For many festivals, serving up the same band as the headliner for two nights might seem odd.
But when that headliner is Widespread Panic and the event is the SweetWater 420 Fest, it’s jam band synergy.
The stalwart fusion-blues-rock sextet, who have been rooted in Athens since the mid-‘80s, will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the event on Saturday and Sunday, playing two sets of music each night.
Although the band played multiple sets and nights at the 2017 installment of SweetWater, their fervent fan base continues to turn out in blissed-out droves.
“They are probably the most requested band we have,” Jennifer Bensch, president of Happy Ending Productions, which produces the event, said when the lineup was announced. “We wouldn’t normally bring a band back so soon if it didn’t resonate with our patrons. But people who are avid Panic followers will go and see (several) nights of them in a row, so it lends itself in doing that in a festival scene.”
Joining Panic for the Friday-Sunday gathering at Centennial Olympic Park will be four stages (and a tent) of acts best categorized in the jam and Americana genres.
The Avett Brothers headlined Friday night, with Rebelution and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead also sharing the bill. Saturday will see sets from Moon Taxi, Big Something and Iration (among others) before Panic takes the stage. And Sunday, The Claypool Lennon Delirium and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will energize fans before Panic’s closing double set.
Here are some tips to help you navigate your trip to SweetWater 420 Fest:
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W. NW, Atlanta.
Tickets: Only available at will call. $160 (three-day general admission); $448 (three-day Big Fish VIP); $85 (single-day general admission); $191 (single-day Big Fish VIP). Children under 10 are free with a wristbanded adult. All patrons 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult 25 or older. Tickets to the festival, late-night shows and 5K race can be purchased through sweetwater420fest.com.
Box office hours: 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Friday (gates at noon); noon-11 p.m. Saturday (gates at 11:30 a.m.); noon-10 p.m. Sunday (gates at 11 a.m.).
Bag policy: A small clutch purse or bag no larger than the size of your hand; a clear bag no larger than 17 x 13 x 9. Also, empty water bottles are allowed (there are filling stations throughout the festival grounds).
Transportation: MARTA riders should exit at the Peachtree Center or CNN Center stations. Advance parking is available via sweetwater420fest.org for the Georgia World Congress Center Red Deck ($11.50 per day) and Green Deck ($11.30 per day). A complimentary bike valet will be located at the Centennial Olympic Park Drive gate.
Other info: There will not be lockers on site and event staff will not store items that are not allowed on site. (Visit the sweetwater420fest.com site for a complete list of prohibited items).
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SWEETWATER 420 FEST LINEUPS
Friday
SweetWater Stage
1 p.m.: Hedonistas
2:15 p.m.: John Medeski’s Mad Skillet (two sets)
5 p.m.: JJ Grey & Mofro
7 p.m.: Rebelution
9 p.m. The Avett Brothers
420 Strain Stage
2:30 p.m.: Pink Talking Fish
4:30 p.m.: Billy Strings
7 p.m.: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Lyrics & Laughter Stage
1 p.m.: Travers Brothership
2 p.m.: The Core
3:15 p.m.: Emma Hern and Joe Pettis
4:45 p.m.: Flow Tribe and Andrew Michael
6:15 p.m.: Aaron Lee Tasjan
7:45 p.m.: Cory Wong
420 Disco
1 p.m.: Zen Selekta
1:50 p.m.: Crow
2:40 p.m.: Parrotice
3:30 p.m.: Hiku
5 p.m.: Iglooghost
6:30 p.m.: Little People
8:15 p.m.: Goth-Trad
Saturday
SweetWater Stage
Noon: Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles
2:30 p.m.: Everyone Orchestra
5 p.m.: Moon Taxi
7:30 p.m. Widespread Panic (two sets)
420 Strain Stage
1:30 p.m.: The Band of Heathens
3:30 p.m.: Big Something
6 p.m.: Iration
Lyrics & Laughter
Noon: Cody Matlock
1 p.m.: Mo Lowda & The Humble
2 p.m.: Kalu & The Electric Joint
3:15 p.m.: Hedonistas and Joe Pettis
4:45 p.m.: Magic City Hippies and Andrew Michael
6:15 p.m.: Sunsquabi
420 Disco
Noon: Ives
1:05 p.m.: FRQ NCY
2:10 p.m.: Mind Set
3:15 p.m. Ployd
4:30 p.m.: B. Keyz
6 p.m.: Robotaki
7:30 p.m. Daily Bread
Sunday
SweetWater Stage
Noon: Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass
2 p.m.: The Claypool Lennon Delirium
4:20 p.m.: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
6:30 p.m.: Widespread Panic (two sets)
420 Strain Stage
1:15 p.m.: Fruition
3 p.m.: Turkuaz
5 p.m.: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Lyrics & Laughter Stage
Noon: The Snozzberries
1 p.m.: The Orange Constant
2 p.m.: Katie Pruitt
3:15 p.m.: Voodoo Visionary and Joe Pettis
4:45 p.m.: Zach Deputy & The Yankees and Andrew Michael
6:15 p.m.: Knower
420 Disco
Noon: Ryan Viser
12:50 p.m.: Robbie Dude
1:40 p.m.: Andy Bruh
2:30 p.m.: Space Kadet
3:30 p.m.: Exmag
5 p.m.: Michael Menert Michal Menert
6:30 p.m.: Marvel Years
Late night shows at Aisle 5: Higher Learning (Friday); Sunsquabi with Derlee (Saturday); Knower with Nate Wood Four (Sunday).
Late night shows at Terminal West: Ghost Light (Friday); Billy Strings (Saturday).
420 Fest 5K Road Race: 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Centennial Olympic Park. $43 in advance until race day; $53 race day in person.
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