CityGuide - 11 spots for exploring ATL music’s outer limits
Take an adventurous safari through the nascent and ferocious corners of Atlanta music
Photo credit: Eric Cash
For real, though. Atlanta nightlife is more abundant then ever before. We have promoters falling all over each other to book the best music, the hottest buzz bands, and the money-making jams seven nights a week. But with so many touring acts heating up the competition, it can be easy to overlook the nascent homegrown scene. If you’re willing to take a chance on some locals who might still be learning to stand on their legs, or who are just too ferociously talented for pedestrian ears, here’s your field guide to 11 spots for exploring the outer limits of jazz, electronic music, hip-hop, and indie rock.
529 Bar
In the central East Atlanta spot formerly occupied by retro soul bar the Village, you’ll find 529 — a tiny, smoky space that oozes cool. Despite being the size of a Manhattan apartment, there’s a closed-circuit TV above the bar on which you can watch the band playing on the stage behind you. The fro...
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Apache Cafe
Eclectic venue for hip-hop, spoken-word poetry, and up-and-coming soul artists. Home to Wednesday night jam sessions featuring a live band and open mic for vocalists to join in. Street parking available.
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Drunken Unicorn
The literally underground club features plenty of figuratively underground punk, electro, and hip-hop acts. Although connected to MJQ Concourse, it has a separate entrance. Earplugs suggested.
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Elliott Street Deli & Pub (permanently closed)
This tiny bar in a lovingly renovated old building in Downtown’s Castleberry Hill boasts an authentic neighborhood vibe. Downstairs hosts a variety of low-key jazz, open mic jams, and experimental music nights for the sonically adventurous.
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Eyedrum Art and Music Gallery
UPDATE: The location is Permanently Closed; the Eyedrum organization is still active. - Since its inception in 1998, Eyedrum has been a diverse venue for creative arts and music programming. For years it was ground zero for Atlanta’s underground and avant-garde art and music scenes.
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The Mammal Gallery (permanently closed)
Former Downtown music venue, art space, and burgeoning community center became one of the most exciting additions to South Broad Street. On the nights when the Mammal Gallery hosted a show, the street sprang to life, animated with music and modest crowds of people admiring the colorful murals from u...
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The Star Community Bar
The Star Bar, as it’s known, hosts a regular lineup of rockabilly and hard-rockin’ acts, as well as the city’s best free stand-up on Mondays and, tucked away in an unassuming corner, a hidden shrine to the King of Kings, Elvis Presley, complete with an altar and throne. The Little Five Points instit...
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Union EAV (permanently closed)
Formerly known as Union EAV, this East Atlanta spot hosts local and regional indie-rock bands, live hip-hop, and dance music nights. Budget-conscious imbibers will want to take note that Monday nights feature cheap drink specials and 99-cent entry.
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WonderRoot (permanently closed)
A nonprofit arts and service organization, WonderRoot is a community meeting place, art gallery and event space located on the southern fringes of ATL’s Reynoldstown neighborhood. WonderRoot provides production rooms and workshops, hosts art exhibitions, live performances and concerts, and focuses o...
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