Let me just say this: It’s been a long time since we’ve a calendar this, I don’t know, full. The initial instinct would be to credit the influx of shows to the A3C Festival and no doubt there would be some truth in that. I mean, what else would you expect from an internationally-renowned event that features over 1,000 artist over five days and that can declare itself, without any sense of hyperbole, to be “Hip Hop’s Biggest Stage”? In addition to big stage performances from heavyweights like Rick Ross, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Master P, and Mystikal, the festival offers intimate events such as The Lyricist Lounge Sketch Show at the Earl or the VJC Reunion Concert at 529 where fans can catch local legends and burgeoning up-and-comers alike. A five-day festival pass will get you into all the shows and will set you back $149.
But A3C alone can’t account for the abnormal flood we’re experiencing this week. Normally, we may have 20-30 events to recommend in Atlanta and Athens, but this list has close to 50. Even Wednesday, which is often day of calm before the weekend storm, has 10 shows to choose from, which is sure to send some live music lovers into fits as they struggle to prioritize their schedules. But let’s be real. It’s a beautiful problem to have, and yet another reason why Atlanta (and Athens, too!) is the greatest.
Check out our full list of recommendations below.
Monday, October 3
Slang
w/ Jock Gang, DiCaprio, Tug
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8:30 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $8
Hello Cobra (Record Release)
w/ Jorge Arana Trio, CHEW, Vegan Coke
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / 21+ / Donations
The World
w/ Mutual Jerk, Casual Tiger
Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery
88 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Admission $5
The Growlers
An evening with the Growlers
Terminal West
887 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / Admission $20
Young Sirens
w/ Kudzu Kids, Separate Circles
Mammal Gallery
91 Broad St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 8:30 p.m. / All / Admission is FREE
Eva O
w/ Entertainment, Strange Dreams
The Drunken Unicorn
736 Ponce De Leon Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Doors 9 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $10
Tuesday, October 4
Death Valley Girls
w/ Death Stuff, NAG, Glazer
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $8
Neon Indian
w/ Classix, Alex Frankel, Harriet Brown
Terminal West
887 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / Admission $24-27
Russian Circles
w/ Helms Alee
Aisle 5
1123 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Admission $18-20
Two Door Cinema Club
w/ Jack Garratt
The Tabernacle
152 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 7 p.m. / All / Admission $32.50
Jamison Williams
w/ Majid Araim, Gage Gilmore, D Bails
Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery
88 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Admission $7
Destroyer (Solo)
w/ Zachary Cale
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 7 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $15
Wednesday, October 5
4-Ize
w/ Boog Brown, Headkrack, U-George, more
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $10
Slayer
w/ Anthrax, Death Angel
The Tabernacle
152 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 6:30 p.m. / All / Admission $40-200
Floral Print
w/ Furnsss (CT), Bread Pilot (CT), Sea Ghost
Mammal Gallery
91 Broad St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / Admission $5
10th Letter
w/ Stlndrms, Buscrates, Giant Colors
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / $10 or FREE w/ A3C Pass
Fried Egg
w/ Nag, Drool
Murmur
100 Broad St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Admission $TBA
Michael Myerz
w/ Zruda, Day Old Man, AyOh
The Clermont Lounge
789 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Doors at 9 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $10
Forced into Femininity
w/ Dux, Nows, Torschlusspanik
Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery
88 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Admission $7
The Legendary Pink Dots
w/ Orbit Service, Cave Bat
The Drunken Unicorn
736 Ponce De Leon Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Doors 9 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $10
Death Valley Girls
w/ Vincas, Nihilist Cheerleader
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $5-7
Coheed and Cambria
w/ Saves the Day, Polyphia
Georgia Theatre
215 N Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601
SOLD OUT!
Thursday, October 6
Electric Six
w/ The Pinx
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8:30 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $13-15
The Difference Machine
w/ The Milky Way, Yamin Semali, more
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / $10 or FREE w/ A3C Pass
The Dandy Warhols
w/ Savoy Motel
Terminal West
887 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Doors at 7 p.m. / All / Admission $20-25
Freddy Chops
w/ Imelda Marcos, James Hunter USA
Eyedrum Art & Music Gallery
88 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Admission $7
Jebediah Springfield (Final Show)
w/ Slingshot Dakota; Kississippi; Man Up, Yancey
The Drunken Unicorn
736 Ponce De Leon Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Doors 9 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $10
Sales
w/ Youg Sirens, Pseudo Color
Masquerade (Purgatory)
695 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Doors at 7 p.m. / All / Admission $10
Friday, October 7
Rick Ross
w/ Royce 5’9″, Stalley, more
3AC Festival Grounds (Main Stage)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 4 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
DJ Nobody
w/ Tall Black Guy, Brian-Michael Cox, more
3AC Festival Grounds (DJ House)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 4 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
Milo
w/ Dope KNife, 10th Letter, Allen Thomas
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 9 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $10-12
Rockness Monsta
w/ Bronze Nazareth, Shyste Chronkyte, more
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors 9 p.m. / 21+ / $10 or FREE w/ A3C Pass
The Pellys (Record Release)
w/ Antarcticats, Pinkest, Rad-Rex
Under the Couch
350 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / Admission $TBA
GAYTL DIY
w/ TAYLOR ALXNDR, Michael Cera Palin, more
WonderRoot
350 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / Admission $5
Pony League
w/ Dear Blanca, Secret Guest, Jesse Nighswonger
The Drunken Unicorn
736 Ponce De Leon Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Doors 9 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $7
Palm
w/ And the Kids, Warehouse
Masquerade (Purgatory)
695 North Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Doors at 7 p.m. / All / Admission $10
Cinemechanica (Record Release)
w/ Oak House, Motherfucker
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $8-10
New Madrid
w/ Roadkill Ghost Choir, Juan de Fuca
Georgia Theatre
215 N Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 8 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $10
Saturday, October 8
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
w/ Too $hort, Bun B, Redman, more
3AC Festival Grounds (Main Stage)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 3 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
DJ Toomp
w/ Kid Capri, Mr. DJ, DJ Jelly
3AC Festival Grounds (DJ House)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 2 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
Rapturous Grief
w/ Drool, Fishmonger, US Drag
Hill Street House
Ask a punk
Doors at 9 p.m. / All / Donations
How To Dress Well
w/ Ex Reyes
The EARL
488 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors at 8 p.m. / 21+ / Admission $15-20
Planet Asia
w/ Ras Kass, Rapper Big Pooh
529
529 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
Doors 9 p.m. / 21+ / $10 or FREE w/ A3C Pass
Moses Nesh
w/ Taft, James of Mosaics
WonderRoot
350 Ferst Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / Admission $5
Yip Deceiver
w/ Palace Doctor, Blue Blood
Caledonia Lounge
256 W Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Doors at 9 p.m. / 18+ / Admission $7-9
Sunday, October 9
21 Savage
w/ Cousin Stizz, Alex Wiley, Tate Kobang, more
3AC Festival Grounds (Main Stage)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 3 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
Master P’s No Limit Boys
w/ Mystikal, Silkk the Shocker, more
3AC Festival Grounds (Main Stage)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 8 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
World Famous Beat Junkies
w/ DJ Babu, DJ Melo-D. Mr. Choc
3AC Festival Grounds (DJ House)
Old Fourth Ward – Chamberlain & Boulevard
Doors at 2 p.m. / All / FREE w/ A3C Pass
The Dear Hunter
w/ Eisley, Gavin Castleton
Terminal West
887 West Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Doors at 7 p.m. / All / Admission $20-50