When it comes to trends, I’m a bit of a late adopter. Consider me the Atlanta version of your middle-aged aunt in North Dakota, who will ask you this time next year if you’ve heard of “this hot new toy, Labubus.”
But it’s a point of pride for me that I was at the very first Shaky Knees Festival in 2013. Over two rain-filled days wherein the grassy area behind the old Masquerade (RIP) turned into a mud pit, I watched bands including the Lumineers, Shovels & Rope, Band of Horses, Kurt Vile and the Violators and Drive-By Truckers contribute to something that was clearly destined to become an Atlanta music tradition.
Over the years, the festival, which has since expanded to three days, made its home at Atlantic Station, Central Park and Centennial Olympic Park, taking a break only in 2020 because of COVID-19.
This year, for the first time, Shaky Knees will take place at Piedmont Park, home of on-hold music festival Music Midtown. Though the lineup highlights lots of deserving newer groups (Hey, Nothing; Scowl; and Improvement Movement, to name just a few), it’s the older acts that have me nostalgic for the fests of my youth: At least 14 artists are repeat Shaky Knees performers, including Deftones, Alabama Shakes, Murder By Death, Pixies, Idles, Spoon and Franz Ferdinand.
I’m looking forward to checking out some new bands and recapturing some of my youth with the older ones.
If you’re going, too:
🎸 Check out 10 bands to hear that aren’t the headliners, including Girl Tones, the Linda Lindas and Devo.
🎹 Find out what to expect from the Black Keys’ headlining set on Saturday night. The band recently released an album, “No Rain, No Flowers,” taking inspiration from dance parties where they would take turns spinning rare vinyl 45s.
🎨 If music festivals aren’t your thing, take a drive to Summerville for Finster Fest, a celebration of folk artist Howard Finster and his art installation known as Paradise Garden. As a bonus, check out the World Folk Art Church, which reopened this summer after 25 years.
About the Author
Yvonne Zusel has been with the AJC since 2010. She worked on the digital news and food and dining teams before joining the arts & entertainment team.
