Atlanta Music Festivals

Music Festivals

Guide to Atlanta Music Festivals

When an up and coming or legendary artist drops a new album, you can bet that Atlanta is a prime consideration for their festival or tour stop. As the temperature rises, our thirst for all things festivals (cocktails, warm weather, and friends) will increase.
If you’ve lived in Atlanta for any amount of time, then you are familiar with the classic Music Midtown festival located in Piedmont Park annually. Known for its epic lineups, you’re sure to make a few new friends or run into some familiar ones at this festival. The Atlanta Winter Beer Fest kicks off the first festival in January 2018 and then the festivals get rolling. The Dogwood Festival, Sweetwater 420 Fest, Big Shanty Festival, Shaky Beats, Shaky Knees, Atlantafest and Summer Shade Festival highlight some of the best festivals Atlanta has to offer.

March 2018 Festivals

Southern Star Music Festival

Festival	Southern Star Music Festival in Atlanta
Performances	Instrumental and Choral varieties
Location	Riverside EpiCenter Auditorium
Address	135 Riverside Parkway, Austell, GA 30168
Time	Generally the choral times are early and mid-day on Friday and late morning on Saturday. Instrumental times are late afternoon and evening on Friday and early morning on Saturday.
Website	https://www.starmusicfestivals.com/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost	Basic and Premium packages are both offered.
Date	March 16th 2018, April 20th and 21st 2018 March 23rd and 24th 2018, April 27th and 28th 2018 April 6th and 7th 2018, May 4th and 5th 2018 April 13th and 14th 2018, May 11th and 12th 2018 May 18th 2018
Other Information

Atlanta Jewish Music Festival

Festival	Atlanta Jewish Music Festival 2018
Performances	A little bit of everything! Lola Marsh, Joshua Radin, Yemen Blues, and more.
Location	Locations vary
Address	Addresses vary
Time	Times vary
Website	https://atlantajmf.org/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost	Can be purchased through host venues and AJMF's online ticketing platform. Some events are free and unticketed.
Date	March 8-25, 2018
Other Information	With music as our inspirational partner, AJMF grows Jewish community and celebrates our heritage through year-round live performance events and dynamic learning programs for the Southeast region. We bring diverse community together for a resounding annual world music Spring Festival. Please check the festival's lineup for specific dates and locations.

Amplify Decatur Festival

Festival	Amplify Decatur Music Festival
Headliners	The Lone Below, The Jayhawks, Amanda Shires, and Parker Millsap
Location	Decatur's Downtown Square
Address	Decatur Square Atlanta, GA
Time	Doors are at 3:30 PM with the show starting at 4:00 PM.
Website	https://www.amplifydecatur.org
Food Trucks	Various food trucks
Other Attractions	Artists contests
Cost	General Admission tickets are $45 and VIP tickets are $155.
Date	April 14, 2018
Other Information	All funds raised at the third annual outdoor music festival will be directed to Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM) to support its efforts to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Decatur and DeKalb County.

April 2018 Festivals

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Festival	The Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Headliners	Russ Still and the Moonshiners, Departure (Journey Tribute Band), King Baby
Location	Piedmont Park
Address	400 Park Dr NE, Atlanta, GA
Time	Friday: Noon - 11 pm Saturday: 10 am - 11 pm Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm
Website	https://www.dogwood.org
Food Trucks	Various food trucks
Other Attractions	Atlanta Dogwood Festival 5K, Backyard Bites & Brews, Artists contests, and a Kids Village featuring huge inflatables, arts & crafts, face painting, and a 24-foot rock-climbing wall.
Cost	Free to attend! Donations are accepted.
Date	April 13-15, 2018
Other Information	Atlanta’s oldest fine arts festival, and it is made possible thanks to the hundreds of superb artists who comprise the Artist Market each year. Two stages feature various artists across different genres.

SweetWater 420 Fest

Festival	SweetWater 420 Fest
Headliners	The String Cheese Incident, Umphrey's McGee, Tedeschi Trucks Band
Location	Centennial Olympic Park
Address	265 Park Ave W Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30313
Time	Friday April 20 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Gates open at 12:00 PM Saturday April 21 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM Gates open at 11:30 AM Sunday April 22 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM Gates open at 11:00 AM
Website	https://www.sweetwater420fest.com/
Food Trucks	FOOD VILLAGE ATLANTA’S BEST RESTAURANTS, FOOD TRUCKS, AND VENDORS IN ONE SPOT
Other Attractions	420 FEST 5K RACE, 420 DISCO, SWEETWATER EXPERIENCE, PLANET 420
Cost	General Admission and VIP options are both offered at different price points.
Date	April 20-22, 2018
Other Information	Features big-name bands taking the stage as part of this annual festival from Atlanta-owned SweetWater Brewing Company. In addition to enjoying music and art, festival goers can taste SweetWater beers and attend presentations from brewing experts. The festival also has a comedy tent featuring local talent and an EDM-centric Not-So-Silent Disco.

Big Shanty Festival

Festival	Big Shanty Festival
Headliners	Two stages of entertainment
Location	Downtown Kennesaw
Address	Downtown Kennesaw near the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History Kennesaw, GA 30144
Time	Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday: 12 - 5 PM
Website	https://www.kennesaw.com/big-shanty-festival/
Food Trucks	Variety of food vendors and trucks
Other Attractions	Arts & crafts, food vendors, merchants, and live entertainment
Cost	Free to attend!
Date	April 21-22, 2018
Other Information	The festival combines the best of the rich heritage of Kennesaw and the Civil War era with today’s fun filled activities. great entertainment on two stages and a variety of foods to please everyone’s palate.

May 2018 Festivals

Shaky Beats Festival

Festival	Shaky Beats Music Festival 2018
Headliners	Kygo, Marshmello, Zedd
Location	Central Park
Address	400 Merritts Ave NE, Atlanta, GA
Time	Doors open at 3 PM on Friday, 2 PM on Saturday and 1:30 PM on Sunday. The festival ends at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday and 10 PM on Sunday.
Website	https://www.shakybeatsfestival.com/
Food Trucks	From Belgian-style street fries to amazing Indian fare, the food trucks at Shaky Beats have something for everyone.
Other Attractions	On-site activations like cell phone charging stations, fun photo booths, and official festival merch provide something for everyone.
Cost	General Admission, VIP, and Platinum options all offered at different price points.
Date	May 11-13, 2018
Other Information	The Shaky Beats Music Festival brings you a powerful lineup of electronic, dance, indie and hip-hop acts so you can get your party on all night long.

Shaky Knees Festival

Festival	Shaky Knees Music Festival 2018
Headliners	Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, The National
Location	Central Park
Address	400 Merritts Ave NE, Atlanta, GA
Time	Doors open at 11:30 AM every day with music starting at 11:45. The festival ends at 11 PM on Friday and Saturday and 10 PM on Sunday.
Website	https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/
Food Trucks	Southern BBQ or vegan friendly tater tots, organic smoothies or Belgian style street fries, the food at Shaky Knees has something for everyone.
Other Attractions	Children 8 and under enter for free with a ticketed adult. No more than 2 kids per adult. Daily "Songs for Kids" performance.
Cost	General Admission, VIP, and Platinum options all offered at different price points.
Date	May 4-6, 2018
Other Information	Founded in 2013, the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, has quickly cemented its status as one of the premier celebrations of indie rock, alt-country and artsy folk music in the Southeast. The three-day event boasts a jam-packed lineup with some of the country’s biggest independent acts as well as buzzworthy emerging artists. Featured performers have included The National, Cage the Elephant, Pixies, Neutral Milk Hotel and The Strokes. Official late-night after shows give fans an opportunity to see their favorite bands in more intimate settings at Atlanta’s finest venues, and beer tents, interactive exhibits, brand swag and flame-grilled eats are among the additional attractions.

Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival

Festival	Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival
Headliners	JD McPherson, Samantha Fish, Amy Helm, and more.
Location	Downtown Kennesaw
Address	1021 Stagecoach Rd NE, Thomson, GA 30824
Time	Gates open at 11:00 AM
Website	https://blindwillie.com/
Food Trucks	Poppa's Finest Bar-B-Que, Hip Pops, Southbound Smokehouse, Country Boys' Fish and Chips
Other Attractions	This is a very kid friendly event with lots of southern hospitality and friendly folks!
Cost	Tickets will be available at the festival gate for $40 each. Cash, check or credit cards are accepted.
Date	May 5, 2018
Other Information	ACT seeks to foster education, appreciation and promotion of American arts, particularly those that draw from Southern history, culture and the American experience. The Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival is held every year in East Central Georgia in the town of Thomson, the birthplace of McTell. Mctell is recognized as one of a handful of early masters of acoustic guitar, and in particular the 12 string. The festival is sponsored by the Activities Council of Thomson (ACT), formed in the late 70's and reorganized in the late 1990's to promote music, and specifically to expose the folks in this area to examples of music and musicians that would not normally perform in our small town. The festival is recognized as being one of the best, well-run, one day events in the Southeast and our past rosters reads like a "who's who" in blues, roots and Americana masters.

Atlanta Jazz Festival

Festival	Atlanta Jazz Festival
Headliners	Various jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats
Location	Piedmont Park
Address	1342 Worchester Drive Northeast Atlanta, GA
Time	Friday: 6 AM - 11 PM Saturday: 11 AM - 11 PM Sunday: 11 AM - 11 PM
Website	https://www.facebook.com/atlantajazzfestival
Food Trucks	Food vendors
Other Attractions	This is a very kid friendly event with lots of southern hospitality and friendly folks!
Cost	Free to attend!
Date	May 28-30, 2018
Other Information	Atlanta Jazz Festival features local and national jazz greats on multiple stages, a youth jazz-band competition, arts and crafts, food vendors, and a kids’ zone.

June 2018 Festivals

Moonshine Music & Arts Festival 2018

Festival	Moonshine Music & Arts Festival
Headliners	Various jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats
Location	Lanier Raceplex
Address	5301 Winder Hwy Braselton, GA
Time	Time Unconfirmed
Website	https://moonshinemusicfest.com/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	Unconfirmed
Other Information	Tucked away in the Appalachian Valley is a small and intimate electronic music festival that inspires community like none other. Moonshine harvests its frantic energy in Cherokee Farms with legendary DJs, kaleidoscopic colors and free-spirited performances involving fire and unique dances. Pulsing for three days and nights, overnight camping ensures you’ll never be too far away from the organized chaos.

Wing & Rock Festival

Festival	Wing & Rock Festival
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Etowah River Park in Canton, GA
Address	600 Brown Industrial Pkwy, Canton, GA 30114
Time	Saturday: 12 PM - 9 PM Sunday: 12 PM – 6 PM
Website	https://www.wingandrockfest.com/
Food Trucks	This event is the 3rd largest chicken wing festival in the country, featuring some of regions best tasting wings! Other varieties of food will also be available.
Other Attractions	Wing eating contest, Kids Zone area with crafts, and more!
Cost	Free to attend!
Date	June 2-3, 2018
Other Information	Chicken wings from local restaurants, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and kids’ activities.

Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest

Festival	Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Historic downtown Alpharetta
Address	Milton Avenue Alpharetta, GA
Time	6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Website	https://www.awesomealpharetta.com/alpharetta-brew-moon-fest/
Food Trucks	Local restaurant food
Other Attractions
Cost	Table of eight is $130, table of six is $100 and individual tickets are $10.
Date	June 2, 2018
Other Information	Downtown comes alive for this annual beer fest with great food, beer and entertainment. Enjoy live music. Bring your own chairs or tables available for purchase.

Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival

Festival	Decatur BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Harmony Park
Address	630 East Lake Drive Oakhurst, GA
Time	Unconfirmed
Website	https://www.decaturbbqfestival.com/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost	$15 until midnight on August 11th - day of festival price is $20. Kids 12 and under will receive free admission when accompanied by a paid adult!
Date	August 11, 2018
Other Information	The Decatur Preservation Alliance offers 7 hours of blues and bluegrass music, a kids’ area, beer, and barbecue at Harmony Park in Oakhurst. Bring the sights, sounds, and smells of classic southern BBQ from metro Atlanta staples along with 7+ hours of original live blues and bluegrass music from aspiring and accomplished local, regional, and national acts to Decatur, Georgia in the heart of Oakhurst. This is a family friendly event that is fun for all ages.

Peachtree Corners Festival

Festival	Peachtree Corners Festival
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Peachtree Corners
Address	6236 Crooked Creek Road I Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Time	Friday Night Pre-Festival Concert: Unconfirmed Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday: 12 PM - 5 PM
Website	https://www.peachtreecornersfestival.com
Food Trucks	Food vendors and trucks
Other Attractions
Cost	Free to attend!
Date	June 8-10, 2018
Other Information	Features craft & food vendors, entertainment, live music, a car show both days, and kids’ activities.

Flashback Festival

Festival	Flashback Festival
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood
Address	2002 Lakewood Avenue Southeast Atlanta, GA
Time	Unconfirmed
Website	https://events.kiss104fm.com/atlanta_ga/events/kiss-1041-annual-flashback-festival-/E0-001-101999051-8
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost	Unconfirmed, but previously $35
Date	Unconfirmed
Other Information	Get ready to take it all the way back at Atlanta's Flashback Festival. The festival is an annual celebration of old school R&B, funk and soul music featuring the great artists who shaped the genres along with stellar contemporary performers. Past performers include Cameo, Charlie Wilson, Doug E. Fresh, Con Funk Shun, Bootsy Collins, The Bar-Kays and many others.

Summer Shade Festival

Festival	Grant Park Summer Shade Festival
Headliners	The place to see some of the hottest up-and-coming bands as well as a plethora of local talent.
Location	Grant Park
Address	840 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Time	Saturday: 10 AM - 10 PM Sunday: 11 AM - 7:30 PM
Website	https://www.summershadefestival.org/
Food Trucks	Variety of food vendors
Other Attractions	Two days of outdoor fun planned for all ages including a 5K Run for the Park, food trucks, craft beer, an entertaining Kids Zone, and a music line up that just gets better every year.
Cost	Free to attend!
Date	August 25-26, 2018
Other Information	The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival is an annual fundraiser for the Grant Park Conservancy (GPC), a non-profit, membership-based organization committed to the restoration, renovation, beautification and maintenance of historic Grant Park. Thank you for attending, and we hope you enjoy your final hurrah of summer!

AtlantaFest

Festival	AtlantaFest
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Austell, GA Six Flags
Address	275 Riverside Parkway Southwest Austell, GA 30168
Time
Website	https://atlantafest.com/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost	Various ticket options ranging from $35 - $109
Date	June 14-16, 2018
Other Information	The South’s premier Christian music festival!

Juneteenth Atlanta Music Festival

Festival	Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location
Address
Time
Website	https://www.juneteenthatl.com/
Food Trucks	Healthful Essence (Vegan Cuisine)* Temptation's Smoked BBQ* Soul Trucking Good* Simple Dee-Likes LLC* Lenes Southern Cooking*
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	June 15-17, 2018
Other Information	Celebrating one of the greatest events that occurred in America's history... The end of slavery as it was known at that time!

Candler Park Festival

Festival	Candler Park Music + Food Festival
Headliners
Location	Candler Park
Address	1500 McLendon Avenue, Atlanta GA 30307
Time
Website	https://candlerparkmusicfestival.com/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	June 1-2, 2018
Other Information	Historic Oakland Foundation. Live music, food trucks, and a Saturday 5K race. Free entry.

Tunes from the Tombs Festival

Festival	Tunes from the Tombs Cemetery music festival
Headliners	Various local bands
Location	Oakland Cemetery
Address	248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Time
Website
Food Trucks	Food trucks and beverages are available
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	Unconfirmed
Other Information	Features a dozen local bands playing all genres of music in and among the monuments, mausoleums, and gardens of Oakland Cemetery.

July 2018 Festivals

Bragg Jam

Festival
Headliners
Location
Address
Time
Website	https://www.braggjam.org/index
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	last weekend of July
Other Information

September 2018 Festivals

Taste of Soul Atlanta Festival

Festival	Taste of Soul Atlanta (TOSA) Festival
Headliners	Live music (national artist headliner)
Location	Across from the GA Dome
Address	10 Northside Dr. & N. MLK Jr. Dr. Atlanta GA 30314
Time	11:30 AM - 9 PM
Website	https://tasteofsoulatlanta.com/
Food Trucks	Various food vendors
Other Attractions
Cost	Free to attend!
Date	September 1, 2018
Other Information	Celebrates Soul and Southern food. Citywide free festival that takes place in one of Atlanta’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the Heart of America’s Soul Food Capital, TOSA is the largest festival in West of Peachtree. This family festival celebrates Soul and Southern food, live music (national artist headliner), art, kid events, and Atlanta’s best people watching.

Music Midtown

Festival	Music Midtown
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Piedmont Park
Address	1342 Worchester Drive Northeast Atlanta, GA
Time	11:30 AM - 9 PM
Website	https://www.musicmidtown.com/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	Unconfirmed
Other Information	Each year, some of the biggest names in music can be found in Atlanta, Georgia, during Music Midtown. Drawing audiences of more than 300,000 dedicated fans, the festival provides guests with two full days of musical excellence. In addition to showcasing industry veterans, the event features emerging artists, giving revelers an opportunity to discover new favorites. Past big-name performers have included Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Jane's Addiction, Journey, Phoenix, Cake, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stone Age, Weezer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jack White, John Mayer and many, many more. Bring a blanket and hang out on the lawn, enjoy live music and revel in the balmy autumn weather.

ONE Musicfest

Festival	ONE Musicfest
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location
Address
Time
Website
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	Unconfirmed
Other Information	ONE Musicfest is the Southeast’s largest annual urban progressive music festival featuring a diverse range of music that includes everything from classic and next generation hip-hop, and soulful R&B, to alternative and rock.

Atlanta Smooth Music Festival

Festival	Atlanta Smooth Music Festival
Headliners	Unconfirmed
Location	Mable House Amphitheater\|
Address	5425 Old Floyd Road Southwest Mableton, GA
Time
Website	https://www.smoothjazzgrooves.com/atlanta-smooth-music-festival-current/
Food Trucks
Other Attractions
Cost
Date	Unconfirmed
Other Information	The Atlanta area’s only all day outdoor smooth jazz music experience, where you can bring your own food and beverages, and enjoy great music under the sun and stars.