The Forecastle Festival will return this summer led by Louisville hometown heroes My Morning Jacket; soulful breakout star, Sam Smith; southern rock heavyweights, Widespread Panic; and indie veterans, Modest Mouse. The three-day music celebration, now in its 13th year, will take place July 17–19, 2015, at the award-winning Waterfront Park, a sweeping green space on the banks of the Ohio River framed by the skyline of downtown Louisville.  
 
Hailing from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana, respectively, Cage the Elephant and Houndmouth add to the stellar regional talent atop this year’s Forecastle bill, the former currently working on their follow-up to the Grammy-nominated Melophobia and the latter eyeing a March 17 release of the highly-anticipated Little Neon Limelight via Rough Trade Records.
 
The family duo of Wilco frontman Jeff and his son Spencer Tweedy will showcase their recent collaboration as TWEEDY, while The Word, featuring pedal steel virtuoso Robert Randolph, B3 maestro John Medeski and the incomparable North Mississippi Allstars will bring the gospel stylings of Soul Food, their first album in 14 years, coming out May 5. Others notable acts include Tallest Man On Earth, Portugal. The Man, RL Grime, First Aid Kit, Desaparecidos, Shovels & Rope, Big K.R.I.T. and more. A full list of confirmed artists from the initial lineup can be found below. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
Weekend passes go on sale this Friday, January 30, 2015, at noon EST at ForecastleFest.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. A limited number of weekend passes start at $144.50 plus fees. VIP experiences, travel packages and payment plan options will also be available. Full details can be found at ForecastleFest.com.
 
The Bourbon Lodge, Forecastle’s slice of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, will return in 2015 with a full lineup of bourbon offerings, bourbon education, a bourbon-inspired culinary experience and much more. Fans of bourbon will have the option to purchase advanced Bourbon Lodge memberships with their weekend pass through Ticketmaster.
 
Also returning in 2015, The Kentucky Landing will feature a variety of regional craft beers, local food trucks and a selection of non-profit organizations and craft vendors selling Kentucky-made goods.
 
Highlighted in Rolling Stone as “one of the coolest festivals in America” and acclaimed by American Songwriter as “a rock and roll paradise,” the Forecastle Festival has evolved from a small community event into one of the country’s premier festival destinations. 
 
The event offers an immersive experience that’s distinctly Louisville—beyond the first-class musical lineup—highlighting the region’s burgeoning culinary and arts scene, Kentucky’s unique bourbon heritage and more. The festival continues to emphasize sustainability practices and conservation initiatives, exhibited by the festival’s non-profit organization, the Forecastle Foundation.
 
Artist additions, single day tickets and late-night show tickets, along with the daily schedule of artists, late-night events and other activities will be available soon. For the latest news and updates from Forecastle Festival, fans can visit ForecastleFest.com, Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for the Forecastle newsletter.
 
The initial Forecastle 2015 lineup includes:
 
Sam Smith
My Morning Jacket
Widespread Panic
Modest Mouse
Cage the Elephant
Houndmouth
TWEEDY
Tallest Man On Earth
Portugal. The Man
RL Grime
First Aid Kit
Desaparecidos
Shovels & Rope
Big K.R.I.T.
The Word
Cold War Kids
The Gaslight Anthem
Sturgill Simpson
St. Paul & the Broken Bones
Cherub
iLoveMakonnen
San Fermin
Kiesza
Over The Rhine
The Lone Bellow
People Under The Stairs
The Barr Brothers
Alvvays
Milo Greene
The SteelDrivers
Field Report
Speedy Ortiz
Son Lux
JEFF The Brotherhood
King Tuff
Noah Gundersen
Twin Peaks
Cathedrals
Fly Golden Eagle
Diarrhea Planet
The Revivalists
Empires
Broncho
White Reaper
Twin Limb
Knox Hamilton
Parker Millsap