Music is a vital part of Atlanta culture and has brought tons of visibility to the city. For decades, Atlanta artists have been dominating the music industry. Including well-known R&B, hip-hop, and soul artists, such as Latto, Ciara, Summer Walker, Future, Outkast, Childish Gambino, T.I., Migos, and many, many more artists.
“If there’s any way that we are going to communicate with each other universal-wise,” says Robert “RAab” Stevenson Jr, an Atlanta vocal coach, singer, producer, and artist developer.
“Music is our universal language. It really is. You know, you may not know the words, but you’ll pick up the melody and groove to the beat faster than you would, understanding what the language is first and foremost. Music also brings us together,” says Stevenson, pointing out that music not only builds community, but can be used to express the messages of political movements. Songs like NWA’s “Fight the Power” and Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke” are, to Stevenson, examples of the power of music. “And, depending on the artist or their artistry, it can unite a whole community of people, He says.”
Khyree Philmore, 14, has been an honor orchestra student in every district he has ever played in. When asked about the significance of Atlanta’s music culture, he said, “I believe the music of Atlanta is so important because it’s so diverse and it’s music for different people.” Khyree was never really interested in music until he picked up and started playing the guitar for the first time. “I listen to music more often now.”
Atlanta’s musical influence isn’t restricted to streaming platforms and playlists, but it also attracts tourists from all over to the city. According to Georgia Trend Magazine, “The bottom lines of many restaurants, hotels, bars, retailers and small businesses depend on this industry.” When tourists visit Atlanta for a concert or music festival, smaller businesses, restaurants, hotels, and transportation services benefit from the foot traffic generated by the visitors, thereby boosting the local economy.
Here are five major Atlanta music festivals and the impact they’ve had on the city.
ONE Musicfest
Founded by Jason “J” Carter in 2010, ONE Musicfest has been bringing millions of dollars and thousands of tourists and acts to the city each fall. Last year marked the festival’s fifteenth anniversary, and the lineup boasted huge names like Cardi B, Gunna, Jill Scott, Victoria Monét, and the legendary R&B group, Earth, Wind & Fire. This year’s festival will be held at Piedmont Park, and although the list of performers hasn’t dropped yet, it’s certain to be great.
Music Midtown
Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon, the founders of Music Midtown, sought to create an Atlanta event that blended elements of New Orleans Jazz with a heritage festival, offering a diverse range of activities including arts and crafts, music, and dancing. Anything that shows culture.
According to 11Alive, behind-the-scenes concerns about Georgia’s 2014 “safe carry protection act” (referred to by some as the “guns everywhere” act) led the Music Midtown organizers to cancel the 2022 festival just a few weeks before it was scheduled to begin. As of right now, we don’t know when or if the festival will return, but fans are hopeful.
Atlanta Jazz Festival
Designed for jazz enthusiasts worldwide, the Atlanta Jazz Festival was established in 1978 by Mayor Maynard Jackson. Jackson wanted jazz to be a highlighted part of the city. According to the festival’s website, it was originally called “The Atlanta Free Jazz Festival” and was “representative of a commitment to ensure that everyone who resides in and visits Atlanta will have easy access to high-quality cultural experiences.” So he created the Atlanta Jazz Festival for free!
This year, the city held the jazz festival for the 48th year in a row over Memorial Day weekend. It was expected to bring in over 200,000 concertgoers from across several states, with artists like Marsha Ambrosius, bass player Derrick Hodge, Aneesa Strings, Khari Cabral, and several others performing.
OYE FEST
OYE FEST is a Latinx art celebration and music festival, created by two Atlanta natives, Margarita Rios and Randall Ruiz. It is a celebration for Latin artists who come from Atlanta. According to 11Alive, “Their vision for Oye Fest goes beyond nostalgia. The dynamic duo aims to dispel stereotypes and show that Latin music and art encompass a rich tapestry of diverse styles and genres. And for them, location matters.”
Ruiz was also inspired by a Latin festival held at Underground Atlanta that his parents took him to as a child, and sought to create a “historic, nostalgic vibe” with OYE fest, but the duo also wanted to quench their thirst for more representation in the city’s music and arts scene.
Especially in this city, where it feels like there isn’t enough events curated for Latinos by Latinos,” Rios said. “It’s super important to showcase the ones that are happening.”’
Shaky Knees Festival
The Shaky Knees Festival was founded in 2013 by Tim Sweetwood. Sweetwood got the name from a song by My Morning Jacket, one of his favorite bands. “I wanted something that wasn’t ‘The Old Fourth Ward Music Festival.’ It was just a cool lyric from my favorite band that was inspirational,” he told Atlanta Magazine.
According to Music Daily, “Shaky Knees started as a small but mighty festival dedicated to alternative and indie rock—a refreshing departure from EDM festival trends.” It has expanded significantly over the years, going from two days to three, and becoming one of the leading rock festivals in the country with lineups featuring performers like The Strokes, The Killers, The Lumineers, The Foo Fighters, The Deftones, My Chemical Romance, The Smashing Pumpkins – the list could honestly go on for awhile.
