Sample the Seasonal Music Festival Fare

Spring and summer in Georgia mean not only beautiful dogwoods and azaleas (with accompanying pollen), BBQ and Braves baseball, but also signature music festivals across the state.  From international jazz artists to local bluegrass pickers, there’s something for everyone, so take a cue from the B-52s and “roam” across the Peach State to soak up local culture and music.

May 9 - 11, 2014
Shaky Knees Music Festival
Atlantic Station, Atlanta
In its 2nd year and a new home at Atlantic Station, Shaky Knees curates a lineup of over 100 bands including Alabama Shakes, The National, Modest Mouse, The Replacements, Dawes, Violent Femmes, Jason Isbell, The Lone Bellow, Alabama Shakes, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Iron & Wine, Conor Oberst, Cage the Elephant, Dropkick Murphys, Jenny Lewis and more.

May 10, 2014
Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival
Stagecoach Rd., Thomson
The 21st annual festival celebrating Thomson’s native son, blues pioneer Blind Willie McTell, offers a day of music, Southern food, BBQ, Cajun treats and fun in a gorgeous pastoral setting. Artists include St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Jaimoe’s Jazzz Band and country blues guitarist Tony Furtado.

May 23 – 25
Atlanta Jazz Festival
Piedmont Park, Atlanta
A Memorial Day tradition, the Atlanta Jazz Festival is one of America’s largest free jazz festivals. The spectacular lineup this year includes Ahmad Jamal, Bill Frisell’s Guitar in the Space Age, Christian Scott, Freddy Cole, Russell Gunn’s Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Jon Batiste, Diego Figueiredo and many more.

May 29 – 31
Briar Patch Music Festival
Five Bridges Road, Damascus
Situated squarely between cotton, corn and peanut fields, Briar Patch Music Festival heats up rural South Georgia for its fourth year in a row. Bring your tent, chairs and cooler and settle back for sets by Rollin in the Hay, Thomas Wynn & the Believers, Bo Henry Band, Tony Brook, Saint Francis, Bibb City Ramblers, Evan Barber and the Dead Gamblers and many more.

June 11 - 14
AtlantaFest
Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta
Enjoy four days of music and ministry from top Christian artists and speakers including Switchfoot, Red, Scotty McCreery, Rush of Fools, Rhett Walker, The Vespers, Karyn Williams and many more.

June 14
Tunes from the Tombs
Historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta
In one of Atlanta’s most unique annual events, Tunes from the Tombs features two main stages hosting amplified artists, vignette stages with buskers and a variety of musical acts, all to benefit the Historic Oakland Foundation. This year features a brand new beer garden with DJ Phiasco 2.0 as host. Performances by Blacktop Rockets, Secondhand Swagger, Ghost Riders Car Club, Smooth Hound Smith, Villian Family and more.

June 18 – 22
AthFest
Downtown Athens
Known far and wide as a live music destination, Athens’ signature event features outdoor stages during the day and a fantastic club crawl at night, plus arts, film and kids’ activities throughout the weekend. Musical acts announced so far include Drivin’ N Cryin’, Elf Power, Dead Confederate, New Madrid, Futurebirds, Radiolucent, Seven Handle Circus, David Barbe & the Quick Hooks and more.

July 11 & 12
Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival
Raccoon Creek Music Park, Dallas
Congregate in the country for two days of pure bluegrass bliss. Pickers and singers include Volume Five, Barbwire Bluegrass, Heartfelt Grass, Trinity River Band, Old Mill Road Band, BlueRoad, Clinton Gregory Bluegrass, Frances Mooney & Fontanna Sunset, Heartfelt Grass, Old Mill Road Band and Tall Pines Bluegrass.

July 26
Bragg Jam
Multi-venue, Macon
Hot, sweaty, electric and live music in every nook and cranny of downtown Macon - that is Bragg Jam. The 2014 lineup includes O’Brother, Royal Thunder, Kopecky Family Band, Those Darlins, Razzy Bailey, Col. Bruce Hampton and Madrid Express, Randall Bramblett Band, Packway Handle Band, Skylab featuring Berry Duane Oakley, Bombadil, The Vegabonds, Thomas Wynn & the Believers and more.

Aug. 1 & 2
Dillard Bluegrass and Barbeque Festival
Downtown Dillard
Now in its 18^th year, the folks in Dillard, Ga. have perfected the art of presenting great bluegrass music with mouth-watering barbeque in a family-oriented environment. The KCBS State Championship brings barbeque enthusiasts from around the country and vendors serve up their own award-winning que.