2024 Bourbon & Beyond-Day Two

After all the problems with hotels the day before, we were settled into the Tru Hilton in Louisville and getting ready for a busy day at Bourbon & Beyond. I had made appointments between all the music. I was looking forward to it all.

My brother, Mark, suggested lunch at Waffle House. He said it was on his bucket list. I hadn’t been in years and I’m never one to turn down waffles. It was actually very good, with big portions and reasonable prices.

 

We had no problem parking in the handicapped area and made it onto the grounds in time to pick up coffee in the press tent and watch Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, followed by Bruce Hornsby. It was a good way to start this bright day.

We then headed to the Big Bourbon Tent. We arrived a little early for our appointment with Tyler Rothenberg of Chicken Cock Bourbon and enjoyed the bluegrass while we waited.

Tyler set us up with the two cocktails made especially for Bourbon & Beyond:

  

Wildflower in Paris- Chicken Cock Bourbon, peach liqueur, iced tea, lemon juice, mint syrup, and candied syrup.

Bardstown Buck-Chicken Cock Bourbon, ginger ale, bitters, cane sugar reduction, and strawberries.

Both were so good we happily accepted seconds as Tyler told us about this small batch bourbon, which is actually one of the oldest bourbons in the country. It was originated in 1856 and has been reincarnated into this award-winning whiskey.

 

Next, I was excited to see Melissa Etheridge for the first time. It was one giant singalong as she had the crowd on their feet. She certainly knows how to get an audience involved. I definitely wished she could have stayed on longer, but there were strict rules to make sure the stages were turned over for the next performer.           

 

Mark and I decided it was time for dinner before the next stop. With so many options, it was tough deciding what to have for dinner. We ended up choosing pretty basic food that was terrific. Mark had Gus’s Fried Chicken, and I chose Meatball Sliders (there was no company name).

 

We sat at one of the communal picnic tables and the overwhelming opinion among the attendees was favorable for the food and music, and wishes that heat and humidity was lower.

Before the next appointment, we made a quick stop at the Workshop tent. Every time I have gone to one of those at a Bourbon & Beyond Festival I enjoyed it, but even with my brother helping out, there was just not enough time to stay long enough to write about them. Maybe next year.

 

Ansley Brown, the Media Relations Director, was waiting for us at the 1 Million Strong retreat. She explained how this area was a place to support and encourage those on the recovery journey, and those who wanted a break from cocktails prevalent at the festival.

Though the cocktail selection was delicious, it is a long day in the hot sun and non-alcoholic drinks are a break. This thought was supported by the crowd in the tent, and the fact that they were fast running out of mocktails.

 

The other reason for the 1 Million Strong presence at Bourbon & Beyond is the link between music and its tie to addiction. In fact, the organization admits 56% of those in the industry indicate substance abuse. Some of those stopped by during the event as festivals can be triggering to them too.

As we left the area, It was clear the crowds were getting bigger as the sun began to set. It was Friday night and I’m sure many were first arriving for the weekend.

 

I needed a break to put my feet up, catch up on social media, and caffeinate. I found a spot in the press tent to rest while Mark caught up with some more of the music, which included Matt Kearney, Chris Isaak, and Black Pumas.

Dave Matthews was the last performer of the evening. He was one of the acts I was excited about when I saw the list of musicians for this year’s Bourbon & Beyond. I have been a fan for years, but this was my first time seeing him live. He’s a wonderful live performer and the crowd was with him, especially for “Crash Into Me.”

 

We were definitely ready to call it a night when the Dave Matthews Band finished. It had been quite a day, but it was only day two of four at Bourbon & Beyond and time to pace myself.