Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Last weekend, more than 75 rock bands commandeered Centennial Olympic Park and International Plaza for the fourth annual Shaky Knees Music Festival.
This Friday through Sunday, a steadier cadence will filter through downtown Atlanta as the Shaky Beats Music Festival makes its debut.
More than 40 acts — primarily from the EDM/livetronica/hip-hop worlds — are slated to perform on three stages erected around the park, among them Major Lazer, Nas, Porter Robinson, Odesza, Big Gigantic, Chromeo, ASAP Ferg and AlunaGeorge.
Tim Sweetwood, creator and promoter of the Shaky fests, said he decided to explore the electronic dance niche because there was “a hole in the Shaky brand and family.”
“Shaky Knees has had success staying in the rock world, and this is the area that didn’t have something going on,” Sweetwood said earlier this week.
Last year, the country-themed Shaky Boots Music Festival served as the May companion to Shaky Knees with a high-profile lineup at Kennesaw State University. But Sweetwood opted to put the cowboy hats on hiatus this time and see where the beat takes him.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
While the crowd at Shaky Knees falls in the average demographic of 34 years old, the Shaky Beats demo skews about a decade younger — but still not as young as Sweetwood initially expected (the fest is 18 and older for general admission and 21 and older for VIP).
“This will be more of a party crowd,” he said. “At Shaky Knees, you bob your head, and at Shaky Beats, you dance full out.”
Sweetwood noted that compared to Shaky Knees, there will be “a few more elements of pizazz — a lot more lights, a lot more fog, a lot more everything.”
While this weekend’s weather might not be as blissful as the temperatures that blessed Shaky Knees, the show(s) will go on, even if they’re accompanied by a little rain.
“We always prepare for any element,” Sweetwood said.
As the kids say, let the beat drop.
If you’re heading to Shaky Beats this weekend, here are some tips to help you navigate.
Where: Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W. N.W., Atlanta.
Gates: Open at 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets: $77 (Friday single day); $93 (Saturday and Sunday single day); $162 (advance three-day ticket); $267 (single-day VIP); and $512 (three-day VIP). Attendees must be 18 and older for general admission and 21 and older for VIP. Tickets can be purchased at www.shakybeatsfestival.com or www.frontgatetickets.com .
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Box office: The box office is located at the park directly across the street from the intersection of Walton Street N.W. and Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W. The box office will be open from 1-8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
Getting there: Take MARTA Red Line to Peachtree Center (follow signs to Centennial Olympic Park) or Blue Line to Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN station.
A three-day parking pass for the Red Lot at Georgia World Congress Center is available for $40.
Single-day advance parking at the same lot is available for $14.
Some things you can bring (visit www.shakybeatsfestival.com for the full list): Backpacks; two factory-sealed bottles of water (up to 1 liter each); nonprofessional cameras; blankets, sheets and towels.
Some things you may not bring: Professional cameras and attachments; aerosol containers; drones; umbrellas; selfie sticks; pets (except service animals); fireworks; chairs; firearms.
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SHAKY BEATS MUSIC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 20
Small Black (4:45 p.m.); Jai Wolf (5 p.m.); ESTA (5:30 p.m.); Classixx (5:45 p.m.); Yeasayer (6:30 p.m.); Sango (6:30 p.m.); AlunaGeorge (7 p.m.); Joe Kay (7:30 p.m.); Duke Dumont (8 p.m.); ZHU (8:30 p.m.); Major Lazer (9:30 p.m.).
Saturday, May 21
Sassy Black (2:30 p.m.); Watch the Duck (2:45 p.m.); Pomo (3:15 p.m.); Clerks (3:30 p.m.); Com Truise (4 p.m.); !!! (4:15 p.m.); Part of 1 (4:30 p.m.); STRFKR (5 p.m.); Tory Lanez (5:15 p.m.); LUNICE (5:30 p.m.); Marshmello (6:05 p.m.); Cherub (6:30 p.m.); the M Machine (6:30 p.m.); MO (7:15 p.m.); Trippy Turtle (7:30 p.m.); Porter Robinson (8 p.m.); Chromeo (8:30 p.m.); Odesza (9:30 p.m.).
Sunday, May 22
Mike Floss (2 p.m.); Sir the Baptist (2:15 p.m.); Equinox (2:30 p.m.); J Proppa (3 p.m.); Floating Points (3:15 p.m.); Nugz Bunny (3:45 p.m.); Organik (4 p.m.); Aer (4:30 p.m.); NGHTMRE (5 p.m.); Baels (5 p.m.); ASAP Ferg (5:40 p.m.); Treasure Fingers (6 p.m.); Yellow Claw (6:15 p.m.); Nas (7 p.m.); HXV (7 p.m.); Carnage (7:30 p.m.); Big Gigantic (8:30 p.m.).
