KENTUCKY CONCERT MENU: Sept. 29-Oct. 5

KENTUCKY CONCERT MENU: Sept. 29-Oct. 5

Matt Wickstrom                                                                                                             September 29, 2025

Justin Wells will headline the inaugural River To Grow Music Festival in Irvine on Oct. 3

After two long (but fun) weekends back-to-back attending AMERICANAFEST in Nashville and an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) race in Indianapolis, I’m ready to get back into the swing of things on this newsletter highlighting everything going on in Kentucky’s bustling music scene.

That includes concerts, of which this week features a stacked lineup that includes Danville’s Aaron Raitiere opening up for Hayes Carll in Northern Kentucky, a first year festival with a loaded lineup coming to Irvine, and two nights of Arlo McKinley at The Burl.

Get caught up on all of it after the break, and let me know which shows you’re getting to in the days ahead in the comments below.

Live Menu Sept. 29-Oct. 5

Hayes Carll, Aaron Raitiere

When: Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Southgate House — 111 E 6th St, Newport

Online: SouthgateHouse.com

Two of the best songsmiths you’ll find anywhere, Texas’ Hayes Carll and Kentucky’s own Aaron Raitiere, will swap songs at the Southgate House in Newport on Thursday night as part of Carll’s tour to promote his new record We’re Only Human. While I’m excited to hear songs from it — which I consider one of my favorite albums of 2025 so far — I’m also thrilled for another opportunity to catch Raitiere, who I’ve only seen once before despite covering extensively on this newsletter. The bonafide hit-maker and comedian put on one of the most perplexing and entertaining sets I’ve ever seen at Sleeping In The Woods in May that has me pondering in anticipation how this gig will go.

Jake Kohn, Low Water Bridge Band

When: Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.

Where: Zanzabar — 2100 S Preston St, Louisville

Online: ZanzabarLouisville.com

They say Virginia is for music lovers, and with recent exports like Jake Kohn and Low Water Bridge Band it’s easy to see why. The raspy young singer and Steeldrivers’ esque six piece will team up for a show at Louisville’s Zanzabar on Thursday on the heels of both releasing new music — first Kohn with his long awaited debut album Where Do We Go From Here? in June and Low Water Bridge Band’s Honky Tonk Process in August.

River To Grow Music Festival

When: Oct. 3 at 3 p.m.-Oct. 4 @ TBD

Where: 311 Ingram Ln, Irvine

Online: Facebook.com/RiverToGrowMusicFest

This first year festival organized by radio host and musician Brett Noland will bring a stacked, Kentucky-focused lineup to Irvine that includes Justin Wells, The Jenkins Twins (feat. Emily Jamerson), Joe Clark, Tim Goodin, [Sean Whiting &] The Big Badness, Bek & The Starlight

Revue and Sydney Adams, among others. The gathering is just the latest to pop up in the county that was previously host to the still talked about Kickin It On The Creek and remains home to artists like Tyler Childers and Geno Seale, among others.

Yonder Mountain String Band

When: Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. (CT)

Where: The Grove — 702 Happy Valley Rd, Glasgow

Online: TheGroveGlasgow.com

The trailblazing jamgrass group will make its debut at The Grove in Glasgow on Saturday. Yonder Mountain has been my dad’s favorite bluegrass band for literal decades and one of the first I saw live myself over 10 years ago when I was just beginning my journey in music journalism. While the group has evolved it’s sound and changed members through the years it’s knack for experimentation and bringing people together has always persisted, which has me thrilled as ever to see them again this week.

Arlo McKinley

When: Oct. 4 and 5 at 8:00 p.m.

Where: The Burl — 375 Thompson Rd, Lexington

Online: TheBurlKy.com

The Cincinnati born, Oklahoma based singer returns to the Commonwealth for a two night run at The Burl on Saturday and Sunday. The last time he was there he recorded a live album, so there’s no telling what to expect from his sold out return.

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