Podcast: Amplify Decatur

Since 2016, the Amplify Decatur Music Festival has grown to become an institution for the Downtown Decatur Square. The festival is the flagship event for Amplify My Community, a non-profit organization and concert production company that works with Decatur Cooperative Ministries, and dedicates every dollar it raises to fighting poverty.

This year, Amplify Decatur returns Saturday, April 13, with a lineup featuring performances by Mavis Staples of the Staples Singers, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin, Julien Baker, and the Bitterroots. For this installment of the Creative Loafing music podcast, Jon Waterhouse stopped by Short Notice Studio to talk about his work as Amplify Decatur’s Media Relations Manager via Lenz Marketing, and his presence as the festival’s Master of Ceremonies.

Waterhouse has a long and storied history in Atlanta’s media circles. He managed rock ‘n’ roll gods Van Halen when they reunited with Diamond Dave for a spell. He also worked on professional wrestler Dusty Rhodes’ production team, and served as a freelance arts and music journalist for everyone from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to CL, all while managing various other endeavors over the years. He has a passion for pop culture staples from Star Wars to Sid and Marty Krofft, and for this interview, Waterhouse talks about everything that’s in store with this year’s Amplify Decatur Music Festival, while revealing a bit of his own story as well. Press play! 

The Amplify Decatur Music Festival returns to the Downtown Decatur Square on Saturday, April 13. $50-$249.50. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are on slae now.