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The History of Forecastle

Historical footage documenting the 7-year history of this grassroots festival, from it's birth in 2002, to its current incarnation. Hundreds of photographs and performance footage examing each festival year, from 2002 - 2007.; The Forecastle Festival 2007; Historical footage documenting the 7-year history of this grassroots festival, from it's birth in 2002, to its current incarnation. Hundreds of photographs and performance footage examing each festival year, from 2002 - 2007. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1417325961http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=980547693

 

The first Forecastle was hosted July 20th, 2002, at Tyler Park in Louisville, KY. Organized in one of the most scenic areas in the heart of the city, the 15-acre, Frederick Olmsted designed park proved the perfect foundation for the festival's early years (Olmsted also designed Central Park, Biltmore Estate, U.S. Capitol Lawn). The original concept was pure: a free, outdoor, summer festival, designed to celebrate the camaraderie of the Louisville music community. A grassroots effort ~ all infrastructure donated, all talent performing for free ~ the festival cost less than $500 to produce. When the sun ascended on the morning of July 20th, several hundred people gathered to see live performances by The Vixen Red, Fire The Saddle, Blue Goat War, and other local favorites. The atmosphere was progressive and positive, and encouraged 21-year-old festival founder JK McKnight to build upon it the following year.

In 2003 JK invited the local art community to join forces in making Forecastle a more inclusive presentation. Mike Ratterman (Zephyr Gallery) headed that effort, organizing a campaign of thirty artists who exhibited underneath the limestone bridge bisecting and defining the park, to create a unique visual experience which correlated with the sonic timbre of live music. In addition to art, a dozen environmental and socially conscious organizations participated, educating the audience on local community issues. When Forecastle 2003 ignited on July 19th, a distinct, equal representation of Louisville music, arts, and activism was presented, and a new format established: Music.Art.Activism®.

Having tripled the attendance set in 2003, JK worked to regionalize the festival in 2004: booking bands, artists, activists, and journalists from across the Midwest and as far away as Boston, Massachusetts, to converge in one of Louisville's most scenic environments for an unforgettable day of Music.Art.Activism®. While still unsponsored, JK and his crew worked relentlessly to make Forecastle a major regional draw. The Louisville community volunteered their time and services, and the result was Forecastle 2004: the largest gathering musicians, artists, and activists in the state of Kentucky. The event blended eighteen bands on dueling East / West stages, thirty artists connecting the stages, and twenty-five community non-profits and bipartisan organizations along the perimeter. All three elements blended together cohesively, attracting wider demographics than they ever would have separately. JK and his crew quickly realized they had formed something unique and different, and applied for a U.S. Federal Trademark to protect it. The incredible amount of grassroots support carried over to 2005, when JK was granted access to Louisville’s historic, 409-acre Cherokee Park. In six months, the 23-year-old raised over $60,000 to host Forecastle 2005: the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the Midwest, and the first festival in over a decade at Cherokee Park.

Having officially outgrown Tyler Park, Forecastle 2005 moved into three sections of the Olmstead-designed Cherokee Park. In addition to being the first festival in a decade, 2005 was historic for being the largest gathering of musicians, artists, and activists in the Midwest. Organizers worked around the clock, booking a national act to headline the West Stage, invited a record number of regional artists, and consolidated the activism to environmentalism and outdoor, active-lifestyle activities. For the first time, national sponsors such as Patagonia and Red Bull joined forces with local companies to help cover costs, which were 10X larger than all previous years combined. Forecastle 2005 set sail on Saturday, July 30th, and attracted over 5,000 people ~ a park record to this day. When the attendance was revealed, city officials were shocked to see Forecastle upstage the last major event held at Cherokee – the LRS Kentucky Derby Festival. The festival was one of the top local and regional draws, outperforming better funded and better advertised events, while establishing a new model for the Midwest.

Forecastle 2006 introduced a multi-day format, in which the festival effectively doubled in size, moving to the vast, 350,000 sq. foot Mellwood Art and Entertainment Center ~ the first festival ever hosted there. 2006 boosted the highest participation of musicians, artists, and activists in Forecastle’s 5-year history. Highlights include finale performances from critically-acclaimed, pop masterminds “The Apples in Stereo” and influential, all-female rock trio “Sleater-Kinney.” Sleater Kinney's performance was especially noteworthy. In June of 06’, the band announced that after twelve years, they would disband shortly after Forecastle. The news sold thousands of tickets and thrust the festival into the national spotlight. Soon after the story broke, feature articles by The New York Times, MTV, VH1, CNN, Billboard, and others emerged as tickets were being sold from Washington to Rhode Island. In July of 2006, SPIN Magazine named Forecastle as "One of the Top 101 things to do in America."

With national sponsorship, and having outgrown both the park system and Mellwood, Forecastle moved to the Riverfront. The 6th annual event took place July 27th-28th at The Riverfront Belvedere ~ part of a scenic, $60 million dollar waterfront investment which attracts 1.5 million visitors a year. Outdoors in the heart of downtown Louisville, organizers crafted 2007 around (10) Midwest participating cities, whose musicians, artists, and activists would contribute equally to the Music.Art.Activism® format. Sponsorships and exclusive media partnerships in each city would further attract the largest audience ever to the Midwest’s most exciting summer experience. Highlights of 2007 include Grammy-award winning hip-hop trio De La Soul, indie mash-up phenomenon Girl Talk, and West Coast rock / jazz / electronic pioneers Particle. In addition, the event combined dueling East / West stages, a regionally curated art exhibition, fifty environmental organizations, educational panels, speakers, films, an outdoor extreme sports park, eco-business expo, and more along the Ohio River. As captured on film by The Village Voice and posted online in 17 major U.S. Newspapers, Forecastle had reached a new destination that opened an exciting new chapter ~ a wave of support carrying it to the national level.

Building upon the success of 2007, Forecastle 2008 expanded to a 3-day “Festival and Symposium” on The Louisville Riverfront, enhancing the established format with more national talent, educational, and active-lifestyle elements. For the first time, organizers rented a campground and utilized the historic Galt House Hotel and Suites for an unparalleled festival / symposium experience.

  • For musicians, a place to meet face-to-face with promoters, label executives, and industry insiders, with panels focusing on career topics such as songwriting, recording, studios, airplay, publishing, marketing, branding, and touring.
  • For artists, a place to exhibit and attend workshops focused on sustainable mediums, concept, design, technique and process, with panels shining light on career paths in the creative industry.
  • For environmentalists, a place to educate, network, meet green technology leaders, demo the latest outdoor hardware, and participate in panels, films, and speaker sessions.

Forecastle 2009 will continue building upon the successful format established in 2003, while focusing intensely on three core elements: Music.Art.Activism®. Organizers are planning more amenities to accommodate increasing crowds, as well as year-round marketing and advertising efforts, highlighted by the festival’s Spring and Fall College Tours. With over 10 million people within three hours of the Louisville skyline, Forecastle provides the perfect foundation for the Midwest’s music, art, and activism communities. The festival is, and will continue to be ~ the place where the Midwest connects™.

Forecastle Veterans (02' - 08'):

music.
  • Action Jackson (2008)
  • All We Seabees (2008)
  • Aloha (2007)
  • AM Sunday (2005)
  • The Apples in Stereo (2006)
  • Arch (2004, 2005, 2006)
  • Arnett Hollow (2008)
  • Aus (2008)
  • Band of Horses (2008)
  • Backyard Tire Fire (2008)
  • Black Diamond Heavies (2007)
  • Bloom Street (2004, 2005, 2006)
  • Blue Goat War (2002)
  • Brigid Kaelin (2008)
  • Cabin (2005, 2006, 2008)
  • Captain of Industry (2007)
  • Catfish Haven (2008)
  • Cass McCombs (2008)
  • Cheer-Accident (2007)
  • Chicago Afrobeat Project (2007)
  • Chinese Fingertrap (2007)
  • The Children (2004, 2005)
  • Chris Volpe (2008)
  • The Cobalt (2002)
  • Code Red (2008)
  • Coltrane Motion (2007, 2008)
  • COWBOY (2007)
  • D. Biddle (2006)
  • De La Soul (2007)
  • De Novo Dahl (2005)
  • Del McCoury Band (2008)
  • Del The Funky Homosapien (2008)
  • The Deloreans (2008)
  • The Disco Biscuits (2008)
  • Devlin and Darko of Spank Rock (2008)
  • Digital Wolf (2007)
  • DJ 2nd Nature (2008)
  • DJ Harry (2007)
  • DJ Jesse Jamz (2007, 2008)
  • DJ Jackola (2008)
  • DJ Jon Doe (2007, 2008)
  • DJ Kunundrum (2008)
  • DJs Matt Anthony & Woodrow on the Radio (2008)
  • DJ Narwhal (2008)
  • DJs Taradactyl, B-Rex, and Bad Animal (2007)
  • D.W. Box and One Long Song (2006, 2008)
  • DJ Harry (2007)
  • Dr. Dog (2008)
  • Early Day Miners (2007, 2008)
  • Elephant Micah (2006)
  • Ekoostik Hookah (2008)
  • Erin & Drew Wilson (2004)
  • Extra Golden (2008)
  • Figure (2008)
  • Film School (2008)
  • Ferdinand Fox (2008)
  • The Features (2007)
  • The Fervor (2007, 2008)
  • Fire the Saddle (2002, 2006)
  • Follow The Train (2005, 2006)
  • Geoff Koch (2007)
  • Ghostfinger (2007)
  • Girl Talk (2007)
  • The Giving Tree Band (2008)
  • The Glasspack (2006, 2007)
  • Glue (2007)
  • Go Van Gogh (2008)
  • Gracer (2006)
  • Gran Bel Fischer (2008)
  • Groovatron (2008)
  • GZA (2008)
  • The Harry Pickens Band (2007)
  • The Hiders (2007)
  • Honey Roy (2007, 2008)
  • How I Became the Bomb (2007)
  • The Hotpipes (2007)
  • IAMIS (2006)
  • The Impossible Shapes (2007)
  • The Indicators (2007)
  • Irina (2003, 2005)
  • Is What??!! (2004, 2007)
  • Jamili Brown (2008)
  • Jamie Barns (After The Panic) (2004)
  • Janitors of the Apocalypse (2002)
  • Jessee Jamz (2008)
  • JK McKnight (2003, 2004)
  • Joe Manning (2005)
  • John Boy's Courage (2007)
  • Josh Garrels (2008)
  • Kelley McRae (2007)
  • Kentucky Nightmare (2008)
  • Kid Adam (2008)
  • Kurtis Hort (2004)
  • L&N (2004)
  • Lucky Pineapple (2007, 2008)
  • Margot and the Nuclear So and So's (2008)
  • Matt Thomas (2008)
  • The Merediths (2005)
  • The Middle Men (2003)
  • The October (2006, 2007)
  • Paradigm (2007)
  • The Pennies (2007)
  • The Protomen (2008)
  • Miles Meada (2008)
  • Morning State (2008)
  • Mucca Pazza (2007)
  • Murder Your Darlings (2005)
  • New Mastersounds (2008)
  • Noizejoi (2007)
  • Odawas (2007)
  • The Old Ceremony (2007)
  • Parlour (2007)
  • Paradigm (2008)
  • Perfect Jewish Couple (2008)
  • The Photographic (2005, 2006)
  • Pomegranates (2008)
  • The Ladybirds (2006)
  • The Seedy Seeds (2008)
  • Tristen Shields (2005)
  • Tryptamine (2008)
  • Paradigm (2008)
  • Particle (2007)
  • People Noise (2008)
  • Pinata Me (mem. Second Story Man) (2004)
  • Pine Club (2002, 2003)
  • Pocketfox (2004)
  • Prizzy Prizzy Please (2008)
  • Morning State (2008)
  • Nasty Nate & Mischief (2004)
  • Nacirema (2008)
  • Noizejoi (2008)
  • Otis Gibbs (2008)
  • Red-Taled Hawk (2003)
  • Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (2008)
  • Ron Whitehead and Sarah Elizabeth (2004, 2005, 2006)
  • Ronnie Mack (2005, 2006)
  • Scaramongo (2004)
  • Scourge of the Sea (2007)
  • Second Story Man (2006)
  • Shipping News (2005)
  • SKL (2004, 2006, 2007)
  • Sleater-Kinney (2006)
  • Spectacular Fantastic (2005)
  • Snowden (2008)
  • The Stephen Simmons Band (2007)
  • The Swell (2005)
  • Stephen Simmons (2005)
  • The Town Criers (2008)
  • Todd Coyle (2007)
  • Tortoise (2008)
  • Trophy Wives (2008)
  • Tyler Ramsey (2008)
  • Your Black Star (2003, 2006)
  • Your Highness (2006)
  • Valley (2004)
  • Velvet Saints (2008)
  • VHS or BETA (2008)
  • Wax Fang (2006, 2007)
  • Z-Trip (2008)
  • Wolverine Brass (2006)
  • Ultra Pulverize (2007)
  • Unwed Sailor (2008)
  • The Vixen Red (2002, 2003)
art.
  • Albertus Gorman (2006)
  • Aron Conaway (2004)
  • Arron Raymer (2003)
  • Art Sanctuary (2005)
  • Audria Radmacher (2005)
  • Bart Herre (2003 - 05')
  • Bob Pierre (2003, 2004)
  • Brad White (2003)
  • Braylin Stewart (2005)
  • Chad Cully & Luke Ebner (2007)
  • Chad McConnell (2005)
  • Chris Chappel (2004)
  • Christopher Daniel (2007)
  • Christian Hansen (2007)
  • Corie J. Cole (2004)
  • Courtnee Bennett (2007)
  • Cynthia Reynolds (2007)
  • Dave Bibelhauser (2006)
  • David Keator (2004)
  • David Metcalf (2006, 2007)
  • Dennis C. Baker (2007)
  • Devin French (2004, 2005)
  • Elizabeth Guipe (2007)
  • Emily Buddendeck (2007)
  • Emily Detrick (2008)
  • Emily Trick (2006)
  • Emily Wrinkles (2003)
  • Garth Paquin (2004)
  • Gregory Martin (2004)
  • Hallie Jones (2004)
  • Ian Pollock (2005)
  • Jake Heustis (2006)
  • Jared Landberg (2007)
  • Jarrett Hawkins (2007)
  • Jason Crigler (2005)
  • Jeff Gaither (2003 - 07')
  • Jenny Pellerin (2005, 2006)
  • Jenny Wuest (2005)
  • Jerome Kennedy (2007)
  • Jessica Riordan (2008)
  • Jimmy Angelina (2004, 2005)
  • Joe Welsh (2003, 2004)
  • John Oh (2005)
  • John King (2005)
  • Kathy McQuade Olliges (2003 - 05')
  • Karen Latona (2005)
  • Kristen Shelor (2004, 2005)
  • Lisa Merida-Paytes (2007)
  • Letitia Quesenberry (2006)
  • Mary K. Norman (2008)
  • Mary Williams (2004)
  • Mason Cowell (2005)
  • Matt Weir (2003 - 07')
  • Matilda Paulin (2005)
  • McKinley Moore (2008)
  • Megan Olliges (2004)
  • Meredith Carr (2008)
  • Miatta (2005)
  • Michele Glasnovic (2004, 2005)
  • Michele Korfhage (2008)
  • Mike McCoy (2003, 2004)
  • Michael Koerner (2008)
  • Mike Ratterman (2003 - 07')
  • Mo McKnight (2005)
  • Monica Mahoney (2006)
  • Monica A. Vincent (2008)
  • Noah Church (2005)
  • Pat Collins (2008)
  • Owen Leitche (2005)
  • Patricia Gaines-Mills (2007)
  • Radiokiller (2004)
  • Raymond Graf (2007)
  • Rebecca Norton (2004)
  • Rene Blansette (2005)
  • Renee & Johnny (2004, 2005)
  • Ryan Goff (2008)
  • Russell May (2008)
  • Samantha Griffith (2005, 2006)
  • Sarah Tangel (2005)
  • Scott Boyer (2006)
  • Scott Hall (2007)
  • Scott Hisey (2007)
  • Sean Griffin (2005)
  • Shannon Stelzer (2004)
  • Siouxziey (2004)
  • Suzanne Kehr (2008)
  • Terrance L. Williams (2005)
  • Terry Tapp (2008)
  • Thea Lura (2006, 2007)
  • Thomas Browne (2005)
  • Walter Early (2008)
  • Will Renda (2005)
activism.
  • 8664 ~ Restore the Waterfront (2008)
  • The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (2007, 2008)
  • AOH (2003, 2004)
  • Artfulcility (2007)
  • Audubon Society (2005, 2006)
  • Bicycling for Louisville (2007, 2008)
  • Bike Courier Bike Shop (2007, 2008)
  • Bioneers (2005)
  • Blue Earth Alliance (2007)
  • Breaking New Grounds (2008)
  • Brick House (2005)
  • Buckeye Forest Council (2005 - 08')
  • Caldwell Eco-Center (2007, 2008)
  • CAPA (2004)
  • Carbonfund (2008)
  • C-SAW (2003)
  • Center for Sustainable Living (2007)
  • Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads (2008)
  • Coalition for the Advancement of Regional Transportation (2007, 2008)
  • Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda (2004)
  • Community Action Program (2004)
  • Community Farm Alliance (2004 - 08')
  • Cultivating Connections (2006 - 08')
  • Digital Peasant (2004)
  • Dogwood Alliance (2007, 2008)
  • Earthsave International (2003 - 08')
  • Earth First! (2005 - 08')
  • Fairness (2004, 2005)
  • Future Fund (2008)
  • Global Community Monitor (2006, 2007)
  • Global Village Foundation (2005 - 07')
  • Good Oil Boys (2006)
  • Green Thumbs (2005 - 08')
  • Habitat For Humanity (2005)
  • Headcount (2008)
  • Heartwood (2003 - 07')
  • Hoosier Environmental Council (2007)
  • Indiana Forest Alliance (2005, 2007)
  • Indiana Heartwood (2007)
  • Hoosier Heartland RC&D Council (2008)
  • KAIRE (2007)
  • KCADP (2005)
  • Kentucky Air Education (2008)
  • Kentucky Humane Society (2003)
  • Kentucky Resources Council (2006 - 08')
  • Kentucky Solar Partnership (2005 - 08')
  • Kentucky Trails Association (2008)
  • Kentucky Waterways Alliance (2006 - 08')
  • Kentucky Writer's Coalition (2003)
  • Kentuckiana Air Education (2006)
  • Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (2005 - 08')
  • LAVA (2003, 2004)
  • Lexington Environmental Action Project (2006)
  • Louisville Arts Council (2005)
  • Louisville Media Reform (2005)
  • Louisville Nature Center (2005)
  • Louisville Sustainability Forum (2007)
  • The Louisville Zoo (2006)
  • Missouri Forest Alliance (2007)
  • Mountain Justice Summer (2005 - 08')
  • MVFR (2005)
  • Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center (2007, 2008)
  • NCC Eco-Justice Program (2008)
  • Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (2007)
  • Ohio Citizen Action (2007)
  • Ohio River Foundation (2007)
  • Ohio Valley Creative Energy (2006 - 08')
  • Olmstead Park Conservancy (2006 - 08')
  • Operation Brightside (2006)
  • Partners for Family Farms (2005, 2006)
  • PEACC (2005)
  • Peak Oil Group (2007)
  • Portland Historical Society (2005)
  • Presbyterian Hunger Program (USA) (2007)
  • Protect Our Woods (2007)
  • Rainbow Blossom (2005, 2008)
  • Reclamation Art (2006)
  • Rainbow Blossom (2006)
  • RESULTS Global Grassroots (2008)
  • Save the Cumberland (2006, 2007)
  • Sierra Club Cincinnati Chapter (2007)
  • Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter (2007)
  • Sierra Club Louisville (2003, 2005, 2006 - 08')
  • Sister's Squad (2004)
  • Slow Foods Bluegrass (2007, 2008)
  • Southern Energy Conservation Initiative (2007)
  • Southern Energy Network (2007, 2008)
  • Student Environmental Action Coalition (2007)
  • Students Producing Organics Under the Sun (2007)
  • Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling (2007)
  • Sustainable Agriculture (2005)
  • The Ohio River Foundation (2006, 2008)
  • Waterfurnance (2008)
  • The Olmsted Park Conservancy (2006)
  • Urban Sisterhood (2007)
  • West Jefferson Community Task Force (2006)
  • Urban Seeds (2008)
  • Valley Watch (2007, 2008)
  • Voter Registration (2004)


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