Railbird Festival

Railbird Festival is a music festival that takes place in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. The event, held on two racetracks through the years (Keeneland and The Red Mile), is also known for its unique bourbon selections.^[2]

Railbird Festival
Genre	Bluegrass, country, Americana, folk, rock[1]
Location(s)	The Grounds at Keeneland, Lexington, Kentucky (2019, 2021) The Infield at The Red Mile, Lexington (2023–present)
Years active	2019, 2021, 2023–present
Organized by	AC Entertainment (2019) C3 Presents (2020–present)
Website	railbirdfest.com

History

The first Railbird Festival was held on August 10–11, 2019 at Keeneland.^[3]

In 2020, a lineup was announced for August,^[4] before the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5]

2021 saw the return of Railbird to Keeneland, but also a substantial increase in ticket sales. A ban of outside drinks led to festival attendees being forced into lines for water lasting over an hour in "miserably hot" conditions.^[6] These issues led to a one-year hiatus and change of venue for the festival.^[7]

In 2023, the third Railbird Festival was held at The Red Mile.^[8]

Lineups

2019

Saturday, August 10 The Raconteurs Brandi Carlile Old Crow Medicine Show Mandolin Orange Mavis Staples Robert Earl Keen Grace VanderWaal Ruston Kelly Billy Strings Low Cut Connie The Dip Devon Gilfillian Lillie Mae Lucie Silvas Justin Wells Ian Noe Joslyn & The Sweet Compression

Sunday, August 11 Hozier Tyler Childers Gary Clark Jr. St. Paul and The Broken Bones Lucinda Williams I'm with Her Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors Jade Bird Blackfoot Gypsies The Wooks Susto Futurebirds Fruit Bats Yola Johnny Conqueroo Kelsey Waldon Ona

2021

Saturday, August 28 My Morning Jacket Leon Bridges Billy Strings Black Pumas Midland Margo Price Japanese Breakfast Joy Oladokun Sarah Jarosz John Moreland Briston Maroney Sierra Ferrell The Brook & The Bluff Bendigo Fletcher Magnolia Boulevard Nicholas Jamerson

Sunday, August 29 Dave Matthews Band Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Khruangbin The Revivalists Band of Horses Tanya Tucker Colter Wall The War and Treaty Pinegrove Zach Bryan Liz Cooper & The Stampede Cedric Burnside Cha Wa S.G. Goodman Southern Avenue Grayson Jenkins

2023

Saturday, June 3 Zach Bryan Weezer Marcus Mumford Whiskey Myers Sheryl Crow Charley Crockett Jenny Lewis Lucius Morgan Wade Valerie June Dehd Neal Francis The Heavy Heavy Madeline Edwards The Local Honeys Wayne Graham

Sunday, June 4 Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats The Head and the Heart Goose Nickel Creek Amos Lee Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Sierra Ferrell Charles Wesley Godwin Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway 49 Winchester Town Mountain Cole Chaney Flipturn Calder Allen Brit Taylor

2024

Saturday, June 1 Noah Kahan Turnpike Troubadors Counting Crows Wynonna Judd Marcus King Trampled by Turtles Flatland Cavalry Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band Sam Barber Josiah & The Bonnevilles Katie Pruitt Ryan Beatty Brittney Spencer Kaitlin Butts Abby Hamilton Brother Smith

Sunday, June 2 Chris Stapleton Hozier Lord Huron Dwight Yoakam Elle King The Red Clay Strays Johnnyswim Allison Russell The Infamous Stringdusters Nolan Taylor Hailey Whitters Kip Moore Brent Cobb Tanner Ursey Stephen Wilson Jr. Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle

2025

Saturday, May 31 Lainey Wilson Bailey Zimmerman Shaboozey Cody Jinks Sierra Ferrell Wyatt Flores Luke Grimes Larkin Poe Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners Ruston Kelly Josh Meloy Maggie Antone Sierra Hull Infinity Song Rattlesnake Milk Mama Said String Band

Sunday, June 1 Jelly Roll Riley Green The Red Clay Strays Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen Treaty Oak Revival Gavin Adcock Blackberry Smoke Thee Sacred Souls Max McNown Ole Go Jesse Welles The Castellows Christone "Kingfish" Ingram Chaparelle Bendigo Fletcher Noeline Hofmann Mojo Thunder

Cancelled festivals

2020

Saturday, August 22–Sunday, August 23 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Maren Morris The Head and the Heart Young the Giant The Decemberists Tanya Tucker Trampled by Turtles Colter Wall Whiskey Myers Shovels & Rope City and Colour The Dead South Cat Power The War and Treaty Hayes Carll Sarah Jarosz

Lost Dog Street Band Cedric Burnside Bonny Light Horseman John Moreland Town Mountain Liz Cooper & The Stampede Paul Cauthen The New Respects Magnolia Boulevard Southern Avenue Caitlyn Smith The Brook & The Bluff Senora May Bendigo Fletcher Nicholas Jamerson Grayson Jenkins