Louisville Loves Mountains Live Blogging TODAY!

8:00am (the next morning, April 18th)

The Festival wrapped up last night around 10pm. All told, we had about 400 people attending at our peak and another 200 people filtering through over the day. The crowd shifted in the morning from a family atmosphere with kids everywhere to a great outdoor bluegrass music festival.

Big thanks to all of the artists who played for free on a Friday, Ramsi's Cafe, Bluegrass Brewing Company, Cherry Bomb, Summer and Star Auerbach and Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods Stores, Ben Evans and YERT, Sustain, George Parker and the Louisville Film Society, Augusta and Gill Holland and the Green Building, Ballou's Rental, RegenEn Solar, Duncan Cherry and MOM's music, and especially to Heine Brother's Coffee and Carmichael's Bookstore. We couldn't have done this without help from our sponsors. If you were among those who bought a t-shirt or are a new member as a result of this festival, you'll join us in thanking the amazing members who worked this festival. It was a great event and we met a lot of new people yesterday. Thank you to all of our members that made it happen. After it is all done with, we stand to make nearly $4,000 through a mix of merchandise sales, raffle sales, new memberships and a percentage of sales Carmichael's Bookstore and Heine Brother's Coffee.

7:30pm

Silas and Jason Howard just finished and were both amazing. They are signing books right now. 

We're up to about 350 people here, it's an amazing crowd. Lots of kids, so bring 'em over if you're not here already.

CSPAN is here to filming the author's readings to air on  Book TV.

6:20pm

Appalatin and Cari Norris have finished their sets. Say Darlin Say is on now.

The program looks like this:

6- 6:30pm- Say Darlin Say

6:30-7pm- Kate Larken (you might have seen her on the CW Louisville today)

7pm- Silas House

7:20- Jason Howard

7:30- Erik Reece

7:50- Supertruck

8:25- Thomas A Minor and the Pickett Line

9pm- Raffle

9:15- Arnett Hollow

Come down and get your raffle ticket. They're $5 and you could win $100 gift certificate to Heine Brother's Coffee, $100 to Carmichael's Bookstore, $50 to Ramsi's, a day at the Races from Rainbow Blossom or a $25 gift certificate to Cherry Bomb.

We're up to about 250 people here, but there is still room for about 400 more. The sun is shining and the beer is cold.

 4:50pm

If you can't make it to Louisville Loves Mountains Festival today/tonight, we'll miss you. For you, we are live blogging the event so even if you can't be with us, you don't have to miss a single detail. 

The day has shaped up to be perfect festival weather, low 70s and nothing but sun. 

If you're driving past, you can't miss the festival because we have the Mountaintop Removal Banner project surrounding the entire block. This project, started by member Whit Forrester, was kicked off with the 2008 5th grade class of Crestwood Elementary. Since then it has multiplied with people adding their piece to the banner at different events.

So far the merchandise table is set up with all kinds of things including bumperstickers, CDs and the specially made "Louisville Loves Mountains" t-shirt. We're pretty stocked and we're ready to fill your order.

More soon.

*If you're coming, public transportation and bikes are the best option.  There is still parking on Rosewood Ave, but I'm not sure about Cherokee Road. If you aren't patronizing Mid City Mall, don't park there, they tow.