From free concerts at the 120th Kentucky State Fair and the ticketed Sky Soul Festival at Waterfront Park to covered outdoor seating at Iroquois Amphitheater, August is a great month for outdoor music in the Bluegrass State. Or, if you prefer not to sweat, plenty of acts are coming to indoor venues like the Kentucky Center, Paristown Hall, and Lexington’s Rupp Arena and Opera House.

Here are the major entertainment acts coming to Kentucky in August.

Kentucky State Fair’s Texas Roadhouse Concert Series

WHAT: Free concert included with the price of entry to the 120th Kentucky State Fair. Here is the 2024 Texas Roadhouse Concert Series lineup: 

• Thursday, Aug. 15: Lonestar and Eddie Montgomery
• Friday, Aug. 16: The Sugarhill Gang Melle Mel & Scorpio (of Furious Five) with special guest Ying Yang Twins
• Saturday, Aug. 17: Stephen Pearcy of Ratt with special guest Quiet Riot
• Sunday, Aug. 18: The Oak Ridge Boys with special guests The Country Gold Tour including Leroy Van Dyke, Linda Davis, Jimmy Fortune, Rockland Road (which will perform the national anthem and “God Bless the USA.”)
• Monday, Aug. 19: CAIN with special guest Katy Nichole
• Tuesday, Aug. 20: Happy Together including The Turtles, The Cowsills, Badfinger, The Vogues, The Association, Jay and the Americans
• Wednesday, Aug. 21: Justin Moore with special guest Alex Miller
• Thursday, Aug. 22: Everclear with special guest Marcy Playground
• Friday, Aug. 23: 38 Special with special guest Exile
• Saturday, Aug. 24: Lauren Alaina with special guests Mackenzie Porter, Kelsey Hart
• Sunday, Aug. 25: (6 p.m. show): Tauren Wells with special guest Consumed By Fire

WHEN: All concerts, except Aug. 25, begin at 8 p.m. with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. and take place in Lot L adjacent to Kentucky Kingdom and Broadbent Arena. On Aug. 25, the concert area opens at 5:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville.

COST: Advance tickets are $9 plus fees online until Aug. 6. Tickets purchased Aug. 7-25 are $10 for admission and $10 for parking. Visit kystatefair.org/tickets for details.

WHAT: Join Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake on the second year of the Summer Worship Nights Tour! Live with special guest Hulvey

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: KFC YUM Center, 1 Arena Plaza

COST: Tickets start at $25 at kfcyumcenter.com.

WHAT: A celebration of art, culture and community featuring Dru Hill, Doug E Fresh, Anthony Hamilton and KeKe Wyatt.

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 10

WHERE: Waterfront Park Great Lawn, 129 River Raod

COST: Starting at $50 at skysoulfest.com

Here are more major concerts coming to Louisville in August:

Iroquois Amphitheater

1080 Amphitheater Road, iroquoisamphitheater.com

Kentucky Center Whitney Hall

501 W. Main St., kentuckyperformingarts.org

Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

724 Brent St., kentuckyperformingarts.org

Mercury Ballroom

611 S Fourth St., mercuryballroom.com

WFPK Waterfront Wednesday

Waterfront Park Big Four Lawn, 1001 River Road, lpm.org

And here are concerts happening elsewhere in the state:

The AMP at Logstill

225 Dee Head Road, New Haven, Kentucky, logstilldistillery.com

Greensky Bluegrass, Friday, Aug. 2

Lexington Opera House

401 W Short St, Lexington, Kentucky, centralbankcenter.com

Rupp Arena

430 West Vine St., Lexington, Kentucky, centralbankcenter.com

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com