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The forecast for Music Midtown 2014 was somewhere between sunny and crowded Friday afternoon.
The two-day music festival, back for its fourth installment at Piedmont Park is expected to attract more than 100,000 music loved between Friday and Saturday.
“Maybe we should cancel because of good weather,” joked Peter Conlon, president of Live Nation Atlanta, which organizes the festival. Last year’s event was marred by drizzly skies that turned the park into a mud pit.
But the outlook is bright for this weekend with the weather expected to hold and a lineup that included John Mayer, Jack White, Iggy Azalea and Run-D.M.C. Friday night, with Eminem, Zac Brown Band, Gregg Allman and Atlanta rapper B.o.B. on deck for Saturday.
Three stages are staggered around Piedmont Park, including one near Oak Hill, along with an artisan area for concertgoers to buy artwork, jewelry and to have a psychic readings.
Shortly after gates opened at 4 p.m., music fans dispersed to find an optimal viewing spot in front of the trio of stages.
Mallory Wilkerson and her three friends stood in the sun near the Electric Ballroom Stage, where soul-pop band Mayer Hawthorne was readying to play.
But the quartet of girls – all 17-year-old students at The Lovett School — chimed in unison that they were to see Mayer and wanted to stake out a prime spot near the stage.
“There’s so much variety,” Wilkerson said of the age-spanning lineup of acts. “I love the people and the vibe (of Music Midtown).”
The group was also anticipating sets from Lana Del Rey , Third Eye Blind and Run-D.M.C.
The group of friends agreed that the $135 ticket price ($125 for those who bought early) was a solid value for two dozen acts, but Wilkerson had another reason for attending.
“(This) is why I love living in Atlanta,” she said, gesturing in the wide space around her.
Tickets for Music Midtown will be on sale onsite Saturday
