Whiskey Thief pairs bourbon and live music at Underwater Moonshine Festival

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A music festival co-founded by Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz is trading New York for Kentucky bourbon country this fall, bringing 11 independent acts to Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.’s 127-acre farm Oct. 9-10.

The Underwater Moonshine Festival combines Duritz and Barbara Garrett’s Underwater Sunshine Festival with the third annual Whiskey Thief Fest. It marks the first time Underwater Sunshine has traveled outside New York since its founding in 2018.

For bourbon fans, the setting adds a distinctly Kentucky element: whiskey sampled straight from the barrel, live music and a distillery experience included with admission. One-day passes cost $50 and two-day passes cost $75, with each pass including a Whiskey Thief tour and tasting.

The festival takes place at Whiskey Thief’s farm at 283 Crab Orchard Road in Frankfort. The all-ages event will offer food, with doors opening at 5 p.m. both days.

Underwater Sunshine was built around musical discovery, pairing rising songwriters with established independent artists. Its Kentucky edition carries that approach into a lineup spanning indie, blues, bluegrass and country, with Louisville acts Love Jones and The Watson Twins among the featured performers.

“Underwater Sunshine has always been about bringing artists and people together,” Duritz said. “Walter and Whiskey Thief have been part of this family since 2019, and there’s really no better place to celebrate that spirit than his farm. Come discover your next favorite band, make some new friends, and maybe enjoy a little bourbon along the way.”

The collaboration grew from Whiskey Thief’s longstanding involvement with the New York festival. Walter Zausch, founder and CEO of Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., said the distillery has participated since 2019.

“The artists Adam and Barbara discover create some of the best music you’ve never heard of,” Zausch said. “When Adam suggested taking the festival on the road, Kentucky was the obvious answer. Calling it Underwater Moonshine was even more obvious.”

Friday’s performances begin at 6 p.m. with Troy Millette and the Fire Below, followed by Town Meeting at 7 p.m. and Fort Frances at 8 p.m. The Watson Twins take the stage at 9 p.m., with Love Jones closing the evening at 10 p.m.

Saturday opens with Louisville Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m., followed by Brick Briscoe and The Skinny at 6 p.m., Jaimee Harris at 7 p.m., The Galoots at 8 p.m. and The Blueberries at 9 p.m. Returning Underwater Sunshine act Red Wanting Blue closes the festival at 10 p.m. Organizers noted that the lineup is subject to change.

Garrett said the farm setting fits a festival designed to encourage connections between musicians and audiences beyond the performances themselves.

“This festival has always been about so much more than incredible performances,” she said. “It’s a place where artists connect, friendships are made, and some of the best moments happen away from the stage. There’s something that feels like equal parts concert, campfire and family reunion.”

The music begins before the main event with free Garden Sessions at Whiskey Thief’s Tasting and Listening Room in Louisville, located at 610 Nanny Goat Strut.

Featured artists will perform intimate acoustic sets that will be filmed for later release. The sessions are open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, and noon to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, giving listeners an opportunity to discover performers before heading to the Frankfort farm.

Whiskey Thief Fest also has a history of supporting musicians beyond the stage. The event has historically donated a portion of proceeds to the Musician Treatment Foundation, a nonprofit that provides eligible professional musicians with free orthopedic care for shoulder, elbow and hand injuries.

Duritz serves on the foundation’s board alongside Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash and Diana Krall.

One-day and two-day festival passes are available at whiskeythief.com.