SHAKY KNEES 2019 PREVIEW – Day 1 Wins

Shaky Knees Music Festival returns on May 3-5, 2019 to Atlanta’s Central Park, and they have already released their seventh year’s daily lineup featuring headliners Beck, Incubus (both Friday), Cage the Elephant (Saturday), and Tame Impala closing the festival on Sunday. Looking through the 2019 lineup, there is plenty to be excited for and our initial reaction saw some immediate wins:

Day 1 Wins

Low Cut Connie: 

If you’ve never seen Philadelphia’s Low Cut Connie live, well you are in for a treat. Frontman Adam Weiner will be all over his trusty piano, Shondra, with the fire of legends like Jerry Lee Lewis throughout their set. There’s no doubt this is one band that will have the Shaky Knees audience dancing to their old time rock ‘n’ roll. This is a set not to miss.

Curtis Harding:

Atlanta-based soul and garage rocker. Win for SK19.

IDLES:

Looking for perhaps the hottest punk band in the world right now? Look no further than Bristol’s IDLES, who are said to have fiery sets that will light Shaky Knees in flames. This one should be wild.

Yellow Days: 

Another UK artist, but this one on the opposite spectrum from IDLES. The young Manchester product, Yellow Days brings a smooooth, experimental R&B sound that should have SK grooving in the sun.

The Black Lips:

Atlanta-based garage punks, one of SK19 wins.

Oh Sees: 

Whatever you want to call them, Thee Oh Sees, Orinoka Crash Suite, OCS, John Dwyer’s Oh Sees is one of the most prolific bands on the lineup. The garage/psych experimental rock gods seemingly morph with each release. They’ve long been known for their energetic live shows, and their set Friday should be considered a must not miss. 

Sharon Van Etten:  

Since releasing her official debut album in 2009, Sharon Van Etten has gained notoriety for her heartfelt lyrics and elegant harmonies with overall more sparse elements matched to her folk stylings. With each release, she’s added to her sound while continuing to write some of the most piercing songs. With the release of the new album, Remind Me Tomorrow (January 18th via Jagjaguwar), one of 2019’s best so far, Van Etten explores further sonic territory with added electronic elements that should sit well on the festival stage. Of course, she will still stop you in your tracks with the lush vocals and aching lyrics, but the live reviews coming in on Sharon’s current tour are “incredible”.

Liz Phair: 

Liz Phair is one of the legends that made this year’s Shaky lineup. If there is an artist that some of the younger up and coming artists on the lineup should look to, Liz would be a good one. She’s been an indie rock goddess since the release of her debut in 1993, Exile in Guyville, which made Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. She’s also been somewhat shunned from the indie world, releasing a more pop focused major label album in 2003. She’s self released; she’s done it all. Last year she celebrated with Matador Records the release of that epic debut album. She’s been through it all, and it’s going to be fun seeing Liz tear up the SK stage, listening to the classics, and singing along to the songs you forgot you loved. 

Tash Sultana: 

When the SK19 lineup initially came out, there was probably two schools of thought when they saw the name Tash Sultana high on the lineup poster. There was the one side with a massive “HELL YES”, and the other side with the “WHO??”. Her rise may seem meteoric, with a homemade video practically going viral overnight in 2016, but there was a lot of work prior that the talented Melbourne, Australia multi-instrumentalist (she has evidently mastered over 15 instruments) took to get to this point. In the short time since, Tash has released her debut album Flow State (August 2018), garnered millions of streams, sold out world tour, and more. She’s also earned a reputation for an explosive live show already,  so clearly, this rising young star is a set not to miss.

Tears For Fears:

Remember when SK had Huey Lewis and The News in 2016? Half of us were ridiculously pumped, while the other half giggled and poked fun? But when their set came up, was there any one in the Shaky Knees audience not loving every moment of that set? Now we get Tears For Fears, and there’s little doubt epic renditions of “Mad World”, “Shout”, “Head Over Heels”, and of course “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. Tears For Fears is going to be amazing.

The Double Headliner: 

While the daily schedule has not been released yet, Friday Shaky Knees shows not one but two headliners, and it’s been said that the two won’t conflict with each other. If so, the two major sets from Incubus and Beck should be a highlight on Friday’s first day of the festival. Incubus should bring the fire with with their early 2000’s alt-rock and frontman Brandon Boyd leading the way. Beck has been going strong since the early 90’s, seemingly never really slowing over the decades. Beck brings plenty of career spanning hits that can get the crowds moving, dancing, and singing along. His latest album, 2017’s Colors, just won multiple Grammy Awards including Best Alternative Album. While the album may not be considered one of Beck’s best by longtime fans, it certainly comes ready with songs that should be a hit on the Shaky Knees stage.

Tickets for Shaky Knees Music Festival 2019 are on sale now. 3-Day General Admission tickets are $189, while 1-Day General Admission tickets are $99. Purchase tickets here.

The Daily Wins

Biggest Wins on Shaky Knees 2019 Upcoming Day 2? HERE

Biggest Wins on Shaky Knees 2019 Upcoming Day 3? HERE

Check out Scenes From Shaky Knees 2018 below with the photo gallery from SK18’s Day 1. Photos by Mike Gerry.