BOURBON & BEYOND
ANNOUNCES CULINARY AND BOURBON LINEUP, FORK & FLASK CURATED BY KROGER
Led By Chefs Amanda Freitag, Edward Lee & Chris Santos, Along With
Bourbon Expert Chris Blandford;
Destination Festival Celebrates Legends Of The Culinary & Spirits World From Across The Country
Music Headliners Include
The Lumineers, Benson Boone, Alabama Shakes (Thursday),
Phish, Khruangbin, Joe Bonamassa (Friday),
Sturgill “Johnny Blue Skies” Simpson, Jack White, Vance Joy (Saturday),
Noah Kahan, Goo Goo Dolls, Megan Moroney (Sunday),
Plus More Talent From Rock, Americana, Bluegrass And Alt Rock
September 11-14 At Highland Festival Grounds At Kentucky Exposition Center
In Louisville, Kentucky
Passes Available HERE
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.”
Bourbon & Beyond is also thrilled to announce a few new updates to the festival this year:
Friday headliner Phish will be playing two sets, with Phish Phriday Hotel Packages at the Galt House available through Jampack.
Music artist Chance Peña just added to Thursday lineup
New RV camping is available at the University of Louisville.
Bourbon & Beyond Student Offer accessible with .edu email address through FEVO
Updates to the festival grounds:
○ Expanded MINT VIP: Three-story elevated structure with more space, shade, seating, restrooms & bars
○ Dedicated towel and chair zones
○ Added picnic seating in GA
○ Improved stage layout for less sound bleed
○ New Rideshare pickup for easier arrival & departure
- Join us at The Fox Den in Louisville for the semifinals of the Battle of the Strings on June 14th and finals on June 21st where unsigned bluegrass bands are invited to take their shot at a chance to perform on stage at Bourbon & Beyond.
Fans can still join in on the fun at the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival by securing a pass at BourbonAndBeyond.com or via Shop Pay at https://www.dwpbourbon.com/, allowing fans to utilize the buy now, pay later installment plan. 4-Day and Single Day GA and Mint VIP, as well as 4-Day Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP passes are still available. Fans are encouraged to act fast and secure their spot. Hotel packages are also still available via Jampack.
Bourbon & Beyond 2025 is proud to recognize the support of our valued hospitality, government, and stage programming partners: Crowne Plaza, Galt House Hotel, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Venues, Kroger, Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville Metro, Louisville Tourism, Team Kentucky, Traeger and YETI Coolers.
Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Bourbon & Beyond is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.
Award-winning festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) also recently announced a long-term agreement with Kentucky Venues to host both Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life music festivals at the Highland Festival Grounds. The 10-year commitment runs from 2026-2035 and showcases both DWP and the city’s commitment to Louisville’s cultural and economic future. In 2024, both festivals generated over $33 million in economic impact in total, according to Louisville Tourism.
We believe in quality before quantity. Please drink responsibly.
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Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.
