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 3 Wins

The Nude Party:

Yes the band used to perform in the nude at their parties at Appalachian State University in Boone. No they probably won’t perform in the nude at Shaky Knees. Or maybe they will bring that back, who knows. Whether that’s your thing or not, The Nude Party is a band that will give you plenty of reason to get out to the park early on Sunday. Releasing their self titled debut album in 2018 via New West Records, this is a band that will be sure to have the crowds boogying. Steeped in early 60’s psychedelic and blues rock, the band is foot stomping throw back.

Lucy Dacus:

In case you’ve missed it, Lucy Dacus is a rising star, and 2018 sure was her year. After releasing her critically acclaimed debut album No Burden in 2016, the powerful young singer songwriter, released her sophomore album Historian in March of 2018 via Matador Records to almost universal acclaim, landing on almost everyone’s year end lists. Then later in the year, Dacus formed the supergroup boygenius with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers, releasing a self titled EP in October. boygenius was so hugely praised, that it furthered the recognition of the three stunning songwriters as solo artists, and their supergroup. With singles like “Night Shift” that already feel like classics, Lucy Dacus being on this lineup is a huge win for the Shaky Knees audience.

Deerhunter:

Atlanta’s own Deerhunter is one of the highlights of SK19, and one of the Day 3 wins.

Tyler Childers:

While the Shaky Knees lineup isn’t meant exactly for Country music (that was Shaky Boots for a sec), there has always been a big presence of folk and Americana throughout the Shaky history. Luckily Tyler Childers can fit right there with the Americana and the rock ‘n’ roll. Since the success of his 2017 album Purgatory, produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, Childers has seen success on both the Country and Americana charts. And while he will probably be the most country artist at this year’s fest, Childers mix of country, bluegrass, Americana, and more, blends into a modern throwback that is sure to be a hit for all anyone that can appreciate “real country music”.

Phosphorescent:

Phosphorescent has some local ties to the area, making another appearance at Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Music Festival with a great new album. One of the Day 3 wins for sure.

SHAKY KNEES 2019 PREVIEW: Day 3 Wins - Tyler Childers

Maggie Rogers:

Admittedly, it was a huge disappointment that Father John Misty had to cancel after initially being announced on the lineup; that was a big win at the time. Maggie Rogers was the replacement, and while she may not elicit the same excitement for FJM fans, Rogers is a win in her own right. After a viral video of Pharrell Williams listening to Rogers’ song “Alaska” put the folk singer on the map in 2016, Rogers continued combining folk with her love of dance and R&B while releasing singles and an EP. Finally Rogers’ released her much anticipated debut Heard It In A Past Life in January showing a penchant for finely crafted modern pop that’s steeped in the balladry of some of the past greats from the 70’s and 80’s. Now with Maggie Rogers’ pop star rising, she’s sure to be a big hit at the 2019 Shaky Knees Music Festival.

Foals:

Foals has already played Shaky Knees both in 2014 (Atlantic Station) and 2016 (Centennial Park), and they sure are a welcome addition to the 2019 edition. I still remember their set in 2014 during the rain. Epic. Now the band returns in 2019 with their fifth AND sixth studio albums set to be released Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost, Pt. 1 (March 8th) and Pt. 2, set to arrive later in the year. Foals has already released 3 new singles that are sure to be festival hits from their anticipated upcoming album. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Tame Impala:

In the history of Shaky Knees, if there was one set I had to point to as sticking out the most, it would definitely be Tame Impala at Shaky Knees 2015. SK15 also happened to take place at Central Park, as the band closed down the festival that year. What’s crazy is that was just about a month before Currents came out, Tame Impala’s last album. What we knew then was that Tame Impala’s first two psych rock albums, InnerSpeaker and Lonerism were brilliant, and they were insanely good in a live setting. At the time we had gotten hints of the new record and with a few new singles already released; we were are all just hoping to hear another new song. The new singles were brilliant also, with an updated synth sound, and it felt like the whole Shaky Knees crowd danced together during their set.

Now here we are 4 years later waiting on a new Tame Impala album. And even though they haven’t released anything official, they are perhaps even bigger than they were then. Kevin Parker is the main mastermind behind Tame Impala, and since he has worked with the likes of Mark Ronson, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Travis Scott, and many more, becoming a sought after producer.

Nothing has been confirmed about new Tame Impala music, but we do know that Parker has been quoted as saying he would be disappointed if they didn’t have something out by this summer. So perhaps by the time May 5th rolls around, we hopefully will have heard some new Tame Impala music and at least be in a similar situation as 2015. Will Tame Impala return to more of their roots of the first two albums, or more like the last? Or will Parker working with mainstream artists bring out something new in Tame Impala. Time will tell. Will Theophilius London make an appearance who Parker has recently been collaborating with under the Tame Impala name? That would be cool. Either way, Tame Impala is the most anticipated set at the 2019 Shaky Knees, and if the build up and turn out are anything like 2015, well then we are all in for a treat.

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.