Home » Kentuckian Chris Stapleton to headline 2018 Forecastle Festival in Louisville

Kentuckian Chris Stapleton to headline 2018 Forecastle Festival in Louisville

Stapleton joins Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse and over 40 other artists on the initial festival lineup
Forecastle Festival is held annually at Louisville's Waterfront Park.
Forecastle Festival is held annually at Louisville’s Waterfront Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 17, 2018) – Embarking on its 16th year at sea, the Forecastle Festival will return this July 13-15, 2018, led by Grammy-winning and nominated artists, including Southern rocker and Kentucky native Chris Stapleton, prismatic indie rockers Arcade Fire and alt-rock icons Modest Mouse.

The three-day celebration of music, arts and activism will take place at the award-winning Waterfront Park, a sweeping green space on the banks of the Ohio River framed by the skyline of downtown Louisville, Ky..

Additional musical acts include Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Houndmouth, The War on Drugs, Father John Misty, Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett, NF, Jimmy Eat World, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Louis the Child, T-Pain and many more. A full list of confirmed artists from the lineup can be found below.

Weekend passes will be available Friday, Jan. 19 at 10:00 a.m. via ForecastleFest.com and all Ticketmaster outlets.

VIP weekend passes include a 2018 Forecastle merchandise item, special entrance lanes into the festival, exclusive Mast and Boom stage viewing areas, air-conditioned lounge in exclusive VIP hang area with bar and restrooms, and Bourbon Lodge membership with a commemorative mug.

New to 2018, Forecastle will offer a Yacht Club ticket option, featuring access to the Mary M. Miller Steamboat and Boathouse with exclusive bar and experiences, a commemorative Yacht Club gift and special entrance lanes into the festival. The Yacht Club will replace the GA Plus ticket option from the 2017 festival. VIP weekend passes will also include exclusive access to the Mary M. Miller Steamboat and Boathouse, and the commemorative Yacht Club gift.

Forecastle’s acclaimed Kentucky Bourbon Trail outpost, The Forecastle Bourbon Lodge and The Gonzo Bar, an artistic bar experience commemorating the legacy of Gonzo journalist and Kentucky Bourbon aficionado Hunter S. Thompson, will return with a full lineup of Bourbon offerings from across the Commonwealth, Bourbon education, Bourbon-inspired culinary experiences and much more. More information and expansion details of the fan-favorite Bourbon Lodge, Kentucky Landing and Party Cove areas; daily tickets; and Bourbon lineups will be announced in the coming months.

Highlighted in Rolling Stone as “One of the Coolest Festivals in America” and acclaimed by Garden and Gun as the “Greatest Show for Earth,” the Forecastle Festival has evolved from a small community event into one of the country’s premier festival destinations.

The Forecastle experience presents Louisville’s rich culture through equal parts music, art and activism®. Beyond the first-class musical lineup, the event showcases the city’s burgeoning culinary and arts scene, Kentucky’s unique Bourbon heritage and more. Sustainability and conservation initiatives are guided by the festival’s 501c3 non-profit organization, the Forecastle Foundation.

Forecastle 2018 lineup

Chris Stapleton
Arcade Fire
Modest Mouse
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
Houndmouth
The War on Drugs
Father John Misty
Vance Joy
Courtney Barnett
NF
Jimmy Eat World
Kurt Vile & The Violators
Louis the Child
T-Pain
Jenny Lewis
Margo Price
Vic Mensa
Oh Wonder
Punch Brothers
Rainbow Kitten Surprise
Lucero
White Reaper
Hippie Sabotage
Teddy Abrams and friends
PVRIS
Quinn XCII
AJR
I’m With Her
Jai Wolf
Hiss Golden Messenger
Khruangbin
Westside Gunn + Conway
Tyminski
Colony House
SAINt JHN
Berhana
Brent Cobb
Ron Gallo
Morgan Saint
Spencer Lee Band
Matt Maeson
Devon Gilfillian
Arlie
Biyo
Flagship