Hometown Rising Attracts More than 70,000 for First-Ever Country Music & Bourbon Festival

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky—This past weekend, Kentucky was booming with country music, high temperatures, and endless amounts of bourbon and whiskey at the first-ever country music and bourbon festival, Hometown Rising.

For two straight days and nights, the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center played host to over 70,000 attendees and over 30 acts, including performances by Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Trace Adkins, Tim McGraw, Jimmie Allen, Raelyn Nelson Band, and IMAJ.

The Festival provided fans with non-stop entertainment coupled with one-of-a-kind food and beverage options, including bourbon selections from nearly two dozen distilleries, a variety of culinary dishes inspired by Kentucky flavors and a range of onsite experiences.

Thanks to Hometown Rising’s publicity partners, Adkins Publicity, both True Hollywood Talk and Grit Daily were front-and-center at Hometown Rising, beginning Friday night at 4th Street Live! speaking with several artists and fans about their experience in what will soon be an annual event.

Getting the Party Started Down at 4th Street Live!

If you haven’t experienced the entertainment and retail complex located in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky, it’s definitely a place worth stopping by for a night…or two.

Fourth Street Live! is located on 4th street, offering a variety of bars and nightclubs, including Tavern On Fourth, The Sports & Social Club, Howl at the Moon, and PBR Louisville.

On Friday night, I attended Hometown Rising’s Official Pre-Party, featuring Raelyn Nelson Band at 4^th Street Live! Nelson, an emerging country artist and granddaughter of music icon, Willie Nelson, has a stage presence I haven’t seen in a very long time.

Nelson just released her new single, “Weed and Whiskey,” which she performed Friday night and on Saturday at Hometown Rising. 

“Hometown Rising was our first-ever country music festival and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have delivered two days of great music and incredible bourbon – two of Louisville’s cornerstones. We’re fans first and this was all about bringing a unique, tailored experience to the country music community. Thank you to the fans, artists and our partners for making our dream a reality.”

—DWP Founder, Danny Wimmer.

Hometown Rising kicked off Danny Wimmer Presents’ Louisville Trifesta series, which continues with Bourbon & Beyond September 20-22, and Louder Than Life September 27-29. Tickets are still available at at www.bourbonandbeyond.com and www.louderthanlifefestival.com.

Little Big Town

Keith Urban

Tim McGraw

Luke Bryan

“Hometown Rising was our first-ever country music festival and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have delivered two days of great music and incredible bourbon – two of Louisville’s cornerstones. We’re fans first and this was all about bringing a unique, tailored experience to the country music community. Thank you to the fans, artists and our partners for making our dream a reality,” shared DWP Founder Danny Wimmer.

Hometown Rising kicked off Danny Wimmer Presents’ Louisville Trifesta series, which continues with Bourbon & Beyond September 20-22, and Louder Than Life September 27-29. Tickets are still available at www.bourbonandbeyond.com and www.louderthanlifefestival.com.