Still Shaking from Shaky Knees

Photos courtesy of Stephenie Heath Cousino of Smiling Eyes Media. Insta film photos courtesy of Daniel Karasek.

Now that some time has passed to process the amazing weekend I had at Shaky Knees, I can confidently say it was the best festival experience I have had this year. It brought me back to the peak days of Music Midtown when it more or less resembled what Shaky Knees is today. The layout was perfect to avoid noise pollution between the two pairs of stages. There was plenty of space where you could choose to be up in the thick of the pit or in the back, stretched out in the grass. The bathrooms all had flushable toilets that were well-maintained throughout the weekend. And we can’t forget how amazing the music was, from up-and-coming bands like Improvement Movement and the Stews to massive acts like Cage the Elephant and My Chemical Romance.

There were moments of magic everywhere I went. I got to see a giant Ozzy costume bopping around the festival with everyone wanting to get a picture beside the legend. There were free samples of cheese and electrolyte beverages all weekend to keep the party going. Families were posted up on blankets while pit-hungry youths stormed forward to touch the rail. The rain stayed away from Piedmont Park but gifted us a rainbow over the main stage on Saturday above TV on the Radio. I ran into Wet Leg getting photos with fans in the crowd. There were at least two weddings that I know of, one at All-American Rejects and one at Lucy Dacus, and at least one proposal at My Chemical Romance. And after reading social posts online about the festival, there were dozens of other moments that gave me FOMO.

I have been attending Shaky Knees on and off since it started, from the Masquerade Music Park (IYKYK) to Atlantic Station to Centennial Olympic Park to Central Park to its new home in Piedmont Park, which seems to be the new permanent location of the festival, according to Tim Sweetwood, the founder of Shaky Knees. Every time the festival has to move, folks tend to complain online to mourn what was and could have been. However, this year those complaints were muffled by the fun times everyone had in Piedmont Park. It was so nice having a fully-connected festival footprint with grass everywhere, opposed to the concrete jungle of Central Park. I do miss having the old shaded Criminal Records stage at the old location, but the new stage location still has shady spots while also offering a huge space to spread out. This was 100% necessary for some of the more hyped acts, such as Joey Valence and Brae, who had a crowd of thousands at their show. And you can’t beat the city view behind the Criminal Records and Ponce stages, where you can spot some of the iconic buildings that make up the downtown Atlanta skyline.

I really hope they keep Shaky Knees in September for 2026. Regardless of when it is, you can rest assured I will be making my way back. I hope to see you in the pit next year!