An array of 30 acts, from classic rock to hip-hop to throwback pop, will drop their sounds on Piedmont Park this weekend. Sure, you know Elton John and Drake, but maybe you aren’t so familiar with some of the others.
Here is a briefing on five performers worth your time at Music Midtown.
Kodaline
The background: The Irish quartet was known as 21 Demands until 2011. During that incarnation, they became the first independent Irish band to record a No. 1 single in their homeland with "Give Me a Minute." As Kodaline, their songs have been heard on episodes of "Grey's Anatomy" and "The Vampire Diaries." Their second album, "Coming Up for Air," bowed in February.
The sound: The dreaminess of Coldplay melded with the introspection of the Swell Season.
Songs you should know: "High Hopes," "Honest," "The One"
Catch them live: 4:45 p.m. Friday on the Electric Ballroom Stage
Metric
The background: It's hard to believe the Canadian quartet fronted by Emily Haines has been around since 1998. The band has a collection of Juno Awards (the Canadian version of the Grammys), and its members stay busy with side projects as well (Haines and guitarist James Shaw perform with Broken Social Scene). Metric's sixth album, "Pagans in Vegas," arrives on the same day as their Music Midtown performance.
The sound: Early Pretenders meets Blondie.
Songs you should know: "Breathing Underwater," "Youth Without Youth," "Gold Guns Girls"
Catch them live: 8:15 p.m. Friday on the Cotton Club Stage
X Ambassadors
The background: These guys owe plenty to Imagine Dragons. As the story goes, when the hitmakers heard an acoustic version of the upstate New York band's song "Unconsolable," they urged Interscope Records to sign X Ambassadors. Their full-length debut, "VHS," was released in June. X Ambassadors is comprised of brothers Sam Harris and Casey Harris; Noah Feldshuh and Adam Levin.
The sound: Percussive, soulful pop. Sam Harris' voice, when it isn't reaching falsetto heights, actually sounds a bit like Daryl Hall's gritty croon.
Songs you should know: "Renegades," a No. 1 alt-rock hit, and "Fear" with Imagine Dragons
Catch them live: 1:45 p.m. Saturday on the Honda Stage
Elle King
The background: The singer-guitarist is the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider and former model London King. Gigging since she was 16, the now-26-year-old released her first single, "Good to Be a Man," in 2012. In February, she released her debut album, "Love Stuff," which has sold about 100,000 copies, and spent the summer opening for Modest Mouse in the U.K.
The sound: There's a hint of Grace Potter in King's attitude-drenched "Ex's & Oh's," an enticing slice of shuffling blues rock.
Songs you should know: Her No. 1 hit, "Ex's & Oh's," and "American Girl"
Catch her live: 3:15 p.m. Saturday on the Belk Stage
Catfish and the Bottlemen
The background: The quartet hails from Wales and formed in 2007. Their debut album, "The Balcony," arrived in September 2014 and peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Top Alternative Albums chart. The band spent much of last year playing festivals in Europe.
The sound: If you took Oasis and the Strokes, threw in a little Smiths and mashed it all together.
Songs you should know: "Kathleen" and "Cocoon"
Catch them live: 6 p.m. Saturday on the Cotton Club Stage
MUSIC MIDTOWN SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 18. Gates open at 4 p.m.
4:30 p.m. — Vinyl Theatre at Belk Stage
4:45 p.m. — Kodaline at Electric Ballroom Stage
5:15 p.m. — Jamie N Commons at Cotton Club Stage
5:45 p.m. — August Alsina at Honda Stage
5:45 p.m. — Tove Lo at Belk Stage
6:30 p.m. — Elliot Moss at Cotton Club Stage
6:45 p.m. — Hozier at Electric Ballroom Stage
7:15 p.m. — Jenny Lewis at Belk Stage
8 p.m. — Alice in Chains at Honda Stage
8:15 p.m. — Metric at Cotton Club Stage
9 p.m. — Elton John at Belk Stage
9:30 p.m. — Drake at Electric Ballroom Stage
Saturday, Sept. 19. Gates open at noon.
1 p.m. — Colony House at Electric Ballroom Stage
1:45 p.m. — X Ambassadors at Honda Stage
2 p.m. — New Politics at Belk Stage
2:30 p.m. — Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness at Electric Ballroom Stage
2:45 p.m. — Alessia Cara at Cotton Club Stage
3:15 p.m. — The Airborne Toxic Event at Honda Stage
3:15 p.m. — Elle King at Belk Stage
4:15 p.m. — Rozzi Crane at Cotton Club Stage
4:30 p.m. — Daryl Hall & John Oates at Electric Ballroom Stage
5 p.m. — Billy Idol at Belk Stage
5:45 p.m. — Icona Pop at Honda Stage
6 p.m. — Catfish and the Bottlemen at Cotton Club Stage
6:45 p.m. — Run the Jewels at Electric Ballroom Stage
6:45 p.m. — Panic at the Disco at Belk Stage
8 p.m. — Lenny Kravitz at Honda Stage
8 p.m. — Vance Joy at Cotton Club Stage
9 p.m. — Van Halen at Belk Stage
9:30 p.m. — Sam Smith at Electric Ballroom Stage
Getting music fans to agree on the quality of a Music Midtown lineup is like trying to get Donald Trump to admit that he isn’t always right.
It just isn’t going to happen.
So while some will remain undeterred in their dislike of this year's offerings, about 150,000 people who feel otherwise about a monster lineup spotlighting Elton John, Drake, Van Halen and Sam Smith will happily convene at Piedmont Park this Friday and Saturday.
The other 26 acts filling the itinerary range from the sprightly folk-pop of Vance Joy to the brooding blues of Hozier to the timeless sneer of Billy Idol.
“That’s the purpose of a festival — we draw you in,” said Peter Conlon, president of Live Nation Atlanta, which produces the festival. “Whatever demographic you are, there might be two or three people you think are worth the value, but then you’re excited about being exposed to these other acts.”
Performances aside, here are 10 things to know to help you navigate your Music Midtown weekend.
1. OK, so it isn’t the dozens of stages and 700 bands for $8 admission that everyone still talks about from the Music Midtowns of the ’90s. And bread used to cost a nickel and lighters were way cooler concert enhancements than cellphone lights. Different era. Time to move on and be thankful that since its return in 2011, the event is still growing. This year, four stages will be erected at Piedmont Park, with the newest stage being almost lateral to the stage at Oak Hill.
2. There will be five entrances into the festival grounds. Re-entry will be permitted as long as you are “scanned out” when exiting. Also, the far right lane of every gate will be ADA accessible.
- The Charles Allen Gate located at the corner of 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive.
- The Park Drive/Bridge Gate is available to attendees coming from Monroe and Park drives.
- The Lakeside Gate is accessible at the 14th Street entrance to the park or by Magnolia Hall.
- The 10th Street Gate located across from Grady High School.
- The 12th Street Gate located at 12th Street and Piedmont.
3. Those of us with ample ticket stub collections lament that sentimentality has bowed to technology and Music Midtown is no exception. This year, wristbands have replaced tickets for entry. Attendees who purchased after Sept. 10 can exchange their tickets for wristbands through 6 p.m. Thursday at the Dockside Building at the 12th Street entrance to Piedmont Park as well as during the festival. The box offices open at 10 a.m. Friday at the Dockside Building and at 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive.
4. If you're tired of lugging stuff around all day and also worried that your smartphone might not have enough juice to last for that all-important Facebook post about Lenny Kravitz, this is your ideal Music Midtown addition: lockers. And, even better, lockers with cellphone chargers inside of them. They will be located at two of the festival entrances. Reserve one now for $35 (for both days) at http://mobilecharginglockers.com/music-midtown-2015/.
5. The 2015 version of the Music Midtown app is available for free for Android and Apple devices. And while you’re getting situated with social media, take note that the festival handles for Twitter and Instagram are @MusicMidtown and the event hashtag is #MusicMidtown.
6. Street closures will also be updated on the app, as well as on the giant flashing signs on 10th Street, 14th Street and Monroe Drive. This is also a good time to remind everyone to be mindful of the surrounding neighborhood. Respect, folks. It’s not that hard.
7. There is no parking on site, so really, don’t even bother. MARTA is your best bet via the Midtown and Arts Center stations. If you’re not up for the brisk walk from either of those, a car service or bike might be better options. MARTA also has handicap parking and shuttle services.
8. Music Midtown is an all-ages event, but everyone must have a ticket. If you still need to buy one, head to Ticketmaster.com. You can buy tickets on site, but they have closed sales the past two years once the park got too crowded, so procrastinate at your own risk. On-site ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the Dockside Building at the 12th Street entrance and at the main box office on 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive. Two-day general admission tickets are $125; VIP tickets are $600; and Super VIP tickets are $1,200.
9. Dining options this year include Sweet Auburn BBQ, Pero’s Pizza, Fry Guy, Rita’s Italian Ice, Willy’s, On Tapa the World, Jim N Nick’s, Bhojanic, Nectar, Caribbean Grill and Australian Bakery Cafe. Vegetarian and gluten-free offerings will also be available. Beverage stations, food trucks and vendors will dot the site, including VIP and Super VIP areas. Some vendors do accept credit cards, but it’s a good idea to carry cash just in case. There will be ATMs on site. Patrons may also bring one factory-sealed bottle of water or empty reusable water bottle that can be filled for free at hydration stations.
10. And, a few no-nos to keep in mind: You can’t bring in bags bigger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, chairs, laser pointers, weapons of any kind, outside food or drink, any cameras with detachable lenses or pets (service dogs excluded). Oh, right, and just a friendly reminder for the 400th time … Piedmont Park is a park. There is no smoking in city parks. There will be more than 70,000 people in the park each day. No one wants to smell your smoke.
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