Forecastle Festival

Forecastle Festival
Forecastle Festival in 2009
GenreVariety
Location(s)Louisville Waterfront Park
Louisville, Kentucky
Years active2002–2019, 2022
FoundersJK McKnight
Websiteforecastlefest.com

The Forecastle Festival (pronounced "fore-castle") is a three-day music, art, and activism festival held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. The festival was founded in 2002 as a small gathering of local musicians in Tyler Park, and steadily grew into a national attraction that now includes major touring acts and an economic impact of over $20 million per year.[1] Forecastle was selected as one of Rolling Stone's "Coolest Festivals"[2] and has an annual attendance of over 75,000 fans at Louisville Waterfront Park. It attracts attendees from nearly all 50 states, 2000 cities, and a dozen international countries. Past headliners include the Black Keys, Jack White, Jack Harlow, Beck, Outkast, LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, Tame Impala, Tyler the Creator, Sam Smith, My Morning Jacket, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Alabama Shakes, the Flaming Lips, the Avett Brothers, Widespread Panic, Cage the Elephant and many more.[3]

The festival has been paused since 2023 with no date set for its return.

  1. ^ "The benefits of Forecastle Festival extend beyond $20 million economic impact". Insider Louisville. July 10, 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  2. ^ "Forecastle Festival Success". Rolling Stone Magazine. July 2012. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  3. ^ Fernandes, Matt (July 10, 2008). "Louisville's Forecastle Fest blends music, art & activism". stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LLC. Retrieved December 4, 2009.[dead link]