SHAKY KNEES MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 PREVIEW

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 2 Wins

Julia Jacklin:

Out of Sydney, Australia, Julia Jacklin just released her sophomore album, Crushing (February 22nd via Polyvinyl), another absolutely stunning album that should land on most year end lists. It’s a wonder she is so low on the SK list. Jacklin last year also released a fantastic debut self titled album with her other band Phantastic Ferniture. Basically she’s already proving to be one of the best songwriters around; she’s got a little alt-country vibe at times, but she can also rock with the best of them. With Crushing though, Jacklin will do just that with her lyrics that are disheartening and empowering at the same time. As if you needed a reason to get out to Central Park early that Saturday, Julia Jacklin is a name that should be high on everyone’s list.

David Bazan & Michael Nau @ The EARL 11/16/17 — David Bazan. Photo by Mike Gerry

Pedro The Lion:

David Bazan has brought back Pedro The Lion. Forming in Seattle in 1995, Pedro became a beloved indie band throughout the 90s and early 2000s, releasing their last album in 2004 before disbanding in 2006. Since then Bazan continued to tour under his own name in a more minimalist setting, usually solo, or one other member, playing 100s of House Shows and smaller venues. While that kept Bazan close to his fans, he eventually looked to get back to the band format, and soon a new Pedro The Lion album and tour was born! The new album Phoenix was released in January via Polyvinyl, showing some of the same formulas that made the band an underground following for so many years, with a reenergized Bazan leading the way.

Soccer Mommy:

Nashville-based songwriter Sophie Allison has begun gaining notoriety releasing two album since 2016, before her proper debut album release in 2018, Clean (March 2018 via Fat Possum Records), with “Your Dog” off the album becoming a big indie hit. The singer songwriter brings a lo-fi sound with distorted guitars, but vulnerable lyrics that punches you in the gut. Soccer Mommy‘s passionate delivery and crunchy guitars are sure to be early day highlight.

Japanese Breakfast:

What started as a solo project for Michelle Zauner, releasing a very personal and emotional debut album Psychopomp in 2016, meant to be the only Japanese Breakfast album, was instead became an experimental indie pop artist that struck a chord. Now, after releasing her sophomore album Soft Sounds from Another Planet in 2017 via Dead Oceans, Japanese Breakfast is a star in the indie world, and this is sure to be one of the most anticipated sets of the day. Japanese Breakfast creates soulful existential pop sound that’s as shimmering as it is sultry that should make for one of the more diverse sets. While we are still waiting on new music though, Michelle recently announced a new memoir Crying In H Mart with her story of growing up Korean-American.

My Morning Jacket @ SK16. Photo cred: Mike Gerry

Jim James:

Let’s get this out of the way, Jim James can do no wrong. He can get up there and play My Morning Jacket songs, he can play George Harrison songs, he can play some Monsters of Folk songs, he can play some of his more spiritual and psychedelic solo songs, he can play something from the New Basement Tapes, he can plug in and go fuzzy rock ‘n’ roll from Uniform Distortion (June 29, 2018), or strip it down to Uniform Clarity (Oct. 8th, 2018), don’t care. I’m in. You should be too.

Interpol:

Part of the post-punk revival in New York in the early 2000’s, at this point we can call Interpol legends of the indie scene. Their 2002 debut Turn On the Bright Lights is a classic already, and the band has continued to leave their mark releasing five more albums over the years, including Marauder in 2018. While it was 4 years between their last two albums, the band has already released a banger of a new single in “Fine Mess”, released at the end of January. It seems Interpol won’t be slowing down any time soon.

Gary Clark Jr.:

By now you are hopefully well aware of Gary Clark Jr., and if you at all love guitar as an instrument, you will be planning on catching this set. The Austin-based blues guitarist has become well known for his live performances, with certain evidence being showcased on his live releases Gary Clark Jr. Live (2014) and Gary Clark Jr Live/North America (2017). But his just released third studio album, This Land (released February 22nd via Warner Bros. Records), proves that Gary Clark Jr. is more than just a guitar player; he’s got plenty to say also. And we will all be listening. This performance will be huge.

Cage The Elephant:

Love them, or just indifferent, Cage The Elephant has been putting on headline worthy performances for years, including previously at Shaky Knees. Frontman Matt Shultz never stops, delivering an energy from the stage to the audience (and many times in the audience) that spreads like wildfire. Over four studio albums, the band has continued to build their star album by album, eventually even winning a Grammy for Best Rock Album at the 59th Awards. But it’s the band’s live shows that have really connected with their audiences and brought them to the point of headlining major festivals. Now with their fifth album Social Cues due out April 19th, there is sure to be many more anthems for the band to add to their repertoire, including the latest single “Ready To Let Go”.

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.