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Shaky Knees Festival

Shaky Knees Festival at Piedmont Park.

Festival Guide

For current festival dates, event listings, and the latest Creative Loafing guide, see Shaky Knees Festival.

Shaky Knees Festival is one of Atlanta’s best-known music festivals, bringing major touring acts, indie favorites, and a wide range of alternative and rock-leaning artists to the city each year. The current festival takes place at Piedmont Park in Atlanta.

Festival Overview

With more than 60 bands each year, Shaky Knees has built a national reputation for strong curation across indie rock, alternative, punk, and adjacent genres. Since launching in 2013, it has remained one of Atlanta’s marquee destination festivals.

For full schedules and current event details, visit the official festival guide.

Festival History

Shaky Knees Festival began in 2013 in Atlanta and has grown into one of the country’s most recognizable festivals for fans of indie and alternative music. Over the years, it has expanded from a local upstart into a major annual event with national draw, while keeping a strong identity built around carefully curated lineups and a city-centered setting.

Social & Updates

Festival Coverage & Archives

Tim Sweetwood talks Shaky Knees (2013)

05/02/2013 4:00 AM

Masquerade promoter discusses what sets the inaugural two-day music fest apart

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2013 Shaky Knees Music Festival

05/07/2013 12:18 PM

Shaky Knees brought fans out for two days of music in the rain. The persistent downpour did little to dissuade fans from donning their Wellingtons and...

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UPDATE: 2014 Shaky Knees returns with the National, Modest Mouse, Alabama Shakes, and more

01/16/2014 5:03 PM

The three-day fest moves across town to Atlantic Station this week, from May 9-11.

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The Replacements added to Shaky Knees (2014)

02/05/2014 12:14 PM

Minneapolis' alt rock godfathers to play Shaky Knees 2014.

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2014 Shaky Knees grows up

05/06/2014 4:00 AM

Atlanta music festival goes bigger and broader, while staying intimate

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2014 Shaky Knees must-see acts!

05/06/2014 4:00 AM

CL music scribes call out their top 10 weekend picks

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2014 Shaky Knees Music Festival

05/12/2014 3:48 PM

A look back at Shaky Knees 2014. Ace photographer Perry Julien spent the weekend in the pits at this year's Shaky Knees music fest.

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Neutral Milk Hotel, Tame Impala, TV on the Radio, Ryan Adams, and more to play Shaky Knees 2015

01/14/2015 12:00 PM

Advance tickets ($199 general admission/$499 VIP) go on sale at 10 a.m. on Fri., Jan. 16. Single-day general admission and VIP ticket prices coming so...

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2015 Shaky Knees rolls out schedule and festival map

04/14/2015 5:56 PM

Now in its third year Shaky Knees is scheduled to take over Central Park the weekend of May 8-10

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2015 Shaky Knees top 20

05/07/2015 4:00 AM

From Viet Cong to Ryan Adams, CL scribes call out their festival picks

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Shaky Knees founder Tim Sweetwood's rise to the top (2015)

05/07/2015 4:00 AM

How an aspiring Atlanta concert promoter became the biggest thing to hit Atlanta music in decades

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The Dead Milkmen brought a second wind to the 2015 Shaky Knees

05/12/2015 3:13 PM

Philadelphia punk legends the Dead Milkmen shook things up during a weekend of indie rock mainstays.

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2015 Shaky Knees Music Festival

05/15/2015 7:15 PM

What happens when you ask a non-music writer to cover a music festival...

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2016 Shaky Knees announces more bands, daily schedules

02/05/2016 5:05 PM

U.K. shoegazer act Slowdive and more added to Shaky Knees' 2016 lineup.

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Shaky Knees 2016 must-see acts!

05/11/2016 4:00 AM

CL music scribes call out their weekend picks

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2016 Shaky Knees Music Festival

05/17/2016 12:46 PM

Recapping a crazy weekend at Shaky Knees with photos.

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2017 Shaky Knees Music Festival

01/10/2017 4:47 PM

SHAKY KNEES 2017 LINEUP ANNOUNCED - More than 60 bands including LCD Soundsystem, Pixies, the xx and more take over Centennial Olympic park May 12-14

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2018 Shaky Knees returns May 4-6

04/24/2018 1:08 PM

David Byrne, Courtney Barnett, Chicano Batman, and more lead a weekend of music in Central Park

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2018 Shaky Knees Music Festival

05/07/2018 4:00 PM

PHOTOS and Coverage: A Shaky Knees weekend

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2019 Shaky Knees Music Festival

05/16/2019 4:32 AM

Photos: Shaky Knees 2019. Tame Impala, Maggie rogers, Black Lips and more scenes from a Shaky weeend

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2020 Shaky Knees Music Festival

10/16/2020 12:00 PM

The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the pandemic. 

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Shaky Knees 2021

11/01/2021 2:30 AM

Three days and nights of fun and music

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