With highlights that included a barn-burner of a homestate set from Sturgill Simpson, a red hot Saturday night LCD Soundsystem dance party of epic proportions, a sultry and soulful Sunday afternoon set from Charles Bradley, a veraciously enthralling set from siren PJ Harvey, an exuberant, sold-out Belle of Louisville boat blowout with Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the helm, and NOT having the festival evacuated for weather-related reasons for the first time in the past three years, this year's Forecastle was one for the books.
While we weren't able to get pics of ALL of it, here are some of our faves from the weekend:
FRIDAY:
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Brooklyn-based Real Estate brought their easy breezy surf pop vibes to the Boom stage on Friday afternoon. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Real Estate. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Real Estate. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Led by Young Widows frontman Evan Patterson, Louisville's Jaye Jayle brought a dark, hypnotic vibe to the Port Stage Friday afternoon. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Jaye Jayle. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Jaye Jayle. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Waka Flocka Flame. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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New York rapper Waka Flocka Flame got the Friday Ocean Stage crowd fairly hype. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Waka Flocka Flame. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Waka Flocka Flame. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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High energy Bowling Green native rockers Cage the Elephant. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Cage the Elephant. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Cage the Elephant. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Cage the Elephant. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Cage the Elephant. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Run the Jewels. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Run the Jewels. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Run the Jewels. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Run the Jewels. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Run the Jewels. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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On Friday night, electro-soul producer GRIZ did a special pop-up DJ set with Australian producer What-So-Not at Forecastle's "Party Cove" stage, which featured Louisville DJs throughout the rest of the weekend. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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GRIZ at the Party Cove. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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GRIZ at the Party Cove. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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GRIZ at the Party Cove. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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GRIZ at the Party Cove. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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GRIZ at the Party Cove. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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GRIZ at the Party Cove. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
SATURDAY:
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Chapel Hill folk duo Mandolin Orange. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Mandolin Orange. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Kentuckian Sturgill Simpson and his kickass band. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Fellow Kentuckian Miles Miller on the drums for Sturgill Simpson. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Sturgill Simpson. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Sturgill Simpson. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Sturgill Simpson. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Sturgill Simpson. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Phantogram. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Phantogram. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Phantogram. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Phantogram. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Phantogram. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Phantogram. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
SUNDAY:
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Charles Bradley. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Charles Bradley. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Charles Bradley. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Foxygen. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Foxygen. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Foxygen. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Foxygen. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Foxygen. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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STRFKR. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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STRFKR's crowdsurfing astronaut. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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STRFKR's crowdsurfing astronaut. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Tycho. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Party Cove Sunday crowd. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Spoon. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Spoon. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Spoon. Photo by Garrett Hedrick
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Weezer. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Weezer. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Weezer. Photo by Saraya Brewer
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Weezer. Photo by Saraya Brewer