For the first time since the band wrapped the last concert of its Final World Tour back in November 2019, Slayer - Tom Araya/ bass & vocals, guitarists Kerry King and Gary Holt, and Paul Bostaph on drums - announce they will return to the stage this fall, headlining two major festivals, Riot Fest and Louder Than Life.
“Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we’re on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans,” said Araya, “and to be honest, we have missed that.” Added King, "Have I missed playing live? Absolutely. Slayer means a lot to our fans; they mean a lot to us. It will be five years since we have seen them."
It’s about to get LOUD in Louisville as the long-running, fan favorite festival Louder Than Life returns for its 10th year in 2024! Producers Danny Wimmer Presents – one of the largest independent promoters in the U.S. – pulled out all the stops to celebrate a decade of Louder Than Life, North America’s Largest Rock Festival, including the mighty return of thrash gods Slayer to the stage. In addition to their headlining performance, Loudmouths can also look forward to metal heavyweights Mötley Crüe, Slipknot and Korn closing out additional nights of the four-day event, which returns to its home at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY September 26, 27, 28 & 29, 2024.
Five full stages will keep the destination event amped up all weekend, welcoming additional performances from Disturbed, Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling in Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Gojira, Seether, In This Moment, Anthrax, Sum 41, Mastodon, Tom Morello, and many more. In total, almost 150 music acts will be part of the festival weekend, along with Louisville’s finest spirits and top local cuisine. The 2022 event was nominated for Pollstar’s Festival Of the Year, and the 2023 edition marked a new attendance record with 180,000 people, so fans are encouraged to buy early and secure their spot for 2024.
"We're thrilled to announce that Slayer will be reuniting for an earth-shattering performance at Louder Than Life,” says Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents. ”I was at their last show at The Forum in 2019 and have been working since then to bring them back to the Louder stage! With over 140 bands on five stages, we’re celebrating our 10th Louder Than Life with the biggest lineup yet! P.S., come out and celebrate with us at TAJ this Saturday and we’ll buy your first drink.”
“On the heels of an incredible lineup announcement for Bourbon & Beyond, Louder Than Life solidifies why the Kentucky Exposition Center is the number one place to travel to in September,” said David S. Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues. “We anticipate festival-goers from around the world to come for the music and fall in love with all the things that make Kentucky such a great state.”
The full music lineup for Louder Than Life 2024 is as follows (subject to change): Slayer, Mötley Crüe, Slipknot, Korn, Disturbed, Judas Priest, Five Finger Death Punch, Evanescence, Falling in Reverse, Breaking Benjamin, The Offspring, Staind, Till Lindemann, In This Moment, Chevelle, Dropkick Murphys, Halestorm, Gojira, Sum 41, Seether, Tom Morello, Anthrax, Mastodon, Architects, Skillet, Clutch, Highly Suspect, Lorna Shore, Body Count, Spiritbox, Grandson, Nothing More, Sevendust, Jinjer, Poppy, Badflower, Starset, Sleeping With Sirens, Filter, Eagles of Death Metal, Juliette Lewis and the Licks, Marky Ramone Plays the Ramones Classics, Black Stone Cherry, PUP, Three 6 Mafia, P.O.D., Fozzy, Fugitive, Saosin, L.S. Dunes, Biohazard, Polaris, From Ashes To New, LIT, Show Me The Body, Joey Valence & Brae, Set It Off, Drug Church, Militarie Gun, The Armed, Narrow Head, Brutus, Bob Vylan, Fit For A King, The Warning, Whitechapel, Better Lovers, New Years Day, Health, GEL, Lilith Czar, Tim Montana, Point North, Holding Absence, Holy Fawn, Drowning Pool, Helmet, Saliva, Alien Ant Farm, Nonpoint, Finger Eleven, Powerman 5000, Local H, ORGY, Taproot, Tantric, Sponge, Trapt, Red, Adema, D.R.U.G.S., Ho99o9, The Chisel, Slothrust, High Vis, Soul Glo, Winona Fighter, Des Rocs, Veil of Maya, Oxymorrons, HED PE, Ill Niño, Damnage, Citizen Soldier, Alien Weaponry, CKY, Dead Poet Society, Kneecap, Teen Mortgage, Touché Amoré, Jeris Johnson, Jager Bonham, The Funeral Portrait, Nerv, Any Given Sin, Like A Storm, Deadlands, Mike’s Dead, Reach NYC, Self Deception, Lø Spirit, Jigsaw Youth, Royale Lynn, Descartes A Kant, Lowlives, Blame My Youth, Caskets, Silly Goose, Gozu, Black Map, Hemorage, Budderside, and Project MishraM.
Additional experiences include the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar, the return of Headbangers Hall, The Music Experience, Jack Daniel’s, Pegasus Distilled Experiences, Heavy Tiki presented by Jim Beam, Blackened Presents The Whiskey Bar, The Highland Grounds Wine Garden, and more to be announced.
Single day and weekend General Admission as well as Park Community VIP passes for Louder Than Life are on sale now starting as low as $10 down. Angel’s Envy Top Shelf VIP passes are sold out. New in 2024, Danny Wimmer Presents introduces the Loud Lounge Suites, allowing fans to party all weekend long like true rockstars. The suites will be located on top of the Angel’s Envy Top Shelf deck, offering up to 12 people the all-inclusive treatment with bottle service, premium parking, a dedicated host, all you can drink & eat, and a reserved suite seat to take in all the action on the two main stages plus access to both Angel’s Envy Top Shelf and Park Community VIP areas. For more information, fans can email groups@dwpresents.com.
In addition, Louder Than Life RV and car + tent camping passes are sold out, with a waitlist available. A very limited number of Elevated Glamping experience packages, which include both tent and RV options, are still available. Visit louderthanlifefestival.com/ for details on all camping and festival pass options. A record number of passes have been sold during the early bird sales period, so fans are encouraged to act fast to guarantee lowest level pricing and availability.
The JamPack hotel package also allows patrons to bundle festival passes, hotel and more to save up to 31%. Find all details at louderthanlifefestival.com/passes/. In addition, fans who want to celebrate the biggest eight days of music in the United States with back-to-back weekends in Louisville at Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life can purchase an Exacta Pass for less than $62 per festival day (the Exacta Pass starts at $489.99 plus fees).
Onsite parking for Louder Than Life is available for purchase via Kentucky Exposition Center. https://parking.kyexpo.org/ltl
Louisville locals are invited to celebrate the Louder Than Life lineup with three events this weekend, starting with a Dare to Care food drive at Kroger in Breckenridge this Friday, February 23 from 4:30-7 p.m., in which fans can donate five non-perishable items to unlock service fee free passes. On Saturday, February 24, Taj in Nulu will be celebrating with custom craft cocktails, photo ops, service fee free passes, a DJ and more from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. And on Sunday, February 25, there will be Louder Than Life pass giveaways at the Bellarmine wrestling match at Knights Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Louder Than Life is excited to announce its 2024 partners: LYTE, Budweiser, Kroger, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Park Community Credit Union, Team Kentucky, Louisville Tourism, Kentucky Venues, Crowne Plaza Airport Expo, Marriott Downtown Louisville, Pegasus Distilled, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Beatbox Beverages, Cutwater Spirits, Angel’s Envy, IcyBreeze, Solo Stove, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam Black, Maker’s 46, Knob Creek, Rabbit Hole, Jefferson’s, City of Louisville, KY Proud, Eargasm, The Music Experience, plus more to come.
Non-profit 2024 on-site partners include: Artists for Trauma, Demons Behind Me, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, To Write Love On Her Arms, plus more to come. The DWP Foundation will be supporting the following local nonprofits in 2024: Dare to Care, Fund for the Arts, Muhammad Ali Center plus more to come.
Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.
Slayer are also confirmed for Riot Fest 2024, taking place September 20-22, 2024 Chicago, IL. Find festival details here.
