Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, The Black Keys and The Avett Brothers are the featured performers at the eighth annual Forecastle Festival, held July 10-12 at the Riverfront Belvedere in Louisville, KY. Widespread Panic will perform for two of the three nights, one of only three festival appearances this summer.

Nederlander Entertainment produces the annual music, art and activism festival. More than 65 additional bands and DJs are yet to be announced for the 2009 event lineup.

Pre-sale tickets are available through Ticketmaster with single-day passes beginning at $40 and three-day passes at $100. Kick-off parties, after-parties and VIP package options are also available as well as campground accommodations and on-site hotel rooms overlooking both the Forecastle festival site and the Ohio River.

“After eight years of grassroots festival building, we are opening an exciting new chapter in the history of this unique, cultural experience,” said Forecastle founder and producer JK McKnight in a statement.

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Forecastle was founded in 2002. Previous headliners have included De La Soul, The Disco Biscuits, Tortoise, GZA, Girl Talk, Sleater-Kinnney and Del McCoury with speakers such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The event is an equal representation of music, arts, and activism, featuring bands, artists and activist groups from ten participating cities throughout the Midwest. The 2009 art and activism components will be equally showcased with over 60 environmental non-profit organizations, international / regional / local artists, films, an outdoor extreme sports park, environmental and music industry related panels, speakers, forums and more along the Ohio River.