Music Midtown: What you need to know
Since it’s been six years since the last Music Midtown, there’s a chance that festivalgoers need a refresher on what to expect.
Granted, this cautious return won’t require the algebraic formulas and flow charts required to navigate the multiday, dozens-of-acts itineraries of years past, but we’ll still dole out a few pointers to help you maximize your day.
The good news for music fans is that advance ticket sales have been robust enough that Music Midtown honcho Peter Conlon is already tuning his radar to next year.
“Next year will definitely be two days, a little more diverse,” he said. “I felt that getting something [produced] this year was important. It’s gotten people focused again. But I’ll start thinking about next year the week after this one. It takes a year to plan these things right.”
Conlon handpicked this year’s lineup, which, aside from multiplatinum pop-rock headliners Coldplay, primarily consists of bands that are huge in the alt-rock community.
“These are all bands of the future that I think will be meaningful artists,” Conlon said.
The acts will be split on two stages about 200 yards apart; staggered scheduling ensures that neither stage will be occupied simultaneously. Conlon suggests sitting on the hill for a vantage point encompassing both performance areas.
But for those who do want to wander, a food court -- including popular food trucks such as the Pickle, the Fry Guy, Willy’s, the Mobile Marlay and Yum Yum Cupcakes -- will be on site, as well as an artists market.
Shoppers can peruse vendor stalls selling African-inspired jewelry and musical instruments, hand-drawn T-shirts, handmade flower headbands, recycled art, and gourmet nuts and teas.
But as for the heart of the festival -- music -- want to know what you’ll be listening to all day? Here’s a guide:
The Great Southeastern Music Hall Stage (120 x 60 feet, 56 feet high)
- 1-1:45 p.m.: The Postelles -- This young members of this New York rock quartet admit that the Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs were big influences during their teen years. But the Manhattanites also grew up hearing a lot of '50s and '60s rock, which explains their affection for harmonies coupled with staccato backbeats.
- 2:45-3:30 p.m.: Walk the Moon -- Filling in for the originally scheduled Mona (the band had to cancel after its lead singer broke his ribs in an onstage tumble), the Cincinnati pop-rockers released their debut, "i want! i want!" in November. The band's bouncy summer indie hit, "Anna Sun," has more than a hint of Killers style in its guitar veins.
- 4:30-5:15 p.m.: Band of Skulls -- You might not realize it, but you've heard the band's "Light of the Morning" dozens of times between its inclusion in a Ford Mustang commercial and in the trailer to "The Hangover II." Fuzzy guitars and the vocal interplay between guitarist Russell Marsden and bassist Emma Richardson are the hallmark of this trio from England.
- 6:15-7 p.m.: Young the Giant -- An eclectic group of bandmates with cultural backgrounds of Indian, Persian, British and French-Canadian are hitting the festival circuit hard this year, bringing their melodic alt-rock that veers from sunny surf-pop to quirky off-kilter rhythms. The anthemic "My Body" became a top-five hit on the Billboard alt-rock charts earlier this year.
- 8:15-9:15 p.m.: Cage the Elephant -- The garage rockers from Bowling Green, Ky., scored a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 album chart in January with their second album, "Thank You, Happy Birthday." Loose slide guitar ("Ain't No Rest for the Wicked") and cymbal-happy drumming ('Drones in the Valley") frame their clanging rock.
The Electric Ballroom Stage (200 x 60 feet, 56 feet high)
- 1:45-2:45 p.m.: The Constellations -- This eight-piece outfit from Atlanta is probably the most original band on the bill. A little psychedelia, a little swing, tight harmonies and even some low-key rapping color songs such as "Setback" and "We're Here to Save the Day."
- 3:30-4:30 p.m.: The Joy Formidable -- Lush is one way to describe this trio from North Wales, although the group's songs often creep from a whisper to a roar, with lead singer Ritzy Bryan's girlish vocals lending an eerie vibe. Its debut album, "The Big Roar," released in January, climbed to No. 8 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart.
- 5:15-6:15 p.m.: Manchester Orchestra -- Though based and bred in Atlanta, the members of this alt-rock quintet have long been indie superstars outside their hometown. A third album, "Simple Math," arrived in May and showcases the band's ambitious musicianship and insightful lyrics with its melancholy title track and the swirling pop of "Pensacola." The band shared some dates last month on the Honda Civic Tour with Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance and will headline a fall club and theater tour with White Denim and the Dear Hunter.
- 7-8:15 p.m.: The Black Keys – The muscular Hendrix-influenced blues rock produced by the Akron, Ohio, duo of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney has garnered enough mainstream attention to score a few Grammy nominations, but the band also maintains its indie cool. Perhaps you've heard its song "I'll Be Your Man" as the theme to the HBO series "Hung." The band recently announced that it has completed work on its seventh studio album, due for release later this year. This Music Midtown gig is the only one slated for the Black Keys until a European tour launches at the beginning of next year.
- 9:15-11 p.m.: Coldplay – If you want an idea of what Coldplay's headlining set might look like, search YouTube for its performance of "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" from this summer's Glastonbury Festival. Chances are we'll hear several new songs from the band's upcoming fifth studio album, "Mylo Xyloto," a concept album from a group that isn't afraid to revel in its majestically structured choruses. If Coldplay follows the path of its Lollapalooza set list from last month, longtime followers won't be disappointed given the expected appearances of "Yellow," "In My Place," "Viva La Vida" and "Fix You," which singer Chris Martin has been turning into a tribute to Amy Winehouse.
If you go
- Music Midtown with Coldplay, the Black Keys, Manchester Orchestra, Cage the Elephant and more
- Noon-11 p.m. Sept. 24. 10th Street Meadow at Piedmont Park. $55 (general admission); $250 (VIP, includes private entrance, hospitality area with complimentary food and beverage and private air-conditioned restrooms); $1,000 (Super VIP, includes VIP privileges plus valet parking, backstage viewing area for both stages, souvenir T-shirt and laminate). An additional $1 from each ticket sale will benefit the city's recreation centers and after-school activities for youths. Re-entry will be permitted if the ticket is "scanned out" when exiting and the same ticket is used upon return. Ticket info: 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com or www.musicmidtown.com.
- Parking: Extremely limited. Attendees are encouraged to take MARTA to the Midtown or Arts Center stations. Surrounding residential streets will be closed to nonresidents. Bicycle racks will also be provided at the site. The park entrances on 12th Street and 14th Street are wheelchair accessible. Will Call will be located at the ticket booth at 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive, across from the Charles Allen Gate.
- Pets: Not allowed (except service dogs)
About the Author
Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.
