Summer in Athens: Video Post

This weekend I hit the streets of AthFest with my marker board and a flipcam to find out what makes Athens, GA special during the summer. Check out the video below!

1-Day Contest with the Melting Point!

After the fun we had with the AthFest contest, we'll be rolling more out in the coming weeks.

The first one will be short and sweet- only 1 day, tomorrow (July 1).

How to Participate

In the morning, look for a tweet from the Athens CVB saying "I want to go to the Red, White, and Brewgrass Festival."



Once that goes out, just retweet us and we'll take care of the rest.

You have until 8 p.m. After 8, we will use a random number generator program to pick the winner & let everyone know!

The winner will then be added to the Melting Point's guest list for the festival and should bring a photo ID to the event to gain entrance.

Want more details about the festival?

The Red, White & Brewgrass Festival is hosted by Packway Handle Band & The Melting Point. On July 4, starting at noon, the Melting Point will feature 14 acts on 2 intimate stages for a full day of some of the region's best bluegrass and Americana bands. The festival is open to all-ages (children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult). The event will be held rain or shine. A variety of food and beverage potions will be provided by the award-winning culinary team.

Performers include Mountain Heart, Packway Handle Band, The Jumpin' Jesus Christers, The Dappled Grays, Curley Maple, Mayhem String Band, Johnny Roquemore & The Apostles of Bluegrass, The Corduroy Road, Bob Hay & The Jolly Beggars, Peachtree Station, Solstice Sisters, String Theory, and Hawk Proof Rooster.

Good luck and happy tweeting!

Athens this Weekend

Whether you're heading to AthFest or looking for a break from the music scene, check out what's going on around Athens this weekend.

Friday

• AthFest. Bands, art, film, and KidsFest activities for the whole family! This is the best opportunity of the year to experience the local music and arts scene. Outdoor stages are FREE; wristbands are $20. So whether you bought a wristband (or won it!) or are just looking forward to the free shows, check out the complete schedule on the AthFest website. Highlights of the night include The Incredible Sandwich, Dead Confederate, and The Black Lips.
• Looking for a more relaxed atmosphere? Check out Kate Morrissey at Two Story Coffeehouse. 8-10 p.m. Cover is $5
• Move to Improve Block Party. A block party in celebration of National Home Ownership Month featuring live music, a dunking booth, a moonwalk, hot dogs, face painting, workshops and more. Between Paris St. and Minor St. 4-7 p.m. Free.

Saturday

• Athens Heritage Walks: Henderson Ave. Tour Henderson Avenue with guide John Whitehead. This peaceful residential enclave amidst the bustling Milledge Avenue/Baxter Street corridors presents an attractive mixture of late-19th and early-20th century dwellings. 10 a.m.
• AthFest. Stroll around the local booths before heading over to the main stage for perfomances by Futurebirds, Plume, and The Interns.
• Inspired by the music at AthFest? Check out the vinyl record sale at the corner of Oconee and Carr. Features LPs, 45s and 78s. 9 a.m.–5 p.m

Sunday

• AthFest. Highlights include the Holman Autry Band, Dreams So Real, and the Randall Bramblett Band.
• Iron AthChef. Love a good food competition? Head downtown to watch as two local chefs battle it out in a head-to-head cooking competition. West Washington street serves as "Kitchen Stadium" for Eric Wagoner of Athens Locally Grown and Craig Page of Promoting Local Agriculture and Cultural Experiences (PLACE). 5 p.m. Free.
  
• Mountain Music Medicine Show. Experience Doc Johnson's traveling Miracle Medicine Show, with musical acts and humor from the early 1950s. Set in Dahlonega, Doc promotes his "Wizard Water" elixir for improving lives. DISCOUNT for AthFest wristband holder. 8 p.m.

For more information on these events or to see more calendar listings, visit our website here.

Weeky Freebie: Big Surprise

So, maybe you've heard... AthFest officially kicked off tonight!

That means free music at the outdoor stages all weekend. Here's a schedule of all the acts...hope to see you out there!

Friday, June 26
(5:00-10:00 p.m.)

5:00-5:30 p.m.	Monsignor Donovan Ram Jam Winner - Joachim's Dream
5:30-6:10 p.m.	The Empties (Main Stage)
6:10-6:40 p.m.	Tealvox
6:40-7:20 p.m.	Twin Tigers (Main Stage)
7:20-7:50 p.m.	Those Darlins
7:50-8:30 p.m.	Dead Confederate (Main Stage)
8:30-9:00 p.m.	ExcaliBrah
9:00-10:00 p.m.	The Black Lips (Main Stage)
10:00-11:00 p.m.	Darius Goes West [Film Screening] (Main Stage)

Saturday, June 27
(11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.)

11:00 a.m. - Noon	Pam Blanchard & the Sunny-Side Up Band (Main Stage)
Noon - 12:40 p.m.	Farmer Jason
12:40-1:20 p.m.	Nappy Roots (Main Stage)
1:20-2:00 p.m.	Art Rosenbaum & Friends
2:00-2:40 p.m.	Dancer Vs. Politician (Main Stage)
2:40-3:10 p.m.	The Warm Fuzzies
3:10-3:50 p.m.	Venice is Sinking (Main Stage)
3:50-4:20 p.m.	Liz Durrett
4:20-5:00 p.m.	The Ginger Envelope (Main Stage)
5:00-5:30 p.m.	The Starter Kits
5:30-6:10 p.m.	The Corduroy Road (Main Stage)
6:10-6:40 p.m.	Gabriel Kelly & the Reigns
6:40-7:20 p.m.	Don Chambers + GOAT (Main Stage)
7:20-7:50 p.m.	Jason Ringenberg
7:50-8:30 p.m.	Bloodkin (Main Stage)
8:30-9:00 p.m.	Holy Liars
9:00-10:00 p.m.	Patterson Hood & the Screwtopians (Main Stage)
10:00-11:00 p.m.	DJ Kurt Wood (Main Stage)

Sunday, June 28
(11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

11:00 a.m. - Noon	The Gospel Starlights (Main Stage)
Noon - 1 p.m.	Nuçi's Space Camp Amped Student Band Showcase
1:00-1:50 p.m.	Lefty Hathaway & the Half Dozen Brass Band (Main Stage)
1:50-2:20 p.m.	Marty Winkler & Michael C. Steele with special guest M. Lee Davis
2:20-3:00 p.m.	Betsy Franck & the Bareknuckle Band (Main Stage)
3:00-3:30 p.m.	Bob Livingston
3:30-4:10 p.m.	Holman Autry Band (Main Stage)
4:10-4:40 p.m.	JazzChronic
4:40-5:20 p.m.	Grogus (Main Stage)
5:20-5:50 p.m.	Heavy Feather
5:50-6:30 p.m.	Dreams So Real (Main Stage)
6:30-7:00 p.m.	David Barbe & the Quick Hooks
7:00-8:00 p.m.	Randall Bramblett Band (Main Stage)

For more info visit the AthFest website.

Junkman's: A Retail Superstar

Junkman's Daughter's Brother, the fun and eclectic store downtown featuring an endless variety of goods, is featured in the newly released book "Retail Superstars."

George Whalin the author and researcher behind the book, spent several years personally visiting retail stores across the country. The book highlights the Top 25 stores Whalin believes to be the most interesting in the country.

Junkman's Daughter's Brother makes the cut and is featured in a 5-page spread! The spread details the owners and managers, how the business began, and how the owners developed the store into a successful venture.

Junkman's counterpart in Atlanta, Junkman's Daughter, is also featured in the book.

Curious about the names? Mark Gavron, owner of the Athens Junkman's, and his sister Pam Major, Atlanta Junkman's owner, chose to share a small bit of personal information when deciding on store names. Their father was in the surplus and salvage business, buying up random assortments of products from stores going out of business or discontinued lines.

For me, Junkman's is a must-stop shop to pick up unusual and amusing gifts. I am happy to see that Whalin agrees.

The book is now available at most major bookstores and online here.

Athens Music History Tour

In conjunction with AthFest, Classic City Tours will be offering music history tours throughout Athens. There will be 4 chances to climb onto the Classic City Tours 19-passenger bus and explore the sights and sounds that cultivated Athens’ rich musical heritage.

The tour departs from City Hall. Cost is $10 with AthFest wristband, $15 without.

The tour will be led by local scenester and former Side Effect, Paul Butchart. Paul knows the scene well and has many great stories to prove it.

Stops include the Murmur trestle, the “Sidewalk of the Stars,” and Ricky Wilson’s grave. Approximate running time is two hours.

The tour will depart from the kiosk on Washington Street in front of City Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of AthFest. Tickets are on sale at the Athens Welcome Center or at the kiosk. Space is limited. Call 706-208-8687 for your reservation.

The Georgia Theatre

By now we have all heard the sad news that the Georgia Theatre caught fire around 7 a.m. this morning. Wade Koch was walking home through downtown this morning when he noticed smoke pouring from the doors of the theatre and called 911.

According to a press conference held by the Athens-Clarke County fire department today, it may be weeks before they can correctly identify what caused the fire. Georgia Theatre employees stated they left the air conditioner on all night due to the extreme summer heat.

Most of the roof collapsed because of the fire, but the exterior walls are currently considered salvageable. The inside, however, is completely gutted. (see picture here).

Georgia Theatre owner Wilmot Greene is committed to rebuilding the historic theatre. In the past, legenedary performers such as the B-52's, The Police, Widespread Panic, and B.B. King have taken the stage at the Georgia Theatre.

Perpetual Groove, who was slated to perform Friday and Saturday at the Georgia Theatre, will now be performing at the Classic Center. Saturday's show will be a benefit concert, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the Georgia Theatre restoration. Click here to buy tickets.

All shows slated for the Georgia Theatre during AthFest will be moved to Morton Theatre.

To join the facebook group in support of the Georgia Theatre restoration click here.