Shaky Knees Music Festival, now in its sixth year, returns on May 4. For those planning on starting the action early with late night shows, your festival kick-off begins a day early.
»RELATED: Shaky Knees 2018 Late Night shows include Jimmy Eat World, Chicano Batman
The three-day music fest takes place May 4-6 at Central Park and includes more than 60 bands.
Some big names are headed to the beloved festival, including David Byrne, Jack White, and The National. Last year bands rocked out over three stages; this year Shaky Knees is bringing back the Ponce De Leon stage - totaling stage count to four. More music for the soul.
If that isn't enough music for you, keep the party going beyond 11 p.m at the Late Night Shows which take place at different music venues around our beautiful city.
Tickets for the Shaky Knees 2018 Late Night Shows are separate from festival admission, but the small price will be well worth it for the quintessential music fans. And for those who can't seem to get it together to make the day-time shows.
There are several late-night shows to choose from, but these are our top 5 Shaky Knees 2018 Late Night Shows not to miss:
The Black Angels with Bayonne
10 p.m. May 3. Masquerade - Hell. Tickets are $24 and can be bought here. 50 Lower Alabama Street #22, Atlanta
Austin's psych gods, The Black Angels, have been mesmerizing the masses since 2004. Their heavy 1960s psych/garage sound is nailed down to their name - from the Velvet Underground song "The Black Angel's Death Song". Other influencences and bands alike include: The 13th Floor Elevators (they've even backed Elevators frontman Roky Erickson several years ago), The Jesus and Mary Chain's, The Zombies and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, who also have a set at this year's Shaky Knees.
If you're a longtime fan, you know how fantastically wicked their shows continue to be. And for those who have yet to experience a Black Angels show - you're in for a psychedelic treat with haunting lights and hypnotic vocals from lead singer Alex Maas.
Roger Sellers, also known by his stage name Bayonne, is a one man band/electronic musician based in Austin, Texas. After releasing three albums under his own name, Sellers changed his moniker to Bayonne in 2016. Bayonne is characterized by layering intricate loops, lush textures and engaging live performances.
The Distillers with Broncho
11:45 p.m. May 4. Masquerade - Heaven. Tickets are $23 and can be bought here. 50 Lower Alabama Street #22, Atlanta.
The Distillers aren't new to the music scene - they formed in Los Angeles, California in 1998. For fans attending Shaky Knees, you'll get to see their first official show in over 13 years, since the band broke up in 2006. You can catch them at 5:30 p.m. on the Peachtree stage on Saturday, May 5. Or you can get a more intimate and close encounter the night before during their special late-night set at The Masquerade.
Broncho is an indie rock band based in Norman, Oklahoma. They've been playing since 2010 and have racked up quite the touring experiences. In addition to headlining their own shows, they've played with other rockin' bands such as the The GOASTT and The Growlers. Broncho's records encompass punk like characteristics that are even more pronounced in their live shows. If you haven't had the chance to see them yet, their late-night set would be the best venue to catch frontman Ryan Lindsey bouncing around to the bands animated sounds.
Credit: Courtesy of Wikimedia
Credit: Courtesy of Wikimedia
11 p.m. May 4. Variety Playhouse. Tickets are $56 and can be bought here. 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta
Philadelphia's The War on Drugs began in 2005 - members have come and gone but the band has managed to keep their fine-tuned gritty sound. Each album evolving and expanding around the graceful, fluid tones of Adam Granduciel's guitar and timeless voice.
They have often been compared to the likes of the late Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, in the sense of modern day classic rock. The last time they came through Atlanta, they sold out The Tabernacle, so don't sleep on this one, folks. Their late-night Shaky Knees set at Variety Playhouse will be a more intimate and close knit show, which means even less tickets to go around.
11:45 p.m. May 5. Terminal West. Tickets are $25 and can be bought here. 887 West Marietta St NW C, Atlanta
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) is a rock band from San Francisco. The group consists of Peter Hayes (vocal, guitar, harmonica), Robert Levon Been (vocal, bass, guitar), and Leah Shapiro (drums). The group is classically cool; getting their name from Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in the 1953 film The Wild One. And does the name Been sound familiar? Been's father Michael founded the rock band, The Call. All cool tidbits aside, BRMC's music is hauntingly vibrant and magnetic. The whole band pours themselves into the music, dripping in sweat by the end of their emotional and honest rock 'n' roll tracks. BRMC is a band that deserves to be at the top of your Shaky Knees shows to see.
11 p.m. May 5. Variety Playhouse. Tickets are $66 and can be bought here. 1099 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta
Emerging out of the darkness (as music so often does) in 2007 to widespread fanfare, Seattle's Fleet Foxes is known for fusing earthy tones with harmony-pop sophistication. In 2009, after winning the Best Art Vinyl Award in 2008 from Artvinyl.com, the band traveled to New York City to perform on an episode of Saturday Night Live. They shot up in fame seemingly effortlessly, which many bands struggle to do. But in 2012 after the band had finished touring for their second album, they disappeared.
Drummer Josh Tillman announced that he had left the band and went on to reinvent himself and record several albums as Father John Misty. But this setback was only minor, as Fleet Foxes emerged better than ever in 2017 with their third album, "Crack-Up." This album is their most complex and compelling to date. Robin Pecknold's songwriting and folk compositions is enough to take your breath away. Buy your Shaky Knees late-night ticket pronto. It's not very common to catch this mega band at such a small venue.
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