The time is getting closer and closer for Shaky Knees Festival. We’re jamming our playlist. We’re making our schedules. Festival excitement is in full-swing. We can’t wait to explore so much great music in Atlanta next month!
If you haven’t had time to explore the depths of the Shaky Knees lineup yet, don’t worry. We’re sharing our must-see performances to give you a little inspiration.
Don’t see your favorite on the list? Let us know who we’re missing!
Tame Impala
Tame Impala IS Kevin Parker. The Aussie producer and singer started playing small clubs in early 2010. Now, his albums are Grammy nominated, his shows are transcendent, and his recently released singles have fans chomping at the bit for more new music.
His 2015 release Currents was a jazzy masterpeice of technicolor psychedelia. Since then, Parker has been relatively quiet. In the interim, he’s helped on production with big artists like Lady Gaga, SZA, Miguel and Kali Uchis. But his own music has seen a light hiatus. New singles and festival appearances means hungry listeners will soon have a fresh batch of Tame Impala tracks to indulge in.
His Sunday night headlining performance at Shaky Knees is definitely on the top of our list.
Watch Tame Impala perform their latest single on SNL:
Tash Sultana
This one-woman powerhouse began by recording homemade performance videos on a Go-Pro. Since then, her contagiously energetic shows sell out major shows across the country.
Her first full-length album just came out last year and she’s already topped the iTunes charts in multiple countries. Apparently, her live show has to be seen to be believed. We at River Beats personally can’t wait.
Check her out Friday night at Shaky Knees starting at 5:25PM.
Watch Tash Sultana’s Tiny Desk Concert:
Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten has a folk style that’s coated in dark synth-rock. Her career has been years in the making, and she has the songwriting chops to prove it. She spent time studying recording and writing songs while working in a coffee shop/record store in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She began performing in small public spaces and handing out hand-painted CDs after moving to Brooklyn a few years later.
After signing to Jagjaguwar Records, she began putting out music in 2010. Her latest album Remind Me Tomorrow came out this year to huge acclaim, and her mega-hit single “Every Time the Sun Comes Up” is sure to get a crowd singalong during her performance.
Check her out on Friday at 3:40PM at Shaky Knees.
Oh Sees
The San Francisco alt-rock group has a long-standing performance history in our River Beats hometown of New Orleans. The best way we can describe their performance is “sweat drenched.”
Be prepared for unhinged, punk rock. Although chaotic they’re still surprisingly tight as musicians. Take outrageous guitar licks and drum solos, run it through a blender with razor blades, and shoot it full of “sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll” energy.
Think you can handle it? They play Friday night at 6:25 p.m..
Check out their 2012 music video for “Lupine Dominus”
Gary Clark Jr.
Compared to non-other than Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Texan guitar player is blazing a trail for himself. His mix of powerful blues, soul, and hip-hop earns him the title of one of the most talented live performers in the current blues scene.
He’s opened for none other than the Rolling Stones and the Foo Fighters, and was selected by Eric Clapton to perform at the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Five albums later and we can’t wait to catch our first glimpse of his legendary performance.
Get ready to rock Saturday night at 8:30 with Gary Clark Jr.
Watch his performance of the Beatles’ legendary “Come Together.”
Get more information on the full shaky knees lineup and buy your tickets here.
Featured image via Tame Impala Facebook page.