Music Midtown returned to Atlanta for the first time in six years on Saturday, September 24 at Piedmont Park. Although the traditional multi-day festival was relegated to one day, two stages kept the music going all day and night.
The setting could not have been more welcoming to concertgoers and musicians. Clear skies and a light breeze set the scene for a delightful mood, while the perfectly timed sets were impressive; not a single act opened a minute late.
The Postelles and Atlanta's own The Constellations were some of the early acts of the day. The Constellations played many of their hits as well as some new songs. The crowd wildly cheered and sang along to most of The Constellations older hits and the band seemed just as excited to see the crowd and to be playing this iconic local festival.The hometown band set the energy bar high for all following acts on the Main Stage, and lucky most rose to meet and exceed the challenge.
By the time festival headliners, Coldplay took the stage the entire packed Meadow of Piedmont Park was electric with energy and excitement. The British rockers not only immediately pleased with confetti canyons, balloon drops, and some of their top hits within the first five songs, but they never slowed down. They performed tracks off of their new album, Mylo Xyloto, including "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" and "Paradise" as well as old favorites. Front man Chris Martin also took frequent breaks to interact with the audience and the band even specialized their set for the audience by incorporating "Georgia on My Mind" and a tribute to local music legends R.E.M. with their standard "Everybody Hurts."After Coldplay concluded their set and the massive crowds spilled into the streets, the energy was still palpable. People are excited Music Midtown is back and can't wait for next yearSee photos from Music Midtown 2011, here.After six years of anticipation Music Midtown is finally returning to Atlanta this weekend. With so many fans counting down the hours until Saturday's concerts, get a jumpstart on the partying! Join The Constellations and Chris Freeman from Manchester Orchestra this Thursday, September 22 from 8:00 PM- 1:00AM. Chris and The Constellations will be providing the night’s soundtrack with various DJ sets. Did we mention there will be free cocktails until 9PM? Party with the bands on Thursday and see them perform live on the Music Midtown stage on Saturday. RSVP [email protected].
After much speculation, it was announced this morning that Music Midtown will return to Atlanta after a six year hiatus. The announcement was made by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Music Midtown co-founder and Live Nation president Peter Conlon.
Music Midtown 2011 will take place on Saturday, September 24 at Piedmont Park. The artist line up includes Coldplay, The Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Manchester Orchestra, Young The Giant, Band of Skulls, Joy Formidable, The Constellations, Mona, and The Postelles. Although Music Midtown 2011 will only be a single day of music instead of the original three day run, rumors are starting to swirl that at least one notable act will be announced to perform on the night of Friday, September 23.
General admission tickets are priced at $55 and VIP tickets will also be available to the public; tickets go on sale Saturday, July 16 at 10AM via online and phone. Since Citi is the official credit card and sponsor of the event, there will be a special pre-sale open to Citi cardholders starting Monday, July 11- Friday, July 15.
Follow Mixtape Atlanta on Twitter and Facebook for more updates.
Three weeks from tonight, 500 Songs for Kids invades Smith’s Olde Bar for the annual 10-day concert marathon benefiting Songs for Kids Foundation. For the last four consecutive years, 500 Songs for Kids has gathered a diverse group of artists to perform one song off of a selected countdown of 500 songs making this affair the biggest musical charity event in Georgia’s history. This year’s theme is the 500 Greatest Era-Defining Songs of All Time and if past years are any indication, 2010 will not disappoint. From local bands to Grammy winners, everyone from Gavin DeGraw, Mute Math, Zac Brown Band, Pete Yorn, Cee-Lo, Francine Reed, and many more have donated their time and talent to the cause. And, what a great cause it is. All the proceeds from 500 Songs for Kids go to Songs for Kids Foundation, which brings music and musicians into children’s hospitals and special needs camps. Just like last year, Mixtape Atlanta will be in attendance all 10 nights bringing you updates and photos from all the memorable performances. Here are some of our favorite performances from 2009.
Top 10 Performances of 2009’s 500 Songs for Kids (500 Most Passionate Songs of All Time)
Even before the official music portion of South By Southwest started, many musicians, industry insiders, and fans crowded a few showcases on Tuesday night. BMI welcomed artists and VIPs to their 10th Annual “Howdy Texas” Happy Hour at Stubb’s Bar-B-Que. Although mostly known as a BBQ joint, Stubb’s would host many of SXSW’s most anticipated shows including She & Him, Broken Bells, Muse, and The Walkmen. Across the street from Stubb’s, bands such as Brazos andCartright, warmed the stage and speakers at Club Deville for Tugboat Hustle’s Freaks Meet Folks party. A few blocks from that, Paste Magazine and PureVolume prepared for their own celebration.
Paste and PureVolume’s Kickoff in Austin Party at the PureVolume House signaled the beginning of all the powerhouse showcases SXSW has become known for. Although the crowd’s high energy (thanks to the open bar) and intriguing venue led to the promise of an entertaining night, the laidback, mellow lineup of Joshua James, Johnny Flynn, and Jakob Dylan & Three Legs featuring Neko Case caused the mood to fall flat. The Wallflowers’ lead singer, who is known for catchy writing and hooks, gently rocked his audience to sleep with songs from his new project, Three Legs. Even the addition of the talented Neko Case could not wake the sleepy mood Dylan had created. However, across town the audience at Zynga’s Fader Fort party was wide-awake and inciting dance riots due to the lively performances from Atlanta’s The Constellations and Metric.
Kim Burdges
You might not picture gritty, tattooed rockers, with a perpetual hangover to be the focus of this year’s music Cinderella story, but that is exactly where The Constellations are finding themselves. The Atlanta band, which took the local music scene by storm with their haunting lyrics and catchy beats about Atlanta’s underground culture, recently signed with Virgin Records. Having preformed at Virginia Highlands Summerfest, Big Fourth in Little Five, and receiving airplay on 99x for their hit “Felicia,” The Constellations have provided the soundtrack to the summer of 2009 and they are not done yet. This weekend the band headlines the East Atlanta Strut on the 99x Stage. Mixtape Atlanta recently talked with The Constellations’ songwriter and lead singer, Elijah Jones, about the band’s new record deal, sound, and future.
Take me through the signing process with Virgin Records?
It all did happen pretty quickly. Alex Shenitsky heard our record first then told Rob Stevenson [president of Virgin Records] about it. Rob flew down for a show and it just all worked out; they're picking up the record [Southern Gothic] as is.
After signing, did Virgin ask you to change anything about your sound, look, way you perform, etc.?
Not at all. We have complete artistic freedom and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. That is the only way we would’ve agreed to any deal.
Southern Gothic has such a distinctive sound. How did this sound develop? Was it a conscious decision?
Originally, the album was just supposed to be a studio project: an Atlanta record with Atlanta musicians with songs about the Atlanta scene. The gritty, nasty part of Atlanta. About what goes on after the bars close, on the streets, the characters. It was a concept record. It took awhile to record, but we wanted to make sure we did right.
The album is so uniquely Atlantan, do you worry these songs won’t have the same reaction across the country when the album is released nationally?
The songs are there as well as the feeling of the songs. It’s more about city life in general. Hopefully people can translate some of these characters into their own cities. Even though the album is very specific to Atlanta, there’s a Clermont Lounge in a lot of cities and other similar characters.
Since Southern Gothic was a concept album, do you have another one in the works?
Yes…, but it’s a secret. (laughs) I still have to write it, which I’m working on now. But, I’m mostly focused on pushing [Southern Gothic] now.
Who would you like to collaborate with on the next album?
Obliviously I want to get Ben Allen involved again. He really is the puppet master. I hope to collaborate with some musicians that were on the first one as well as some that were not on the record.
With Southern Gothic being mostly a studio album, when did you decide to form a live band to perform it?
It really happened out of necessity. As we got further into the recording, we realized that we wanted to play these songs in front of people and translate them into a live show. I’m the only original member to take the band from studio to the live shows they are now so we had to get a band together. The songs are there it is just a matter of translating them live. We recently did a Live X and it pushed us personally and musically since it was mostly stripped down. At the same time, as long as the songs are there they can exist in a couple different translations.
Speaking of 99x, how was it to hear “Felicia” being played on that station?
It was pretty surreal. I have a whole different appreciation for those guys and for them playing our song. I owe a lot to them.
You have several Atlanta shows coming up at some popular events, including East Atlanta Strut and The Most Legendary Halloween Party at Center Stage, have you played either one of those events before?
No, we haven’t. We also have another show coming up at Lenny’s on October 10. It will be our video release party for “Perfect Day.” It’s going to be a crazy party.
What can we expect from that video?
The shoot was insane. Eric De Fino from Raygun, who shot “Felica,” directed it. “Perfect Day” is not necessarily a single, but we had a really cool concept for the song. It’s not your traditional video. It was pretty debaucherous. We basically threw a house party and filmed it, and there is all kinds of debaucherous sh*t going on. I don’t think we’ll even be able to put it on YouTube so the only way you’ll be able to see it is at the party.
Any chance The Constellations will relocate from Atlanta?
We are staying in Atlanta. It’s our home. I love visiting other cities and places, but Atlanta will always be home. I’ll be here until the day I die.
What track would you have to include on your ultimate mixtape?
That is a rough question. I’d have to go with Tom Waits' “That Feeling;” it makes me cry every time I hear it. That is the marking of a good song, when it has emotion, feeling, and connects to a person. I have 15 million other songs, but hands down that one is it.
-Kim Burdges
This July 4th, there was plenty to do around Atlanta, but only one venue gathered the city’s most explosive music lineup. Star Bar hosted Pop Death Squad’s Big 4th in Little 5. The festivities began around 4PM in the parking lot where an outdoor stage was set up.
The Whiskey Gentry and Death on Two Wheels drew the largest outdoor crowds before the party moved indoors. Brain Box and Batata Doce warmed up the audience before the dance party kicked into full gear.
The Greater Vavoom’s sexy funk got everyone dancing and the drinks flowing. The Constellations followed as the room swelled with latecomers. By the time Atlanta music king James Hall took the stage for his solo performance, he had previously played with Vavoom, the crowd had thinned but a solid majority was still going strong. For a day traditionally known for celebration, there was plenty onstage and off at Star Bar.
Check out all of Mixtape Atlanta's photos here!
FRIDAY JULY 3: Matt & Kim: Hipsters unite at Opera for a night of great music that will give the dance floor a work out. Headliners Matt & Kim will be joined by electronic maestros MSTRKRFT and DJ A-Trak. The Barcardi sponsored event is free as long as you RSVP HERE!
Snowden: Atlanta’s Snowden fronts the bill for another show honoring The Earl’s 10th Anniversary. The local indie-rock band will be supported by Sealions and Abby Go Go. Get your Earl tickets here!
JULY 3 AND 4: Whynatte presents two back to back nights of great music and prizes at Smith’s Olde Bar. Judi Chicago, Noot D’Noot, and Black Dominoes will provide the beats for a weekend of fun and dancing. The first 100 people of age in the door every night receive free Whynatte shots. Buy your tickets now to qualify for the drawing of prizes including case of Whynatte, artist merchandise and Smith vouchers. Check out Mixtape Atlanta's interview with Judi Chicago.
JULY 4:
Yacht Rock: Relax after a long day at the Peachtree Road Race with the smooth jams of Yacht Rock Revue. Enjoy the free show starting at 8PM.
Big 4th in Little 5: The day’s most explosive lineup will be at Star Bar for Big 4th in Little 5. James Hall, The Constellations, Death on Two Wheels, Whiskey Gentry and many more are scheduled to perform. The event kicks off at 4PM with an indoor and outdoor stage. Admission is $5 before 8PM and $8 after 8PM.
The hot summer sun and a lineup of sizzling music acts heated up the 92.9 Dave FM stage at the 26th Annual Virginia Highlands Summerfest. Saturday’s lineup started early and the crowd was sparse for Jackson County Line, but as the day continued the crowd increased. Hightide Blues’ feel good rock and the acoustic sounds of Matt Hires and Gareth Asher provided great summer songs to help the audience both dance and relax. As the heat intensified so did the crowd and energy onstage. By the time Cowboy Mouth started their manic set, a dense standing crowd had consumed the fenced music area.
Sunday’s lineup started off with an audience comparable to the day before; however, each act transitioned so well into the next that it seemed like an alt-rock opera. The newly formed County Line Strangers performed alt-country tracks off of their upcoming Heartbreak Motel as well as the Tom Petty classic “American Girl.” Ponderosa compounded the alt-country vibe with their classic rock and untouchable style. The Constellations moved to the other end of the alternative rock spectrum with their signature sexy punk songs that dared the crowd not the dance. Their recent radio hit “Felicia” had many singing along, and crowd favorite “Step Right Up” successfully recruited new fans and late night partiers. Manchester Orchestra expertly wrapped up the day with their unique mix of indie-rock and alt-country performed with energetic jam band fervor.
Don’t miss the next must see Atlanta summer musical festival on June 20 at Candler Park for Midsummerfest with Guster and Rusted Root.
Check out Mixtape Atlanta's photos from Summerfest here.
Night one of 500 Songs for Kids kicked off with an impressive lineup at Smith's Olde Bar. The crowd came ready to enjoy the first lineup of the 500 Most Passionate Songs and the artists did not disappoint. Covering songs 500- 450 was no easy task considering that tracks ranged from Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” to Motley Crue’s “Shout at the Devil”. The Constellations converted anyone not already a fan of the Atlanta band into one with their intense cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.” Young rapper Lil’ Dude and his band proved that they have plenty of soul and the ability to get a crowd on their feet with their rendition of Eric B. & Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul.” For all the highlights from 500 Songs for Kids: Night 1, check out our exclusive photos courtesy of POParazzi Photography.
