LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louder Than Life came back to Louisville with 35,000 people on each of its four nights, according to organizers.
What You Need To Know
- Louder Than Life returned to Louisville’s Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center
- 35,000 people attended each night, according to organizers
- Metallica headlined the festival on two separate nights. Other headliners included Judas Priest, Disturbed, Machine Gun Kelly, Jane’s Addiction, Rise Against and Korn
- Attendees were required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a recent negative test for the virus
Squiggy DiGiacomo runs The Music Experience tent at the Louder Than Life festival, where people can come in to play dozens of guitars.
“We just want to inspire people — youth, old people, middle-aged people — to pick up a guitar,” he said.
And he’s seen his fair share of characters over the years.
“There’s always two-piece bikini guy,” DiGiacomo said. “There’s Jesus guy. There’s thong guy.”
But up until recently, the concert industry was quiet due to COVID-19.
“It was your worst nightmare,” DiGiacomo said. “Not only could you not bring guitars out and watch people light up and be inspired and all of that, it’s like you’re literally out of business. You can’t do anything.”
COVID is still out there in high numbers, but the festival required proof of either vaccination or a recent negative test.
Danny Wimmer Presents runs the festival and chief marketing officer Chamie McCurry said there weren't any issues with the COVID-19 protocols.
“I think because this is now more of an industry standard, the fans realize that this is what they need to be able to get back to having a festival of this size and to be able to celebrate the return of live events,” she said.
And after a year off last year, fans were glad to be back.
“I’m stoked. I think it’s really awesome,” said Robbie Madden, who drove 90 minutes to see Every Time I Die, Breaking Benjamin and Metallica on Sunday. “It kind of sucked, it not being here. It sucked being cooped up in the house, you know. It’s good to get out again.”
Madden said the vaccine or negative test requirement made him feel safer.
“I’m vaccinated. I know everybody has their own personal opinions, but I do feel better about coming here when there’s a crapload of people. I do feel better,” he said. “Even going to the bars, you know, you have no clue, but I feel safer knowing they were checking for that.”
It’s too early to tell exactly how next year’s event will look, but organizers are already working on it. Next year’s festival will run Sept. 22-25 and McCurry said the lineup will be announced sometime in the winter.