Kentucky Venues Secures 10-Year Agreement with Danny Wimmer Presents to Keep Music Festivals at the Kentucky Exposition Center
Kentucky Venues is proud to announce a new 10-year partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents, ensuring that two of the nation’s premier music festivals, Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life, continue at the Kentucky Exposition Center’s Highland Festival Grounds through 2035.
The contract comes as the city of Louisville and communities across the Commonwealth work to recover from significant flooding and storm damage. This time of clean-up and rebuilding reflects the initial relationship formed with Danny Wimmer Presents, who moved the festivals to the Kentucky Exposition Center six years ago after having to cancel them due to heavy flooding at their previous location.
“Over the past six years, our partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents has helped solidify Kentucky’s reputation as a premier destination for world-class entertainment,” said David S. Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues. “As the largest event facility in the Commonwealth, the Kentucky Exposition Center shares the same vision with Danny Wimmer Presents for the growth of the festivals, and we look forward to hosting hundreds of thousands each year and being the central hub for those who get to experience all this great city has to offer.”
“Louisville, Ky has become an integral part of who we are, and we are excited to strengthen our connection by partnering with the city of Louisville and Commonwealth of Kentucky for the next 10 years. Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life have truly found their home here, representing the incredible collaboration and spirit we’ve fostered over the past decade. This partnership is about more than just festivals; it’s about investing in a community that has welcomed us with open arms,” said Danny Wimmer, Founder of DWP.
In 2024, the festivals garnered over $33 million in economic impact and drew nearly 400,000 attendees from across the globe – 70% of whom visited from outside of Louisville. The continued success of Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life is a testament to the strength of the region’s tourism economy, and Kentucky Venues is proud to play a role in showcasing the city’s unmatched hospitality on a global stage.
Bourbon & Beyond, the world’s biggest bourbon & music festival, announced an all-star lineup of music artists for September 11-14, 2025 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. Over 100 acts are planned for this year’s event. Visit bourbonandbeyond.com for details.
Louder Than Life, one of America’s biggest rock & metal festivals, announced a six-stage lineup headed to the Kentucky Exposition Center’s Highland Festival Grounds September 18-21. Headliners and top of bill include Slayer, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson on Thursday; Avenged Sevenfold, Sleep Token and Breaking Benjamin on Friday; Deftones, Bad Omens and A Perfect Circle on Saturday; and Bring Me The Horizon, $uicideboy$ and Evanescence on Sunday. Over 160 bands are slated to perform this year. Visit louderthanlifefestival.com for details.
*Photo credit: Sam Shapiro