Guillermo CastroWe’ve finally hit that small window when Atlanta weather is spectacularly perfect so if ever there was a time to spend three days in the park watching live music, this is it. We’re not exactly crazy about the lineup for Sweetwater 420 Fest (Kid Rock? For realz?) this year, but there is a nice enough mix of bigger name acts (Lucero, Dawes, Manchester Orchestra, Cypress Hill, Ludacris, Tokyo Police Club, Atmosphere, Ben Harper) and solid local representation (Monday/Friday, Waking Astronomer, the Quaildogs) to make the three-day pass worth the money.
As for those of us who still prefer sticky, beer-stained floors and dark, smoke-filled stages, don’t worry, there’s plenty of shows to keep your hair and clothes smelling like cigarettes for the entire week. Stonergaze trio True Widow bring their cerebral blend of glacial riffs and doleful moodiness to the EARL this Wednesday, so if you’ve ever wondered what the heaviest slowcore band in existence might sound like, here’s your chance. Elsewhere, jazz/rock/funk chameleon Esperanza Spalding will perform her excellent new concept record, Emily’s D+Evolution, this Friday at Center Stage while Athens electro-dance outfit Clothes and Atlanta art-rock shape-shifters Floral Print bring the party to Mammal Gallery on Saturday.
If you’re in Athens, do yourself a favor and catch Eleanor Friedberger tomorrow night on the rooftop of the Georgia Theatre. Known best as one half of the indie rock duo the Fiery Furnaces, Friedberger’s smart, no-fuss indie pop songwriting more than stands up on its own. And if you’re a fan of art punk greats Wire — and you damn well should be — don’t miss a night of tribute performances this Friday at Little Kings Shuffle Club. Featuring an arsenal of Athens greats, including New Wives, Eureka California, Feather Trade, Antlered Aunt, Lord and more, the evening promises to be — if nothing else — a unique gathering of talented and eclectic performers.
Check out our full list of recommended shows below.
Must Be the Holy Ghost
w/ Slowriter, Kakune
Monday, April 18
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission is FREE
Eleanor Friedberger
w/ Icewater, Nicholas Mallis & the Borealis
Tuesday, April 19
Georgia Theatre
215 N Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10
Capillaries
w/ Atsuko Chiba, Hallowed, Pop Wierdos
Tuesday, April 19
WonderRoot
982 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8 p.m. / Admission $5
Audacity
w/ The Rodney Kings, The Mumzees
Tuesday, April 19
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission is FREE
True Widow
w/ Spirits and the Melchizedek Children
Wednesday, April 20
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission is $10
Tacocat
w/ Boyfriends, Wet Nurse
Wednesday, April 20
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10
Har Mar Superstar
w/ PLS PLS
Wednesday, April 20
Aisle 5
1123 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $10-12
Robyn Hitchcock
w/ Eugene Mirman
Wednesday, April 20
Variety Playhouse
1099 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Doors at 7 p.m. / Admission is $25-30
Anthony Aparo
w/ Marshall Rufin
Wednesday, April 20
Eddie’s Attic
515 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030
Doors at 7:45 p.m. / Admission $8
Jack’s Johnson
w/ Joshua Loner, Spines, Mad Ace
Thursday, April 21
Flicker Theatre & Bar
263 W Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $5
Roadkill Ghost Choir
w/ Tedo Stone, Oak House
Thursday, April 21
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8:30 p.m. / Admission is $10
Mother Falcon
w/ Takenobu
Friday, April 22
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8:30 p.m. / Admission is $12-15
Sweetwater 420 Fest
w/ Kid Rock, Cypress Hill, Lucero, more
Friday, April 22
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $52-123
Esperanza Spalding
Performing Emily’s D+Evolution
Friday, April 22
Center Stage
1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Doors at 8 p.m. / Admission $34.50-37
Magrudergrind
w/ Yautja, Get Damned, People
Friday, April 22
The Masquerade (Purgatory)
695 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Doors at 6:30 p.m. / Admission $12
Capital Arms
w/ Swank Sinatra, Slowriter
Friday, April 22
40 Watt
285 W Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $6
Tribute to Wire
w/ New Wives, Yip Deceiver, Wieuca, more
Friday, April 22
Little Kings Shuffle Club
223 W Hancock Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 8 p.m. / Admission $7
The Heligoats
w/ New Junk City, Jesse Nighswonger
Friday, April 22
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission is FREE
Sweetwater 420 Fest
w/ Bastille, Dawes, Tokyo Police Club, more
Saturday, April 23
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Doors at 10 p.m. / Admission $15-20
Questlove
w/ xavierBLK
Saturday, April 23
The Loft
1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $52-123
Hurray for the Riff Raff
w/ Promised Land Sound
Saturday, April 23
Terminal West
887 W Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Doors at 8 p.m. / Admission $15-17
Clothes
w/ Floral Print, Kevin Wood, Pallas
Saturday, April 23
Mammal Gallery
91 Broad St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 8 p.m. / Admission $5
Music Hates You
w/ Hot Breath, Beast Mode
Saturday, April 23
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $5-7
The Explorer’s Club
w/ Robert Schneider, Casper & the Cookies
Saturday, April 23
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission is $10
Fishmonger
w/ Waste Layer, Nag, Harsh Words
Saturday, April 23
Go Bar
195 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 10 p.m. / Admission $5
Microwave
w/ Lions, Fairlane
Saturday, April 23
The Drunken Unicorn
736 Ponce De Leon Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Doors at 9 p.m. / Admission $8
Palaces
w/ Waste Layer, Rigorism, Tombstone
Saturday, April 23
The Highlander
931 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Doors at 10 p.m. / Admission is FREE
Sweetwater 420 Fest
w/ Ben Harper, Ludacris, Manchester Orchestra, more
Sunday, April 24
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Doors at 10 p.m. / Admission $15-20
Margo Price
An Evening with Margo Price
Sunday, April 24
Eddie’s Attic
515 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030
Doors at 7:45 p.m. / Admission $14