Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Shaky Knees Music Festival, which takes place in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a predictably impressive lineup of indie and rock bands for those of us that are both nostalgic for our youth and keeping up with the times. It gets in the weeds enough for us music nerds to pull psychedelic rock bands Babe Rainbow and Pond out from the colorful underground, while also landing the acts that everyone knows, like the Killers, Muse, and the Lumineers.
Shaky Knees could be considered on the less wild side of rock festivals. Attendees don’t camp, and due to a city noise ordinance, headliners take the stage at 9:30 pm and are done playing by 11. This contrasts other outdoor festivals like Bonnaroo, where music ends at 2am, or The Untz Festival in California, where music doesn’t stop until 6am. However, Shaky Knees sells separate “Late Night Show” events at indoor venues if the daytime didn’t cut it. This year’s late night shows include hip hop trio Digable Planets, dream pop duo Phantogram, and prog-rockers The Mars Volta, just to name a few.
Shaky Knees Music Festival used to host two sister festivals in Atlanta, Shaky Boots for country lovers, and an electronic option, Shaky Beats, though neither will be taking place this year.
All in all, Shaky Knees is for the good ol’ fashioned music lover looking to have a good time but not necessarily to stay up all night partying, which for many of us is a welcome break from the over-stimulating craze of many of today’s music festivals.
The Specs
- Shaky Knees attracts around 40,000 people a year.
- Tickets: 1-day GA: $119; 3-day GA: $269.
- The festival also sells GA plus, platinum, and VIP ticket options which give you varying levels of access, free food and alcohol in the venue.
- Check out these cool hotel options if you aren’t from Atlanta.
