You might want to plan your next trip to Atlanta during their popular indie music festival for a unique vacation experience.
If you love live entertainment, you won’t want to miss this iconic event in Georgia.
And we have all the details you need to decide if you’d enjoy a trip out to Shaky Knees in May.
Let’s jam!
About The Shaky Knees Music Festival
Tim Sweetwood founded Shaky Knees in 2013, giving Atlanta its first indie music festival. The city already hosted other events like Sweetwater 420 Fest and Music Midtown, but those don’t focus on the same genre.
Shaky Knees features three days of indie artists playing in Central Park. Popular groups like Muse and The Lumineers headline this festival, and over sixty bands will play throughout the weekend. You’ll surely find a band you love on the lineup, from up-and-coming artists to well-known ones.
Nearly 40,000 attendees gather in the park each day for the event. Visitors choose from different ticket options. The cheapest option, general admission, gets you into the festival to see the music.
VIP ticket holders, though, have special access to lounges with complimentary refreshments. Those who want the ultimate experience buy platinum tickets with exclusive performances, free gifts, and preferred viewing spaces.
Where Is The Shaky Knees Music Festival?
Atlanta’s Central Park can be found in the Old Fourth Ward of the city. You’ll see great views of the town’s skyline from this 17-acre outdoor space. In fact, tourists and locals enjoy visiting the park year-round to use its facilities, including tennis courts and a recreation center.
Central Park’s location makes it easy to get just about anywhere. You’ll find shops, restaurants, and even other nearby recreation areas. Its ample space and central location make it an ideal place to host Shaky Knees Music Festival.
Who Is Playing At The Shaky Knees Music Festival?
This music festival will feature over 60 indie artists on three stages throughout the weekend. The three-day event brings big headliners to town and also gives up-and-coming bands a chance to perform for large crowds.
In 2023, The Killers will headline on Friday, Muse will play on Saturday, and The Lumineers will close the festival Sunday night. Other bands you may have heard of that will perform this year include the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Hozier, and Tenacious D.
Festivals can be the perfect place to check out new music. Even if you haven’t heard of bands like Arlie playing at the Ponce de Leon stage on Friday at 1:30, you might swing by to see if you discover your new favorite group.
Cool Things To Do While You’re in Atlanta for the Music Festival
Atlanta has plenty of other attractions to check out once you’ve gotten your fill of festival-going. We listed a couple of our favorite spots below, but this big city has a lot of other things to do too.
Georgia Aquarium
After spending time in the sun listening to your favorite bands, you’ll probably be ready to relax inside. We can’t imagine a more relaxing indoor activity than watching your favorite sea creatures.
The Georgia Aquarium, located less than two miles from Central Park, has over 70 habitats. Some of their most exciting exhibitions feature beluga whales and whale sharks. Visitors highly recommend checking out the dolphin show or sea lion demonstration.
Ticket prices to the aquarium vary up to $50. Check online for exact pricing. You can save a few bucks by purchasing them ahead of time on their website. Consider buying Atlanta’s CityPASS to save some cash if you visit other attractions like the zoo and World of Coca-Cola.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
If you haven’t gotten your fill of spending time outside, consider heading to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. This attraction can be found just two miles north of Central Park. Most visitors spend about two hours exploring the thirty acres of gardens. Complimentary wheelchairs can be made available for guest use as needed.
Highlights of the Botanical Garden include the Fuqua Orchid Center, the most extensive orchid garden in the U.S., and a canopy walk. The 600-foot suspended walkway called the Kendeda Canopy Walk hangs 40 feet above the ground giving visitors a unique perspective on the urban forest.
You should purchase your tickets in advance to guarantee entry to the gardens. You can buy walk-up tickets if they haven’t sold out already. Depending on your age and the day you visit, prices range from free to about $35.
Best Places to Stay Near The Shaky Knees Music Festival
Everyone likes to travel a bit differently. Whether you prefer to camp or stay in a quaint, local bed and breakfast, Atlanta has excellent options.
Atlanta Marietta RV Resort Park
About 15 miles north of Atlanta, you’ll find the Marietta RV Resort. They offer sites by the day or by the week, but reservations fill up quickly during popular times. If their website doesn’t show any sites available, consider calling the park to double-check.
The resort offers flat, paved parking spots and hookups for water, sewer, and electricity, making it an easy place to camp. They even have free wifi for anyone looking to get some work done. You’ll have to back into all their sites as they don’t offer pull-through spots.
Sugar Magnolia Bed & Breakfast
If you’d rather stay a bit closer to the festival, check out the Sugar Magnolia Bed & Breakfast. These accommodations, just two miles from Central Park, will get you there in under ten minutes. You’ll want to check their website for vaccination requirements before booking a room here.
This quaint boutique hotel has a lot of character. Each of the four rooms has a unique and charming theme, including the bird-themed accommodation called the aviary. This bed and breakfast’s central location makes it easy for guests to get almost anywhere in the city. Book early because Sugar Magnolia almost always sells out.
The Darwin Hotel
This hotel has 111 rooms and has tried to make each one slightly different. Forget sleeping in boring chain motels with the same big box furniture no matter which city you visit, and consider staying at this charming spot instead.
In addition to its unique rooms, the lobby of The Darwin Hotel features works by local artists. During your downtime, you can grab a cocktail or a coffee at the hotel’s highly-rated restaurant. You’ll even be able to walk to Central Park in under five minutes from this accommodation.
Is a Shaky Knees Music Festival Road Trip Worth It?
Music lovers should definitely consider a road trip to this Atlanta music festival. Shaky Knees brings a wide variety of artists, some of which you may have heard of, and you’ll certainly find something to enjoy. You may even find your new favorite band!
Best of all, we think the city of Atlanta can be a fun place to visit. There’s always something to do in the area, and the city’s unique character should be experienced.
Have you been to the Shaky Knees Music Festival? Let us know about it in the comments!