All good things must come to an end including Forecastle.

Thankfully, I got an early start and saw the day’s opening set from Nashville’s The Wild Feathers. These guys are definitely the up-and-coming alt-country rockers to watch out for. “The Ceiling” may so far be my favorite song of 2013.

I got to hear a couple of songs from Tift Merritt. For some reason, she falls into the category of artists that I just can’t seem to get into although they look good on paper.

Dan Auerbach-produced Nigerian artist Bombino doesn’t speak any English. However he and his band were sure hot on the Forecastle stage on their electric guitars and in their native garb.

Despite the afternoon heat, I went a full set with lighthearted indie-pop-rockers Tennis. They are another band whose catalog I am eager to check out.

I already had a predisposition that Grace Potter was a little too rock star for me. Arriving a few songs into her set with The Nocturnals, there she was gyrating on the stage floor in a long white flowing gown. I guess I was right.

Continuing with first impressions, my first experience with The Secret Sisters was as an uninspiring acoustic duo. However, with a rocking band behind them, the sisters rivaled the best of the Everly Brothers with their lively sound and harmonies.

With so much great music about, I was short on time for the awesome all-star bluegrass jam ensemble dubbed The Forecastle Incident. I think you will recognize most of these players.

I passed on seeing the “Harlem Shake” guy to watch Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters. I never was much of a Zeppelin fan, but this is the third fabulous band incarnation of Plant‘s that I have now seen. This remarkable set goes down as one of the best I have ever experienced. Words and pictures just can’t tell the story about how amazing their performance was—despite being shortened 25 minutes by rain.

Fortunately, the weather delay pushed back The Avett Brothers only 15 minutes. However, my son and I needed to get back to Music City, so we saw just a brief portion of their set before hitting the road.

It was a marvelous weekend in Louisville, and I am already thinking about next year.

FINAL NOTE: In a few weeks, Louisville radio station WFPK-FM will be streaming the sets from their stage that were broadcast live.