Kentucky is the epicenter of Bourbon – seriously, 95% of the world’s bourbon is produced here! This year, we are partnering with Kentucky Distillers’ Association to make our Bourbon lodge a more immersive experience, with additional bourbon bars, activations, and the new Bourbon-inspired culinary experience SMOKED by Jim ‘N Nick’s and MilkWood!

Jim ‘N Nick’s is all about making the best BBQ possible with a guiding principle of “low and slow.” Combine that with Chef Edward Lee of MilkWood who says, “I’ve never met a Bourbon I didn’t like,” and you have SMOKED. We are upping the game of the Bourbon Lodge this year with an amazing menu from local Louisvillian and former Top Chef contestant Chef Lee’s hot new restaurant, Milkwood, and the South’s best BBQ, Jim ‘N Nicks. Neither of these restaurants are known for taking shortcuts, so prepare yourself for an exciting and passionate menu, available exclusively at the Bourbon Lodge.

12 different Kentucky Bourbon brands will feature a selection of over 30 fine offerings available for purchase at Forecastle: Four Roses, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Early Times, Willett, Old Pogue, Heaven Hill, Corsair Artisan, Wild Turkey, Town Branch, and Jim Beam.

Master distillers and Bourbon experts will also be on hand to discuss all things Bourbon, including the fermentation and distillation process, unique history and historical figures, flavor profiles and more, direct from those who know it best.

Enjoy a pour in the air-conditioned Lodge or step out onto the spacious patio to take in the sights and sounds of the Port Stage.

Craving a Mint Julep or a Manhattan? We’ve got you covered. Visit the Mixology Station, presented by Liquor Barn, to turn your taste into a delicious Bourbon cocktail.

To top it all off – full-service, air conditioned restrooms will be available exclusively for Bourbon Lodge patrons.

There are two ways to enjoy all of the perks of this year’s Bourbon Lodge.

Option 1:
•     For $5.00, fans will gain entry into the Lodge and receive 5 tickets.
•     Each ticket is worth $1.00 and will be used to purchase food and drink inside the Lodge.
•     Fans can re-enter the Lodge by showing a ticket.
•     If fans are out of tickets, a minimum purchase of 5 tickets is required to re-enter the Lodge.

Option 2:
•     Become an official member of the Bourbon Lodge.
•     For $10.00, fans will gain entry into the Lodge and receive 5 tickets.
•     Each ticket is worth $1.00 and will be used to purchase food and drink inside the Lodge.
•     Official members will also receive a commemorative Bourbon Lodge double walled, steel mug from Eco Vessel. While supplies last!
•      This mug will allow official members to re-enter the Bourbon Lodge at any time throughout the weekend, with or without having tickets on hand.

Stay tuned for details on the Bourbon Lodge menu of bourbon selections, food offerings from SMOKED, schedule of educational activities and more!

In addition to the Bourbon Lodge, the Forecastle Festival will also feature 3 specialty Bourbon bars and activations throughout the festival, presented by: Maker’s Mark (Mast Stage), Four Roses (Boom Stage), and Woodford Reserve / Old Forester / Early Times (Port Stage). Programs and details for these unique bars and activations will be announced in the coming weeks.

If you’re hoping to jam with The String Cheese Incident until the wee morning hours, don’t miss your chance to score late-night tickets in a special pre-sale! Simply purchase your Forecastle Festival Weekend Passes via Ticketmaster before midnight on Tuesday, April 23 (TONIGHT) and you’ll be included on the list! Easy as pie.

The pre-sale will begin on Thursday, April 25 at 10 a.m. and will include access to premium seats at the Louisville Palace. Details will be e-mailed to all current Weekend Passholders and those that purchase before midnight tonight on Thursday morning.

Pre-sale tickets are available in limited quantities, so move quickly if you want to join in on the late-night fun! Late-night tickets will be reserved seating and purchases will be limited to four (4) tickets per transaction.

You’ve heard about Willy Wonka’s golden ticket – now we’ve got one of our own. On Record Store Day, this Saturday, we’ll be hiding a glorious golden ticket at some of our favorite record stores: Disc Exchange, Grimey’s, Indy CD & Vinyl, Landlocked, Reckless Records and Better Days Records!

The finder will receive a pair of GA Weekend Passes to The Forecastle Festival! Eat your heart out, Wonka. We’ll be dropping hints about golden ticket locations, so pay attention.

Single Day tickets are on sale NOW! Price Level 1 ($60) and Price Level 2 ($75) are available in very limited quantities and once each price level is sold out, tickets will continue to be sold at Price Level 3 ($85), while supplies last. Bonus prize: All pricing is inclusive of service fees! Move quickly, friends.

This Friday, April 12 at noon EDT we’ll put a limited quantity of $60 Single Day tickets on sale! Just like our weekend passes, all Single Day tickets are inclusive of service fees. Price Level 1 ($60) and Price Level 2 ($75) are available in very limited quantities and once each price level is sold out, tickets will continue to be sold at Price Level 3 ($85), while supplies last.

Snag your Single Day tickets this Friday at noon EDT or join us for the entire weekend and purchase your weekend pass for $165 now!

That’s right – the daily schedule is here already! Click here to see the weekend breakdown in all its glory. We’ll release specific set times in a few short weeks.

Our already stacked 2013 lineup is getting a little a bit more “oomf!”

Legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and his amazing new group of conspirators, the Sensational Space Shifters, will be joining the lineup and performing songs from every era of Plant’s storied career! Before his recent projects with Alison Krauss and Band of Joy, Plant worked alongside the very interesting force, “Strange Sensation,” recording the critically acclaimed, multi-Grammy nominated albums Dreamland and Mighty Rearranger. From this, the Sensational Space Shifters was conceived. Together they’ll dig deeper and more intensely than ever before, bringing the past into a brilliant technicolor present.

Also joining the lineup will be preeminent EDM DJ Boys Noize, Americana wunderkind Sarah Jarosz and dreamy R&B band Inc.!

Weekend passes, VIP passes, travel packages and payment plan options are all available NOW! Weekend passes have been moving quickly and are now available for $165!

Get your passes at www.forecastlefest.com, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Single day passes and late night show tickets, along with the daily schedule of artists and late-night events will be available in April.

Traveling to Forecastle? Once again, we’ve partnered with CID Entertainment to offer Travel Packages for this year’s fest. Travel Packages include your choice of GA or VIP Tickets, three nights at The Seelbach Hilton, festival t-shirts and posters. It’s the easiest way to get your festival passes and accommodations in one purchase. To learn more and purchase your Travel Packages click here. See you in Louisville!

F. Scott Fitzgerald once famously said, “There are no second acts in American lives.” He obviously never met The String Cheese Incident. For most bands, a run of five or 10 years is a gift; to have the experience of making music with your friends for any length of time is something to savor. But The String Cheese Incident has kept it going for more than 15 years, building a massive, devoted fan base eager to follow the band throughout an entire tour and around the world. Louisville has something special in store for all you SCI faithful with three performances across three nights of Forecastle 2013- a headlining festival performance; a separately-ticketed, intimate late night show at the historic Louisville Palace; and The Forecastle Incident, a one-of-a-kind performance with special guests!

Here it is! We’re thrilled to unveil the initial 2013 lineup featuring Grammy Award winners The Black Keys, alongside The String Cheese Incident and the Avett Brothers leading the festival’s rich, eclectic offerings.

The Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes, Animal Collective, Old Crow Medicine Show, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Big Boi, Matt & Kim, Purity Ring and more than 50 others will round out the lineup. Louisville native Jim James, whose band My Morning Jacket headlined and curated the festival in 2012, will return with his new solo project. A full list of confirmed acts can be found at www.forecastlefest.com.

In addition to performances at Waterfront Park, 2013′s festivities will feature late night shows on the historic Belle of Louisville steamboat and other landmark locations throughout downtown Louisville.  Plus, jam masters The String Cheese Incident will perform an exclusive, separately ticketed late night show at Louisville’s historic Palace Theater on Saturday, July 13!

Join us in Louisville on July 12 – 14 for three unforgettable days at Waterfront Park.

Weekend passes for Forecastle 2013 will go on sale this Wednesday, March 6 at noon EST at www.forecastlefest.com, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Single day passes and late night show tickets, along with the daily schedule of artists and late-night events will be available in April.