This weekend marks the inaugural run for Atlanta’s brand new Shaky Knees Festival, and I’m stoked to be there to experience it! The two day festival will be held in a newly completed park next to a prominent Atlanta music venue, The Masquerade. The schedule and lineup is a bit light compared to other festival heavy-hitters (Bonnaroo, Sasquatch, Hangout), but for a first year festival, the lineup is pretty amazing. The schedule is 12-11 Saturday, May 4, and 12-10 Sunday, May 5. Nearly every act scheduled to perform has a clear Southern connection, and that’s just fine — it is, after all, the South. I live less than ten minutes from the park, and the weather this time of year is fabulous — I can hardly wait to jam out! Check out the deets:
Whoa! The Lumineers, Band of Horses, The Joy Formidable, Jim James, The Antlers, Shovels & Rope, Dr. Dog, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Ellis, Vintage Trouble, Delta Spirit, Kurt Vile and the Violators, and Drive By Truckers!
C+ // Sure, it isn’t the glitzy, studded lineup of The Governor’s Ball, but it’s solid and smart for a first year festival in a sweet new park. The lineup does a fair job of sticking to its Southern-influenced genres, while also throwing a few more progressive/experimental acts.
Gary Clark Jr.
Saturday, 6:30pm @ O4W Park Stage
This man has consistently blown us to shreds with his blues-rooted rock over the past few years. Drenched in the nostalgia of icons who let their guitars hold rank over their soulful voices, we weren’t sure whether he was a rock god who belonged in yesteryear or in the future — then we decided he was both. Gary Clark Jr. will absolutely stun you with his live performance. Don’t miss it!
Kurt Vile and the Violators
Sunday, 5pm @ Masq MP Stage
Obviously, Kurt Vile is a rock and roll icon in the making, and here’s your chance to see him on the way there. Performing fresh on the heels of his recent release, Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze, which we adore, his performance is sure to be one for the books.
Dr. Dog
Sunday, 6pm @ O4W Stage
Oh…god, 2008′s Fate is one of my favorite albums of all time, and last year’s Be The Void was killer! Dr. Dog’s gritty sound translates with swagger during their live show, and they’ll have you dancing and enraptured for the entirety of their set.
Jim James
Saturday, 7:30 pm @ Masq MP Stage
The My Morning Jacket frontman just released his solo record, Regions of Light and Sound of God, which let us in on his deeply reflective side and proved to be a mystical, glorious musical journey. I can’t wait to see this record translated live this weekend! I have a feeling a little transcendence might go down…
The Antlers
Sunday, 7pm @ North Ave. Stage
These Brooklyn experimental kings are finally starting to garner the attention they deserve. Their 2011 record, Burst Apart, was nothing short of sublime, and heir brand of rock is sure to produce some excellent live material, exhilarating old fans and roping in new ones by the crowd fulls.
The Orwells
Saturday, 5:30 @ North Ave. Stage
Chicage garage punks, The Orwells, are definitely going to be the biggest sleeper hit at the festival. With their energetic anthems and raw vocals, their set is a must see for fans of sweaty and rowdy rock and roll. Prepare to be slain.
Frontier Ruckus
Sunday, 1:15 @ Masq MP Stage
One of my personal favorites, these guys just released their new record, Eternity of Dimming, which contains more of the romantic, poetic nostalgia folk that their fans adore. Their placement on the Shaky Knees lineup is brilliant, as their sound is going to be eaten up by the folk-responsive audience. Not to mention, their exuberant live show leaves nothing to be desired.
Shovels & Rope
Sunday, 2pm @ O4W Park Stage
This husband and wife duo skyrocketed with last year’s O’ Be Joyful, and for good reason! Their live show is ever-engaging, stirring, and fun! You really can’t beat their chemistry and balance of Southern rockabilly and folk. So very choice, you guys.
Moon Taxi
Saturday, 3:30 @ Masq MP Stage
Nashville-based Moon Taxi make experimental rock that will leave your head spinning. They defy genres with Southern flair and rockstar pizazz, and their live show is rumored to be one of the best out there. I’m expecting them to make people dance and blow minds along the way.
You Me & Apollo
Saturday, 1:45pm @ Masq MP Stage
This Colorado five-piece makes sweet folk with a unique, soulful blues lining. They just released a new EP in January, which I’ve been digging on, and I’m curious to see how it translates. Don’t sleep on these guys.
