AthFest Music and Arts Festival, the annual celebration of Athens’ creative culture, takes over downtown Athens June 22-24 with affiliate events starting June 20. The multi-day festival includes a showcase of local, regional and national bands on three outdoor stages, a juried artist market, KidsFest, vendors, beer gardens and a late night Club Crawl through some of Athens’ clubs and music venues.
Affiliated events include LaughFest that Wednesday at The Foundry, Flagpole Music Awards at the Morton Theater and New West Records Kick-Off at 40 Watt that Thursday.
The free outdoor festival starts Friday, June 22, at 5 p.m. and ends Sunday, June 24, at 8 p.m.
There is music on both the Southern Brewing Co. Main Stage (Washington/Pulaski) and on the BMI Hull St. Stage (Hull/Hancock). Performances include Linqua Franqa, Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s 40th Anniversary Show, Family and Friends, Elf Power, The Connells, Universal Sigh, Don Flemons (Carolina Chocolate Drops), The Norm, Dexter Romweber Duo, Chris Stamey Group and more.
The juried artist market includes artist booths with fine arts and crafts for sale, including paintings, photography, jewelry, sculpture, furniture, and clothing. For artists wanting to participate there are a few more booths available for late submission. Booths are $200 or less and include a 10 x 10 tent and power. Festival attendees enjoy food trucks, local beers in the beer gardens, shopping at a variety of vendors and the AthFest merchandise tent. Local company Fulfillment Merchandise will also be selling 2018 AthFest merchandise online, as well as vintage AthFest designs.
After the outdoor shows Friday and Saturday nights, a Club Crawl wristband grants access into more than a dozen venues featuring 100+ bands. Wristbands are $20 if purchased before June 1 at midnight and $25 after. Affiliated events are discounted with a wristband as well. Club Crawl shows include Oak House, Cracker, Bobby’s Shorts, T. Hardy Morris, Neighbor Lady, Bully, Kenosha Kid, Claire Campbell, Five Eight, SheHeHe, Material Girls, Saint Pe (Black Lips), The Vegabonds, Harvey Funkwalker all adding up to 100+ bands. Cine will host the ATHfactor Hip Hop Showcase. The Globe hosts Jazz Nights. The Foundry hosts a Country Music Showcase and a Latin Music Showcase. Wristbands are available on athfest.com, at the festival and will be at Wuxtry, Georgia Theatre, Low Yo Yo Stuff, Live Wire Athens and the Athens Welcome Center.
KidsFest is a free AthFest family event that will kick-off Friday night when from 6-9 p.m. the UpNext Showcase takes over the KidsFest stage, with performances by middle/high school performers including The Voltures, The Kannons, Golden Cage and The Varsity Band. Saturday and Sunday KidsFest is in full force with activities, demonstrations, performances and exhibits by and for Athens’ youngest festival goers, including performances on the KidsFest Stage by step teams, dance troupes, and musical acts, and there will be a kids dance party with a DJ. A new beer garden for parents will be next to the KidsFest area.
Due to grants by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, there will be improvements in the sound and experience this year, including a bigger stage, improved sound system, bigger tents for increased shade and cooling stations.
Wristband purchases, merchandise and beer sales are the main fundraising elements of the festival, as well as the auctioning off of a David Hale painted Gretsch guitar. All proceeds fund AthFest Educates grants, which are given to teachers and community educators for high quality music and arts experiences and equipment for Athens area youth. More about AthFest Educates is at athfesteducates.org.
For more information, full schedules and to purchase wristbands, go to athfest.com.