Underwater Moonshine Festival: Adam Duritz Comes to Ky.

FRANKFORT and LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 30, 2026) – For the first time since its 2018 founding, the Underwater Sunshine Festival is leaving New York. On October 9 and 10, Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz and co-founder Barbara Garrett’s festival lands at Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.’s 127-acre farm in Frankfort (283 Crab Orchard Road) as the Underwater Moonshine Festival, a two-night collaboration with the third annual Whiskey Thief Fest.

The lineup features 11 independent artists across indie, blues, bluegrass, and country, alongside award-winning bourbon thieved straight from the barrel. Louisville acts Love Jones and The Watson Twins headline, joined by Red Wanting Blue, The Galoots, The Blueberries, Jaimee Harris, and more.

“Underwater Sunshine has always been about bringing artists and people together,” said Adam Duritz, Counting Crows and Festival Co-Founder. “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.”

“We’ve been a part of Underwater Sunshine since 2019. The artists Adam and Barbara discover create some of the best music you’ve never heard of,” said Walter Zausch, founder and CEO of Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. “When Adam suggested taking the festival on the road, Kentucky was the obvious answer. Calling it Underwater Moonshine was even more obvious.”

“This festival has always been about so much more than incredible performances. 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. We couldn’t imagine a better setting for that than the farm at Whiskey Thief, our longtime friends and sponsors,” said Barbara Garrett, co-founder of the Underwater Sunshine Festival.

Lineup

Friday, Oct. 9

6 p.m. – Troy Millette and the Fire Below
7 p.m. – Town Meeting
8 p.m. – Fort Frances
9 p.m. – The Watson Twins
10 p.m. – Love Jones

Saturday, Oct. 10

5 p.m. – Louisville Bluegrass Band
6 p.m. – Brick Briscoe and The Skinny
7 p.m. – Jaimee Harris
8 p.m. – The Galoots
9 p.m. – The Blueberries
10 p.m. – Red Wanting Blue

Lineup subject to change.

Free Garden Sessions in Louisville

The festival opens a day early in Louisville with free, intimate acoustic Garden Sessions filmed for release, held at Whiskey Thief’s Tasting and Listening Room (610 Nanny Goat Strut). Sessions run noon–5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, and noon–4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, and are open to the public.

Supporting Musicians

Whiskey Thief Fest has historically donated a portion of proceeds to the Musician Treatment Foundation (MTF), a nonprofit providing eligible professional musicians free orthopedic care for shoulder, elbow, and hand injuries. Duritz serves on MTF’s board alongside Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, and Diana Krall. More at mtfusa.org.

Tickets

One-day ($50) and two-day ($75) passes are on sale now at whiskeythief.com. Each pass includes a Whiskey Thief tour and tasting. The festival is all-ages, with food available. Doors open at 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.

About Whiskey Thief:

Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is the first Kentucky distillery to offer every visitor a straight-from-the-barrel bourbon tasting and thieving experience, uncut and unfiltered. Distilling since 2012 on a 127-acre working farm in Franklin County, Ky., Whiskey Thief celebrates single-barrel bourbons and whiskeys distilled from grain grown on-site. Guests at the farm and the Louisville tasting room can fill their own bottle of Kentucky bourbon or rye straight from the barrel, at barrel strength. More at whiskeythief.com.