We’re here at the 2023 Shaky Knees music fest, where cloudy skies did not deter festival attendees who are lined up around the block waiting for the gates to open.
Fans are ready for the first day of the 10-year anniversary of Atlanta’s rock ‘n’ roll music festival. It’s estimated that more than 40,000 people will make their way to Atlanta’s Central Park this weekend to see a variety of alternative rock bands, including Friday’s headliners the Killers and Greta van Fleet.
The music began at 11:45 a.m. today, with folks from the Songs for Kids organization, and will continue through the day with the Killers scheduled to take the stage at 9:30 p.m.
We’ll be updating you throughout the day (and the weekend) with reviews, interviews and more from the festival.
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
The music fest begins
The Songs for Kids Foundation opened up the music on the Peachtree stage with a cover of “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift, drawing festival attendees to the stage who waved their hands in the air and cheered on the singers.
Credit: Taylor Croft
Credit: Taylor Croft
The foundation provides music mentorship and gives kids with disabilities the opportunity to perform at music festivals and concerts. Its performers open up Shaky Knees each year, “showcasing the singing and songwriting talents” of its mentees giving them the “opportunity to be literal rockstars onstage,” the foundation’s website says.
Antonio Guzman opened up the set for his second year performing at Shaky Knees, and he sang an original song that he dedicated to others with disabilities.
Credit: Taylor Croft
Credit: Taylor Croft
“Singing my own song was absolutely awesome,” said Guzman, 24. “It helps me get the word out to kids with disabilities that it’s OK to show your emotions ... and you can be who you want to be, on your own time.”
Other artists who performed at the start of the day include Matt Maltese, a British-Canadian singer who said this was his first music festival in the U.S., indie-alternative singer Desure, rising pop-punk artist Charlotte Sands, and indie rock band Mom Rock.
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
The afternoon rain did not dampen attendees’ spirits during indie pop band Arlie’s performance on the Ponce de Leon stage. They performed their bright, rhythmic songs like “wait a minute” that got the crowd clapping and swaying along.
Nathanial Banks, the lead singer, called himself the “Hyacinth Macaw” as he jumped onstage in a royal blue suit with matching feathered wings. The crowd cheered when he brought out his saxophone, adding a unique melodic element to the performance as the band layered harmonies during a long instrumental break.
Credit: Taylor Croft
Credit: Taylor Croft
Enthusiastic fans will hopefully be able to put away the plastic rain ponchos by 4 p.m. when the weather app says rain is supposed to stop.
Where rock meets indie meets R&B
Cautious Clay brought his indie R&B vibe to Shaky Knees on the Peachtree stage where fans danced in the rain while he played the saxophone, and the light notes of his flute floated out across Central Park.
Other attendees rocked out with the Illuminati Hotties, an indie rock band, at the Criminal Records stage. Lead singer Sarah Tudzin guided the audience to sing along to the band’s hit, “freequent letdown.”
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Jazz hip-hop trio Digable Planets drew a significant crowd at the Ponce de Leon stage, where they rapped over smooth jazz instrumentals. The band, which formed in 1987, played some of its ‘90s hits, including “Pacifics” and “What Cool Breezes Do.”
While Digable Planets maintained an easy-going feel, indie rock band Surf Curse played at the Piedmont stage, offering rock fans a head-banging drum beat and vocals that filled the sky with the classic rock wall of sound with their song “Freaks.” Nick Rattigan kept the energy high, singing lead vocals and playing drums simultaneously, while fans formed a mosh pit by the stage — a mosh he said was the longest he’d ever seen.
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Fans are gathering at the Peachtree stage eager to hear tonight’s headliners Grouplove, Greta Van Fleet and the Killers, who are all performing on the main stage in the coming hours.
The headliners are here
Grouplove had a massive crowd at Peachtree stage jumping and singing along with hits “Colours” and Ways to Go.” The Atlanta-based alternative rock band relocated here in 2021.
Husband and wife duo Christian Zucconi and Hannah Hooper’s chemistry onstage was palpable as they sang their 2011 single “Tongue Tied,” which they performed to an energetic crowd Friday evening.
The band’s colorful alt-sound radiated through the upbeat crowd all throughout the hourlong set. The band even squeezed in a cover of “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus, with which the crowd happily sang along.
Credit: Taylor Croft
Credit: Taylor Croft
Fans quickly shifted to the Piedmont stage to see rap artist Killer Mike, who was born and raised in Atlanta, for a completely different sound. The bass rang out across the festival as he rapped to hits like “Ric Flair” and “Never Scared.”
“It feels good to be home in Atlanta, Georgia!” he shouted to the crowd, which cheered in response.
The Shaky Knees night one headliners showcased a variety of artists in the rock genre to close out a day that featured artists ranging from pop rock to rap and R&B.
Hard rock band Greta Van Fleet brought the costumes, guitars and vocals reminiscent of ‘70s rock to the Peachtree stage. Josh Kiszca on lead vocals hit his signature high notes while twin brother Jake wowed the packed crowd with his guitar solos.
Credit: Taylor Croft
Credit: Taylor Croft
The band played several rock ballads such as “Heat Above” and “Light My Love” that fans raised their hands and swayed to.
Meanwhile on the Piedmont stage, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs brought an edgy punk rock style to the festival attendees as the sun was setting. The band truly was “bigger than the sound” as they sang “Cheated Hearts,” with the bass guitar reverberating through the crowd, seemingly amplified by the crowd’s cheering.
The Killers opened the last and arguably the most highly anticipated set of the day with a very familiar tune — their debut single from 2004 and most well-known hit, “Mr. Brightside.” Fans screamed when the first notes rang out across the Peachtree stage, and they sang along with every word, jumping and waving their hands in the air.
Credit: Taylor Croft
Credit: Taylor Croft
“What’s up, Atlanta, Georgia? The Killers are back in town,” lead singer Brandon Flowers said to the audience.
He wore a purple tuxedo jacket as he performed the hour-and-a-half setlist, which included several hits like “Somebody Told Me” and “Human.” His signature bright vocals rang out through the crowd as bright lights shone from the stage, forming pillars of light that stretched over the audience.
The band slowed it down for a couple of songs, including “A Dustland Fairytale” and “Runaway Horses” before ending with another hit, “When We Were Young” — which the band finished without sound after the speakers were turned off at the 11 p.m. curfew.
Confetti and streamers rained down on the audience, closing out the first day of the festival with celebration.
The crowds of music fans will return to Central Park in Atlanta on Saturday morning for another day jam-packed with a variety of artists, featuring headliners Muse, Tenacious D and the Mars Volta. We’ll be updating you throughout the weekend with reviews, interviews and more from the festival.
