Distilleries Turning Out the Tunes This Summer

Today’s distilleries have become social destinations, and music is often a big part of the mix. In some places, what started as a simple lineup of music gatherings has evolved into full-blown concert programs with stages, lighting, and sound systems that can compete with local music venues. Here’s a roundup of just some of what’s in store around the country this summer.

CALIFORNIA

Gold Bar Whiskey

City: San Francisco
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Ticketed

Gold Bar Whiskey offers all-day and late-evening musical programming. Housed in a restored, Art Deco 1930s airplane hangar on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, the distillery offers plenty of space to enjoy pours of its Napa Valley wine barrel-finished whiskeys, craft cocktails, and a full menu (including a whimsical gold-decorated whiskey soft serve for those with a sweet tooth). Two events are lined up for the summer: a sunset DJ event on June 6th, and an electronic music night on July 6th. It also hosts live jazz every Friday and a live DJ every Sunday, both from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

ILLINOIS

Whiskey Acres

City: DeKalb
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free

Almost every weekend through the fall features live music at Whiskey Acres, with various rock, singer-songwriter, acapella, and multi-genre musicians slated to perform. Sip on classic whiskey cocktails made with its grain-to-glass bourbon, rye, vodka, and specialty liqueurs while enjoying the show. Guests can also grab a bite from food trucks serving up local eats. The lineup is typically posted one month in advance here.

INDIANA

Hard Truth Distilling Co.

City: Nashville
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free

Hard Truth is hosting “Rumble on the Rocks,” a music showdown in which guests can vote for their favorite band of the evening. Whichever two bands win the most votes will advance to the next round and have the chance to win a cash prize and perform at Amplify Nashville, a music festival for emerging artists. Ballots to vote for a band are $10, with plenty of neat pours and cocktails to fuel the jam session. Round 2 is on June 6th, and the final round is on June 13th.

IOWA

Cedar Ridge Distillery

City: Swisher
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Ticketed

Live music is a year-round fixture at Cedar Ridge, with performances scheduled most Fridays and Sundays this summer. Expect Rock n’ Roll, country, and folk musicians on the calendar. July 19th kicks of the special “Between the Barrel” series wherein the show will take place in the Barrel Shed #9. All patrons can enjoy a special menu on concert nights, with craft and canned cocktails to keep you refreshed.

KENTUCKY

The Amp at Log Still

City: Gethsemane
Type of Music: Hip Hop and Country
Admission: Ticketed

Log Still’s sprawling 315-acre campus in central Kentucky is home to a large music stage: The Amp. It’s back with its summer lineup of heavy-hitting musicians. Ying Yang Twins, a favorite hip hop duo popular in the early 2000s kicks festivities off on June 20th, followed by a thread of country musicians capped off with Grammy-nominated artist Jamey Johnson closing the series out on September 11th. The venue operates with fully stocked bars and concessions, with cocktails featuring the distillery’s signature bourbon, Tennessee whiskeys, and gin.

Castle & Key Distillery

City: Frankfort
Type of Music: Varied
Admission: Ticketed

On the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month through September, you’ll find the 7th annual Springhouse Music Series at Castle & Key Distillery. Live music runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with different artists headlining each night. The welcome facility, Taylorton Station, offers cocktails, plus there are food trucks on-site, and concertgoers can pick up the label’s bottles in The Broiler Room gift shop.

Whiskey Thief Distilling

City: Louisville
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free and ticketed options

In addition to its workhorse distillery in Franklin County, Whiskey Thief Distilling has a dedicated urban visitor destination equipped with a listening room that hosts an array of musical events. In addition to jazz every Friday, a standout on the calendar for summer includes a jazz weekend in honor of legends Coltrane and Davis on June 4th and 5th. Guests can enjoy craft cocktails, and if you plan to spend the day there, a barrel thieving experience.

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston Harbor Distillery

City: Boston
Type of Music: Blues
Admission: Ticketed

The 3rd Annual Boston Harbor Blues Fest is back at the Boston Harbor Distillery, south of downtown Boston, on Sunday, June 7th at 5 p.m. The festival showcases three blues artists: Sugarray and the Bluetones, the Frank EB Band, and Racky Thomas Band. The label’s whiskeys (notably Putnam ryes and single malts), other spirits, and liqueurs will be available, with the option to bring your own food or order in.

Cisco Brewers and Triple Eight Distillery

City: Nantucket
Type of Music: Varied
Admission: Ticketed

Nantucket Island has an impressive brewing and distillery destination in Cisco Brewers, the team behind Triple Eight Distillery’s high-scoring American single malt, The Notch. It also happens to be a live music hub on the island, with a variety of performers taking the stage outside most nights beginning at 4:00 p.m. Each Saturday includes a second act from 12:00 p.m. Some are ticketed, others are free, with genres spanning hip hop, indie, and singer-songwriter scheduled in June. Local food trucks are on-site, and cocktails, wine, and beer are available.

MAINE

Wild Bevy Distilling

City: Wells, Maine
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free

Wild Bevy is located in the popular summer destination of Wells, Maine. Producing bourbon and rye, alongside vodka and gin, the distillery hosts live music most weekends, with a stacked schedule through December 2026 featuring local bands and performers. Events are free to attend, with cocktails, mocktails, and wood-fired pizza available for purchase. Most events are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI

Cathead Distillery

City: Jackson
Type of Music: Varied
Admission: Ticketed

Launched in 2018, Cathead Distillery co-founders aim to raise funds for regional arts and culture through the annual Cathead Jam, a festival held on distillery grounds located in the heart of downtown Jackson. This June 5th and 6th, concertgoers can enjoy up to ten multi-genre artists, with headliners Allen Stone and Kashus Culpepper. Friday’s concert kicks off at 3:00 p.m., while Saturday starts earlier at 12:00 p.m. Cocktails made with the label’s Old Soul bourbon will be available, as well as a “food village” with several local trucks serving mostly Southern fare.

MISSOURI

J. Rieger & Co.

City: Kansas City, MO
Type of Music: Live DJ, varied
Admission: Free

To kick off summer, J. Rieger & Co. is hosting “Electric Night” every Friday night in June. Held in the Electric Park Garden Bar, an expansive outdoor bar and restaurant on the distillery grounds, guests can enjoy a live DJ beginning at 9:00 p.m. alongside flights, neat pours, and a series of classic cocktails made with its signature sherry-infused Kansas City whiskey, ryes, bourbons, vodka, gin, and amaro.

NEW YORK

Fort Hamilton Distillery

City: Brooklyn
Type of Music: Jazz, Blues
Admission: Free

Sunday Sessions at Fort Hamilton Distillery offers a weekly jazz night from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m.. Often, it’s followed by an open jam session for any musicians who want to jump in. Guests can sip their signature pre-Prohibition-style rye, bourbons, mocktails, and snacks are available for purchase.

Hollerhorn Distilling

City: Naples
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Ticketed

Finger Lakes-based Hollerhorn Distillery is back with an Outdoor Stage Event series, with four shows in total, singer-songwriter Carsie Blanton is kicking things off on June 6th. The annual Smoke, Blues, and Bourbon event is also returning on June 26th with a duo performance and Santiago Cigar Factory rolling cigars. The folk rock and country band Felice Brothers is returning to the distillery for a July 18th performance, and the closing act for the summer is dance-heavy performer The Prickers. A dedicated outdoor menu is available, with cocktails, wine, beer, and snacks for purchase. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Iron Smoke Distillery

City: Fairport
Type of Music: Varied
Admission: Free and ticketed

Iron Smoke Distillery, founded by musician Tommy Brunett, has a stacked musical schedule this summer. Ranging from tribute bands to acoustic sessions to karaoke with a live rock band, there is something going on most evenings, Tuesday through Sunday. Guests can look forward to its applewood-smoked whiskeys, single barrel selections, and Battlesnake Rosie’s portfolio of flavored whiskeys. Food isn’t available on-site, but you can bring your own. Times for each event vary.

Great Jones Distilling Co.

City: New York
Type of Music: Jazz
Admission: Reservation required

Touted as Manhattan’s first distillery since Prohibition, it’s fitting that Great Jones commits to the definitive soundtrack of the era, with jazz serenading brunch-goers every Saturday between 11:30a.m. and 2:30p.m. Patrons must order at least one entrée and one drink per person. Reservations can be made here.

NORTH CAROLINA

Bogue Sound Distillery

City: Bogue
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free

Situated on the North Carolina coast, Bogue Sound Distillery has a packed calendar of musical events Friday through Sunday, ranging from Beach Boy tributes to local bands covering pop, country, and rock. Sip on the label’s bourbons, ryes, or their flavored peanut butter whiskey neat or in one of their signature cocktails. Musical bingo is held on Tuesday nights, karaoke with a live DJ on Wednesdays, and musicians have been announced for every weekend in June. A full schedule is here.

PENNSLYVANIA

Altered State Distillery

City: Erie
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free

Altered State Distillery has a robust live music schedule, often leaning into the owners’ passion for jam bands and rock, with occasional acoustic sets for weekly Sunday brunch sessions, and every Friday and Saturday schedules for larger shows. Patrons can enjoy a Mexican American meal for brunch or dinner at the distillery restaurant, with a choice of Prohibition-style, seasonal, classic and batch cocktails made from the label’s grain-to-glass whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Firefly Distillery

City: Charleston
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Ticketed

North Charleston-based Firefly Distillery takes its music seriously, often closing the distillery in preparation for large shows at The Field, an expansive outdoor venue built in 2020. Popular indie, folk, and country headliners are slated to perform this summer, with shows announced from June 17th through October 2nd. Food trucks, cocktails, beer, and wine are available for purchase, with the purchase of a Firefly Club ticket granting access to an indoor cash bar with an expanded cocktail menu. Tickets can be purchased here.

TEXAS

Still Austin

City: Austin
Type of Music: Various
Admission: Free

Still Austin has partnered with the local, famed Antone’s Nightclub to bring a monthly concert series, highlighting blues, soul in live music performances. This month catch The Animeros, a genre-bending band performing on June 11th. Elsewhere, the distillery’s tasting room also hosts various acts every weekend, with the June schedule posted here. Cocktails and local food trucks are available on the patio.

Garrison Brothers

City: Hye
Type of Music: Country and Rock
Admission: Free

All year long, Garrison Brothers hosts live music events called the Hye Note, with musicians announced for each weekend in June. Concerts are free, and food and craft cocktails will be available.