Bourbon and Beyond 2024
Bourbon and Beyond My Expectations
The sixth annual Bourbon and Beyond, a Danny Wimmer Presents production, took place over four days in Louisville, Kentucky from September 19-22nd. This festival…where do I even start? It’s massive. Over 200,000 people attended over the weekend, according to local reports, including 60,000 on Saturday alone when headliner Zach Bryan was slated. These figures reportedly even surpassed last year’s highest numbers of 170,000. If you have never been in the same vicinity of tens of thousands of people it’s hard to imagine. But think of a time when you felt trapped in a tight space, and then multiply it by 100 degrees and add sweaty, hairy chests. Then you’ll have your answer. It became difficult to discern the source of the heat after a while, whether emanating from the storm clouds or the slurring crowd, but hey, that’s the fun of it, right?
As for the crowd, I pretty much anticipated the type of people I would see considering my typical rock and Americana tastes. Especially during an election year among a polarizing political situation, I was surprised to not see more incendiary apparel, but what I did see was more amusing than antagonistic like “Childers/Bryan ‘24” and, aptly so at a bourbon festival, “Bourbon/Whiskey ‘24.” People came to express themselves but remained respectful. That is, apart from a few Reddit complaints I came across about sound bleed and chatty Kathys during headlining sets. All in all, in spite of my general dislike of crowds and having to shimmy through slippery sardine bodies to see some music, it was a good experience and something I would do again. Several people I spoke to or, frankly, eavesdropped on, commented on their continued patronage and pilgrimage to this festival since its inception in 2017 which speaks to its success at giving the people what they want.
Adding to the community atmosphere, 1 Million Strong, a sober recovery organization whose mission is to unite communities and create sober experiences and remove the stigma of a life of sobriety, had a wellness tent at the festival. It was a substance-free space for people to connect and unwind at; they served mocktails and offered guidance on life after recovery, an often daunting concept for many considering sobriety. Also available throughout the festival were gratitude meetings, akin to how Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are organized. Like-minded music fans gathered under the tent near the entrance between 1pm and 6pm to share their gratitude for the day or to share anything else on their minds concerning their sober experience at the festival. I predominantly heard appreciation for the space at a festival of this caliber and capacity and how, for some people, the space was a helpful reminder and a safe place for when they began to feel overwhelmed. Having attended meetings of my own back home, I was grateful to have the comfort and camaraderie on the road with me, reminding me to stay grounded and present.
This festival redefined my metric of massive. I couldn’t cover every artist–between the distance, scheduling, and general interest–but the ones I caught were worth the heatstroke and forethought it took to get there. I’ll give you a rundown of my favorites since my opinion matters enough to be published. While these artists are already big enough and have made names for themselves and certainly don’t need my free publicity, I’ll dig into it anyway because I spent four days in the trenches and dammit you’re gonna enjoy it.
Tyler Childers
Imagine being a regular person and then steadily, within a few years, you changed the entire progression and history of music as a whole with new artists now citing you as one of their musical influences? I read that Childers “builds worlds,” and that’s what I find so addictive about his work. While my reality seems to stay mostly the same, when I listen to his music I feel inspired to visit those worlds and engage with the emotion that lives there. It makes me lament that I didn’t grow up in a holler, singing in the church choir, and learning to play guitar from my grandfather. While poignance is a mere fraction of the emotions he draws from his listeners, it’s something I’m left clinging to and craving when I hear Tyler Childers.
I’ve only been able to see him a couple times, but he usually seems pensive and put together when he accesses his songs, which you can see comes from a deep place. But as he capped off the festival in his home state, it was evident he was ready to make this night last, including code switching deeper into his Kentucky drawl. This told me he felt right at home, even donning loose fitting camo pants and a plain white tee and playfully shouting things at his band, which Reddit helped me decipher as “Play it fucking hard and fast, boys!” and “If I have to tell you again, I swear I’m gonna!” Excitedly, he was moving all around the stage, playing guitar alongside his friends and bandmates, The Food Stamps, and giving the tens of thousands of fans that trademark Childers banter between songs like how “Rustin’ in the Rain” wasn’t much of a love song but more of a thrashin’ song before he introduced a true love song in his “All Your’n.” Childers’ energy was next level, and whatever it was that he was feeling, I was feeling it too, as any great artist can elicit.
Zach Bryan
Next up on our “play it back” tour, Zach Bryan. Have you seen him and his band live yet? Well go do it, I’ll be here when you get back. Like I touched on before, the Greats are able to build worlds and force you dive deep into the chasm they create, whatever it is that might be: love, pain, or generalized mania. Zach Bryan has tapped into a need desperate need country music fans have been having the last few years. We want the high energy of bro-country coupled with the brilliant song writing and legitimate instrumental finesse of true Americana. And he and his band deliver. Part of the joy for me when watching live music is simply watching friends hang out and mess around with their toys, hootin’ and hollerin’ when they find something that works.
Koe Wetzel
Hailing from the second famous Pittsburgh (Texas that is) Koe Wetzel hopped onto the scene in 2015 and has been a hit factory churning music out nonstop. As his artistry continues to develop, he maintains his values and winning personality, never compromising what is true to him. And despite signing with a major label in 2020, Columbia Records, he can’t shake loose his charming cheekiness, naming his debut album with Columbia Sellout. You can’t really know who Koe is until you listen to his music and see him live (and probably by just getting to know him too, which I’ll be bargaining for). I was well off from the front of the stage (a strong sign of his loyal fanbase over the years) yet felt the full heat of flames as they erupted with each bursting chorus. It was a nice, and probably obvious, touch for a borderline rock concert. When introducing his song “Forever,” notably and admittedly about cocaine, he mentioned that if anybody had any to do it in the porta-potties, just not around the cops or children. And that is who Koe is, he won’t trade his values for his vices nor his vices for his values.
Teddy Swims
The only other time I saw Teddy Swims perform was when I chugged a bottle of prosecco with my friend (she had her own bottle) after a baseball game. While much of that night is lost to history–can’t remember why else I can’t remember–his performance is etched into my brain. His energy and talent deserved a better venue than a makeshift stage on the field, but it turns out that I didn’t need the wine to make me feel elated when seeing him in person. At Bourbon and Beyond, he could not contain his joy of being there, and that is the best kind of artistry: a genuine exchange of energy. In his set, he included a cover of Hall and Oates’ “Sara Smile” as well as his hits like “Lose Control” and “The Door” even offering us some background into his song “Some Things I’ll Never Know” about not getting the closure you want but getting the distance you need. Especially considering the heat, he checked in on the audience and encouraged each other to look out for one another even sharing that he drank a little too much before getting on stage and admitting he needed to drink some water. Not quite sure how such a large man is able to move so quickly across the stage while singing effortlessly and already like three deep. He can keep his secrets, I’ll keep watching.
Notable performances that I wish I could also just watch for hours: Whiskey Myers, Shane Smith and the Saints, X Ambassadors, Sierra Ferrell, Charles Wesely Godwin, Ole 60, BRELAND, Wyatt Flores, The Red Clay Strays, Cimafunk, and Duane Betts & the Palmetto Motel. This festival further proved the importance of live music; the experience that is shared between the artist and the audience is one of a kind, only to really be felt in person.
While every act deserves a thorough review, you’ll have to scour the internet for that. I’m only human, and this festival was from another world. You can view the full lineup here: https://bourbonandbeyond.com/lineup/.
Next year’s dates and lineup are still under wraps, but you can check back with Bourbon and Beyond or sign up for email updates to be notified about when they’ll be back!