Inaugural Railbird Music Festival
A recap on Keeneland’s first music festival and its performers
The Raconteurs, a rock band fronted by Jack White of The White Stripes closed the first night of Railbird on the Limestone Stage. They had the flashiest set of the night, complete with all the lights and sounds of a true rock show, contrasting from the americana and folk centered performances earlier in the day. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
September 20, 2019
The sun sets on the first day of Railbird, as fans make their way to see the evening acts. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Mavis Staples, American gospel singer and member of The Staple Singers performs on the Limestone Stage. Even at the age of 80, she delivered an energetic show and powerful vocals. She closed her set with the song “I’ll Take You There,” a classic by her family band. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Brandi Carlisle, a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter performs on the Limestone Stage. She played her beautiful folk and rock anthems, as well as a few covers as the sun set on the first day of Railbird. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Old Crow Medicine Show, a Grammy Award-winning Americana string band performed on the Elkhorn Stage. In one of the most captivating sets yet, they invited Brandi Carlisle on stage with them to perform their hit “Wagon Wheel” as well as a cover of “Jolene.” Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
The Raconteurs, a rock band fronted by Jack White of The White Stripes closed the first night of Railbird on the Limestone Stage. They had the flashiest set of the night, complete with all the lights and sounds of a true rock show, contrasting from the americana and folk centered performances earlier in the day. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Jade Bird, an up and coming singer-songwriter from England performed on the Elkorn stage. She toured with Sunday’s headliner, Hozier for a leg of his tour. One of the lesser known performers of that day, she still wowed the crowd with her unique voice and amazing set. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Grace Vanderwaal, Season 11 winner of America’s Got Talent, Grace Vanderwaal performed on the Limestone stage. She was well known among the younger crowd at Railbird. At the age of only 15, she is already a seasoned performer and she stunned the audience with her incredible voice. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Tyler Childers, a Kentucky native from Lawrence County performed on the Elkhorn stage as one of the most highly anticipated performers of Railbird. Thousands flocked to the stage to see him play. Before his set, he was gifted a key to Lexington. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
Hozier, another of the most popular performers of Railbird, closed out the festival on the Limestone stage. He captivated the crowd with his breathtaking voice. Dedicated Hozier fans or not, everyone joined in to sing “Take Me to Church.” He closed the night with an encore, performing “Cherry Wine” solo, an enchanting end to a fantastic music festival. Photo by Ashlyn Martin.
According to Railbird Festival’s website, “A Railbird is a horse racing enthusiast known for sticking close to the action, hanging on the rail as each contender comes barreling down the track.” During Keeneland’s first ever music festival, the 30,000 participants flocked around the stages of 30+ artists, becoming railbirds themselves. The festival was a huge success. AC Entertainment, the organizer of Railbird and other popular music festivals such as Bonnaroo and Forecastle, intends to host Railbird again next year.
Railbird took place on the grounds of Keeneland during August 10-11th. It featured popular Americana, country, rock, and alternative artists, as well as local artists. For an inaugural festival, the lineup including some big names. Saturday’s headliner was The Raconteurs, an American rock band headed by Jack White of The White Stripes. Sunday’s headliner was Hozier, an Irish singer-songwriter known for his hit, “Take Me to Church.” Other well-known performers included Mavis Staples, Brandi Carlisle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Grace Vanderwaal, and Tyler Childers.
I attended both days of Railbird and look forward to going again next year. It was an incredible experience and I encourage you to witness it for yourself next year!
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