Shaky Knees, the three day festival taking over Atlanta’s Central Park May 3rd-5th, has teed up a stacked group of indie heavyweights for it’s 2019 iteration. With arguably one of the best lineups of the year and priced at an extraordinarily affordable rate of $179 for 3 days, the festival is sure to draw large numbers again this year.
Headliners to Watch
Tame Impala – The Australian rock band is hitting the festival circuit in full force this spring. Led by frontman Kevin Parker, the band recalls the psychedelic pop of the 60s in a distinctly layered format. Following their 2015 smash hit album Currents, with the likes of “Let It Happen” and “The Less I Know the Better,” they’re set to a release a new album in 2019.
Cage the Elephant – The mainstream rock band from Kentucky is expected to follow up their widely lauded 2015 album Tell Me I’m Pretty with a new release in 2019. The band even tweeted in November that the album is finished, leaving festival-goers and fans alike hoping new tracks will be debuted at the Atlanta fest. Longtime followers of the band have watched their sound evolve, though they’ve maintained a lodestar in the up-tempo rock genre. Indie-rock fans will find it hard to resist the contagious energy found within tracks such as “Trouble” and “Cigarette Daydreams.”
Beck – A veteran on the festival circuit and with an extensive discography harking back to the mid-90s, Beck recently has developed a more polished-feel to his rock tracks. His 2017 album Colors was widely acclaimed and included a hit single in Dreams, which was featured on the 2016 FIFA soundtrack. Known as an enthralling performer and with a great stage presence, Beck will be sure to please longtime fans and new listeners alike.
Undercards Worth Waking Up For
Grouplove – Well known for their idiosyncratic yet catchy high tempo tracks, the L.A. based indie rock band is a solid addition to an indie-rock centric group of sub-headliners. They made waves with their hit 2011 album Never Trust A Happy Song, and followed it up with the 2017 studio album Big Mess. More Grouplove music is on the docket for 2019 as reports circle that they have a new fourth album in the works.
Phosphorescent – Known for homespun, folk songs, singer songwriter Mathew Houck is set to add to the diverse array of indie artists composing the 2019 fest. Listeners may recognize “Song for Zula,” often featured in television commercials and sentimental film scenes, yet Houck has recently added to an enjoyable catalog of polished songwriting hooks in his 2018 album C’est La Vie.
Rayland Baxter – The lacrosse player turned singer songwriter is known for his poignant lyricism pervaded with witty, self-reflective qualities. His 2018 album Wide Awake was released after three months of dedicated production in a Nashville factor referred to as “Thunder Sound.” Rather than what he is, it’s what he’s not that make Rayland Baxter a must-see artist. He’s not commercial, he’s not perfect, and he’s not going to avoid taboo topics. His guitar-twinged, somber, sway-inducing tunes will add a much needed folk thread to the Shaky Knees lineup.
In addition to the stellar lineup, there is a curated selection of eateries as well as photo booths and games. Interested in going? Tickets are a steal at $179 (without fees) for a 3 day pass. Prices are set to increase to $189 on 1/24. They can be found here.
Festival Pulse 