April 24, 2020
Update: Spring Awakening representatives released a statement confirming the cancellation of its 2020 event. Entering its ninth year, the EDM concert was scheduled for June 12-14 at Chicago’s Union Park.
Representatives at Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) released a statement Friday announcing the cancellations of Louder Than Life, Bourbon & Beyond and Hometown Rising amid concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the release, the limitations imposed by social distancing measures mandated a decision sooner rather than later due to the “realities of hosting three back-to-back-to-back events,” despite all three events being scheduled for September.
Event organizers offered fans full refunds and will notify fans of their options via email. Organizers also expressed their intention of hosting as many of the artists planned for the 2020 edition of each event for 2021.
In 2019, Louder Than Life hosted Guns N’ Roses, Disturbed, Slipknot, Rob Zombie and Ice Cube among many others. Entering its sixth year, the annual event already established itself as a premier rock festival through diverse lineups featuring legendary acts.
This year, Louder Than Life planned to transition to a four-day event featuring metal icons Metallica. Other headliners included Godsmack, Shinedown, Alice in Chains and Nine Inch Nails.
Hometown Rising, scheduled for Sept. 12-13, debuted in 2019 to positive reviews. For its sophomore effort, the event advertised headliners Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton.
Bourbon & Beyond recruited the Foo Fighters, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and the Zac Brown Band to headline its 2020 event. Other advertised guests included John Fogarty of Credence Clearwater Revival, John Hall & Daryl Oates and ZZ Top.
Read the full statement below:
In our heart of hearts we hoped and prayed that COVID-19 would not prevent us from having the 2020 Louisville Trifesta. In what feels like a repetitive bad dream, we now have to announce that Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond festivals, held at Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY, are being cancelled for 2020. We are working really hard to bring as much of our 2020 lineups back to 2021.
Even though the festivals are not until September, the advanced planning realities of producing three back-to-back-to-back events have necessitated that a decision be made sooner than later. Our decision also conforms with the advice of health officials.
As with our other cancelled events, we will be offering full refunds to our fans. All purchasers (including transfers from Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple and Epicenter) will be notified of their options and procedures via email next week.
We are truly heartbroken it has come to this. We want to thank you for your patience, support and loyalty. We hope you are staying safe as well as physically and mentally well. We are blessed to have such an amazing Festival Family, and together, as a community, we will get through this.
With Love,
Team DWP
Your donation will support the student journalists of Northeastern Illinois University's The Independent, either in writers' payment, additional supplies and other items of note. Your contribution will allow us to purchase additional equipment for writers/photographers/illustrators and cover our annual website hosting costs.