9 Louder Than Life Music Festival Tips | Louisville, KY

The Louder Than Life Music Festival is a four day music festival in Louisville, KY. Here are 9 tips to make the most of the experience!

Photo by Steve Thrasher & Danny Wimmer Presents.

1. Use a Ride Share Service. The festival parking lines can be long both for arrival and departure. Using a ride share allows you to get dropped off at the gate, this is by far the easiest way to arrive at the festival grounds. Departing can be a bit tricky due to phone carrier service being spotty due to the large crowd. There will be cars waiting in the ride share pick up area who will offer you a ride, but you likely will not have phone service. We recommend walking a bit to one of the many nearby hotels, there you will be away from the crowd and traffic and a ride share can be easily booked via your favorite app. 
2. Know What Is & Is Not Allowed. Entering the festival through security is a very easy process if you prepare ahead of time. Make sure to review the festivals list’s of allowed and not allowed items. This will speed up entry for everyone. The VIP and camping entrance was always a quick process with a much shorter line. The general admission entrance was generally a bit more of a wait.
3. Stay Hydrated. Take a sealed plastic water bottle. The festival has multiple water stations for you to refill your plastic water bottle. I never experienced a wait for free water over the festival weekend. Staying hydrated is important, especially if you will be enjoying the the amazing bourbon selection the festival has to offer.
4. Don’t Forget To Eat. While bouncing between stages and trying to experience everything the festival has to offer, don’t forget to grab some of the great food options! There are many choices when it comes to food. Your are sure to be able to find something for everyone in your group, from festival favorites Island Noodles and Spicy Pie to food vendors local to Louisville. During peak times, there can be some long lines, but there is generally a few options with a short line when your hunger hits unexpectedly.
5. Have a Meet Up Area. With so many people attending the festival, phone service can be spotty at times. Make sure your group has a designated area to meetup if people are separated. It can be easy to accidentally be separated on the large festival grounds, especially if people want to experience different bands. We recommend the Big Bourbon Tent as that was generally a less crowded area where you could take a seat and more easily spot members of your group.
6. Wear Earplugs. This one is important. The music is loud at festivals due to the size of the crowds. It must travel a good distance. You should want to protect your hearing. Earplugs are becoming more common and it is good to see. We use the Loop Earplugs during any music festival or concert. They filter noise rather than blindly blocking all of it and come with enough size options to fit almost any ear properly. They really do provide a better loud music listening experience.  
7. Front of the Stage Crowd. The crowd can be intimidating for first time festival goers. The crowd will vary in size and intensity depending on the band, stage, and time of day. It is wise to do a bit of research on each bands crowd that you want to see if you have no prior festival experience seeing them. If you are near the front, there will be a lot happening. Things to be ready for if you want to be anywhere near the stage for your favorite band, especially at the main stages, include mosh pits, crowd surfers, and a very dense crowd. You likely will not have any personal space once a band begins their set.   
8. Know Your Limits. This applies to multiple areas. Know your limits while drinking or indulging in any other festival activities. It will be hot and you will be using a lot of energy. Make sure to rest when needed and keep a balance of hydration. Even if you are not hot walking around, when in an intense crowd, the ambient temperature can be raised quite a bit. No one has a good time once they are dehydrated or sick. This is intensified if it happens while you are in the middle of a gigantic crowd during a set. Knowing your limits when you are in the crowd is just as important, if you start to feel bad in any way, make your way out. Don’t try to push through, take a break, hydrate, and refresh and then get back into the crowd when you are back to your normal self.
9. Have A Good Time! You will inevitably encounter a few inconsiderate festival goers and some annoyances at a festival of this scale. It’s important to realize the situation. It is a huge production to put on the amazing shows and with so many people, there are bound to be a few misunderstandings and uncomfortable moments. The grounds can get dusty from the crowds. You may find a terribly dirty bathroom at some point. You will get bumped into or maybe even kicked in the head accidentally by a crowd surfer. Take it all in stride and make the best of it. It’s all part of an outdoor festival of this scale. 

A festival of this size will give back what you put into it. If you come prepared and can go with the flow, you will have a great time and likely make some new friends along the way. If you come in miserable with a chip on your shoulder, you are likely to be disappointed. Embrace the bourbon, the food, the crowds, the music, the chaos, and be understanding of the size of the event and you will have an amazing time.