Early-Bird Pass Pricing Available Through May 31
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — May 7, 2025 — Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival is turning up the volume with five regional bands joining this year’s expanded lineup, bringing fresh energy and hometown spirit to the stages at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit, New York.
The regional band lineup includes:
- Friday, August 8: Checks & Exes, Johnny Hart and the Mess
- Saturday, August 9: Mike Powell and The Echosound, The Isotopes, The Medicinals
“Hoochenanny is where the heartbeat of our region comes alive,” said Tommy Brunett, festival co-founder. “These bands were born in our basements, garages, bars, and backyards. We’re proud to raise the curtain for the artists that carry the sound of our towns and give them the stage and the crowd that they deserve.”
“These bands represent the spirit, grit, and talent of our region’s music scene,” said Sean McCarthy, festival co-founder. “We can’t wait for festivalgoers to experience the incredible sound of these talented local musicians live at Hoochenanny this summer.”
Hoochenanny, the ultimate three-day celebration of live music and world-class whiskey, returns for its second year bigger than ever. Festival organizers Tommy Brunett and Sean McCarthy are bringing an expanded lineup of top-tier musical acts and an immersive whiskey experience to Camp Eastman.
The festival will take place Friday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. Hours are Friday from 2 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m.
Passes are on sale now at hoochenanny.com/passes, with early-bird pricing available through Saturday, May 31.
General admission passes are available for one day ($50), two days ($85), or three days ($120), plus service fees. General admission includes access to the festival site during hours of operation, up-front standing room at both stages, entry to the Concert Pavilion Beverage Center and Stageview Craft Cocktail Lounge, the Artisans Bazaar and Barrel Bistro food experience, free beer tastings at Lager Land, water fill stations, and over 25,000 square feet of covered seating space. The event is open to all ages, with designated 21+ areas identified on-site.
Guests who want to experience the whiskey tastings can purchase General Admission Tasting Passes, available for one day ($75), two days ($130), or three days ($190), plus service fees. These passes include all general admission benefits, plus access to the World of Whiskey tasting experience, featuring 20 curated whiskey tastings with additional options available for purchase on-site.
VIP Passes are available for one day ($150), two days ($285), or three days ($400), plus service fees. VIP guests enjoy all the benefits of general admission tasting, plus access to the VIP Loft double-decker tent, bird’s-eye views of both stages with exclusive VIP bridge access, private whiskey tastings, full cash bars, plush cocktail lounges, sit-down dining and dedicated catering for purchase, climate-controlled luxury restrooms, a cigar bar featuring custom-made, hand-rolled cigars, and free on-site parking.
This year’s festival will span 14 acres and feature two outdoor music stages and seven custom-built experience tents. National acts include Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Charles Wesley Godwin, Old 97’s, The English Beat, Dark Star Orchestra, moe., and many more.
Whiskey lovers can explore five distinct tasting experiences inside the World of Whiskey, sip rare pours at the Rarities Bar, and join exclusive discussions led by industry experts at Bourbon Broadcast sessions.
For full festival details and to purchase passes, visit hoochenanny.com.
Music Lineup
The 2025 festival will feature an expanded music lineup with international, national, and regional artists performing across two stages, delivering a dynamic mix of Americana, rock, alternative, punk, outlaw country and rockabilly.
- Friday, August 8: Charles Wesley Godwin, Old 97’s, The English Beat, Cristina Vane, Checks & Exes, Johnny Hart and the Mess
- Saturday, August 9: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Record Company, Tommy Brunett’s All-Star Cavalcade of Scoundrels, The Jack Knives, Vandoliers, Mike Powell and The Echosound, The Isotopes, The Medicinals
- Sunday, August 10: moe., Dark Star Orchestra, Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Eggy
Whiskey Lineup
This year’s whiskey programming will be triple the size of the inaugural festival, showcasing more than 150 of the finest spirits from local, national and regional distilleries.
The World of Whiskey Tasting Experience will showcase more than 30 national and regional distillers areas inside an 8,700-square-foot structure tent. The tasting experience will offer interactive sampling stations, educational sessions, and opportunities to meet the distillers behind the brands, with samples ranging from classic bourbons to unique craft expressions.
The five unique Tasting Experience areas are:
- Rickhouse Rendezvous is a prohibition-style rickhouse-meets-speakeasy presented by The New York State Distillers Guild, it will highlight distillers from across the Excelsior state along with interactive exhibits and educational displays.
- American Whiskey Journey is a coast-to-coast experience showcasing whiskey-producing states and distilleries across the country. Patrons will be immersed in the rich culture and heritage of American’s signature spirit, and presented visions of what American whiskey is and can be in the future.
- Rarities Bar offers Hoochenanny whiskey fans exclusive access to some truly rare sips – exclusive, limited-edition whiskeys, from local, regional and national distillers, including several exclusive to Hoochenanny.
- Libations Lounge offers a selection of craft whiskey cocktails from veteran mixologists, allowing guests to experience pre-prohibition classics up to modern innovations. Patrons can mix their neat whiskey into a specialty cocktail, or explore a menu of non-whiskey spirits to craft the perfect drink.
- Bourbon Broadcast is a fireside chat featuring a nationally recognized whiskey media personality along with a rotating lineup of industry experts and Hoochenanny master distillers, blenders and ambassadors.
Participating brands include:
- Bardstown Bourbon Company
- Black Button Distilling
- Bubba’s Secret Stills Whiskey
- Den of Thieves
- Great Jones
- Green River
- Iron Smoke Distillery
- Michter’s
- Pinhook
- Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
- Tin Cup Mountain Whiskey
- Woodenville Whiskey Co.
More than 15 additional whiskey brands will be added to the lineup and announced at a later date.
More Expanded Festival Experiences
The 2025 festival will offer a variety of immersive experiences, including:
- Highball Stage - Featuring performances by top international and national music groups.
- Fermenter Stage - Showcasing top international and national music groups, along with the best local and regional talent.
- VIP Loft Double-Decker - This premium ticket option offers exclusive access to a two-story, 5,000-square-foot oasis with a bird’s-eye view of the festival stages or access to the VIP bridge for the best main stage experience. The experience includes sit-down dining, a full cash cocktail bar, plush seating with a cigar bar, and exclusive whiskey tastings. Climate-controlled luxury restrooms provide comfort while guests enjoy the ultimate festival experience.
- Concert Pavilion - This 10,000-square-foot covered space offers views of the main and local stages, with ample seating and lounge areas. It can comfortably accommodate 1,000 patrons and features an 80-foot bar serving beer, wine, and seltzer. Festival and band merchandise will also be available to browse while enjoying live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Stageview Cocktail Lounge - An exclusive bar with a prime view of the main stage, offering specialty drinks at a cash bar. Relax in a laid-back atmosphere under a 1,650-square-foot tent, where guests can enjoy craft cocktails served in real glasses. The space, available on a first-come, first-served basis, accommodates about 300 people.
- Lager Land - A complimentary beer-tasting area showcasing approximately 15 local craft brews poured to perfection inside a 1,800-square-foot tent just steps from the action. Open from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, the area provides an opportunity to sample local beers alongside the festival’s music and whiskey offerings.
- Barrel Bistro - This collection of food vendors will offer unique culinary experiences. A variety of local vendors will provide food to complement the festival. Local vendors can visit the website for more information on how to apply.
- Artisans Bazaar - This marketplace will feature unique creations of local artisans and handcrafted goods. Meet the makers and learn their stories. Applications for vendors will open soon.
Call for Food Vendors to Participate in the Barrel Bistro
The Barrel Bistro is set to be a standout feature at this year’s Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival, offering a curated collection of food vendors that will provide unique and delicious culinary experiences. Hoochenanny organizers are seeking regional and local food businesses that specialize in diverse, flavorful dishes to complement the festival’s raucous atmosphere. Food vendors interested in participating can apply now at hoochenanny.com/vendor-application. The deadline for submissions is June 30.
Seeking Unique Vendors for the Artisans Bazaar
Vendors are invited to showcase unique, one-of-a-kind goods at the festival, focusing on rare, quirky, and unconventional items. This is an opportunity for artisans and creators to offer festivalgoers something extraordinary. Vendor applications are now open. Those interested in participating can apply at hoochenanny.com/artisans-application.
Hoochenanny Teams Up with Make-A-Wish, Lou Gramm Foundation, Endless Highway to Make an Impact
This year, the festival is partnering with Make-A-Wish, the Lou Gramm Foundation, and Endless Highway, uniting to bring hope and change to our community. Details on how these organizations will be involved in this year’s festival will be announced soon.
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