Preview: Forecastle Music Festival Top 5!
As Americans prepare to celebrate their country’s Independence Day, the festival community is on the verge of its own celebration, Forecastle Music Festival. Hailing from the creative minds that brought you Bonnaroo, Forecastle takes place in the Tennessee festival’s neighbor of Kentucky, Louisville, to be specific.
This years festival is loaded with great acts, but some of the highlights in our eyes (in no particular order) are as follows:
1. Tyler Childers
Modern country, bluegrass, and Americana fans can rejoice at seeing this name as the #2-billed act for the final day of this festival. With songs relating to honesty, integrity, hard work, and survival by whatever means, Tyler Childers speaks to blue-collar workers everywhere. If you have never given him a listen, you owe it to yourself to show up and sing along.
2. Highly Suspect
I first saw Highly Suspect at The Basement in Nashville four or five years ago. For those unfamiliar with the venue, it is literally a record store basement with a maximum occupancy that cannot exceed 100. Now, they share a top-billed spot with excellent bands like Portugal. The Man and The Killers, some of the biggest names in the music industry right now. These guys are quickly on their way to legendary status, and you should jump on the bandwagon while there is still some room!
3. Big Wild
If you are looking to dance and have bass rattle your brain, Big Wild is going to be the stop for you. We have had the pleasure of catching him at several festivals over the years, and he is always on the must-see list. With heavy-hitting bass mixed with an immersive soundscape, DJ Jackson Stell puts together variations on music that have something for everyone.
4. Mt. Joy
Alt-folk band Mt. Joy first got on my radar while shooting the now-infamous Rainbow Kitten Surprise when they played Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. When they opened band for RKS, I could not help but give a listen, and I was instantly hooked. I promised myself then and there that I would catch these guys at the first festival slot I found them on, and here we are. Especially be sure to drop by if you want to hear some jaw-dropping piano mixed into your festival weekend.
5. Lettuce
Lets be honest here: you should NEVER miss a Lettuce show. Fans of the funky bass line and amazing brass integration know exactly what they are getting into when they show up for the thrumming rhythms that make up this band’s sound. Never listened to funk music? This is exactly where you should start.
