North America’s loudest rock festival, Louder Than Life, is celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sept. 26-29. The fan-favorite Danny Wimmer Presents festival will feature nearly 150 music acts on five stages, including the return of Slayer for one of only three reunion shows, a celebration of Slipknot’s 25th anniversary, and headliners Mötley Crüe and Korn.
On Wednesday, Sept. 25, all “Loudmouths” are invited to kick off the festival at WFPK Waterfront Wednesday, a free event at Waterfront Park’s Big Four Lawn. Gates open at 5 p.m., with live music beginning at 6 p.m. featuring Dark Side of the Wall, Zaniah, and +Flow Band.
To mark Louder Than Life’s 10th anniversary, Louisville’s Big Four Bridge will be illuminated green at sunset for festivalgoers, with DWP CEO Danny Hayes welcoming attendees on stage at 5:55 p.m. The DWP Foundation, on behalf of Louder Than Life, will donate $5,000 to the WFPK Waterfront Wednesday event, produced by non-profits Waterfront Park and Louisville Public Media.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg will join Danny Wimmer on stage at Louder Than Life on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6:10 p.m. for a ceremonial “christening” of the stage, reenacting the tradition from the first Louder Than Life in 2014. The ceremony will feature the breaking of a guitar and bourbon bottle, accompanied by a jet flyover.
The city is expecting 400,000 fans between Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond this year. Louisville Tourism reported that both festivals generated more than 60,000 hotel room nights and had a $30 million economic impact in 2023.
A limited number of weekend and single-day general admission and VIP passes are still available at www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com, including the Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP and the all-new Skybox, offering an ultra-exclusive experience with premium stage views, complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and dedicated restrooms and merchandise shop.
Fans can plan their four-day weekend with the Louder Than Life mobile app, available at www.louderthanlifefestival.com/mobileapp.
Among the nearly 150 music acts on five stages, highlights include:
– Disturbed, joined by a special guest vocalist, as part of a unique contest with Louisville’s Alt 105.1 and The Fox Den. Local singer Katelyn Webb will perform Ann Wilson’s part in the song “Don’t Tell Me.”
– Gojira, making their only U.S. festival appearance for 2024 after performing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
– Mastodon celebrating the 20th anniversary of their classic album *Leviathan* by performing it in full.
– One of Till Lindemann’s (Rammstein) first solo shows in the U.S.
– Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine performing the band’s biggest hits alongside his solo material.
– Sum 41’s final Kentucky show as part of their 2024 farewell tour.
– Marky Ramone playing classic hits of The Ramones.
– Saosin celebrating their 20th anniversary.
– Lorna Shore, marking their first DWP festival appearance in years.
Other performances will come from Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling In Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Seether, In This Moment, Anthrax, and more.
In addition to music, Louder Than Life will offer top local cuisine and Louisville’s finest spirits, including at the popular Headbangers Hall, featuring guest appearances and surprise experiences, and Kroger’s Big Bourbon Bar, with a curated selection of bourbon and specialty cocktails. A full list of onsite experiences is available at www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com.
The Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in the U.S.