Founded in 2002 by Louisville native JK McKnight, Forecastle has grown from a neighborhood event to one of the country’s most anticipated summer festivals, drawing tens of thousands of fans from across the world to Louisville’s scenic 85-acre Waterfront Park.
In addition to featuring a who’s who of musical acts such as Jack White, The Black Keys, Outkast, Widespread Panic, Beck, Smashing Pumpkins, My Morning Jacket, Bassnectar, The Flaming Lips, Band of Horses, Sleater-Kinney, and The Avett Brothers, Forecastle has consistently promoted local artists as well as focusing on environmental activism and outdoor recreation. Past Forecastles have featured prominent organizations, industry leaders, and distinguished speakers, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Riverkeepers), Rob Caughlan (Surfrider Foundation) and Christopher Childs (Greenpeace International).
Fre3fall Collective handles Forecastle's visual design. Last year, Fre3fall hired George Peele as Performance Artist Manager for the fest. Peele returned as Performance Artist Manager in 2015, reprising his Hunter S. Thompson impersonator role and debuting stilt seahorses with longtime stilt buddy Nate The Average. Number 3 on The Courier-Journal's "Top 5 Things You Missed Sunday at Forecastle" list is "Giant. Sea. Monkeys." All publicity is good publicity, right?