Shaky Knees Music Festival kicks off their 2021 fest this Friday in Atlanta’s Central Park!!! We all know the headliners – Foo Fighters, Run The Jewels, and The Strokes, but there is always a lot more to this festival than the big names. Shaky Knees has always been a great place to discover new up and coming artists, and today we present The Undercards – 10 Under The Radar Artists to Catch at Shaky Knees 2021!
Admittedly, these days I’m not even sure what “Under The Radar” is. How do you measure that? Have my friends heard of <insert weird indie rock band name here>? Probably not. How many social media follows do they have? Oh millions of followers? But I don’t know a single person in my indie rock bubble, nor anyone else that has heard of them. Oh they are getting millions of monthly streams on Spotify? Again, never heard of them and don’t know anyone that has. Or maybe they are getting tons of critical acclaim! But then I look at their socials and streams, and they have maybe 5k follows, and if they are lucky 50,000 streams. Perhaps radio is still the all out measuring stick these days (is radio still a thing?), which means, yeah, I probably don’t listen to them. So I really don’t know anymore.
The good thing about Shaky Knees, despite getting seemingly bigger every year with especially big time headliners this year, there is always new artists to discover that may just be your next favorite artist. We searched through the smaller print on the SK21 poster and picked 10 “Under The Radar” artists you probably aren’t going to want to not miss this weekend. Some of these artists are legit still very much up and coming, while a few we hope you DO in fact already know about. But if you aren’t as familiar as us with the lineup much past the headliners, let’s not forget about artists not included below that maybe you didn’t know already that seem obvious much catch sets to us – like St. Vincent, Ty Segall, Mac Demarco, White Reaper, Arlo Parks, Cloud Nothings, Idles, Tennis, Delta Spirit, Orville Peck, Phoebe Bridgers, All Them Witches. It’s going to be great weekend!
Presenting Shaky Knees 2021: The Undercard – 10 Under The Radar Artists to Catch
THE ALIVE
Friday, 1:30pm-2:15pm – Criminal Records Stage & Saturday, 1:45pm-2:30pm – Piedmont Stage
The Alive is a California-based young rock band that’s ready to give Shaky Knees a double dose of their big sprawling rock influenced by bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath, The Meters, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Rush and more of the classics. But don’t let their young ages fool you, guitarist/vocalist Bastian Evans is 16 and joined by brothers Kai & Manoa Neukermans who are ages 17 and 13 on drums and bass, there’s some experience despite their age. These kids have been in other bands with a previous iteration being The Helmets, who gained some buzz alongside their former bandmate, Tye Trujilo, the 10-year-old (at the time) son of Metallica’s Robert Trujillo. Tye eventually became a touring member of Korn, and the band part ways with their singer at the time and regrouped as The Alive. The Alive has already performed at Lollapalooza Chile, Bottle Rock and other big fests and shows, and now with a few singles out in the world, these young bucks are ready to slay the Shaky Knees stages.
FRANKIE & THE WITCH FINGERS
Friday, 2:15pm-3:00pm – Ponce De Leon Stage
LA-based psych rockers Frankie & The Witch Fingers are probably the most veteran band on this list having released six studio albums. While they have certainly have built up their following over the years, they still are falling a little under the radar on this lineup and they play early Friday against another sure to be explosive set from White Reaper. But don’t sleep on Frankie & The Witch Fingers, this is going to be an absolutely face melting set under the cover of the Ponce stage. Based in 60’s psychedelia, the band has hit on all levels of the genre over their career, combining everything from soul, funk, and garage into a set that’s fuzzed out bliss one moment, then a mind-bending acid trip the next. But mostly they are going to rock your body for what should one of the most hype sets all weekend. This is going to be a good one folks.
GEESE
Saturday, 1:45pm-2:30pm – Ponce De Leon Stage
Looking for that one band down in the little font on the SK poster who’s early set you will probably regret missing in a few years when you inevitably realize your favorite band has already previously played Shaky Knees; well that band is probably going to be Brooklyn-based Geese. When the 2021 Shaky Knees lineup was officially announced, Geese had yet to officially release a single (though an EP and album did exist out there somewhere); yet the hype was already starting to build. And when Stereogum named them a Band To Watch back in August, this group of recent high school graduates had still played less than 10 shows (no doubt the pandemic played a part) ever, yet the buzz is already raging for Geese
Now with three singles released so far ahead of their debut album Projector, due out October 29th via Partisan Records (and a recently announced 2022 World Tour), Shaky Knees fans get a chance to catch the band very early on in their young career and see what the hype is all about. Drawing influences and comparisons to everyone from The Strokes, Radiohead, Television, Yes, Squid, Deerhunter, and more, Geese have honed in on their own sound that won’t let them be pinned down in one area, and with two guitarists, expect a dynamic and mesmerizing set that will have the crowd dancing while reveling in the band’s cathartic chaos. Another score of a booking by Tim Sweetwood, and gift for the early risers at SK21, don’t miss this set.
NEAL FRANCIS
Saturday, 3:15pm-4:00pm – Piedmont Stage
Set to release his sophomore album, In Plain Sight, on November 5th via ATO Records, Chicago-based singer-songwriter-guitarist-pianist Neal Francis is ready to get the Shaky Knees crowd grooving. While Neal Francis’ debut album in 2019 landed on plenty of year-end lists pushed by a New Orleans R&B sound that’s harkens back to the 70’s, when the first single from the new album, “Can’t Stop The Rain” arrived in August featuring Derek Trucks on the guitar, it’s as if Neal Francis was officially announcing his arrival as the next big thing. Expect Neal Francis and his band to provide a funky out of this world experience that will have the SK audience reveling in the afternoon sun.
SUKI WATERHOUSE
Saturday, 5:45pm-6:45pm – Criminal Records Stage
Can someone with 2.1 million Instagram followers really be considered under the radar? In the case of London model and actress Suki Waterhouse, for now, yes, as the world realizes she is a damn good musician and songwriter also. With a lofi, dream pop sound, Waterhouse has recently signed with legendary indie label Sub Pop, releasing her debut single for the label, “Moves”, while announcing a full length album set to be released on the label in 2022. If you are looking dreamy sounds meant to get lost in, Suki Waterhouse is sure to have the SK crowd swaying in the golden sun.
LUNAR VACATION
Saturday, 7:45pm-8:45pm – Criminal Records Stage
It’s nice to see a homegrown young Atlanta band on the Shaky Knees lineup. It’s also really nice to see a young Atlanta indie rock band with some real buzz leading up to their debut album that extends way beyond the 285 perimeter. And for good reason. Originally slated to perform in 2020 at Shaky Knees behind two dreamy EPs, the band is now out of high school and ready to show the world who Lunar Vacation really is. While it was those early EPs that organically caught the ears of a growing fan-base (and millions of streams), plus a friendship and sold out tour dates with Finn Wolfhard’s (Stranger Things) old band Calpurnia, Lunar Vacation’s debut album, Every Fig Is a Dead Wasp (set for release the Friday after SK, October 29th via Keeled Scales) shows a band coming into it’s own based on the singles released so far. No longer just a lofi bedroom pop band, Lunar Vacation has honed in on their sound built around Grace Repasky and Maggie Geeslin’s vocals and lyrics. The songs are relatable, yet more mature, and yes, still dreamy; they just aren’t forcing that dreamy narrative anymore, instead letting the band’s full talents guide the songs. Plus this band likes to have fun, trust us. You don’t want to miss this set.
BARTEES STRANGE
Sunday, 12:30pm-1:15pm – Piedmont Stage
Bartees Strange playing the opening set Sunday after the Songs For Kids daily kickoff is reason enough to get going early for what should be a rollicking set. Don’t let the early timeslot full you, Bartees Strange is the new age of indie rock, and you don’t want to miss this one. Releasing his debut album, Live Forever, in 2020, Bartees Strange has earned plenty of buzz by melding a myriad of influences from the likes of his opera singer mother, his time in punk, hardcore, and Midwestern Emo scenes, his love of funk, jazz, hip hop, soul, and country music, and of course his affection for indie rock like TV on the Radio, Bloc Party, Bon Iver, Burial and more. And he somehow does it seamlessly creating a sound that’s uniquely his and feels like a peak into the future of music. Live Forever is a journey that won’t let you settle into just one groove, instead it’s a journey with Bartees Strange and based on the just released live album Live at Studio 4, this is looking like a can’t miss set at Shaky Knees.
LOWERTOWN
Sunday, 1:15pm-2:00pm – Criminal Records Stage
Another Atlanta band! This young lofi indie pop duo who started out as teenagers have already released their sophomore album, The Gaping Mouth, in September via Dirty Hit. Taking inspiration from Alex G, Elliot Smith, Radiohead, Animal Collective, The Microphones, Aphex Twin, and others, the duo combines their electronic influences with an earnest folky sound with narrative driven lyrics. For a band who’s seemingly figured out the internet (41K+ IG followers) already, and started building up their fanbase, Lowertown is ready to hit the big stage of Shaky Knees as the buzz continues to rise while they deliver a melancholic experience.
JOY OLADOKUN
Sunday, 1:15pm-2:00pm – Peachtree Stage
Joy Oladokun is a singer-songwriter who’s star is on the rise. The Nashville-based artist’s latest album and major label debut, in defense of my own happiness, has been named one of the best albums of 2021 so far by Rolling Stone and gotten plenty of other accolades for the piercing songwriting. There is pain, passion, and power within her music, it’s sad, it’s uplifting, it’s beautiful. Being a black, queer woman and first-generation child of Nigerian immigrants, Joy Oladokun brings her own unique perspective to the world that’s deep and relatable. She’s a new kind of American Troubadour. There’s no doubt this will be one of those stop you dead in your tracks sets at Shaky Knees. You know the kind I’m talking about. Be there early Sunday.
BLACK MIDI
Sunday, 6:30pm-7:30pm – Criminal Records Stage
One of the most critically-acclaimed bands on our list, black midi is coming from across the pond with now two albums that have been universally praised including their 2021 album, Cavalcade, released May 26th via Rough Trade. They are also probably one of the weirdest bands (sound wise) with abrasive noise rock, perhaps why despite the critical acclaim, they still fall on the somewhat under the radar list. Though despite black midi’s set being at the same time as Modest Mouse, there are plenty of MM fans who plan to skip that set for a little midi if that tells you anything. So they aren’t that far under the radar. Either way, if you are looking for a band that’s ready to totally flex on the Shaky Knees Festival when it comes to musicianship, look no further than black midi. It’s probably going to be an insane sight to see. I for one, and ready to see what all the fuss is about. Epic I expect.
*There has been plenty of changes to the Shaky Knees 2021 Schedule throughout this whole process, including this week (hello 2021), so check out the updated (and hopefully final) daily schedule below:
