(AthFest) AthFest is the annual arts and music festival held each June in historic downtown Athens, GA, a town long renowned for its thriving music scene. For the past 12 years, AthFest has showcased the best in local, regional, and nationally recognized Athens-based talent. AthFest 2009 is proud to announce this year's headlining artists and the "opening" band for the headliner each night. On Friday, June 26th at 9:00 PM, the main stage will feature Vice Records recording artists THE BLACK LIPS, a self-described "flower punk" band from Atlanta known for their frenzied live shows. Their most current release 200 Million Thousand is receiving accolades from the music press around the world! DEAD CONFEDERATE, a band revered for their southern, psychedelic yet melodic rock, will co-headline the night performing at 7:50 PM. They recently performed on Late Night With Conan O'Brien.
On Saturday, June 27th at 9:00 PM, the main stage will feature PATTERSON HOOD & THE SCREWTOPIANS. The all-star line-up includes Drive By-Trucker's Patterson Hood, John Neff, and Brad Morgan; Centro-Matic's Will Johnson and Scott Danbom; and David Barbe (Sugar). BLOODKIN, whose new CD They Told Us We Would Rise Again was called "hypnotic" in Rolling Stone Magazine, will open.
Closing out the festival on Sunday, June 28th at 7:00 PM will be RANDALL BRAMBLETT BAND. This legendary Athens musician has performed and/or recorded with Steve Winwood, The Allman Bros. Band, and Widespread Panic, just to name a few. He recently released his 7th solo album Now It's Tomorrow on New West Records. Athens legends DREAMS SO REAL will open, marking their first performance in over 10 years. The trio was signed to Arista Records and released Rough Night in Jericho in 1988. The title track charted on Billboard and received heavy play on MTV.
Over 175 bands and artists will perform over the course of festival, which will be held June 25-28, 2009. All performances on the two outdoor stages are open to all ages and are free of charge to the public. The evening's "club crawl" takes place on the Friday and Saturday nights of the festival. Wristbands may be purchased for $15.00 in advance or for $20.00 at the festival that will give patrons entrance to close to 20 music venues (venue age restrictions apply).
