Emily May 5/22/26 Emily May 5/22/26

Molly Tuttle @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

May 14th, 2026: Molly Tuttle, Maggie Rose @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

California Indie/folk/country artist Molly Tuttle brought her co-headlining tour with Nashville soul/country artist Maggie Rose, a short, 8-show run, to Mercury Ballroom on May 14th to a packed house! Both Rose and Tuttle have amassed large and loyal fan bases over the years and their music compliments each other’s beautifully. Fans filled the floor and balcony this evening, ready for a fun night of music from two amazing artists. Rose took the stage first this evening and really got the crowd moving from the first note. Singing a full set, she and her band performed a nice variety of songs from her catalog, including her newly released single “Red Shoes” and “Half Moon”, a song she wrote right after her son was born last year (under a full moon) and the hopes and dreams she has for him. She will be releasing her new album, Half Moon, in August of this year. She talked a bit about the experience of having her son and about being newly back to performing following her son’s birth. Along with her amazing backing band, Rose seemed at home on stage and showed genuine love for being back on the stage and for her fans in the crowd, thanking everyone for being here this evening. In watching her set, it’s easy to see why this Grammy-nominated artist is so beloved by her fans! Before leaving the stage, she and her band stood side-by-side and gave a bow to cheers and applause!

After a brief intermission, Tuttle took the stage to a roar of applause. Whereas Rose has a more soul/country/rock/r&b sound, Tuttle leans more towards bluegrass/americana/folk/country. She released her fifth studio album, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, in May of last year and performed a few songs this evening from the album along with several older tracks from her days with Golden Highway (her previous backing band). She also performed a fun cover of Jonie Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” that had the crowd singing along. Tuttle chatted quite a bit with the crowd between songs, telling stories and explaining song meanings, genuinely connecting with the crowd. She and her band engaged with each other frequently throughout the set and made sure the crowd was engaged and having a good time. Having won several awards throughout her career, she put on an incredible show that no doubt had her fans buzzing with energy long after the music stopped. To end the evening, Tuttle performed a 2-song encore of covers, with Rose invited back out on stage, with them performing The Rolling Stone’s “She’s A Rainbow”, as well as The Band’s “Up On Cripple Creek”. It was the perfect end to a delightful evening of music!

Maggie Rose

Emily May 5/5/26 Emily May 5/5/26

Biffy Clyro @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

April 29th, 2026: Biffy Clyro, Raue @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

Biffy Clyro | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May

Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro brought their FUTIQUE TOUR to Mercury Ballroom on April 29th to a modest but incredibly excited room of fans. To be fair, it was Derby week and there was A LOT going on in the city! There was a palpable energy buzzing around the venue this evening, for sure! On September 19th of last year, the band released their tenth studio album Futique, and the band performed several tracks this evening from the album, including “A Little Love”, “Hunting Season”, “Friendshipping”, and “Two People In Love”. They also performed several older fan-favorites such as “Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies”, “Who’s Got A Match”, “The Captain”, and “That Golden Rule”. Alternating between a platform at the back of the stage and the front of the stage, singer/guitarist Simon Neil gave a high energy performance for the crowd and the crowd matched his energy by singing their hearts out to each song. There were a few moments during the set when Neil would stop singing during certain parts of a song and have the crowd sing for him. They did not disappoint and sang every word in unison. I always find it really special to witness moments like that, when you can feel how special a band is to their fans. I witnessed several fans in the crowd who looked as though they were having the best night of their lives. Like they couldn’t believe they were finally seeing Biffy Clyro live and were ecstatic about it. And Neil had a grin on his face during each of those moments, seeming to bask in the love the band was receiving from their fans. Performing a 21-song set list, 5 of which being a lengthy encore, Biffy Clyro gave their fans a night to remember! Opening the show this evening was San Diego duo Raue, who acknowledged they were there to warm up the crowd and familiarize everyone with their music! At times leaning towards a heavier, more punk rock feel, and other times a softer, more melodic feel, they really got the crowd energized and ready for the evening ahead! I feel like they are really a band to watch so make sure to check them out!

Raue

Emily May 5/4/26 Emily May 5/4/26

Hail The Sun @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

April 25th, 2026: Hail The Sun, Foxy Shazam, Makari, and Resilia @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

Hail the Sun | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May

California post-hardcore band Hail The Sun brought their CUT.TOUR.FADE.BACK US Tour to Mercury Ballroom on April 25th to a packed house! The energy that was buzzing around the venue this evening was full of excitement and anticipation for a fun night ahead, with fans packing out the floor and balcony as more and more filed into the venue throughout the evening. On October 24th of last year, the band released their 7th studio album entitled cut.turn.fade.back, performing several songs from the album this evening, including “The Drooling Class”, “Consumed With You”, “Relapse Is A Love Affair”, and “War Crimes”. With a raised platform that ran along much of the front of the stage this evening, singer/drummer Donovan Melero made good use of it. From the second the band came out on stage, he was a whirlwind of energy, dancing across the stage, throwing his mic around and catching it, and engaging with the crowd, who were matching the band’s energy with their own! Towards the end of the set, their tour drummer Allen Casillas stepped off stage, and Melero hopped behind the drum kit for “Ow! (Splidao!) I Like It, Though” and “MIssed Injections”. With incredible lighting (kudos to whoever does their lighting!) and a high-energy and engaging performance, the band gave their fans 110%, and the fans delivered that energy right back! Opening the show this evening were Florida post-hardcore band Resilia, Florida rock band Makari, and Ohio glam/alternative rock band Foxy Shazam.

Foxy Shazam

Makari

Resilia

Emily May 10/19/25 Emily May 10/19/25

Franz Ferdinand @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

October 11th, 2025: Franz Ferdinand, Master Peace @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

On October 11th, Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand brought round 2 of their Fall 2025 tour to Mercury Ballroom to a nearly sold out crowd of fans, with this being the last stop of the tour! The crowd was buzzing with energy and ready for a fun night ahead! In January of this year, the band released their sixth studio album, The Human Fear, from which they performed several tracks that included “Black Eyelashes”, “Audacious”, “The Doctor”, and “Build It Up”, as well as many older tracks. There were songs for older and newer fans alike that had the crowd screaming their hearts out along with the band. Franz Ferdinand is a dynamic live band that gives 100% to their fans. Singer/guitarist Alex Kapranos was at ease on stage, chatting with the crowd and moving all around the stage in a whirl of energy, jumps, and high kicks, often in sync with his band mates. The energy on stage, as well as in the crowd, was euphoric, with fun being had by the crowd and the band alike. Performing a 20-song set list, the last 4 of which were the encore, they kept the crowd dancing all night! Opening the show this evening was British alternative/rock/pop artist Master Peace (Peace Okezie), who got the crowd nice and warmed up for the night ahead! He even came back out on stage towards the end of Franz Ferdinand’s set to sing “Hooked” with the band! It was a great night all around!

Master Peace

Emily May 5/6/25 Emily May 5/6/25

Fontaines D.C. @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

May 2nd, 2025: Fontaines D.C., Jadu Heart @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

Fontaines D.C. | Photos Courtes of: Emily May

Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. brought their current US Tour to Louisville, Ky to a sold out crowd on May the 2nd. Under the looming threat of rain, a long line of fans waited outside the venue for the doors to open, hoping to secure their spot either near to stage or on the balcony once the doors opened. Coming out onto the stage to a crowd of cheering and screaming fans, Fontaines D.C. launched straight into their set, starting out with the title track from their latest album Romance (released on August 23rd of last year). Singer Grian Chatten brought a good energy to the stage, often moving across the entirety of it and engaging with as much of the crowd as possible. On several occasions, he held his mic stand out into the crowd for them to sing along with him and would often raise his arms and hands up in a sweeping motion, as if he was conducting an orchestra. With each raise of his arms and hands, the crowd would scream and/or sing along.

The band performed a varied set list that included newer songs, such as “Death Kink”, “Bug”, and “Sundowner”, as well as some earlier tracks, such as “Jackie Down The Line”, “Televised Mind”, “A Hero’s Death”, “Big Shot”, and “Roman Holiday”. The crowd sang their hearts out, at full volume, to every song and you could feel their love and excitement shining through, making for a really fun and special evening. The band did very little talking throughout the set, letting their music be the focus. Ending their set with “Favourite”, the band left the stage and came back out moments later to a roaring crowd for a 4-song encore. Starting the encore off with “In The Modern World”, they rounded it out with “Desire”, “I Love You”, and “Starburster”. It was a great evening of music that left the crowd buzzing long after the music stopped. Opening the show this evening was English group Jadu Heart, performing music that was at times melodic and etheric, while also giving rock vibes. Aside from the traditional guitar, drums, and bass, the band also incorporated synth sounds that sampled different genres, as well as violin, making for a really beautiful sound. They really had the crowd enthralled and dancing and were a nice start to the evening.

JADU HEART

Photo Ladies 3/3/25 Photo Ladies 3/3/25

ian @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

March 2nd, 2025: ian @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

If there’s anything you can expect from an Ian concert, it’s an energy-packed, high-volume, unforgettable experience. The 19-year-old rapper from St. Louis, MO took the stage at Mercury Ballroom in Louisville, KY and from the moment the music began, the crowd was locked in - ready to go, and Ian didn’t let up whatsoever.

Performing some crowd favorites such as 3.5, AirBnb, Hate Me, and Magic Johnson, Ian’s commanding stage presence, paired with impeccable delivery, had the audience roaring with every lyric nonstop. The connection between Ian and his fans was undeniable, which created an electric atmosphere throughout the venue and served as one of the loudest crowds I’ve heard in a while.

A memorable moment during the show included his producer Lucas on the piano, followed by Ian doing a quick transition into his song ‘3.5’. Although there were no openers for this show, Ian easily proved that his performance alone was enough to carry the entire night. With tonight’s show being Ian’s very first time in Kentucky, he was more than impressed by the energy the crowd gave him and I’m sure it won’t be too long before he returns to Louisville.

Ian’s love for his fans did not go unnoticed as he held a meet and greet before the show started, and came outside to meet fans waiting over an hour in the cold temperatures. There was never a moment where he didn’t express gratitude for all of the support, which made the night feel more personal. Overall, Ian’s concert was an experience that shouldn’t be missed. With his passion, talent, and infectious energy, it’s clear that he’s not going anywhere for a long time and I’m excited to see where his journey takes him.

Emily May 11/17/24 Emily May 11/17/24

Cold War Kids @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

November 9th, 2024: Cold War Kids, Husbands @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

California indie rock band Cold War Kids brought their More 20 Years Tour to Mercury Ballroom on November the 9th, celebrating 20 years as a band! With a packed house, everyone was ready for a really fun night. Having been a band for two decades, Cold War Kids have a devoted fan base, as this evening proved, with fans packing out every inch of the venue. With a set list that included songs from their latest self-titled album (released November 3rd, 2023), such as “Run Away With Me” and “For Your Love”, as well as classic hits such as “Hang Me Up To Dry”, “Hospital Beds”, and “We Used To Vacation”, they performed a really fun and varied set list that spanned their extensive catalog and had everyone dancing and singing along! Aside from being a really incredible live band, singer/guitarist/pianist Nathan Willet really engaged with the crowd, giving the evening a really intimate feel.

Willet chatted a bit with the crowd between songs, early on saying “We are excited to be here for our 20 Year Tour. We’ve been here many times before! Let’s keep this rolling.” He later talked about the new album the band released last year and how they would be playing some new songs this evening-”we’re trying to cover all of the bases!”. Before performing “All My Love”, he dedicated the song to his 5 year old daughter, whom he said had been diagnosed with autism, and how it was tough and challenging but gave he and his wife a new outlook on life. Ending the show with a 2-song encore of “Something Is Not Right With Me” and “First”, they gave their fans an evening to remember! Opening the show this evening was indie surf rock band Husbands, hailing from Oklahoma City. They had really fun vibes and got the crowd nice and warmed up for the evening!

HUSBANDS

Emily May 10/29/24 Emily May 10/29/24

The Front Bottoms @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville

October 20th, 2024: The Front Bottoms, Eliza & The Delusionals @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY

The Front Bottoms | Photos courtesy of: Emily May

New Jersey indie rock/pop band The Front Bottoms performed two sold-out performances at Mercury Ballroom on October 19th and 20th. I was lucky enough to cover night two, and what a night it was! The venue was packed this evening with a long line of fans waiting to enter when doors opened. Consisting of Brian Sella (lead vocalist/guitar) and Mat Uychich (drums) as the main duo, they were joined on stage by touring members AJ Peacox (guitar/backing vocals), Natalie Newbold (bass/backing vocals), and Erik Kase Romero (guitar/backing vocals). The band formed in 2006 and have grown a large and passionate fan base over the years. “Welcome to night two!”, announced Sella early in the set. The band had visited the Louisville Sluggar Museum earlier in the day, with Sella having brought a bat on stage this evening. “We’ll have batting practice later in the set, ok?”, he announced before continuing the music. The band released their latest album You Are Who You Hang Out With in August of 2023 and performed several tracks from the album this evening, including “Outlook”, “Punching Bag”, “Batman”, and “Emotional”, which he played on a guitar with hot dogs on it!

Sella was very engaged with the crowd, chatting quite a bit between songs, asking about and calling out all of the costumes that fans wore this evening, such as a jester, vampire, skeletons, Shrek, and Spiderman. He then gave out money to the winners, Spiderman and the jester. It was a fun part of the set. More fun ensued later when Kurt Skuse, the guitarist for the opening band Eliza & The Delusionals, came out on stage to drink beer from Mat Uychich’s shoe before running back off stage! The time finally arrived for batting practice, for which Sella had the band’s (I assume) tour manager come out onto the stage with a few t-shirts and threw them at Sella for him to hit into the crowd. The fans scrambled to be one of the lucky fans to grab one, with Sella being a good hitter! The band ended their set with “Finding Your Way Home”, with Sella thanking the fans and saying how the band feels so lucky to get to play music, before playing a three-song encore. They ended their set with “12 Feet Deep”, “Father”, and “Twin Size Mattress”.

Opening the show this evening was Australian indie rock group Eliza & The Delusionals. With 2 albums and 3 EPs under their belt, their most recent album is this year’s Make It Feel Like The Garden. The band performed mostly songs from the new album, along with “Halloween” from their 2022 album Now and Then, their 2019 single “Just Exist”, and a great cover of Phoebe Bridger’s song “Motion Sickness”. The band was in good spirits, with guitarist Kurt Skuse joking with the crowd by saying, after asking if everyone was exited for The Front Bottoms, that “Actually, they aren’t here and we’ll be playing a double set!”, which got a lot of laughs. Later in the set, singer/guitarist Eliza Klatt and Skuse talked about how the band had to go to Bass Pro Shop when they got to the US, as they don’t have them in Australia (Skuse and the drummer were wearing Bass Pro Shop hats). Skuse then asked the crowd if they looked cool, to which the crowd clapped and cheered. “Good”, he said. “We were afraid we looked ridiculous!”. After saying how this was the band’s first time ever in Lousiville, Klatt thanked everyone for being so welcoming. It was a great night of music with a fun and uplifting energy!