Press

2011

• November 15th, 2011: “Forecastle Festival Starts Nonprofit Foundation” by Business First

  The Forecastle Festival, a music, arts and environmental activism event held in Louisville, has started a nonprofit organization to promote local environmental education and international conservation. Read more>

• September 28th, 2011: “Forecastle Fest announces 2012 dates” by The Courier Journal

  Louisville’s Forecastle Festival announced today that its next music and art fest will be July 13-15 at Waterfront Park. Read more>

• September 28th, 2011: “Forecastle 2012: Dates Announced” by Live Music Blog

  The announcement was dropped today confirming that the festival was locked and loaded and ready to go. Read more>

• September 28th, 2011: “10th Anniversary of Forecastle Announced” by Jambase

  Forecastle has announced the dates for its 10th Anniversary. The event will mark the second partnership between The Forecastle Festival and AC Entertainment, producers of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Moogfest and more. Read more>

• July 28th, 2011: “Halfway to Forecastle Rocks Waterfront” by The Examiner

  The Waterfront was rocking as Halfway to Forecastle took place this past Friday. The event marked the halfway point until the much anticipated 10th anniversary of the Forecastle Festival. Read more>

• July 27th, 2011: “Looking Back and Forward to Forecastle” by WFPL

  “History of Forecastle” interview with Captain JK McKnight. Read more>

• July 18th, 2011: “PHOTOS: Halfway to Forecastle” by Backseat Sandbar

  We still cannot believe this was only Halfway. If Friday night marked a halfway point, then the final destination of the Forecastle ship will blow your mind. Excellent performances all around, and especially great with Big Boi tearing down the waterfront. Read more>

• July 17th, 2011: “PHOTOS: Halfway to Forecastle” by Metromix

  Photos from Halfway to Forecastle, July 15th at Waterfront Park. Featuring performances from Pretty Lights, Big Boi, RJD2 and many more. Read more>

• July 15th, 2011: “Halfway to Forecastle Rocks Waterfront” by WLKY

  Louisville’s Waterfront Park has recently been picked as the city’s best site for outdoor concerts. The Waterfront Wharf will be put to the test for a music festival called Halfway to Forecastle. Read more>

• July 15th, 2011: “The Forecastle Festival” by Louisville Magazine

  Feature and interview on the past, present, and future of The Forecastle Festival. Read more>

• May 15th, 2011: “Halfway to Forecastle Announced” by LEO Weekly

  Halfway to Forecastle – featuring Big Boi, Pretty Lights, and RJD2 – announced for July 15th at Waterfront Park. Read more>

• May 15th, 2011: “Halfway to Forecastle Lineup Announced” by Plug-In Music

  The Forecastle Festival and AC Entertainment are pleased to announce the 4th annual “Halfway to Forecastle” event, July 15 at The Wharf at Waterfront Park. It will be the first event partnership between The Forecastle Festival and AC Entertainment. Read more>

• May 10th, 2011: “Halfway to Forecastle Announced :: Pretty Lights, Big Boi, RJD2″ by Jambase

  The Forecastle Festival and AC Entertainment have announced the 4th annual “Halfway to Forecastle” event, July 15 at The Wharf of Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY. The main event will be co-headlined by Pretty Lights and Big Boi, with a late night after-party at The Ice House. Read more>

• May 10th, 2011: “Halfway to Forecastle a Stepping Stone to 10th Anniversary” by WFPL

  Forecastle Founder JK McKnight has announced the headliners for this summer’s Halfway to Forecastle Festival. The Halfway to Forecastle Festival has been held annually since 2008 and focuses more on electronic music. Read more>

• February 11th, 2011: “Forecastle Festival partners with AC Entertainment” by Scene and be Seen

  The Forecastle Festival – Louisville’s premier event for music, art and environmental activism – has forged a partnership with AC Entertainment, producers of The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Moogfest, Big Ears, and more than 750 concerts and events throughout the country. Read more>

• February 11th, 2011: “Bonnaroo promoter on board for Louisville’s Forecastle” by The Tennessean

  The Forecastle Festival, which celebrates music and art in Louisville, will skip this year, but come back in 2012. Organizers have struck a deal with Knoxville, Tenn.-based AC Entertainment to produce what will be the 10th anniversary of the event next year at the city’s Waterfront Park. Read more>

2010

• October 10th, 2010: “VIDEO: BMX Ramp Jam” by MTS Shine

  Footage of the 2010 BMX Ramp Jam. Read more>

• September 3rd, 2010: “Interview with DEVO” by NBC

  Interview with DEVO by NBC at Forecastle 2010. Read more>

• August 24th, 2010: “Techno Meets Appalachia” by The Highlander

  Forecastle Festival, having gained quite the attention over the past few years, has undergone quite the makeover.  J.K. McKnight’s prophetic vision of a multi-faceted, full-scale arts and music festival fully inflated this year. Read more>

• August 16th, 2010: “Interview with The Flaming Lips” by Backseat Sandbar

  Interview with Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips at Forecastle 2010. Read more>

• August 8th, 2010: “Forecastle Delivers Total Experience” by Lumino Magazine

  Forecastle Festival was a success. Particularly for me, having managed to snag a bed at a friend’s parents’ condo, conveniently located directly across the street from Louisville’s lovely Waterfront Park. Read more>

• July 25th, 2010: “Forecastle Xtreme Sports Expo” by Fat BMX Magazine

  Every year Louisville BMX riders get together and build a ramp setup to session during the 3 day Forecastle Music Festival. It makes for one of the most exciting weekends of the year. Read more>

• July 23rd, 2010: “Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s” by Indianapolis Metromix

  Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s review of Forecastle 2010. Read more>

• July 22nd, 2010: “Festival Aims for Environmental Awareness” by The Hudson Times

  Thousands gathered in Louisville, Ky., this summer to listen to headliner bands and to learn more about being environmentally aware and active in local communities. Read more>

• July 21st, 2010: “REVIEW:  Forecastle 2010″ by The Weekly Feed

  4-article review of Forecastle 2010. Read more>

• July 20th, 2010: “INTERVIEW:  We were Promised Jetpacks” by WFPK

  Interview with the Scottish Rockers at Forecastle 2010. Read more>

• July 17th, 2010: “Forecastle 2010″ by Festival Family

  Here’s the story. Louisville’s Forecastle Festival grew for seven years before exploding in its eighth year, last summer. Last year hosted two nights of Widespread Panic, along with a supporting cast of the Black Crowes, The Black Keys, Pretty Lights and Umphrey’s McGee. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “INTERVIEW: Forecastle Founder JK McKnight” by The Courier Journal

  Post-festival interview by Louisville’s Courier Journal. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Friday” by Backseat Sandbar

  Review of Forecastle by Louisville’s own Backseat Sandbar. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Friday” by Each Note Secure

  Review of Forecastle by Cincinnati’s finest Each Note Secure. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “Smashing Pumpkins at Forecastle” by Metromix

  Smashing Pumpkins at The Forecastle Festival. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “The Forecastle Festival” by Each Note Secure

  The Forecastle lineup for Sunday was more than enough to keep me excited. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “Forecastle 2010″ by Birmingham News

  If there was ever a blueprint for building a music and arts festival from the ground up, the Forecastle Festival is it. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “Forecastle 2010″ by Consequence of Sound

  In the magical world where the South slams against the Midwest sits Louisville, Kentucky; the only possible home for the 2010 incarnation of Forecastle Festival. Less folky than Bonnaroo and less urban than Lollapalooza, Forecastle is a truly open festival that provides picturesque views from anywhere on the grounds and wide ranging mainstream and underground acts. Read more>>

• July 17th, 2010: “Cap n’ Jazz at Forecastle” by Brooklyn Vegan

  Interview with Cap n’ Jazz at Forecastle 2010. Read more>>

• July 16th, 2010: “Forecastle 2010″ by Music Marauders

  A little inspiration goes a long way, and truly, inspiration abounds at the Forecastle Festival. It exists to help people connect with causes and educational experiences to broaden the scope of their knowledge of the world on which we live and are a part of. In the name of education and entertainment the festival was founded, and now the gathering has grown to attract tens of thousands over the weekend!. Read more>>

• July 16th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Festival Sunday” by Each Note Secure

  The Forecastle Festival is where the midwest connects. In the ten years the festival has been going on, one of my favorite things about the event is the fact that bands from the midwest are always represented. So this year, when the likes of The Flaming Lips, Smashing Pumpkins and Spoon were announced as headliners, I wondered if our boys from Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville would still be represented. Read more>>

• July 16th, 2010: “Forecastle 2010: Rockin’ the River City” by The Kentucky Kernel

  The summer is marked with great music festivals across the country. One of the notable ones is in our backyard, so to speak.  The 9th Annual Forecastle Fest was held at Waterfront Park in Louisville this year, a first-time use of the locale. Read more>>

• July 16th, 2010: “Cirque Bezerek and March Madness Band at Forecastle” by Blueline

  Lexington’s March Madness Marching Band bedazzled the crowds at Forecastle all weekend, including a stage show Friday night and a surprise appearance with the delightfully macabre Cirque Berzerk, a circus troupe from Los Angeles. Forecastle marked their first festival performance outside of Burning Man. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Friday” by Stuck In The Clouds

  The ninth edition of Forecastle found itself occupying 75 acres of Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, bringing its blend of music, art and activism to an expected thirty thousand people this weekend. Three main music stages showcased a stellar lineup, including the Flaming Lips, Spoon, Smashing Pumpkins, Devo, Cake, Widespread Panic, Lucero, Drive By Truckers, She & Him, Modern English, Arnett Hollow, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Vandaveer, Sara Watkins, Against Me and Company of Thieves. One electronica/dj stage, one circus stage, one sustainable living roadshow area and one outdoor extreme sports showcase rounded out the lineup of scheduled events. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “REVIEW: The Forecastle Festival” by Randomville

  As the strains of their 1982 hit “I Melt With You” rang out across Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville on Saturday (July 10th), the weather was cooperating fully, as half clothed, sweating hippies danced away in the blazing heat to a band that in its heyday appealed mostly to the “Valley Girl” crowd.  But today, among the environmental displays, the booths full of tie-dyes and one-hitters, the March Madness Marching Band that looked straight out of Barnum and/or Bailey’s acid trip, and the giant sculpture made entirely from empty water bottles, Robbie Grey and the mostly original Modern English lineup powered through their 80’s pop rock with an ageless energy.  “I know what you bastards want…you look like you’re melting out there!”, Grey said with a sly grin. “Here it comes”. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “DEVO at Forecastle” by Blueline

  No two ways around it, Devo slayed at Forecastle. They might not have had the insane stage antics that the Flaming Lips did, but hell, they pulled off at least 4 wardrobe changes and they still sound great. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “REVIEW: Cap n’ Jazz at Forecastle” by BUZZGrinder

  Sure, there was a  good lineup at Forecastle this year, but the reason I was so amped for the fest — since you could see pretty much any of the other acts at (insert festival name here) — was the opportunity to see the first full set from Cap’n Jazz in 15 years. Photos from Buzzgrinder. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “Minus the Bear at Forecastle” by WFPK

  Hours after Minus The Bear had left the stage, Wayne Coyne was riding atop a brown bear’s shoulders leading to the obvious joke of, “hey, let those guys know that I found it.” The Seattle band is definitely riding high on the success of their latest album, Omni, along with it’s super-catchy first single, My Time. We caught up before the set to chat dance moves, going indie vs. going with a label, and more. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Festival 2010″ by Decibel Tolls

  Forecastle Festival, now in its ninth year, certainly came a long way from its humble origins as an environmental awareness plus folk music party in Tyler Park. Read more>>

• July 15th, 2010: “REVIEW: The Forecastle Festival” by LA Music Blog

  “We hope this festival goes on for 100 years. We’ll keep playing as many as we can.” – Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips. Read more>>

• July 14th, 2010: “INTERVIEW: Drive-by Truckers at Forecastle” by WFPK

  WFPK was the presenting station at this year’s Forecastle Festival held in Waterfront Park. Our morning host James Bickers and myself were set up behind the main stage, mics in hand and ready to roll. We conducted a few interviews with Forecastle performers including Patterson Hood of Drive-by Truckers. Read more>>

• July 14th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival right at home on Louisville Waterfront” by Courier-Journal

  Anytime you squeeze more than 100 bands and between 20,000 and 30,000 people together over the course of a three-day festival, you can rightly expect a few problems. The numbers are against you. But the 2010 Forecastle Music, Arts and Activism Festival made a quietly spectacular debut in Waterfront Park July 9-11, and seems to have found its ideal home. Read more>>

• July 13th, 2010: “REVIEW: Sara Watkins at Forecastle” by Louisville.com

  If you are known for your acoustic, bluegrass-inspired country-folk, opening your set with a Fleetwood Mac song may seem odd. Not if you’re Sara Watkins. The fiddle-playing third of NickeL Creek has recently stepped out on her own with a self-titled debut solo album released last year. Sunday at Forecastle Festival 2010, Watkins played an eclectic and inspired set of originals and covers. Read more>>

• July 12th, 2010: “She and Him at Forecastle” by Spinner

  Near the end of their 75-minute set Sunday evening at Waterfront Park’s Forecastle Fest in Louisville, Ky., M. Ward, half of the co-ed duo She and Him, said, “This isn’t too shabby for our first time here.” Read more>>

• July 12th, 2010: “Flaming Lips @ Forecastle” by Spinner

  After three heat-filled days in Louisville, Ky., the ninth annual Forecastle Festival came to a riveting end Sunday night when the always-festive Flaming Lips performed a 90-minute set. Like some of the other bands who performed at the Main Stage Sunday, the Lips hadn’t been to Louisville in a while, but lead singer Wayne Coyne praised the fest and hoped it would “continue for a 100 years.” Read more>>

• July 12th, 2010: “REVIEW: Drive-by Truckers at Forecastle” by Buzzgrinder

  Photos from Friday’s appearance on the West Stage of Forecastle. Read more>>

• July 12th, 2010: “REVIEW: Drive-by Truckers at Forecastle” by Eleven Magazine

  Festival review by Eleven Magazine at Forecastle. Read more>>

• July 12th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Sunday” by Broken Mic

  Photos from Sunday’s appearance on the West Stage of Forecastle. Read more>>

• July 12th, 2010: Wayne Coyne ~ The Flaming Lips

  “I hope Forecastle lasts 100 years. We’ll play as many as we can.”

  ~ Wayne Coyne | The Flaming Lips

• July 11th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Food” by Louisville.com

  Forecastle Festival’s food offerings spank other downtown festivals I can’t remember the last time I got this excited about fair food. Seriously, people. Forecastle is doing this right. Take notes. Learn a lesson. Please, for the love of all things good, replicate it. Read more>>

• July 11th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival draws thousands to Waterfront Park” by The Courier-Journal

  Rachel Evans gracefully Hula-Hooped and Julie French worked on her suntan among the hundreds of people gathered in front of the main stage at the Forecastle Festival. Both were thrilled to be part of the ninth-annual event, a celebration of music, art and environmental activism that is taking place at Waterfront Park for the first time this year. The festival runs through Sunday evening. Read more>>

• July 11th, 2010: “REVIEW: Bear Hands @ Forecastle” by Spinner

  During the first full day of Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY, Brooklyn quartet Bear Hands tried to invigorate a languid, early evening crowd with their brand of upbeat indie rock. Read more>>

• July 11th, 2010: “Forecastle Gives 1% back to the Planet” by Louisville.com

  1% For the Planet is a global foundation that exists to build and support an alliance of businesses that are financially committed to creating and healthy planet. It was founded by creator Yvon Chouinard. Forecastle Festival is the first and only music festival to belong to 1% For the Planet. Read more>>

• July 11th, 2010: “Fans await Flaming Lips at close of Forecastle Festival” by Courier-Journal

  Natalie Hubbard and Barbara Patterson rested on a bench at Waterfront Park, sporting sunglasses and holding bottles of water. The third and final day of Forecastle Festival had begun two hours earlier at 12:30 p.m., and Hubbard, 24, and Patterson, 23, were preparing for 10 hours of revelry — mostly in 90-degree heat — that would end with the eccentric rock band the Flaming Lips. Read more>>

• July 11th, 2010: “Smashing Pumpkins Headline Second Night of Forecastle Festival” by Spinner

  Saturday night at the Forecastle Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, the Smashing Pumpkins veered from a slew of intimate club shows to headline their first festival since Billy Corgan handpicked a brand new lineup. Thousands gathered to hear the new incarnation of the Pumpkins perform a 90-minute set comprised of old favorites and a selection of new ones. Read more>>

• July 11th, 2010: “Lucero @ Forecastle 2010″ by Nashville Scene

  Sandwiched in between Indiana, the water, and downtown Louisville, this year’s festival was held at a much larger and more attractive space known as Waterfront Park. Feeling more like Lollapalooza than anything Bonnaroo-esque, the Forecastle Festival bonds together urban life, with the skate ramps under the overpass, and festival life, with rows of environmentally-friendly vendors and the obvious slew of stages. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival Final Prep on the Way” by WLKY

  The first day of the festival began as a dismal, dreary and drenched affair thanks to steady morning downpours. But just 12 hours later, Waterfront Park had been transformed into a flawless festival atmosphere. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “Music fans jam pack Forecastle Festival” by WHAS 11

  Thousands of people packed into Waterfront Park tonight for the Forecastle Festival. They’re here to see bands such as the Smashing Pumpkins, Widespread Panic, Cake and the Flaming Lips. People enjoyed the live music Friday night by dancing or even hula-hooping. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle West and East Stages” by Cincinnati Citybeat

  Louisville will be home to the 9th annual Forecastle Festival starting this Friday. The three-day extravaganza of hot sweaty tree hugging features a star studded lineup of over 100 bands including She & Him, Spoon, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s and Cake. Headlining acts include psychedelic indie rockers The Flaming Lips, Against Me! and the award winning Smashing Pumpkins who have promised to rock so hard the oil spill in the Gulf will stop. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle West and East Stages” by LEO Weekly

  The main stage opened with two southern rock bands cut from a similar cloth, Scott Miller & The Commonwealth and Drive-by Truckers. Miller falling down on the more country side of things, while the Truckers turned up a notch with a blues-centered, riff-based set. Forecastle: West and East Stages, Day 1. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “REVIEW: Forecastle Friday” by MetroMix

  Photos from inside The Forecastle Festival. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival is local success story with 100 performers and crowds in thousands” by WHAS 11

  The Forecastle Festival is a local success story. In just nine years, a small festival with a few local acts has flourished into more than 100 performers and crowds in the thousands. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “INTERVIEW: Forecastle Founder JK McKnight” by Headcount

  When 29-year old JK McKnight was just reaching drinking age, he set out to create a concert festival that would combine music, art and activism in Louisville, Kentucky. Now going into its ninth year, the Forecastle Festival has become one of thetop regional festivals in the U.S. Read more>>

• July 10th, 2010: “REVIEW: Smashing Pumpkins @ Forecastle” by Each Note Secure

  Smashing Pumpkins headlined the second night of the Forecastle Festival tonight, and really had the crowd in the palms of their hands. Read more>>

• July 9th, 2010: “Sustainability Strategies that really work” by The Courier-Journal

  The Forecastle Festival is more than just at the forefront of music and art; it is also for activism. As a tip of the cap to that portion of the festival, here are five sustainability strategies that really work (or at least that’s what we’re hoping). Read more>>

• July 9th, 2010: “They’re Still Devo” by The Musical Box

  “I drove through Kentucky once,” DEVO’s Mothersbaugh recalled. “It was in Lexington at a Salvation Army store around 1975 or 76 that I bought five matching pairs of tuxedo pants. Read more>>

• July 9th, 2010: “Louisville’s 3-Day Event Features Smashing Pumpkins, Widespread Panic” by WLKY

  Day one of the ninth Forecastle Festival is under way.The first day of the festival began as a dismal, dreary and drenched affair thanks to steady morning downpours. But just 12 hours later, Waterfront Park had been transformed into a flawless festival atmosphere. Read more>>

• July 9th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Forecastle 2010″ by Each Note Secure

  Forecastle Festival starts tonight, and Team ENS is getting pretty psyched. Fearless Leader Joe, Keith and I will be down there all three days to tweet, take photos and sweat through at least 6 t-shirts a piece. Blazing heat aside, I’m looking forward to my first trip to Forecastle for what promises to be an amazing lineup. I mean, seriously – Flaming Lips? Devo? Spoon? Cake? It’s an endless list of awesome, and ENS will be there for all of it. Here’s a preview of some of the bands I’m anticipating at 2010’s Forecastle Festival. Read more>>

• July 9th, 2010: “Forecastle at Waterfront Set to Be Largest; Features Site-Specific Art” by WFPL

  Organizers of this year’s three-day festival say they expect 30,000 attendees in addition to about 1200 musicians, artists, environmentalists and sponsors. This makes it the largest so far. Headliners include Devo, The Flaming Lips, Widespread Panic and Spoon. Read more>>

• July 9th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Forecastle 2010″ by The Decibel Tolls

  Forecastle Festival kicks off this weekend at Louisville’s Waterfront Park, and for 2010, the festival has certainly upped the ante. Forecastle is boasting one of the largest and most diverse lineups in the region and becoming competitive with some of the nation’s largest festivals. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “Forecastle Founder never dreamed this big” by FOX News

  JK McKnight is in charge of making sure thousands of music fans this weekend receive a sensory overload. “I always had a fascination with large gathering of people,” says McKnight. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “FORECASTLE FORECAST: Cake” by Backseat Sandbar

  Hailing from California’s fertile Central Valley, this Sacramento band has attracted the kind of ecstatic response most newcomers only dream of and seasoned veterans justifiably envy. Based almost entirely on the strength of their live performances and on word of mouth, CAKE has built up a sizable following that is fast billowing out of the northern California region in a reckless eastward expansion. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “The world’s now weird enough for Devo” by Kentucky.com

  However unwittingly, Lexington has played a role in the evolution of de-evolution — or more specifically, in the makeup of the veteran jump-suited pop purveyors who have come to symbolize such social regression: Devo. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “Navigating the Forecastle: Getting in and getting around” by Louisville.com

  My, how it’s grown. This year’s Forecastle Festival—the 9th—truly is the biggest one yet, with acts such as She & Him, Devo and Cake sharing the air with headliners (The) Smashing Pumpkins, Widespread Panic and The Flaming Lips. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “9th Forecastle Festival begins Friday” by Scene and Be Seen

  Preview of Smashing Pumpkins, The Flaming Lips, DEVO, Cake, Widespread Panic, and many more. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “Newsmaker: The Forecastle Festival at the Waterfront” by WHAS 11

  The Waterfront Independence Festival just wrapped up and already there’s another big music festival ready to take over the main stage. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “FORECASTLE FORECAST: She & Him” by Backseat Sandbar

  She & Him make music for an eternal springtime, when the temperature is warm enough to go riding with the top (or at least the windows) rolled down and the radio turned up. They occupy an alternate universe where the saddest of songs feel as warm as sun showers; the rain may be coming down, but somewhere nearby, everything looks bright. What began as a fascinating, no-strings attached collaboration evolved into a bona fide, touring band, and She & Him are here to stay. Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward are as comfortable and complimentary a musical pair as Les Paul and Mary Ford. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “PREVIEW: The New Deal” by Louisville.com

  Fresh from the All Good Festival in Masontown, WV, The New Deal brings an electronic sound to this year’s Forecastle.  They’ve been musically inspired by the sounds of the 50’s, all the way through music of today. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Forecastle 2010″ by Jambase

  The 9th Annual Forecastle Festival, located in the heart of one of the great cities of the South, takes its name, according to the fest’s website, from a sailing term meaning “a superstructure at the bow of a ship where the crew is housed. Hard at work in the boundless blue sea, a place where workers unite after a hard day of labor. A place where the people come together.” Sounds nice, and it won’t be hard to have a good time with headliners like Widespread Panic, Smashing Pumpkins, Spoon  and The Flaming Lips providing the soundtrack for one’s revels. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “25 Must-See Acts at Forecastle” by Broken Mic

  List of recommended bands as chosen by Broken Mic. Read more>>

• July 8th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Smashing Pumpkins” by Louisville.com

  Forecastle’s Saturday headliner has been a musical force for over twenty years. The Smashing Pumpkins will take the West Stage at 10:45 for the final set of the day. The Pumpkins formed in Chicago in 1988 by members Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar), James Iha (guitar) and grew to include members D’arcy Wretzky, Melissa Auf Der Maur, and Jimmy Chamberlaim. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “FORECASTLE FORECAST: Mucca Pazza by Backseat Sandbar

  Forecastle Festival’s Sunday night headliner, The Flaming Lips, will perform on the West Stage, scheduled for a 10:30 p.m start. Q magazine included this legendary psychedelic rock band on its list of 50 Bands to See Before You Die, so now may be your opportunity to cross one off your list. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “Road Trippin’ down I-71 to Forecastle” by Cincinnati.com

  The ninth annual Forecastle Festival is ready to dock for the weekend at Louisville’s Waterfront Park, and the lineup includes some of the region’s busiest and most popular bands. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival continues tradition and finds new way to Go Green” by WHAS11

  The Forecastle Festival will draw thousands to the Louisville Riverfront for music, art, and activism. The festival is known for its focus on being Earth-friendly and in its ninth year, the Forecastle Festival has found new ways to go green. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Cake” by Louisville.com

  CAKE will be playing at 5:45pm on the West Stage this Saturday July 10th at the Forecastle Festival 2010 in Louisville, KY.  Although CAKE’s music is often classified as alternative rock or indie rock, it combines multiple musical genres, such as funk, rockability, pop, jazz, and rap.” Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Spoon” by Louisville.com

  Coming to the west stage  Sunday, July 11th at 8:45 PM, will be acclaimed “indie” rock band Spoon. They have been touring heavily this year promoting their latest release “Transcendence”, from finishing up their US tour to Coachella to Forecastle with many gigs in between. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival” by Organic Kentucky

  The festival features over 100 bands on five stages, along with San Francisco-based Sustainable Living Roadshow, Patagonia Footwear Film Pavilion, Outdoor Extreme Sports Park, SPROUTS “Rock and Relax” children’s zone, outdoor industry product demos, renewable energy showcase, green marketplace, conscious carnival, educational panels, speakers, workshops, and environmental art installations from renowned sculptors Leticia Bajuyo, Joyce Ogden, and Todd C. Smith. Visit OAK Associate member, Fresh Start Growers’ Supply, at the Festival. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “FORECASTLE FORECAST: Modern English” by Backseat Sandbar

  The summery hooks and warm lyrics of Modern English’s biggest hit, “I Melt With You,” gave listeners the impression that the band was an upbeat pop act in the early ’80s. “I Melt With You” was actually an anomaly in Modern English’s early discography. Inspired by the stylish gloom of Bauhaus and Joy Division, Modern English released the singles “Swans on Glass” and “Gathering Dust” before recording their 1981 debut LP Mesh & Lace. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “Forecastle Festival” by M Music

  So over the big-name festivals everyone’s heard of? Get in on the next big summer thing by checking out Forecastle. Founded in 2002 as a free event spotlighting local bands, it has since outgrown three subsequent venues, attracted the attention of major sponsors and evolved into a festival celebrating art and extreme sports as well as music. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “INTERVIEW: Kinetix” by Louisville.com

  One of the earliest scheduled shows to kick off Forecastle this Friday, the Denver band Kinetix will start things off with a high-energy attack of rock blended with funk and a hint of hip-hop on the East Stage at 4:30 p.m. I spoke with the group’s bass player Josh Fairman, who offered a little insight on what Kinetix will bring to town as they finish up a swing through the northeast on their way to Forecastle and points west. Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Sustainable Living Roadshow” by Louisville.com

  Adding a different flavor to 2010 Forecastle is the California group, Sustainable Living Roadshow. According to their website they are best described as a “caravan of educators and entertainers who tour the country in a fleet of renewable fuel vehicles to empower communities and individuals to utilize sustainable living strategies for a healthier planet.” Read more>>

• July 7th, 2010: “PREVIEW:  She & Him” by Louisville.com

  With albums named Volume One and Volume Two and a self-effacing band name like She & Him, M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel are clearly trying to be humble and put the focus on the music, despite the high profiles they own in their respective careers. Read more>>

• July 6th, 2010: “PREVIEW: Manchester Orchestra” by Louisville.com

  Originally from Canada, Manchester Orchestra is an indie-rock band that you won’t want to miss this weekend at the Forecastle Festival. Playing this Friday night on the west stage, band members Andy Hull, Robert McDowell, Chris Freeman & Jonathan  Corley will begin playing at 8 PM. Their last full cd release was “Mean Everything to Nothing” which came out in 2009. They also released a split EP earlier this year in January titled “I Could Be the Only One”. Read more>>

• June 16th, 2010: “The Flaming Lips @ Forecastle 2010″ by Blueline

  The Flaming Lips at Forecastle 2010. Read more>>

2009

• December 20th, 2009: “Halfway to Forecastle Moves to Larger Venue” by The Dallas Morning News

  The venue for the third annual “Halfway to Forecastle” mini-fest has been changed. The event, taking place Jan. 23, originally was scheduled to take place at The Electric Blue. The new location is The Pointe, 1205 E. Washington St., a 90,000-square-foot former industrial warehouse converted into a modern green building. Read more>>

• December 18th, 2009: “Forecastle Moves to Larger Venue” by The Courier-Journal

  The venue for the third annual “Halfway to Forecastle” mini-fest has been changed. The event, taking place Jan. 23, originally was scheduled to take place at The Electric Blue. The new location is The Pointe, 1205 E. Washington St., a 90,000-square-foot former industrial warehouse converted into a modern green building. Read more>>

• February 10th, 2009: “Forecastle Spring Tour” by The Ville Voice

  The Forecastle Festival is becoming a bigger deal. The music, art, activism event just announced dates and locations for six events on its spring tour, including stops in Lexington, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Nashville, Cincinnati, and more. Read more>>

• January 1st, 2009: “Halfway to Forecastle” by The Highlander

  Band of Horses will headline the first ever “Halfway to Forecastle” mini-fest on Saturday, January 26th, at Headliners Music Hall. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend Jimmy Levan, currently recovering from serious injuries sustained after a skate-boarding accident in New Jersey. Read more>>

2008

• December 21st, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle” by Louisville.com

  For those of you who may still be in the dark concerning Forecastle, it all began in 2002 when musician-turned-event producer, JK McKnight, put together a small music festival in Tyler Park and was encouraged by its success. With its roots firmly planted in the camaraderie of like-minded folks, the festival has evolved Read more>>

• February 10th, 2008: “Forecastle and MOKB present Lucero” by My Old Kentucky Blog

  My Old Kentucky Blog has teamed up with the Louisville-based music, art and activism festival, Forecastle, to bring you Lucero and Titus Andronicus on April 24th at Radio Radio! Tickets are $12 and you can buy them online via TicketWeb Read more>>

• February 7th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle” by 37 Flood

  Additional coverage from the sold-out “Halfway to Forecastle” concerts at Headliners Music Hall. Read more>>

• February 5th, 2008: “Forecastle” by Louisville Music News

  JK McKnight does like to talk about his baby, The Forecastle Fest, sometimes to the point of – well, he’s into it, really into it. Backseat Sandbar blog has more than a few words with McKnight. Read more>>

• February 4th, 2008: “A Few Words with JK McKnight” by Backseat Sandbar

  I had the chance to sit down with JK McKnight this weekend to discuss Forecastle 2008. JK is doing wonderful things for this city to help put it on the map. Last year he brought in Read more>>

• January 30th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle” by Velocity Weekly

  Concert review with photo galleries. Read more>>

• January 29th, 2008: “Cass McCombs at Forecastle” by You Ain’t No Picasso

  Concert review with photo galleries. Read more>>

• January 28th, 2008: “Band of Horses at Forecastle” by Critical Acclaim

  This show was amazing. The concert was all part of the Halfway to Forecastle Benefit for local BMX rider Jimmy Levan. Read more>>

• January 28th, 2008: “Band of Horses Live @ Forecastle” by Each Note Secure

  This humble little festival that began in 2002 has certainly grown up. When head man JK McKnight began to book more regional and national acts, people started to take notice. Read more>>

• January 27th, 2008: “LIVE Report from Forecastle” by Cincinnati Weekly

  Live blogcasts with photos by Cincy Weekly’s Rich Shivener. Read more>>

• January 27th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle” by The Musical Box

  “You want to dance? Well, you can try,” said Band of Horses guitarist and solo songsmith Tyler Ramsey (above) during the mammoth Halfway to Forecastle celebration last night at Louisville’s Headliners Music Hall. Read more>>

• January 25th, 2008: “Tomorrow in Louisville: Halfway to Forecastle” by My Old Kentucky Blog

  I’ll be heading down tomorrow to my hometown for Louisville’s Halfway To Forecastle Fest. Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs, Catfish Haven, VHS Or Beta, How I Became The Bomb, Early Day Miners, tomorrow’s show at Headliners. Read more>>

• January 25th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle reigns in Band of Horses” by The Courier-Journal

  If J.K. McKnight isn’t careful, his Halfway to Forecastle festival might become more popular than its bigger brother, The Forecastle Festival, which is dedicated to music, art and activism. Read more>>

• January 24th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle Sold Out!” by Random Acts of Perpetual Motion

  A killer lineup and some amazing exposure (I wonder who does the press?) brings about a sold out evening of music, art, and activism this weekend in Louisville… Read more>>

• January 24th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle is SOLD OUT” by Velocity Weekly

  Apparently, sticking an ubber-hot national act like Band of Horses atop a bill with a local favorite like VHS or Beta and selling tickets for just $15 is a safe way to sell out Headliners. Read more>>

• January 24th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle: SOLD OUT” by Louisville Music News

  JK McKnight is one promoting, publicizing dude. He’s taken his Forecastle Fest up the ladder to major status (at least in Louisville) and now he’s doing a big event to promote the big event. Read more>>

• January 24th, 2008: “A Band Apart” by Velocity Weekly

  Having avoided the sophomore slump with the heralded 2007 release, “Cease to Begin,” Band of Horses is a rarity among modern indie bands. Down-home but tinged with indie edge, the music can turn on a dime from from haunting to rocking. This time, the band is headlining the “Halfway to Forecastle” Read more>>

• January 23rd, 2008: “Citybeat: To Do List” by Cincinnati Citybeat

  When you think “music festival,” you almost certainly think summertime, but this winter organizers of the growing Forecastle Festival in Louisville (which is in the summertime) are presenting “Halfway to Forecastle,” featuring an impressive lineup Read more>>

• January 23rd, 2008: “Forecastle’s Helping Hand” by LEO Weekly

  Jimmy Levan built a career on defying gravity. His path to worldwide recognition as a professional BMX rider began as a teenager in Louisville in the early 1980s, when he’d practice religiously on wooden ramps in his backyard. But two months ago Read more>>

• January 21st, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle” by Cincinnati Weekly

  Organizers of the “Halfway to Forecastle” mini-fest say the show is almost sold out. The lineup is stacked with touring acts and Louisville dance machine VHS or Beta. Are you making the trek? Read more>>

• January 14th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle January 26th!” by Babbletrain

  Louisville, KY should embrace this unique festival. As like the previous summer festival, this 1/2 way festival is suppose to uphold to its rep. There are going to be many special effects and a fun scene to make your night Read more>>

• January 10th, 2008: “Halfway to Forecastle mini-festival” by The Lexington Project

  Remember those two days last week that were like 60 and 70 degrees? That was pretty awesome, right? Like having a little bit of summer right in the dead of winter. Ahhh…. But wait! You can bring back that lovin’ feelin’ once again with a mini-fest to hold you over until a time when it won’t snow a couple days later. Read more>>

• January 1st, 2008: “Band of Horses, McCombs Play Halfway to Forecastle” by Pitchfork

  We’re just a little more than six months away from Louisville, KY’s seventh Forecastle festival, the Derby city’s yearly rock’n'roll throwdown that brought Girl Talk and De La Soul to Louisville late last July. But that’s half a rotation of the Earth from now, simply too long for some folks to wait around for their moment to rock. Read more>>

2007

• December 27th, 2007: “Forecastle Update” by The Courier Journal

  Louisville’s Halfway to Forecastle Festival, scheduled for January 26th at Headliners Music Hall, has added a new band to its roster: Kentucky-based alternarockers VHS or BETA. Read more>>

• December 19th, 2007: “Band of Horses, Cass McCombs to play Halfway to Forecastle” by Paste Magazine

  Festivals just aren’t as impressive as they used to be. That is, of course, unless said festival is Louisville’s Forecastle Festival. Why single out this particular event? Because it’s the only festival that holds a concert to celebrate the fact that it’s still six months away. Read more>>

• December 16th, 2007: “VHS or Beta joins Halfway to Forecastle Roster” by Velocity Weekly

  Halfway to Forecastle keeps sounding better. Word came today that VHS or Beta was added to the Jan. 26 benefit for seriously injured BMXer Jimmy Levan. Read more>>

• December 14th, 2007: “Levan gets help from Band of Horses” by The Courier-Journal

  Louisville’s Jimmy Levan, an internationally known veteran of the BMX and skateboard scenes, was in a horrific accident last month that left him with a fractured skull, bruised brain and several days in a drug-induced coma. To help out, the Jan. 26th “Halfway to Forecastle” concert read more>>

• December 13th, 2007: “Halfway to Forecastle benefit concert for Jimmy Levan” by LEO Weekly

  Forecastle is proud to announce that “Band of Horses” will headline the 1st ever “Halfway to Forecastle” mini-fest Jan. 26th @ Headliners Music Hall in Louisville. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend and FBM-owner read more>>

• December 12th, 2007: “Band of Horses to Headline Louisville’s Halfway to Forecastle” by You Ain’t No Picasso

  The great folks behind Louisville’s Forcastle Music Festival are throwing a halfway-there party on January 26 at Headliners in Louisville. All ticket proceeds are going to benefit Louisville BMX-er Jimmy Levan, who was injured in a skate read more>>

• December 12th, 2007: “Forecastle Foreshadowed: Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs, More!” by Harp Magazine

  Music, Art and Activism come together to form the “Forecastle Festival” in Louisville, Kentucky every year. With the main event over 6 months away, founder JK McKnight has arranged “Half Way to Forecastle,” set for Jan. 26, a mini-festival read more>>

• December 12th, 2007: “Halfway to Forecastle Already?” by Louisville Music News

  JK McKnight is really riding the Forecastle Fest tiger for all it’s worth. He’s set up a Halfway To Forecastle benefit event for January 26, 2008 at Headliners read more>>

• December 12th, 2007: “Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs To Play Halfway To Forecastle Party” by PlugIn Music

  Although slightly more than six months away, the 7th annual Forecastle Festival will be satiating audiences anticipation with Halfway To Forecastle taking place Saturday, January 26 at Headliner’s in Louisville KY. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend Jimmy Levan. read more>>

• December 12th, 2007: “BOH / Halfway to Forecastle” by Music ‘n What Not

  Although slightly more than six months away, the 7th annual Forecastle Festival will be satiating audiences anticipation with Halfway To Forecastle taking place Saturday, January 26 at Headliner’s in Louisville KY. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend Jimmy Levan. read more>>

• December 12th, 2007: “Band of Horses headlines Halfway to Forecastle” by My Old Kentucky Blog

  Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs, Catfish Haven, How I Became The Bomb, Early Day Miners, Ferdinand Fox, Coltrane Motion, Tyler Ramsey and Jesse Jamz will fill out the bill for a January 26th show at Headliners. You can see all of them read more>>

• December 11th, 2007: “Halfway to Forecastle” by AntiMUSIC

  Although slightly more than six months away, the 7th annual Forecastle Festival will be satiating audiences anticipation with Halfway To Forecastle taking place Saturday, January 26 at Headliner’s in Louisville KY. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend Jimmy Levan. read more>>

• December 11th, 2007: “Band Of Horses Play Cincinnati, Forecastle Halfway Fest” by Each Note Secure

  So, you probably have already noticed this booking, but Band Of Horses are coming back to our fair city early in the new year. And the night before, well, that might be an even better night to catch Band Of Horses if you don’t mind heading south to Louisville read more>>

• December 10th, 2007: “7th Annual Forecastle Festival” by Music Emissions

  Although slightly more than six months away, the 7th annual Forecastle Festival will be satiating audiences anticipation with Halfway To Forecastle taking place Saturday, January 26 at Headliner’s in Louisville KY. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend Jimmy Levan. read more>>

• December 10th, 2007: “Band Of Horses, Cass McCombs To Play Halfway To Forecastle” by Jambase

  Although slightly more than six months away, the 7th annual Forecastle Festival will be satiating audiences anticipation with Halfway To Forecastle taking place Saturday, January 26 at Headliner’s in Louisville KY. All ticket proceeds will benefit Louisville BMX legend Jimmy Levan. Read more>>

• December 7th, 2007: “Halfway To Forecastle Fest” by 37 Flood

  To mark the halfway point until Forecastle 2008 J.K. McKnight has put together a benefit concert to supports local BMX legend Jimmy Levan. Read more>>

• December 7th, 2007: “Band Of Horses Headline Halfway To Forecastle” by Rock Sell Out

  Although slightly more than 6 months away, the 7th annual Forecastle Festival will be satiating audiences anticipation with Halfway To Forecastle taking place Saturday, January 26th at Headliners Music Hall, Louisville KY. All ticket proceeds will benefit read more>>

• December 6th, 2007: “Halfway to Forecastle MiniFest hits Headliners on Jan 26th” by Backseat Sandbar

  Line-ups were announced today, with all ticket proceeds benefiting Louisville BMX hero and FBM owner Jimmy Levan, currently recovering from serious injuries sustained after a skate boarding accident in New Jersey. read more>>

• December 6th, 2007: “Band Of Horses Headline Halfway To Forecastle” by Velocity Weekly

  Band of Horses will headline Halfway to Forecastle, which is a benefit for BMXer Jimmy Levan, who was injured recently in a skateboarding accident. Cass McCombs, Catfish Haven, How I Became The Bomb, Early Day Miners, Ferdinand Fox, Coltrane Motion and read more>>

• November 26th, 2007: “Forecastle secures mark, plans 2008 festival” by Business First

  The Forecastle Festival recently secured a federal trademark for its title and “Music.Art.Activism” slogan. Organizers announced last month that the festival will grow to three days in 2008. It will be held on the Belvedere on the Louisville Riverfront, July 25 to 27. The event will feature read more>>

• November 16th, 2007: “Forecastle Festival 2008 Opens for Business” by PlugInMusic.com

  The 7th annual Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY is expanding to 3 days, July 25-27, and is now accepting submissions for its three separate but equal disciplines of music, art and activism. Previous performers have included Apples in Stereo, Sleater-Kinney, De La Soul, Particle, Chicago Afrobeat Project and Girl Talk. Read more>>

• September 19th, 2007: “Best Festival in Louisville” by LEO Readers Choice Awards

  Forecastle was voted third behind The Kentucky Derby and St. James Art Fair (both of which draw over 325,000+ annually). Read more>>

• August 22nd, 2007: “To Believe in a Dream, what Sacrifice Means” by LEO Weekly

  One-page editorial by Forecastle Founder JK McKnight, reflecting on a year’s worth of work and sacrifice. Published in LEO Weekly, the column also documents the environmental movement in the United States. Read more>>

• August 2nd, 2007: “Kain-tuck-ee kicks” by The Nashville Scene

  Multi-page festival review by the The Nashville Scene. Read more>>

• August 1st, 2007: “Forecastle Saturday” by Velocity Weekly

  21-page photo gallery by Velocity Weekly. View gallery>>

• July 29th, 2007: “The Forecastle Festival” by The Village Voice

  Sweaty, wet set by headliner Girl Talk closed the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the American Midwest — the Forecastle Festival in Louisville, Ky., July 27 and 28. Published in 17 major US Newspapers. View gallery>>

• July 28th, 2007: “Festival has a Green Side” by The Courier-Journal

  There are no elephant ears or cotton candy or hot dogs and no mass-produced beer. Instead, people attending this weekend’s Forecastle Festival will find gourmet dishes like summer squash and goat cheese, locally brewed beer — and a heavy dose of environmental activism to go along with the music and art. Read more>>

• July 27th, 2007: “Forecastle Finally Lands at Riverfront” by The Courier-Journal

  Every year, JK McKnight dreams a little bigger and, every year, reality follows suit. This weekend marks the sixth year for McKnight’s Forecastle Festival, a celebration of music, art and activism that has drawn participants from across the country. McKnight has finally gotten the festival to his dream location, on the waterfront, and expects as many as 10,000 people on the Belvedere tonight and tomorrow. Read more>>

• July 26th, 2007: “Forecastle Festival” by Lexington Weekly

  I promised more on The Forecastle Festival this week, so here it be: The Forecastle Festival is an annual event that takes place in Louisville, Ky. It’s a conglomeration of art, music and activism. Seriously, I went last year and in one day checked out a ton of local sculpture and paintings, learned about Kentucky waterways, and then danced the night away. Read more>>

• July 25th, 2007: “FORECASTLE TO THE RESCUE: Can a Music Festival Save the World?” by Velocity Weekly

  Do music festivals really help save the planet, or are they just an excuse to have a good time? Forecastle Festival founder J.K. McKnight is convinced that you can do both. Read more>>

• July 25th, 2007: “FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The chefs and cooks feeding Forecastle are on a mission” by Velocity Weekly

  It’s hard to walk along Bardstown Road in the Highlands without noticing the ubiquitous posters for the Forecastle Festival plastered across the windows of trendy bars, shops and restaurants. On the other hand, the dining room at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 831 S. Brook St. seems an odd place to advertise an event with the theme “Music. Art. Activism.” Other notices remind residents of the shelter’s bath towel policy, advertise job openings and offer details on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Read more>>

• July 24th, 2007: “JK McKnight: Forecastle Festival” by LEO Weekly

  Full-page interview with Forecastle Founder JK McKnight. Read more>>

• July 24th, 2007: “De La, Girl Talk play Forecastle Festival” by Pitchfork Media

  Louisville, Kentucky’s sixth annual Forecastle Festival– which has far less to do with meterology or medieval times than it does with rocking the crap out of you– runs this weekend, July 27 and 28, at the Derby City’s eight-acre Riverfront Belvedere. De La Soul, Girl Talk, Mucca Pazza, the Impossible Shapes, Odawas, Aloha, Early Day Miners, the High Water Marks, and many more will play, and the event will also host an art show and read more>>

• July 20th, 2007: “Forecastle Festival – Music, Art, Activism” by The Bloomington Herald-Times

  The sixth annual fest features more than 60 bands (including some Secretly Canadian acts), 25 artists and 46 environmental organizations. Highlights include hip-hop trio De La Soul, sampling wizard Girl Talk, West Coast rock/jazz/electronica pioneers Particle, plus an Eco-Film showcase and Outdoor Extreme Sports Park. It takes place at the Belvedere in Louisville, Ky., and nearby locations. For more, see www.forecastlefestival.com. Read more>>

• July 18th, 2007: “As Forecastle’s ship sails on, this year, it’s a Soul party” by LEO Weekly

  Year after year, like a prepubescent kid eating lots of spinach, the Forecastle Festival just can’t stop growing. Every edition brings a different venue and one or more kinds of expansion among the Music/Arts/Activism smorgasbord. The Belvedere down by the Waterfront is home to this year’s fest, which is two days (Friday and Saturday, July 27-28) plus a kick-off party (Thursday, July 26) at the Monkey Wrench (1025 Barret Ave, 582-2433). Founder J.K. McKnight has once again roped in an army of volunteers and brought in three-dozen musical acts. The buzz around read more>>

• July 16th, 2007: “Forecastle Festival in Louisville, KY!” by The Nashville Music Scene

  Just in time for a mid-summer road comes Forecastle Festival in Louisville, Ky, just right down the road. This looks to be a great time for all, offering a killer line-up of bands, art (a regionally curated art exhibition), and environmental activism events and speakers, as well as an outdoor extreme sports park. This event features national artists, but is also heavy on regional acts, and includes talent such as De La Soul, The Features (fresh off their Nashville gig this past week), How I Became The Bomb, Particle, Girl Talk, Wax Fang, De Novo Dahl, The October, and Ghostfinger. Read more>>

• July 1st, 2007: “Forecastle Festival” by Backpacker Magazine

  Music, arts, and civic mission highlight this waterfront festival, along with tons of demos. On the eco-activism stage, don’t miss the keynote address by Skip Yowell, co-founder of Jansport and Big City Mountaineers, and be sure to stop by the BACKPACKER booth to meet the Get Out More Team. Read more>>

• June 25th, 2007: “JK McKnight: Founder, The Forecastle Festival” by Louisville Magazine

  JK McKnight doesn’t look like your typical captain. He doesn’t dawn a sailor’s cap and he’s more likely to discuss environmental activism than wind patterns. But captain – or rather, Forecastle Festival captain – is exactly how McKnight describes himself. Read more>>

• June 23rd, 2007: “Born in the Highlands, Forecastle Grows Up” by The Highlander

  Afternoon sun bathes the pavement in dusky tangerine hues. The road that climbs beside Tyler Park and continues on a plateau is Windsor Place, a street cradled from the hum of engines, brakes, and sirens by tall trees and architecture. I’m on my way to a combination business meeting and dinner party hosted by Kelly and Ellen McKnight, for thier son, JK McKnight. JK is the creator and producer of the Highlands-born Forecastle Festival read more>>

• June 19th, 2007: “Forecastle Festival Details Announced” by Paste Magazine

  The hotel that usually hosts the Kentucky Derby kickoff party is an unusual place for a “grassroots music, art and activism festival,” but Louisville’s Forecastle Festival has outgrown its previous public park locations and gone urban. Now in its sixth year, the event’s main attractions will center on read more>>

• June 14th, 2007: “Crooning for A Cause: Summer Festival anchored in Charity” by The Missourian

  When JK McKnight needed a name for his grassroots summer festival, he wanted something nautical, and he had recently returned from seeing castles in Ireland. Then he stumbled upon Forecastle, which is the space at the bow of a ship that houses the crew. Read more>>

• June 8th, 2007: “De La Soul, Girl Talk, The Features, De Novo Dahl, Particle Sail To Kentucky for Grassroots Festival” by Harmony in my Ears

  De La Soul, Girl Talk, The Features, De Novo Dahl, How I Became the Bomb, and Particle are among the artists sailing to Kentucky to support the nautically-themed, grassroots festival Forecastle. What started as a $500 community event, has quickly grown into the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the American Midwest. Read more>>

• June 1st, 2007: “Road Trippin’ USA” by The Discovery / Travel Channel

  If sitting through nine innings and watching guys spit tobacco and scratch their nether regions isn’t your ideas of a perfect Sunday afternoon, a little music may purge those searing images from your memory. Your salvation lies to the southeast. Read more>>

• May 23rd, 2007: “Fun under the Stars and Sun” by Indianapolis’s NUVO Weekly

  In late July, just 114 miles south of Indy, Forecastle will turn Louisville into a big meeting ground for music, art and activism. This year’s musical talent includes Long Island Jazz Rap trio De La Soul, the “I’m not a DJ and Im not a mashup artist, so what am I” performer Girl Talk and electro-jazz jam band Particle. Read more>>

• May 21st, 2007: “Girl Talk, De La Soul, and Particle to Go Green at the Forecastle Festival” by Tiny Mixed Tapes

  The Forecastle Festival is taking place July 27th-28th in Louisville, KY at The Riverfront Belvedere. If you haven’t heard of the festival, essentially it’s a huge collaboration between musicians, artists, and activists coming together to “go green.” In light of the whole global warming issue, it’s perfect a time for a festival like this to gain a foothold in our country.
  Read more>>

• May 15th, 2007: “Forecastle Festival” by Billboard

  De La Soul, Girl Talk and Particle lead the lineup for the 2007 edition of the Forecastle Festival, to be held July 27-28 at the Riverfront Belvedere in Louisville, Ky. Also on the bill are Early Day Miners, Parlour, Aloha, the Impossible Shapes, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Wax Fang, the Features, De Novo Dahl and Cheer Accident. Read more>>

• May 15th, 2007: “Fest Mania: My Old Kentucky Fest” by Prefix Magazine

  The weekend of July 27 and 28 will find the Forecastle Festival taking over the waterfront of Louisville, Kentucky. Artists who will appear at the fest include read more>>

• May 12th, 2007: “Forecastle is Bigger than Ever” by The Crimson Record

  SPIN Magazine named it “One of the “Top 101 things to do in America. LEO Magazine deemed it “A scene where cultures converge and the people come together.” It is also known as “the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the American Midwest.” For the 6th year in a row, The Forecastle Festival will take place in Louisville and once again unite three different aspects of cultural expression: music,art, and activism. Read more>>

• May 10th, 2007: “Interview with JK McKnight” by Louisville Music News

  Live interview taped for the “Player’s Club” ~ a monthly showcase of Louisville musicians. See footage>>

• April 24th, 2007: “The Forecastle Festival, Louisville, KY” by The Community Arts & Media Project

  July 27th-28th @ The Belvedere (5th and Main Streets) Louisville, Kentucky All Ages The Forecastle Festival is the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the American Midwest. Read more>>

• April 24th, 2007: “The Forecastle Festival, Louisville, KY” by My Old Kentucky Blog

  For you Louisville (and surrounding cities) readers…This year’s Forecastle Fest, an all-ages event, will be be headlined by De La Soul. The festival is Friday, July 27th and Saturday, July 28th at The Belvedere. This should be pretty great as it’s in this newly beautified area of town and right on the river. I’m looking forward to it. Other great bands that will be playing are read more>>

• April 23rd, 2007: “Forecastle Tix” by The Courier-Journal

  Tickets for the 6th annual Forecastle Festival go on sale @ 10AM Friday. Organizer JK McKnight has announced the complete line-up for this year’s event at forecastlefest.com. Tickets are available through Ticketweb and Ticketmaster.com, ear-X-tacy Records in Louisville, Indy CD & Vinyl in Indianapolis, Shake-It Records in Cincinnati, and Grimey’s New and Preloved Music in Nashville. The festival boasts the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the Midwest.

• April 7th, 2007: “2007 Festival Guide: Forecastle Festival” by The Courier-Journal

  De La Soul will perform with 40 other bands at the 6th annual Forecastle Festival. Skip Yowell ~ author, activist and entrepreneur, will be the keynote speaker. Also included is an eco-business expo and outdoor extreme sports park.

• March 12th, 2007: “Forecastle Headliner” by The Courier-Journal

  Grammy-winning hip-hop group De La Soul will open the sixth annual Forecastle Festival. Skip Yowell, co-founder of Jansport and author of “The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder and other Mountains,” will be the keynote speaker at the River City based festival July 27-28 at the Belvedere. Forecastle is the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the American Midwest.

2006

• August 29th, 2006: “Forecastle Sets Sail” by The Courier-Journal

  Next year’s Forecastle Festival will be held July 27-28 at Louisville’s Waterfront Park. The festival — named “one of the top 101 things to do in America” by SPIN magazine — will feature panels, speakers and films focusing on Midwest environmental issues, an expanded extreme sports park, and performances from dual national acts read more>>

• July 28th, 2006: “Forecastle Festival” by The Lexington Herald Leader

  It’s named for the bow of a ship, the base structure where the crew is housed. But Louisville’s Forecastle Festival has some pretty hefty goals for dry land. Namely, it wants to be Kentucky’s answer to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. It hopes to be a Midwestern beacon for established indie bands and up-and-coming artists as well as a promotional vehicle for environmental activist groups read more>>

• July 26th, 2006: “Forecastle: Ready to Rock” by Velocity Weekly

  J.K. McKnight might be a bit of an eccentric, but what he’s done with the Forecastle Festival, Louisville’s premiere music, art and activism showcase, should register as a major accomplishment read more>>

• July 26th, 2006: “Forecastle Grows Up” by LEO Weekly

  The second Forecastle Festival, in 2003, was my first. I was 16 years old. Money was tight, as it is now, so the idea of seeing two of my favorite Louisville bands Irina and Your Black Star for free, in a park a block away from my best friend’s house, sounded like a better idea than Einstein’s theory of relativity. The festival is all grown up now, and it’s no longer Louisville’s little secret read more>>

• July 23rd, 2006: “The Best Nights Out This Month: The Forecastle Festival” by SPIN Magazine

  Sleater-Kinney headlines a festival that also features popular local acts Your Black Star, Second Story Man, Ronnie Mack, Ayin, Follow the Train, Wolverine Brass, and more. Read more

• July 22nd, 2006: “Full Steam Ahead: JK’s McKnight’s homegrown Forecastle Festival goes nationwide” by The Courier-Journal

  JK McKnight walked away from last year’s Forecastle Festival in a delirious daze. More than 5,000 people had come to Cherokee Park on a gorgeous July day for nearly 12 hours of free music, art exhibits and sociopolitical activism. The turnout set a park attendance record — and firmly established Forecastle as a vibrant annual attraction with the potential to take its three-pronged message nationwide read more>>

• July 19th, 2006: “Interview with The Forecastle Festival’s JK McKnight” by The Lexington Project

  Eli Riveire’s interview with Forecastle Captain JK McKnight. Read more>>

• July 18th, 2006: “Charting the Couse: JK McKnight is determined to make Forecastle a major Music & Arts festival” by Velocity Weekly

  Hanging posters and stacking handbills at the University of Louisville a few weeks ago, J.K. McKnight’s very hectic present collided with his very distant past read more>>

• July 5th, 2006: “Forecastle: The Show will go on” by Velocity Weekly

  If you just can’t decide whether or not to attend the Forecastle Festival later this month, here’s a slice a news that might light a little fire under your ass read more>>

• June 27th, 2006: “Art, Activism, and Rock n’ Roll” by Louisville Magazine

  Equal parts musicians, visual artists and brochure-peddling activists, the fifth annual Forecastle Festival sails into the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center. The term “Forecastle” derives from read more>>

• June 9th, 2006: “Summer Music Festivals: Forecastle” by Matt Jordan

  If you hadn’t guessed, Kentucky isn’t exactly a hotspot for music. Sure, we’re currently home to My Morning Jacket, VHS or Beta, half of the Apples in Stereo and one Pavement member, but that doesn’t mean any bands ever want to play here. So to combat the lack of concerts, some masterminds in Louisville thought it might be a good idea to read more>>

• May 24th, 2006: “Forecastle” by LEO Weekly

  This homegrown festival has come a long way from its humble Tyler Park beginnings and handful of bands in 2002. This year promises to be the biggest yet, expanding to two days and featuring Apples In Stereo (Friday) and Sleater-Kinney (Saturday) as co-headliners. Tons of fine Louisville bands share the bill, like Scott Carney and Heavy Friends, Follow The Train, The Glasspack, ARCH, Cabin, The Photographic, and many more. Also, in keeping with the “Music.Art.Activism” tag, there will be a bunch of artists and environmental activism organizations on hand.

• May 11th, 2006: “Forecastle Fest docking at Mellwood” by The Courier-Journal

  All-female rockers Sleater-Kinney will headline Forecastle Festival 2006. Touted as “the largest gathering of musicians, artists and activists in the Midwest,” the celebration will take over the Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center July 28 and 29. Sleater-Kinney’ which frequently tours with Pearl Jam and the White Stripes and will play Lollapalooza following its debut in Louisville’ will be joined by read more>>

• May 10th, 2006: “Sleater-Kinney to play Forecastle” by Velocity Weekly

  The Forecastle Festival has secured Sleater-Kinney as a headliner for this year’s fest. The festival, which will be held July 28 and 29 at the Mellwood Arts Center, will also feature local acts Your Black Star, Cabin, Follow the Train, Fire the Saddle and many more read more>>

2005

• July 29th, 2005: “Forecastle 2005 Expands and Expounds” by The Courier-Journal – Jeffery Lee Puckett

  JK McKnight started the Forecastle Festival with less than $1,200 and a lot of generous friends in the music, art and activism communities. Dedicated to promoting ecological concerns through environmental activism, it flourished for three years in Tyler Park — but McKnight wanted to see how far he could take it this year. “I wanted this year to be three times as big as last year’s festival,” said McKnight, who raised $60,000 in sponsorship money read more>>

• July 27th, 2005: “Free Fore All” by Velocity Weekly

  This summer has certainly been good to local music. First, Lebowski Fest entertained and informed with scores of local bands. Now comes The Forecastle Festival, which will continue the hot streak with gobs of local musicians and artists Saturday at Cherokee Park. With performances by Shipping News, Sean Garrison, The Children, Arch and more, the free festival will anchor two, 40-ft stages: one in Frisbee Field and the other at the base of Baringer Hill. Connecting the stages, artists and activists will peddle their wares and causes to the masses. In addition, there’s an Ultimate Frisbee exhibition, highlighted by a Louisville vs. Lexington All-Star match. The madness kicks off @ 12:30.

• July 25th, 2005: “The Proclaimer: JK McKnight fuels music, arts, and activism festival” by LEO Weekly

  It started as a bumpy ride down Broadway. The old Volvo, a grey 1985 740 sedan, was shaking on fumes, struggling to a five-mile-an-hour roll just 50 feet from a gas station. “Come on Volv,” implored its owner, JK McKnight. “I’ll never do this to you again.” McKnight, 24, is a Louisville musician and the founder of this Saturday’s Forecastle festival, a one-day event that shines its light equally on music, art and activism. Forecastle has moved from Tyler Park, where it began three years ago, to Cherokee Park, and with its biggest-name musical headliner yet read more>>

• July 20th, 2005: “From humble beginnings to a bona fide festival, Forecastle is about to hit stride” by LEO Weekly

  In the summer of 2000, one of the bands I’d played with in high school and a little ways into college, Jake and the Rubber Band, played a show in Tyler Park on a sweaty Saturday afternoon. Also on the bill were Chester, a Lexington band fashioned after the Velvet Underground, and local punks the Cobalt. Our guitarist booked the show read more>>

• July 20th, 2005: “All Hands On Deck for Forecastle 2005″ by Louisville.com

  Music, art and activism will share equal billing at the first major festival to be held in Cherokee Park in a decade. The Forecastle Festival will be held on Saturday July 30th from 12:30 to 10:30 PM with twenty-five bands from across the Midwest, forty regional visual artists, and thirty-eight activist organizations. In addition, the festival boasts a Louisville vs. Lexington game, as the Midwest Ultimate Frisbee Tournament All-Stars read more>>

• June 6th, 2005: “Forecastle 2005″ by Leslie Stewart

  After four years of hard work and ever increasing crowds for his Forecastle Festival of music, art and activism, organizer JK McKnight has taken a quantum leap for this year’s endeavor. This year’s festival moves from Tyler Park to Cherokee Park, with enough acreage for two separate stages, a tree-shaded gallery for art exhibitions and activist organizations, plus the addition of the Ultimate Frisbee Tour, a rock climbing wall and read more>>

2004

• January 15th, 2004: Press coming soon…

2003

• January 15th, 2003: Press coming soon…

2002

• January 15th, 2002: Press coming soon…