Looking for a present that will strike just the right chord for the music lover on your holiday list? Even if you’ve waited until the last minute, early bird music festival passes make a great gift. And when you purchase months in advance, you may give yourself the gift of saving some serious cash.
Passes are now on sale for some of Louisville’s most popular music festivals including Louder Than Life, Bourbon & Beyond and Abbey Road on the River. For music lovers willing to take a trip down Interstate 65, the iconic Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee could also be a good pick.
Whether you are buying for a fan of heavy metal, rock ‘n’ roll, country, indie rock or classic Beatles music, here are four festivals, in date order, that are currently selling passes for 2025 events.
May 22-26, 2025, arotr.com
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Abbey Road on the River is the world’s largest Beatles-inspired music festival with over 250 Beatles and 60s themed concerts performed by 50 different bands from around the world. The annual Memorial Day weekend event brings Beatles fans together for five days to celebrate peace, love and rock ‘n’ roll. Abbey Road on the River is an outdoor festival held at Big Four Station Park, 228 Pearl St., Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Most of the lineup for the 2025 festival has been announced, including former Beatles drummer Pete Best.
COST: Single-day general admission is $60 when purchased before Dec. 31, 2024 with the code Santa. All-weekend (VIP) pass is $299.
June 12-15, 2025, bonnaroo.com
Bonnaroo is an annual four-day music festival which has been around since 2002. The iconic festival is held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, about four and a half hours south of Louisville. Although the 2025 lineup has yet to be announced, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival won’t disappoint. Headliners in 2024 included Post Malone, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pretty Lights, Megan Thee Stallion, Cage the Elephant, Fred Again and more.
COST: Four-day general admission is $385. 4-day VIP is $999.
Sept. 11-14, 2025, bourbonandbeyond.com
With various music genres, including country, alternative rock, and classic rock, plus bourbon and culinary experiences, the four-day music festival held at the Highlands Festival Grounds, 937 Phillips Lane, offers something for just about anyone on your Christmas list.
While the 2025 lineup hasn’t been released, Bourbon & Beyond draws big names. The 2024 lineup included Zach Bryan, Dave Matthews Band, Tyler Childers, Sting, Beck, and My Morning Jack. On the bourbon and culinary side, comedian Jim Gaffigan, music superstars Melissa Etheridge and actor Kevin Bacon have also been part of the fun.
COST: Four-day general admission starts at $280 plus fees. Four-day Mint VIP starts at $700 plus fees.
Sept. 18-21, 2025, louderthanlifefestival.com
We already know that Slayer will headline one of the four days of Louder Than Life in 2025 after bad weather caused the cancellation of Slayer’s reunion on day three of the festival in 2024. Louder Than Life, dubbed “America’s loudest rock and metal festival,” typically features more than 100 bands across multiple stages at Highland Festival Grounds, 937 Phillips Lane.
Highlights of 2024 included performances by Korn, Breaking Benjamin, Judas Priest, and Staind, plus Till Lindemann, Lorna Shore, Mötley Crüe ,The Offspring, Five Finger Death Punch, Slipknot, and more.
COST: Four-day general admission starts at $300 plus fees. Four-day VIP starts at $700 plus fees.
More:Slayer to headline Louder Than Life 2025 in Louisville. What we know
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
