Railbird Festival, a new world-class music festival led by AC Entertainment coming to The Grounds at Keeneland August 10-11, 2019, is proud to present its inaugural lineup, ticket levels, premium festival experiences and more. Those topping the weekend’s bill include American rock supergroup The Raconteurs (Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler) and singer-songwriter Hozier, whose latest album Wasteland, Baby! debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts.
Additional music acts will feature Tyler Childers, Grammy-award winner Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr., Old Crow Medicine Show and many more.A full list of confirmed artists from the 2019 lineup can be found below. More than 30 acts will perform across three stages – Limestone Stage, Elkhorn Stage and The Burl Stage – during this two-day festival.
General Admission (GA), VIP and Superfecta weekend passes will be available to the public beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 28 via RailbirdFest.com. Layaway plans will be offered for all ticket levels, with first payments starting at less than $40 plus fees for GA.
Those wishing to experience Railbird in style can purchase a VIP weekend pass to access all GA amenities, as well as exclusive Limestone and Elkhorn Stage lounges with air-conditioning, private bars with exclusive VIP pricing, and plenty of shade. VIPs can also access a portion of the Grandstand padded seating at the Limestone Stage. They will receive access luxury restrooms, fast-track entrances to the festival, free on-site parking for the weekend and commemorative Railbird merchandise. VIP ticketholders will be invited to attend an opening reception at The Rickhouse on the Friday evening before Railbird begins, as well as exclusive happy hour receptions on Saturday and Sunday during the festival. During the happy hour events, VIP guests will enjoy cocktails and passed appetizers from Keeneland’s Executive Chef Marc Therrien. VIPs will also have exclusive access to add on an intimate Friday night dinner curated by Chef Therrien in the Keeneland Saddling Paddock.
For the ultimate Railbird experience, a very limited number of Superfecta weekend passes will be available including all of the amenities and perks of GA, VIP and more. These fans will have access to the Limestone Stage’s private pit viewing area and bar. They will also have access to the air-conditioned Skydeck bar and lounge atop the padded Grandstand seating at the Limestone Stage, with elevated viewing and complimentary beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. At the Elkhorn Stage, Superfecta guests will have access to even more elevated viewing and up-scale seating atop a Clubhouse bar and lounge. Superfecta guests will enjoy valet parking and a Railbird commemorative merchandise package. These ticketholders will also be invited to watch morning workouts at Keeneland and enjoy a tour of the beautiful grounds during the festival weekend. At the Friday evening opening reception, Superfecta guests will enjoy free Bourbon tastings from all Railbird partner distilleries, a full dinner package in Saddling Paddock curated by Chef Therrien and more. They will also receive a complimentary brunch with breakfast cocktail bar included on one day of the festival, their choice of Saturday or Sunday.
Ticketholders of all levels will receive a high-security wristband with a uniquely coded RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip embedded inside. Every wristband will be scanned as you enter and exit the festival site, as well as at certain locations within the festival site. Wristbands can be used for cashless purchases within the festival grounds, for food, beverages, merchandise and more.
In addition to world-class musical acts across three stages, Railbird will offer a wide variety of premium experiences, from horse racing, to the culinary world, and beyond. Renowned chefs including James Beard nominee Ouita Michael (Holly Hill Inn & more), Top Chef season 16 runner up Sara Bradley (freight house), Master Chef alumnus Dan Wu (Atomic Ramen), Cole Arimes (Cole 735 Main), Toa Green (Crank and Boom) and others come together to create up-close-and-personal culinary experiences during the festival weekend. Details on these intimate engagements will be available soon.
Separate, ticketed, adventures available Thursday at 10 a.m. EST will include a luxurious morning brunch from Chef Therrien trackside on the Clubhouse Lawn while fans enjoy morning thoroughbred workouts followed by a tour of Keeneland’s grounds. Chef Therrien will also curate a Friday night opening celebration held in the Saddling Paddock at Keeneland featuring a full dinner menu, bourbon tastings from The Rickhouse, craft cocktails for purchase and more. Additional equine excursions include visits to neighboring horse farms WinStar Farm and Godolphin. Convenient transportation to and from the Keeneland grounds is included in the package. Details, including menus for the Friday night dinner and Saturday and Sunday brunches, along with tour times and all ticket prices can be found at RailbirdFest.com.
All festival-goers will enjoy wagering, lounging and a taste of horse culture at the Lucky Day Plaza. Fans can get in on the action and wager on off-track betting, with coast-to-coast simulcast from Del Mar to Saratoga on the festival grounds. Keeneland’s own BETologists will be on-site with tips for winning big. All of this will be available inside a comfortable, air-conditioned lounge.
Railbird just wouldn’t be a Kentucky festival without Bourbon. The Rickhouse will be home to a highly-curated Bourbon experience, with hand-selected barrels from Kentucky’s finest distilleries and immersive whiskey experiences. Bourbon Barrel selections will be chosen in collaboration with Academy Award Nominee and Lexington-based filmmaker, AJ Hochhalter, well-known for producing the 2018 documentary NEAT: The Story of Bourbon.
To celebrate its inaugural lineup announcement, Railbird Festival will host a lineup celebration party at West Sixth Brewing on Wednesday, March 27 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to win free tickets, and will enjoy a performance by members of The Wooks, drink specials, Railbird and West Sixth swag, opportunities to mingle with music-lovers and other surprises, all while listening to tunes from the lineup. West Sixth will be brewing up a special Railbird beer to serve exclusively at the festival in August.
The Railbird Festival 2019 lineup
Saturday
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
Hozier
Tyler Childers
Gary Clark Jr.
St. Paul & 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 Walden
Ona
