Review and Photos by Max Stewart (unless otherwise noted)
Once again in May, thousands of festival attendees in Atlanta had powerful musical memories made possible by Shaky Knees Festival and its mastermind Tim Sweetwood. 2024 marked their 11th year as a festival in Atlanta, and Shaky Knees has cemented itself as one of (if not the most) sought-after festivals to attend in the U.S. to see a uniquely-curated lineup focused on indie rock, with touches of indie pop, punk, and all great things in between. While other festivals get watered down with lineups that try to appeal to everyone, this festival has remained true to its ethos.
As with every year we have attended, there were so many fantastic moments but we have tried to narrow down a few highlights below. We cannot wait to see you again next year!
Royal Blood prove a Powerful, Minimalist technique: The UK’s Royal Blood pack a powerful punch for just a duo. Mike Kerr (Bass, Vocals) and Ben Thatcher (Drums) – two high school friends from England – have created a hard-hitting, melodic sound that is the perfect Rock reaction to the auto-tune era and they thrived in the southern sun on Saturday. Royal Blood have the simplicity, the swagger, the spirited live acumen, and most importantly, the songs that can, as Jimmy Page puts it, “take Rock into a new realm”.
Dinosaur Jr. as the Rain Poured Down: Sometimes a little weather snafu can make for a more memorable experience. When the unexpected torrential downpour on Sunday hit Atlanta just as Dinosaur Jr. took the stage, it proved a lasting (albeit drenched) musical memory for the many in attendance as it added to the intensity of the music being performed. It was a poignant moment seeing Shaky Knees festival founder Tim Sweetwood side stage with his son as the rain began to fall. The band has not lost an ounce of distorted energy either: Bassist Lou Barlow’s bounced around like they were playing tiny club in 1986 and guitarist/vocalist J. Mascis blasted his signature guitar tones in front of not one, but THREE, Marshall double stack amplifiers.
Men I Trust are Cool, Collected in the Sunday Sun: Canada’s Men I Trust were an ideal way to enjoy the Peachtree stage mid-afternoon on Sunday. Led by guitarist and vocalist Emma Proulx, the Canadian trio has a crisp and dreamy pop sound with elements of alt-jazz akin to Mac DeMarco. Perfect for a blanket and a cool beverage on the ATL Central Park lawn, they have a spacey yet grounded live vibe.
Kevin Morby Post-Rain Set, with “His Better Half”: Kevin Morby‘s set began as the rain clouds lifted and all that was left was mud and puddles. This actually made for a satisfying reprieve from the madness and fans were even more locked into his set on the Criminal Records stage, which really peaked with tunes such as “City Music”. Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield sat in for “Bittersweet, TN” after playing the Piedmont stage, in one of the most unexpected collaborations of the weekend.
Aussies Dominate Friday’s Daytime Shows: Australia has a psych-rock movement happening right now, with a number of bands collectively tapping into a the less-traveled indie soundscapes. Friday featured two fantastic sets from a couple of Aussie groups, including Pond and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. These were both prime examples of Shaky Knees booking bands that were likely new discoveries by those unfamiliar, and we hope both bands continue to bring their high-energy shows to the States.
Foo Fighters Honor Taylor Hawkins and Showcase New Drummer Josh Freese: The Foo Fighters have never phoned in a set in their career. Even when it looked like the Sunday headliners performance was in jeopardy due to mother nature, the stalwarts of modern rock provided over two hours of pure elation for the drenched and muddy attendees. Dave Grohl honored his late bandmate Taylor Hawkins with “Aurora”, as many in the crowd had Taylor Hawkins shirts and a few even had ‘hawk’ tattoos. The presence of the band’s newest drummer, Josh Freese, was most certainly felt and shifted the band’s groove in a unique way (double bass kick drums are a nice touch). It will always be sad to see the band without Hawkins, but Freese is by far the best replacement and is already elevating the band’s sound.
Weezer are the masters of Modern Power-Pop Rock: Weezer have long set the standard for the best recipe of catchy rock ‘n’ roll tunes. Rivers Cuomo and his unassuming demeanor make him more laid back than a stereotypical rock star, but when he plugs in alongside his bandmates there is no denying the heavy and infectious songs in their catalog. “My Name is Jonas” opened the set and was one of their strongest of the night alongside “Hash Pipe”, and they even did a cover of Hole’s “Celebrity Skin”. Thanks to Weezer, the sing-alongs and smiles were widespread on Saturday night.
Queens of the Stone Age are in Top Form: Thunderous and captivating, Josh Homme‘s Queens of the Stone Age are an always-mesmerizing live spectacle. The power and tenacity of every groove is pulled together by Homme’s vocal acumen, which ranges from baritone crooning to falsetto peaks. As he lit a cigarette in the Saturday moonlight and smiled at the crowd, we were reminded just how great this band really is. Homme even invented his own way to play guitar: the adjusted scales and minor-leaning sounds he creates were made famous by his appearance on the Guitar Moves show, and the uniqueness of every riff always has a distinct Hommesy quality. With new tunes such as “Emotion Sickness” standing strongly alongside staples such as “No One Knows” and “Little Sister”, QOTSA are still the quintessential cool rock band.
Arcade Fire Shine Brightly on Friday: Arcade Fire‘s live show is an experience in itself. Fully vibrant in terms of the colors and musicality, the band consistently reinvents the way to immerse a large audience into a musical event. Singer and frontman Win Butler led the band through a set that included “Wake Up”, “Everything Now” and “Reflektor”. The faces of the audience and the intensity of energy in the air is a tell-tale sign of a powerful set of music, and there were tears and bright eyes of joy witnessed in the audience throughout Arcade Fire’s set. They even had a late night set on Saturday night at The Masquerade where they played their masterpiece, Funeral, in its entirety.
Billy Idol Celebrates Longtime Guitarist Steve Stevens’ Birthday: Billy Idol is one of those figures in rock that has seemingly not aged and is constantly present in the musical ether. His songs are still in heavy rotation on FM or in movies/commercials, and he is the soundtrack to many who grew up in the Eighties/Nineties (The Wedding Singer anyone?). What was amazing was seeing him still sound in top form live, alongside his excellent guitarist Steve Stevens, who was actually celebrating a birthday. By far the most dancing from Zoomers to Boomers of the festival, a mighty good time was had by all that belted there best versions of “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding” alongside Idol.
Nova Twins Are the Big Discovery of the Weekend: Wow. What a set by Nova Twins in the early afternoon on Sunday, who are led by vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South. Hailing from England, these two are a fiery and fun blend of punk, hip hop, and metal. Seeing them live will make you a fan instantly. They will be opening for Foo Fighters on this Spring tour, and for great reason. This was easily one of the best performers and discoveries of the festival.
Kingfish is the King of the Blues: The newcomer of the blues, Mississippi’s Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram has solidified himself as the real deal and one of the best new guitarists in the scene. He has the quality blues chops that will make any guitar nerd’s head spin, mixed with a commanding and soulful voice. His Sunday set felt like being taken to church, and at one point he actually entered the crowd to showcase his guitar virtuosity in the pit. He will be opening for Vampire Weekend on some dates this summer, and we cannot wait to see his continued ascension.
The festival is such an important part of the cultural fabric of Atlanta, and it is one of the best music festivals in the country for not only seeing your favorites bands but also discovering new artists. Full photo recap below!
