Centennial Park is scene of Shaky Knees Music Fest at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park
photo by Carmen O'Hagan
Sunny skies greeted the first wave of festivals goers as the gates of Shaky Knees Music Fest opened into Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park and International Plaza on Friday.
The fourth annual event is smack dab in the heart of Downtown Atlanta and features five stages. The atmosphere alone is enjoyable. The three-day lineup is also good:
Brit rockers The Struts performed on the Boulevard Stage before an energetic audience. The sun lingered over the stage, with the Georgia Dome standing as a backdrop. Luke Spiller, the band’s vocalist, maneuvered the stage with the sass and confidence of a legendary rock star. While The Struts are newcomers to the scene, they’ve already established an impressive resume – opening for The Rolling Stones in Paris, and Motley Crue (during their final four shows in LA). They handled themselves, and the audience, amazingly. Look for more great things to come from these guys.
Ghost, a heavy metal act from Sweden, were billed for the opening spot before The 1975. They performed on the Piedmont Stage (right next to the Boulevard Stage). The six-piece group is comprised of a completely anonymous band of individuals, who wear demon-esque masks while on stage. Their music is heavy and tight, with heavy metal guitar fills throughout. The presence of the masked figures cloaked in black is a sight to see.
Jane’s Addiction and The 1975 served as the opening night co-headliners. Fans lined up an exhausting 11 hours before start time to be front row for The 1975’s performance. The boys from Manchester, England were appreciative of the top billing and played a long set before an exited crowd.
On the other side of the festival, about an eight minute walk, Jane’s Addiction were rocking on the Peachtree Stage. While the music sounded great; the vocals were noticeably off.
Gates open Sunday at 11 a.m. EST. Concerts run until 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday.
Stay tuned for daily coverage and photo galleries of each night. Tickets are still available through the link http://www.shakykneesfestival.com/tickets/. Single-day tickets are $97, while advanced three-day tickets run $215.