Live UpdatesSeptember 17, 2026, 2:35 PM

Shaky Knees 2026: The Strokes, Turnstile and more

Live interviews, weather updates, performance recaps and everything you need to know.

Shaky Knees begins Friday at Piedmont Park. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC 2025)
Shaky Knees begins Friday at Piedmont Park. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC 2025)

Shaky Knees returns to Atlanta’s Piedmont Park this Friday through Sunday for three days of music with a lineup featuring the Strokes, metro Atlanta band Cartel, Twenty One Pilots, Wu-Tang Clan and Gorillaz. Follow along all weekend for live updates, artist performances, interviews and more.


Yvonne Zusel
3 hours ago

Get to know Conyers trio Cartel, one of two Georgia bands on the Shaky Knees lineup

Members of the pop-punk band Cartel pose for a portrait in front of a mural in Atlanta's Little Five Points on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025.
Members of the pop-punk band Cartel pose for a portrait in front of a mural in Atlanta's Little Five Points on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Last year, Conyers pop-punk band Cartel reflected on the legacy of their 2005 album “Chroma.”

They'll take the Shaky Knees stage Friday, one of only two Georgia bands on the lineup this year (the other is Athens group Hotel Fiction).

Get to know the trio, made up of Nic Hudson, Will Pugh and Joseph Pepper, here.


Yvonne Zusel
4 hours ago

Shaky Knees is almost here!

Crowds gather at Piedmont Park for the first day of the Shaky Knees music festival on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Atlanta.
Crowds gather at Piedmont Park for the first day of the Shaky Knees music festival on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Atlanta. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Atlanta music festival Shaky Knees will return for the 14th year Friday-Sunday at Piedmont Park in Midtown. The festival is sold out, but wristbands are still available on verified resale sites.

More than 50 acts will play on fours stages across three days including headliners the Strokes, Twenty One Pilots and Gorillaz. The only two local bands on the lineup are Conyers trio Cartel, performing Friday, and Athens group Hotel Fiction, playing Saturday.

Do you have your schedule set? Let Atlanta Journal-Constitution music writer Matthew W. Smith break it down for you with his 10 acts not to miss, plus information on getting to the festival, bag policy and more. 

One thing to note: Jimmy Eat World, who were supposed to perform Saturday, had to back out this week because of frontman Jim Adkins' torn retina. A scheduling update from the Shaky Knees team is expected soon.