Louisville Hosts Three Rockin’ Festivals in September
In what is sure to be the most rocking month in the history of Louisville, Kentucky, music fans are in for at treat with three all-star music festivals covering just about every genre of music. Kicking it all off is Hometown Rising (September 14 & 15) featuring country music all-stars, then get ready for the rock legends at Bourbon & Beyond (September 20, 21, 22), and lastly Louder Than Life (September 27, 28, 29) will wrap it all up with the rockers of the world. Regardless of what your music preference is, you will surely find your niche with one of the three and Louisville is waiting for you with open arms.
All three festivals are conveniently located among the newly renovated Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Festival Grounds offering plenty of parking and proximity to hotels, restaurants and the airport.
read moreThe Kentucky Center Opens 36th Season with Lewis Black, Wu-Tang Clan, Lyle Lovett and more!
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is offering a wide variety of entertainment as it opens its 36th arts season – including a bevy of shows at the historic Brown Theatre and the newly opened standing room venue, Old Forester’s Paristown Hall. Fall performances will feature rap group Wu-Tang Clan, the return of singer Lyle Lovett, comedian Lewis Black, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and many others.
View the current season lineup at www.kentuckycenter.org.
read moreThe Cinema at the Speed Art Museum: Aug.-Sept. 2019
One of the great treasures for the thinking community in Louisville is the 138-seat Cinema that opened as part of the Speed Art Museum’s expansion. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including 16mm, 35mm and DCI-compliant 4K digital projection systems, the venue screens films that otherwise would never be shown locally. Look for features that offer the Cinema+ experience, where after-screening talks and conversations feature artists and filmmakers tied to the projects. Here are shows scheduled for August and September 2019.
Playwright Idris Goodwin talks ‘Hype Man’ and the BLM movement
Hype Man is one of Actors Theatre of Louisville’s production for the 2019-2020 season. The hip-hop centric drama touches on issues of race, class and music. Here’s what playwright Idris Goodwin had to say Actors’ resident dramaturg, Hannah Rae Montgomery.
Hannah Rae Montgomery: What inspired you to write Hype Man?
Idris Goodwin: On a basic level, Hype Man is about a band. It’s a workplace drama, the business just happens to be rap music.
read moreOrchestra to kick off season with free outdoor concert
The Louisville Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Teddy Abrams, presents a free concert on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. at the Iroquois Amphitheater (near the intersection of New Cut Road and Kenwood Drive).
The program, sponsored by Brown-Forman and LG&E, is for the entire family, Teddy leads the LO in a wide variety of music including classical (Symphony No. 9 by Antonín Dvořák), bluegrass (Pando by Jeremy Kittel), traditional (Amazing Grace), and film (Star Wars by John Williams). The concert closes with the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky.
read moreTake a trip to Pine Mountain
In a few recording sessions scattered over the autumn, winter and spring of 2017 and 2018, 44 musicians and writers from all across Kentucky gathered on the slopes of Pine Mountain in Harlan County to make a record. Their aim: Connect all of us to the important work of the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust. Produced and Engineered by Daniel Martin Moore, sales of the Pine Mountain Sessions album directly benefit the Lands Trust and the Pine Mountain Settlement School.
Railbird Fest Set for August 10 & 11 at Keeneland Racecourse – Lexington, KY
Get ready to experience Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky like never before with the first-ever Railbird Festival, taking place August 10th and 11th! A Kentucky extravaganza through and through, Railbird is centered around music, bourbon, and equine with performances by The Raconteurs, Hozier, Tyler Childers, Brandi Carlile, and more! CLICK HERE for more information and tickets!
The Mavericks are back and coming to Louisville Sept. 26
Sometimes all you need for things to go right is a little time.
The Mavericks—masters of country-Latin rock ’n’ roll, born in the rich cultural mix of Miami then tempered in Nashville’s country hothouse—rode high in the country and rock charts of the 1990s with culture-crossing hits like “What A Crying Shame” and “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” Then they conquered Europe with the titanic feel-good party classic “Dance The Night Away”, a 400,000-seller in the UK. Yet nothing lasts forever, and in 2004 The Mavericks went on hiatus while frontman Raul Malo explored new musical avenues.
read moreIt’s never too early to count down for the Count … Dracula, that is
Labor Day barbecue menus haven’t even been planned yet, but already we’re ramping up for Halloween. The U.S.’s second-favorite holiday (spending for it falls behind only our spree at Christmas) seems to get our attention earlier each year. And if you live in Louisville, the first whiffs of pumpkin spice means one thing: Fifth Third Bank’s “Dracula” is stirring, ready to storm from the cave for a flight and a bite at Actors Theatre of Louisville.
Ready to get it on with Theo Von?
Now is the time to get your tickets to see one of the hottest performers in stand-up. Theo Von will be in Louisville for a one-night-only show on Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Comedian and podcast host Theo Von is on the rise as he continues to sell out theaters worldwide while gaining millions of downloads per month of his popular podcast This Past Weekend.
The guy is everywhere these days. He can be seen in his very own Netflix Original comedy special, No Offense. Theo’s podcast, This Past Weekend, is one of the top comedy podcasts, garnering 3.5 million listens a month. Theo has appeared numerous times on Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, and regularly on Joey Diaz’s The Church of What’s Happening Now. He was voted guest of the year on The Fighter and the Kid by TFATK listeners in 2017.
read moreWarmed by the ‘Ring of Fire’
May I confess to you that my relationship to Johnny Cash has always been a bit on the cold side? I grew up in the ’60s in a home where Hee Haw was forced on my pre-teen self the way some kids were routinely dosed with cod liver oil. Neither leaves a pleasant taste when you’re 6 and would rather suck on Dum Dums and turn the dial to whatever was on Channel 41.
In fact, no one who might have appeared on either side of Grandpa Jones’ reciting the components of the night’s dinner menu, or who might sit in for a robust interlude of picking and grinning, stood much of a chance of being endeared to me.
“Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” reminds me of how much I’ve missed over the years.
read moreActors Theatre wants to know: Are you ready for a hot ‘Ring of Fire’?
Are you ready for this summer to get hotter? Actors Theatre of Louisville has just the ticket—or two, so you can favorite theatergoer with you—with “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.” The musical review presents the best known and loved songs by the Man in Black.
YOUTH OPERA CAMP: A Musical & Theatrical Experience for Grades 2-5 – July 15-19
A perfect summer day camp for your young performer. During this week, each camper will have the opportunity to create, act, sing, and explore within a supportive environment with age appropriate skill building. Professional teaching artists will guide students to create musically theatrical narratives, build social skills, and promote personal growth. Family and friends will be invited to attend the end-of-week camp showcase. $375 per participant – Financial assistance is available.
The Louisville Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (TM) July 6-7 @ The Kentucky Center Whitney Hall
The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert, the fourth film in the Harry Potter series. On Saturday, July 6 at 7PM and Sunday, July 7 at 3PM, YOUR Louisville Orchestra will perform the magical score live from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.
KENTUCKY OPERA PRESENTS SIDECAR 2019 – Jazz-inspired fundraising event at The Henry Clay on Friday, May 17 @ 6 PM
Sidecar will feature live jazz and performances from Louisville favorites Emily Albrink, Soprano; Chad Sloan, Baritone; and David George, pianist. The winner of the Design Your Dream Porsche Raffle will be drawn at 9:30pm. $100 chances are available for purchase at kyopera.org. Sidecar will feature fun activities including a silent auction and fun games including a wine toss, and bourbon pull. The evening will conclude with swing dancing to the sounds of the Hora Certa Jazz Ensemble. Sponsored by Blue Grass MOTORSPORT.
The Kentucky Center’s ArtsReach presents Dance Out Loud Sunday, April 28th @ 4:00 PM at Bomhard Theater
The 3rd annual Dance Out Loud event will feature dancers of all ages and abilities, from pre-school to professional, performing African, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and lyrical choreography.
Performers include:
ArtsReach Our Voices Dance Collective
Brandon Ragland, Louisville Ballet
ArtsReach Cabbage Patch Dance Studio
Daysia Cathey
D.E.S.T.I.N.E.D. Dance Company
Genesis Arts
La’Nita Rocknettes School of Dance
Waterworks Dance Theater
Actors Theatre of Louisville presents the 14th annual New Voices Young Playwrights Festival April 23-25
Inspired by the New Voices Playwriting Residency, the New Voices Young Playwrights Festival is fully produced by Actors Education and the Professional Training Company. By harnessing the wildly creative resources under its roof, Actors Theatre Education provides an opportunity where young people of all backgrounds are invited to see plays and make plays.
Spend Your Saturdays Learning “The Art Of Stage Combat” with Kentucky Shakespeare
Join Eric Frantz, Teaching Artist/Historical Interpreter at the Frazier History Museum, who leads the research on sword fighting and combat using historical manuals and texts.
Dates: Saturdays 1:00-5:00
Long Sword (Double Session) on March 30 and April 6
Dueling Sword on April 20
Price, includes equipment rental:
Long Sword $75
Dueling Sword $60
Teddy Signs a 5-Year Contract + Louisville Orchestra Announces the 2019-2020 Season of Concerts
The Louisville Orchestra Board of Directors, together with CEO, Robert Massey, are pleased to announce an unprecedented 5-year contract to extend the term of Teddy Abrams as Music Director. This extension from the usual 3-year contract renewal shows the organization’s confidence in the artistic direction and creative vision of the young conductor.
“We’re thrilled to make this extraordinary commitment to engaging Teddy until the 2024-2025 Season. His vision for the renaissance of the arts for our orchestra and our community is unique in the world,“ says John P. Malloy, President of the LO Board of Directors.
Abrams was named Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra in 2014, the youngest conductor ever named to that position with a major orchestra. He’s become a popular figure throughout Louisville while developing a national reputation for innovation and community building.
Kentucky Shakespeare Kicks Off 6th annual SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS tour – April 6 – May 25, 2019
Kentucky Shakespeare announces the 2019 SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS tour.Their 6-actor, 90-minute production of MACBETH will tour to 28 parks in Louisville, Indiana, and other Kentucky cities this spring, bringing free Shakespeare to neighborhoods April 6-May 25, 2019.
“We couldn’t be happier to be able to serve so many parks and neighborhoods with this tour. In 2014 we started with nine parks and this spring we’ll triple that number! This season, we branch out even further, bringing free Shakespeare in the Parks to Mt. Washington in Bullitt County and Bowling Green plus serving some local neighborhoods for the first time including Smoketown and Klondike Park. We’ll again have backup rain spaces for each location too, so you can join us rain or shine. We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring this special free family event to neighborhoods across the area!” says Producing Artistic Director Matt Wallace.
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