guests participating in the culinary and bourbon programming include 49 Winchester, Trombone Shorty, Kelly Hansen, Redferrin, Salt Hank, Katie Crutchfield and more.

Attendees at Bourbon & Beyond can also enjoy a variety of onsite food and beverage offerings inspired by Kentucky’s explosion in the culinary world. Selections from local and regional restaurants are specially curated by Southern Hospitality Concessions LLC.

“Bourbon & Beyond is where the heart of music meets the soul of bourbon country, and is hands down one of the most exhilarating festivals in the nation.  I’m excited to crank up the heat on the stage, with chefs rocking out their best dishes with some of your favorite performers. We’re crafting a lineup of chefs that celebrate bourbon in the most delicious and daring way possible, where every sip feels like a high-five and every bite is a thrilling encore,” said Chris Santos, Celebrity Chef & Judge on Food Network’s Chopped.

In addition to the culinary and bourbon experiences, Bourbon & Beyond offers incredible headlining music talent with something for everyone, beginning with The Lumineers, Benson Boone and Alabama Shakes (reunion) on Thursday, followed by Phish (playing two sets; their only festival appearance of 2025 and first Louisville show in three decades), Khruangbin and Joe Bonamassa on Friday, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, Jack White and Vance Joy on Saturday, with Noah Kahan, Goo Goo Dolls and Megan Moroney on Sunday rounding out an incredible music weekend. Additional “must-see” sets during the 4-day event include Cage The Elephant, TV On The Radio, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lake Street Dive,  Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Foreigner (in one of the final announced dates of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ Farewell Tour), Third Eye Blind, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and many more.

The initial lineup of culinary talent and spirit panelists at Bourbon & Beyond includes (subject to change):

The Fork & Flask curated by Kroger Stage Celebrity Chefs & Artist Pairings, hosted by Chris Santos & Edward Lee, Bourbon Experts & Celebrity Guests Hosted by Amanda Freitag & Chris Blandford

• Amanda Freitag
• Barb Parish (Brown Forman)
• Brandon O’Daniel (Copper & Kings, Nelsons Green Brier)
• Brandon Smith (Bardstown Bourbon Co.)
• Brent Elliott (Four Roses Distillery)
• Bri Hlava (mixologist)
• Brian Probus (Firkin Podcast)
• Brooklyn Lytle (mixologist)
• Bruce Russell (Wild Turkey)
• Carrie Van Winkle (Pappy & Co)
• Chaz Fister (Makers Mark)
• Chef Anthony Lamas
• Chef Brian Landry
• Chef Edward Lee
• Chef Esther Choi
• Chef Noah Hester (Bradshaw Bourbon, The Bradshaw Family Cookbook)
• Chef Jackie Joseph
• Chef Lawrence Weeks of North of Bourbon
• Chris Blandford (Kroger Wine and Spirits)
• Chris Santos
• Christian Huber (Starlight Distiller)
• Claudette Zepeda
• Dan Calloway (Bardstown Bourbon Company)
• Dr. Blake Layfield (Maker’s Mark)
• Elizabeth Banks (actress, Archer Roose Wines)
• Elizabeth McCall (Woodford Reserve)
• Fred Minnick (Bourbon Expert)
• Fred Booker Noe III(James B. Beam)
• Freddie Noe (James B. Beam)
• Greg Keely (Larrikin Bourbon)
• Harlen Wheatley (Buffalo Trace)
• Ian Sulkowski (Brown Forman)
• Jason Brauner (Watch Hill Proper)
• Jim Gaffigan (Fathertime Bourbon)
• John Waddell (Peerless Distilling Co.)
• Kathryn Crutchfield
• Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee)
• Kelly Hansen (lead vocalist for Foreigner)
• Kenny Coleman (Pursuit Spirits)
• Kyle Wallace (mixologist)
• Lili Lambert (mixologist)
• Melissa Rift (Old Forester)
• Neil Alvarado (mixologist)
• Neil Gerardo (artist, Three Chord Bourbon)
• Owen Martin (Angel’s Envy)
• Preston Van Winkle (Old Rip Van Winkle)
• Redferrin (artist)
• Ryan Cecil (Bourbon Pursuit)
• Salt Hank (Henry Laporte)
• Shaylyn Gammon (Blue Run Spirits)
• Terry Bradshaw (football legend, Bradshaw Bourbon, The Bradshaw Family Cookbook)
• Trey Zoeller (Jefferson’s Bourbon)
• Trombone Shorty (artist)
• Tyler Zoller (Louisville Bourbon Buzz)
• Wes Henderson (True Story Whiskey)
• 49 Winchester (band)

Workshops will run from 1pm-7pm daily during the festival, and full details on the demos and tastings, along with a full schedule, will be coming soon.

Another highlight of Bourbon & Beyond is the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar. Featuring the best bluegrass bands, line dancing and expertly curated picks of Kentucky’s finest, it brings the bourbon trail right to Bourbon & Beyond. Bourbon lovers can also stop by Chris Picks MiniBar for select single barrels curated especially for Bourbon & Beyond; The Hunter’s Club for rare and vintage sips; and the Jack Daniel’s Sports Bar and Char House for the perfect oasis to make the festival vacation complete. Visit BourbonAndBeyond.com for a complete description of festival experiences.

Having welcomed more than 210,000 fans in 2024, Bourbon & Beyond has become the premier destination event of the fall, combining incredible nonstop music with the best food and spirits Kentucky has to offer – with Forbes exclaiming, “Featuring some of America’s best chefs, the Louisville festival’s celebration of the culinary arts, spirits, live music and more makes it one of America’s most unique festival offerings.”

Award-winning festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents have announced an all-star lineup of music artists for Bourbon & Beyond–The World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival–held September 11, 12, 13 & 14, 2025 at Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

After a record-breaking year in 2024, DWP is thrilled to announce the stacked music lineup featuring dozens of legends and breakout stars led by The Lumineers, Benson Boone, and Alabama Shakes (reunion) on Thursday, Phish, Khruangbin and Joe Bonamassa on Friday, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, Jack White and Vance Joy on Saturday, and Noah Kahan, Goo Goo Dolls  and Megan Moroney on Sunday.

Bourbon & Beyond has received widespread acclaim from national media. The 2024 event was named a must-see festival by national media outlets including: Forbes, Garden & Gun, People, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Thrillist, USA Today, US Magazine and more. In addition, Bourbon & Beyond was named 2024 Festival of the Year by leading live entertainment organization IEBA after welcoming a record-setting 210,000 fans over 4 days marking the largest music festival in Kentucky history. It has also been nominated as Pollstar “Festival of the Year” for the past two years.

Now in its 7^th year, Bourbon & Beyond will feature more than 120 artists performing on five stages during the 4-day event, also including Cage The Elephant, TV On The Radio, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lake Street Dive,  Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Foreigner (in one of the final announced dates of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ Farewell Tour), Third Eye Blind, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, and many more.

In addition to four full days of music at Bourbon & Beyond across five stages, the unique immersive festival experience will include daily workshops and demonstrations showcasing America’s best chefs and Louisville’s vibrant bourbon and culinary culture on the festival’s workshop stage for The Bourbon Experience and The Culinary Atelier. Hosted by bourbon expert Chris Blandford, Chef Amanda Freitag, Chef Ed Lee and Chef Chris Santos, the festival’s bourbon tastings and culinary workshops pair world-renowned master distillers and some of the country’s top chefs, with some workshops featuring celebrity guest appearances.

The current music lineup for Bourbon & Beyond is as follows: Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, The Lumineers, Jack White, Benson Boone, Alabama Shakes (reunion), Cage The Elephant, Khruangbin, Megan Moroney, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Rilo Kiley, Goo Goo Dolls, Vance Joy, Third Eye Blind, Lake Street Dive, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Myles Smith, Foreigner, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Joe Bonamassa, Pixies, Dylan Gossett, TV On The Radio, The Teskey Brothers, Flatland Cavalry, Waxahatchee, Dashboard Confessional, Blues Traveler, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Collective Soul, Trampled By Turtles, Muscadine Bloodline, Guster, 49 Winchester, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Colbie Caillat, Iron & Wine, Morgan Wade, Lawrence, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Julien Baker & TORRES, Dawes, Gavin DeGraw, Gin Blossoms, Spin Doctors, The Hold Steady, Switchfoot, Robert Cray Band, John Waite, Michael Marcagi, Austin Snell, Matt Maltese, Ashe, St. Lucia, The Waterboys, Blind Melon, Old 97’s, 10,000 Maniacs w/ Mary Ramsey, Josiah & The Bonnevilles, Bonny Light Horseman, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Marc Cohn, The Baseball Project, The Paper Kites,  Redferrin, Kolby Cooper, Jade Bird, The Ocean Blue, The 502s, Nolan Taylor, Marshall Crenshaw,  Madison Ryann Ward, Waylon Wyatt, Bayker Blankenship, iDKHOW, The Heavy Heavy, Darren Kiely, NRBQ, Marcy Playground, Hazlett, Certainly So, Jonah Kagen, Yächtley Crëw, Chance Emerson, The Band Feel, Reid Haughton, Kelsey Waldon, Miles Miller, Meg McRee, Brit Taylor, Cale Tyson, Leftover Salmon, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rhonda Vincent, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Fruition, Wonder Women Of Country, Danny Paisley & Southern Grass, Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter, Tophouse, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Wyatt Ellis, Caleb Caudle & The Sweet Critters, Jett Holden, Chatham Rabbits, Thunder & Rain, Emily Scott Robinson, Gooseberry, sullvn, Axel & Lolo and more.

Some of the reunions and highlights at Bourbon & Beyond include:

• Phish: Exclusive 2025 festival appearance
• Jack White: 12-time Grammy-winner, lead singer of The White Stripes, and renowned as one of the greatest guitarists of all-time
• Benson Boone: 2024 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist
• Reunion shows for Alabama Shakes (after 10 years), Rilo Kiley, The Waterboys
• Khruangbin: The trio known for blending classic soul, dub, rock and psychedelia was a 2024 Grammy nominee for Best New Artist
• Megan Moroney:  2024 Academy Of Country Music’s “New Female Artist Of The Year” is selling out her headlining shows and has been called a new country music icon
• Foreigner: one of the final shows of the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ Farewell Tour
• Myles Smith: Exclusive North American festival performance. His single “Stargazing” has been #1 for 9 weeks
• The Baseball Project: Supergroup comprised of Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Scott McCaughey (The Fresh Young Fellows), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate) and Linda Pitmon (Psycher)
• Bourbon & Beyond also features Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Ringo Starr, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Peter Buck and Mike Mills     

“Bourbon & Beyond is the best lineup of the year—bringing together the biggest names in rock, Americana, and alt, alongside country icons and breakout artists. It’s a festival that doesn’t just celebrate one sound, but the best of all of them, paired with world-class bourbon, incredible food, and that unmistakable Kentucky vibe. From the start, our vision was to create an experience that blends music, culinary, culture, and community in a way that only Bourbon & Beyond can,” said Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents. “The crowds are huge, the energy is unmatched, and every year, we take it up a notch. If you love music, a breathtaking atmosphere, and the best bourbon on the planet: this is the festival to experience.”

“Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life have quickly become the most anticipated and high-profile music festivals in Louisville each year,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “Bourbon & Beyond in particular showcases our city’s rich bourbon culture, and most importantly highlights Louisville’s incredible hospitality. Congratulations to Danny Wimmer Presents on another amazing lineup. We can’t wait for the fans to be back in September.”

“With top-shelf headliners and an expansive lineup, Bourbon & Beyond is taking center stage as the ultimate celebration of Kentucky’s hospitality and culture,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues. “We’re proud to partner with Danny Wimmer Presents to welcome fans from around the globe to the Kentucky Exposition Center, and to showcase the best our state has to offer.”

Bourbon & Beyond also features an array of onsite experiences. Highlights include The Bourbon Experience, which is carefully curated and will feature panel discussions, hands-on workshops, Blind Bourbon LIVE: where renowned bourbon critic Fred Minnick will taste through the festival’s bourbons to award best in show, and product demos that will fill your cup and keep you coming back for more. The Culinary Atelier will feature culinary experiences including celebrity and Kentucky chef demos along with great eats from local restaurants (plus a few surprises along the way).

In addition, the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar is home to The Bluegrass Situation Stage, featuring the best bluegrass bands and line dancing, plus live tapings of the award-winning The Fred Minnick Show. Fans will also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with celebrities, bourbon experts and  distillers to discover the heritage, explore the traditions, and raise a glass to the fine Art of Bourbon.

Bourbon & Beyond and DWP’s Louisville companion festival Louder Than Life, which takes place the following weekend, generated over $33 million in local economic impact in 2024 and drew more than 300,000 attendees booking over 60,000 hotel room nights and creating a visitor boom at local restaurants and other businesses, including bourbon distilleries along the Urban Bourbon Trail. Bourbon & Beyond is also highly acclaimed by the media, with recent accolades including:

• “Since 2017, Bourbon & Beyond has drilled down on Kentucky’s number one export and the presence of its famed Bourbon Trail to give fans a unique opportunity to sample rare whiskeys and Kentucky bourbons. Featuring some of America’s best chefs, the Louisville festival’s celebration of the culinary arts, spirits, live music and more makes it one of America’s most unique festival offerings.” –Forbes
• Named one of Seven Standout Southern Bourbon Festivals by Garden & Gun
• “With over 100 acts spread across five stages plus culinary and spirits demonstrations and celebrity appearances, the real magic of Bourbon & Beyond lies in dipping a toe into multiple offerings throughout each festival day.” –The Courier Journal

4-Day General Admission, Mint VIP and Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP passes, as well as Single Day GA and Single Day Mint VIP passes are on sale now at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/passes/.

• Mint VIP perks include:

○      VIP viewing area in front of both main stages

○      Shaded lounge with comfortable seating and live audio and video streams of the main stages

○      Outdoor seating with views of the main stages

○      Dedicated festival merch booth

○      Air-conditioned flushable restrooms

○      Premium food offerings**

○      Dedicated bars with full beverage options**

○      Locker rental with charging capabilities**

** For additional purchase

• Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP perks include:

○      Stunning views, lavish amenities, and an unforgettable atmosphere, all while indulging in the perfect harmony of music and luxury

○      Access to all General Admission and Mint VIP areas, express festival VIP entry lanes, commemorative laminate, and exclusive Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP Perks

Attendees can make the most of their Bourbon & Beyond experience by adding camping to their festival adventure. Options include RV, Car + Tent and the extremely limited Elevated Glamping experience which provides a 5-night stay in a luxury style “Bell Tent” located in a prime spot in the campgrounds closest to the festival entrance. Visit https://bourbonandbeyond.com for all details on all camping and festival pass options.

In addition, fans who want to celebrate the biggest eight days of music in the United States with back-to-back weekends in Louisville at Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life can purchase an Exacta Pass for less than $69 per festival day (Exacta Pass starts at $550 plus fees). Find all pass details at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/passes/. Service fees on all pass purchases include a charity fee for the DWP Foundation, which gives back to local and national charities throughout the year.

Onsite parking for Bourbon & Beyond at Kentucky Exposition Center will be available for purchase this Spring.

Fans in the Louisville area can celebrate the Bourbon & Beyond lineup with a Happy Hour this Friday, February 7 from 5PM – 7PM at Hauck’s Corner in Louisville. The event will feature custom cocktails, photo opps and service fee free passes.

Bourbon & Beyond is excited to announce its 2025 partners: Angel’s Envy, Crowne Plaza, Eargasm, Ford Bronco, Galt House Hotel, Jack Daniel’s, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Venues, Kroger, Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville Metro, Louisville Tourism, Monster Energy, Park Community Credit Union, Team Kentucky, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, White Claw and Old Forester.

The DWP Foundation will be supporting the following nonprofits in 2025: Dare to Care and Preston Area Business Alliance, plus more to come.

Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bourbon & Beyond is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.