Roots run deep in Kentucky, both in family and in music. With the state's recent country music resurgence thanks to artists like Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Carly Pearce — to name a few — family and music have become ingrained in one another through festivals that bring people together with the gospel of music like never before.
Just like its diverse geography of mountains, rolling hills and coalfields, Kentucky's music festivals range from big to small, country to bluegrass, in the city to in the woods and everything and everywhere in between. To help with planning your next trip to the Bluegrass State, we've made a primer of our 10 favorite Kentucky music festivals below from Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville to The Moonshiner's Ball in Livingston.
Sleeping In The Woods
Where: Monticello, KY
When: May 17-19, 2024
Founded by one of Kentucky's most cherished and underrated songwriters on a national scale in Nicholas Jamerson, the Sleeping In The Woods Songwriter Festival puts storytelling front and center through two days of workshops, live music and community. Its inaugural gathering near Lake Cumberland this past spring saw a few hundred people enjoying performances from the likes of Jim Lauderdale, Rachel Baiman, Brit Taylor and Jamerson himself, who played for nearly three hours during his headlining performance.
Railbird Festival
Where: Lexington, KY
When: TBD June 2024
After two years at the Keeneland horse racing complex in Lexington, Railbird Festival settled into its new digs at the Red Mile this past June with 40,000 of its closest friends who came to see headliners Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan. Rising stars like Sierra Ferrell, Charles Wesley Godwin, Cole Chaney, 49 Winchester and Morgan Wade also graced the Railbird's three stages, helping to paint a picture of the full breadth of Appalachian music in the process.
Laurel Cove Music Festival
Where: Pineville, KY
When: TBD June 2024
Nestled inside Kentucky's first state park just north of the Cumberland Gap, Laurel Cove Music Festival pairs the top musical talent from Appalachia with spectacular views of Pine Mountain and the surrounding wilderness. Founded in 2019, the gathering has been a springboard to success for the aforementioned Godwin, Ferrell, Wade and others who call the region home. The venue's mix of stellar music and scenery has led to many referring to it as the "Red Rocks of Kentucky".
ROMP Fest
Where: Owensboro, KY
When: TBD June 2024
Produced by the Bluegrass Music Hall Of Fame & Museum, the River Of Music Party — better known as ROMP Fest — has been bringing bluegrass and other roots music to Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro since 2004. The four-day, family-friendly festival boasts several kids activities to go with two stages of music that featured Old Crow Medicine Show, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle and Rhonda Vincent, among others this past June.
Master Musicians Festival
Where: Somerset, KY
When: TBD July 2024
For 30 years fans have flocked to Festival Field in Somerset for the Master Musicians Festival, which has hosted everyone from Willie Nelson to Billy Strings, John Prine and Wynonna Judd. In addition to featuring sets from Ian Noe, Nappy Roots and Judd this past July, the 2023 iteration of the event also included a special tribute set reflecting on 30 years of the festival with covers from past performers like Willie Nelson, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Tyler Childers, Abby Hamilton courtesy of Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays and Brother Smith.
Manchester Music Festival
Where: Manchester, KY
When: Aug. 31-Sept. 2
The free-to-attend Manchester Music Festival has been a staple event for the tiny town of Manchester on Labor Day weekend since 2018. Performers at this year's edition of the event include Sundy Best, the Red Clay Strays, and Cole Chaney.
Foxfire Music & Arts Festival
Where: Ashland, KY
When: Sept. 30-Oct. 1
Held on the Ashland Riverfront overlooking the Ohio River into West Virginia, the Foxfire Music & Arts Festival has been bringing music to the community since 2021. With performances from Morgan Wade, Elle King, Kat Hasty, Nolan Taylor, Hunter Flynn and others the 2023 installment of the event taking place in late September and early October looks to be its most fiery yet.
Bourbon & Beyond
Where: Louisville, KY
When: Sept. 14-17
Next to Railbird, Bourbon & Beyond has become a top tier event in the state in recent years. This year's event boasts an epic bourbon lineup containing rare, vintage and experimental versions of the spirit to go with music from Bruno Mars, Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys, Billy Strings and others.
Poppy Mountain Music Festival
Where: Morehead, KY
When: Sept. 8-16
Launched over 30 years ago not far from Keith Whitley's birthplace in Morehead, the Poppy Mountain Music Festival has long been one of Kentucky's rowdiest parties. That tradition looks to continue next month when John Anderson, Larry Cordle, Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Moonlite Mile and others ascend on the mountain for another week of debauchery and fine music.
The Moonshiner's Ball
Where: Livingston, KY
When: Oct. 12-15
Launched in 2014 as a reunion of sorts for the Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, a Lexington based band who, over the years, saw many of its members move away and spread out around the country, The Moonshiner's Ball has grown into one of the state's most admired festivals over the past decade. After moving between two locations in its first four years, the event has since settled at a riverside campground in Livingston that puts attendees not only on the front porch of nature, but the front porch of great music as well. With a mantra of "Folk by day, funk by night" you never quite know what you're gonna get when you go to the Ball.
