As we lead into my most anticipated Georgia festival, infinitely more so that I’ve been robbed of all gratifying festival experiences for years now, I am ecstatic to share with you the many acts I will be spiritually bracing as the moments inch closer to Shaky Knees.
Although not able to supplement a far more groundbreaking pre-pandemic lineup, Shaky Knees is nevertheless widely and eagerly anticipated by most, if not all, indie Georgians alike. It’s projected to be the ultimate make-up fest to compensate for all recent failures, although I do advise all attendees (both now and forever) to keep their high hopes at bay, as we still attempt to recover from the live music abyss.
I feel strongly about careful creation of festival schedules, not only because I love living by them through the weekend, it’s also how I get my friends to the same sets in time. So let’s dive in friends, and I’ll see you there!:
Friday, October 22nd.
12-12:45 – Glove
Allow your first performance at Shaky to be one that transports you. Glove are a funky, Tampan four-piece that sport a groovy union between dance-rock, 90s post-punk, & new wave. They’re a nostalgic glimpse at a distant music era’s past, and simultaneously future-driven techno. All of Glove’s releases so far are mindlessly danceable, making their set perfect to kick off the rest of the magic that is Shaky Knees weekend.
2:15-3:00 – White Reaper
You haven’t heard about White Reaper yet? They’re only The World’s Best American Band, no big deal. White Reaper are a modern rock staple, and effortless revivers of power punk and garage rock. They’ve earned the right to flaunt their vintage band persona, with three delicious studio rock albums under their belt. Not only are they an objectively phenomenal and seasoned band, they’ve been one of my top anticipated act for years now. Check out the time Vinyl got to document these guys’ Sasquatch moments via film disposables!
3:45-4:45 – Cults
A mid-day trance welcomes you in the Cults crowd. Cults’ twinkling experimental indie pop is an ideal cool-down set after some White Reaper carnage.
5:45-6:45 – Ty Segall & The Freedom Band
Swinging back into the knee-shaking, head-banging, mosh material that brings me back to this festival every year, Ty Segall’s set will be a definite one to remember, as all of his past and current projects have been. I’m infinitely ready to experience this fuzz god in all of his glory.
6:45-7:45 – Black Pistol Fire
Black Pistol Fire are the explosive, blues-rock moment that is quintessential to the energy of Shaky Knees. Channeling an arena-rock sound that is signature to any indie festival, you won’t want to miss the discernible spirit of their set.
Saturday, October 23rd.
1:45-2:30 – Geese
I’m psyched to see Brooklyn-based Geese make one of their debut performances this weekend. As a young band with implosive potential in the realms of psychedelic and punk, they were readily signed to renowned indie label Partisan Records, joining britpunk favs IDLES and Fountaines D.C. And it’s no mystery why. With only a few released singles and a plethora of unreleased music under their belt, Geese have rightfully earned considerable buzz in NY’s underground scene.
2:30-3:15 – Arlo Parks
Parks is acclaimed for her laid-back, relatable, charismatic nature; present in her lyrics, in every note of her songs, and in her charming musical persona. She combines lo-fi bedroom pop with up-lifting, crisp hip-hop sounds, creating an incredibly graceful and immersive style of music. Your weekend won’t be complete without giving due praise to this London-based poet mid-day Sat.
5:45-6:45 – Garbage
Shake-up your Shaky schedule by catching 90s experimental rock novelties, Garbage. I’m not alone in my excitement to find that Garbage has made an epic return over the last year with the release of new record, No Gods No Masters. Garbage began as grunge game-changers, and have since blossomed between varying influences of electronic, hip-hop, and arena rock, now returning with a vengeance to embody their myriad of musical quirks.
6:45-7:45 – The Hives
I was both ecstatic and surprised to find these iconic 2000’s Swede rockers on the bill for this year. Known for their otherworldly live performances, The Hives are an act you may not have the opportunity to catch again any time soon. I already feel grateful and thrilled to watch these raucous Swedes perform on Saturday evening.
8:45-9:45 – IDLES
I’m stoked to welcome Shaky second-timers, IDLES—the pinnacle of Brit-punk angst—back to the stage this year. Their 2019 set consisted of a raging, non-stop mosh, start to finish. So, if you enjoy hard-hitting, belligerent, and heavily British punk, IDLES is the act for you. Warning: bodies may very well be thrown.
Sunday, October 24th.
4:30-5:30 – Orville Peck
How could you even bring yourself to miss this groundbreaking, majestic cowboy once finding out they exist? An anomaly to the country music world as we’ve always known it, Orville Peck has been envisioned as an abstract dream for months now, and as the days lead closer to their performance, I must recurrently pinch myself awake. A genuine mystery box famously labeled as “The Masked Cowboy”, Orville Peck’s voice alone is enough to shake the world of country down to its core, all besides the magnetic charisma, the flamboyance, and the iconic mask + outfit combos.
6:30-7:30 – Black Midi
Nearly wrapping up the weekend are British post-prog + punk fusion crusaders, Black Midi. A project whose sound is pretty impossible to describe in simplistic musical terms, Black Midi are quite the avantgarde-ers of our time. They’ve complicated and experimented the genres of post-punk and progressive rock into an unforeseen oblivion, meshing together art rock, prog/math rock, jazz, noise, in a massive, fiery, non-conforming cauldron. Lest I say Black Midi are an impeccable delight to catch on the last ‘eve of Shaky.
7:30-8:30 – All Them Witches
All Them Witches have taken psychedelic and stoner rock to an entirely new level of prowess, and passion. Since their formation 8 years ago, they’ve released six full-length studio albums, each bursting with unceasing momentum, through which we’ve discovered an incredible fervor for psychedelia, prog metal, and classic psych rock. I don’t know about you, but I’m already bracing the excellence of them witches. All of them.
8:30-10:30 – The Strokes <3
Not only does it feel like I’ve waited my entire life, in both the conscious and subconscious realms of existence, to finally revel in The Strokes live—it also feels like I waited a past life or two. Unparalleled in the history of band fall-outs and re-formations have we witnessed such a transformative, invigorating reunion. One that had the power to restore broken spirits, mend insoluble heartache, heal deep emotional wounds, right all wrongs, and salvage the nearly-forgotten feelings of ecstasy one only knows to be true when listening to their favorite band knowing they’re still out there rockin’. If you, too, feel like you’ve been eternally preparing for the moment you see these dudes do their thing on stage, I’ll catch you in (or on top of) the crowd, Sunday night at Peachtree. May The Strokes live on, quite literally, forever.
See you this weekend.
