The schedule has been released and the good news is being spread- AthFest 2011 is set to stimulate, inspire and entertain us on all fronts of artistic festivity planned for the eagerly anticipated event. For almost a year, we have been patiently awaiting June 22 - 26, 2011 -- the return of Athens, Georgia's favorite music and arts festival, dreaming of the week when our most talented regional musicians and artists will come together again and illuminate the streets with the sights, sounds, and performances of their respective crafts.
For those who will be experiencing it for the first time, AthFest is a festival to celebrate Athens, Georgia music and arts. Local and regional musicians, artists, performers, and other creative minds will showcase their work throughout the downtown area of Athens, GA. As music is the force that drives the Classic City, it is also the focus of the festival featuring 3 outdoor stages hosting 3 days of shows from an impressive line-up of headlining acts at no charge to the public. Some very exciting performers headlining this year include:
Futurebirds, the pensive alt-country band will stop back home in Athens from their tour promoting the blossoming success of their current album;
Guadalcanal Diary, will celebrate the 30-year anniversary of their formation as pioneers of 80's Southern indie-pop;
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, the soulful blues rock group with honest, poignant lyrics will play the sounds of the South.
The second and main stage outdoor performances are just the icing on the AthFest cake, though. The "club crawl" event taking place Friday and Saturday night will feature a diverse line-up of local bands and artists performing at around 12 of the best music venues in town. Think
40 Watt,
The Melting Point,
Little Kings,
Caledonia and more. The venue schedule features some exciting Athens favorites, both the weathered and up-and-coming alike, filling virtually every stage in the downtown area. Some exciting performances to look out for:
Hope For A Goldensummer, the recently re-emerging folky sister sirens will bring their haunting Southern voices to Little Kings Shuffle Club;
Modern Skirts, the still buzzing alt-rock band return their harmonic success to the The Melting Point;
Reptar, the young, fresh electro-pop band of boys will beam their high energy to a sure-to-be-dancing crowd at the 40 Watt;
Twin Tigers; the dynamic and melodic sounds of their strong Athens influences will be heard at Go Bar. These among a total of around 200 other amazing bands and artists performing in venues and outdoor stages throughout the 3 days of music make the options endless and the choices impossible.
AthFest remains one of the best values on the scene. All outdoor stages are absolutely FREE! For admission to the club crawl and other affiliated events, an AthFest wristband is a must. At a price of $15 when purchased in advance or $20 when purchased at the festival, the wristbands will get you more than complete musical access with other perks including discounted tickets to lots of great events- so go ahead and
grab your wristband now!
For a complete weekend package including Athens hotel accommodations,
book an AthFest hotel package here.
The Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau is also running a text-to-win promotion for a chance to win an overnight AthFest package. Just text DAWG to 95495. For more contest information, see
VisitAthensGA.com. For complete AthFest details, visit our
event page.
In addition to an incredible musical agenda, the festival also showcases some very exciting comedy acts, dance performances, and film screenings. Notable events include:
Laughfest comedy show, June 22 at the 40 Watt, the 2nd annual comedy showcase featuring nationally touring acts such as Dan Telfer and TJ Young with many other hilarious Athenians;
WIRED 2011: Athens Dance Music Festival, June 25 at New Earth Music Hall, a showcase of the most talented regional electronic artists playing fresh variations of dubstep, experimental hip-hop, electro-house, and more;
AthFest FilmFest 2011, June 22-26 at Cine, daily screenings of Athens-based rock docs, short films, teen screen, and more;
Flagpole Music Awards, June 23 at the Morton Theater, the magazine's annual ceremony recognizes local bands across every genre and category who have displayed impressive musical creativity.
Another large component of the AthFest ensemble of events is the
Artists Market which is made up of over 40 booths featuring the original artwork of around 50 local artists. With exhibited work in forms across almost every medium, regional artists and craftspeople compete for cash prizes accompanying the best in show, second place, and 5 merit awards that will be granted to the top works exhibited. The works of art displayed in the Artists Market will be available for viewing and, some, for sale.
At the corner of Washington and Lumpkin, tents will cover the
KidsFest area with a multitude of crafts, games, workshops and family-friendly musical performances. A KidsFest parade, art contest, open mic opportunity, and songwriting workshop top a longer list of awesome events and creative opportunities for kids of all ages. Focusing strongly on the bulging schedule of family-friendly activities, AthFest caters to the kids who are, after all, a large part of the motivation behind the entire event. All proceeds from the festival go to AthFest Educates!, a program aiming to integrate educational music and arts programs into local schools. With arts and music education at the center of it's efforts, AthFest, as a component of the non-profit AthFest organization, shares the beauty and necessity of local creativity with the community and beyond.
A regional communion of cultural explosion could take place nowhere other than our prolific, Athens, Ga. AthFest 2011 is going to be, without a doubt, the biggest and best event of the summer, maybe even the year! So don't wait around to start making your AthFest plans! Check out
VisitAthensGA.com/AthFest for more info on headliners and tickets, then compare awesome
hotel package offers. And don't forget to text DAWG to 95495 to enter for a chance to win a complete AthFest package- see details
here. Look forward to seeing YOU at AthFest 2011!
Head to The Melting Point on Friday for a great night of 80's music featuring one of Athens' favorite party bands, The Highballs! If you're still longing for the days of big hair and neon spandex, come have a blast at Totally '80's LIVE with The Highballs! Seems like each time they set foot in this venue, the place erupts into one big cozy dance floor. They play all the hits from your favorite era, and bring as much energy as they do talent to the room! They are in high-demand for weddings throughout the Southeast, but in case you are a little afraid of commitment, The Melting Point is proud to present them in a traditional concert atmosphere for you. The show is 18 & up, and it is recommended you get your tickets in advance, as this $10 price will attract a crowd. Grab your tickets here!
If you're in need of plans Saturday before watching Georgia take on Clemson, try a relaxing day out on Lake Chapman at Sandy Creek Park. It'll be the last day to take advantage of their partnership with Floating Peach Paddle Co., which provides the opportunity to rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes! Come out from 1 - 5 p.m. and make sure to soak up every last bit of the summer sun you can before we head into fall! It's a great way to make some lasting memories with friends and family!
For the more art-savvy Athens-goer, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is opening a new watercolor exhibit on Sunday! Beth Evans, native to the Southeast, takes inspiration from birds and their habitat. She has been part of exhibitions throughout the Southeast, and is a member of the Southern Watercolor Society, the Artist Guild of Northwest Georgia, and the Atlanta Artist Center. This exhibit will be going on through October 13 and with no admission fee, it's sure to be one you don't want to miss! So if you're headed over for a walk through the Botanical Garden, make sure to stop by the Conservatory Gallery to appreciate all that can be done with watercolor and a love of nature!
Looking for some good family fun on Labor Day? Then don't miss out on the Athens Action Dash! It's a family-friendly 5K run/walk beginning at the Tate Student Center that was created by Action Ministries to provide local hunger, housing and education solutions. Join them and become an action hero! Make sure to wear your favorite action hero costume! And don’t forget your favorite pet because they can dress up too! Awards will be given for the best adult, child and pet costume. If you want to have some fun on Labor Day by walking or running with other local heroes, you can find more information here!
