As anyone who's lived in the south knows, Georgia in the summertime can be decidedly less than pleasant. Ninety degree heat, compounded with 100 percent humidity, has the uncanny ability to turn even the most conservative individual into a nudist. However, one weekend a summer, the music haven otherwise known as Athens, Ga., gives people far and wide a reason to weather the heat.
AthFest, the annual musical extravaganza (which, incidentally, has also featured a petting zoo in past years), will be held this summer from June 18 to 22. For those counting at home, that's five glorious days of music, music, music, petting zoos and more music. Appropriately, the majority of bands featured hail from Athens itself, though out-of-town bands are more than welcome to apply for a spot on the line-up.
The fest kicks off with the Flagpole Music Awards, sponsored by none other than Flagpole, the venerable alt-weekly of Athens. Yearly, readers of the paper hop online and vote for their favorite artists. Categories in previous years have included Best Up and Coming Artist (won in the past by local fave's Electa Villain and Modern Skirts) and Best Rock Band, won in 2006 by The Whigs, who are currently about to head out on tour with Athens giants Drive-By Truckers.
Every year, the AthFest committee releases a compilation of local artists to complement the festival. This year's album will feature 19 Athens artists, including dub/reggae band Dubconscious, folk/pop band Madeline, and indie rock outfit Russian Spy Camera.
Since the deadline for artists submissions has been extended to April 1, the final line-up for the festival has yet to be announced. But with nationally recognized named like Shawn Mullins and Pylon heading up years past, it seems safe to say that it won't disappoint. Check back here for the latest in AthFest news, and we'll keep you up-to-date on the latest line-up announcements, schedule and more.
Related links:
AthFest.com
Paste: Truckers, Whigs Headline 2007 AthFest
Flagpole.com
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