Athfest 2012: EoA's Guide to Athfest: Awards show tonight!

Ever been to the Grammys? Probably not, right? Well, don't miss your chance to be a part of Athens' own ridiculous version of the Grammys, the Flagpole Athens Music Awards! Here's your chance to don some classy attire (or really anything hanging in your closet that you've always wanted a chance to wear, be it a bloodstained t-shirt or a glittery banana hammock - hey, it's been done!) and make some bets on which bands will go home with the coveted Flagpole statuette. Plus you'll also get to catch short sets from fun indie rockers Grass Giraffes, melodic tune innovator the Viking Progress, electronic orchestral genius Kishi Bashi, and many more! All you need to do is get yourself to the Morton Theatre tonight at 7:30 PM with $5 in hand ($10 if you haven't got a wristband). You'll even be able to pick up your wristbands right outside the venue if you signed up for the Will Call option online.

Trust me, you won't want to miss out on a second of the insanity that is the Flagpole Athens Music Awards!

And, if you haven't already, be sure to follow Echoreyn of Athens on Twitter for up-to-the-minute details on the award winners and all of the Athfest excitement! Also, you can 'like' us on Facebook for even more info about all the bands we'll catch at Athfest. Feel free to check out our YouTube channel after the festival ends for some rockin' videos of live performances and the annual Echoreyn of Athens Athfest Video Diary as well.

See you at Athfest, my friends! And, hey, if you happen to spot me downtown, don't hesitate to say hello. Don't be a stranger! :) Oh wow, this is going to be so awesome. Athfest 2012, here we come!

Athfest 2012: EoA's Guide to Athfest: Kristen's Concert Picks

Ever since my very first Athfest years ago, I've thrown myself ears first into the massive list of bands playing the festival to narrow down a schedule of sets to see. However, when confronted with a lineup of nearly 200 bands, I hardly expect anyone else to be as insane as I am. That's why, this year once again, I'm giving you a list of tried and true favorites that you've just got to catch live if you haven't seen them yet.

Thurs, June 21:

Flagpole Athens Music Awards @ 7:30 PM @ Morton Theater

For me, Athfest always begins with the Flagpole Athens Music Awards! I'll give you more info about this show tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Athfest Kickoff Party @ 10:30 PM @ 40 Watt

Free with a wristband or Flagpole Awards ticket stub and just $3 ($5 for under 21) without, this jammin' party will feature the solid soft rock tunes of White Violet and the unique, country rock sound of Buxton along with sets from Ponderosa and DJ Immuzikation as well. What a way to end the first night!

Fri, June 22:

Efren @ 5:45 PM @ Hull Street Stage

It's been a while since we've seen Efren, one of our favorite folk rockers, in action, and we can't wait to hear them all again!

Yip Deceiver @ 8:30 PM @ Hull Street Stage

If you're a fan of Of Montreal, you'll like Yip Deceiver.  These guys are full of fun!

Reptar @ 9 PM @ Pulaski Street Stage

Current rulers of the Athens music scene, Reptar is always a good time.  At last year's Athfest, they filled the 40 Watt to capacity in minutes, and this year, they're rightfully headlining the main stage. If you haven't experienced one of their shows yet, don't miss your chance to see what all of the hype is about!

The Orkids @ 9 PM @ Go Bar

It's been nearly a year since we last saw blog favorites The Orkids onstage, and we've truly missed their awesome, upbeat pop tunes.  This one is definitely a must!

Sam Sniper @ 10 PM @ Flicker Theatre

Up for several Flagpole Awards this year, these unique folk rockers are always worth a listen!

The Shut-ups @ 10 PM @ The Melting Point

Two Athfests ago, I just loved the Shut-ups' new wave indie pop sound and fun electronic style.  So glad we get the chance to check 'em out again!

Holly Belle @ 11:30 PM @ Little Kings Shuffle Club

It's a rare thing when a musician I've never heard of blows me away with the just the sound of their voice when I'm conducting my annual online Athfest research.  What a sound!  I'm dying to see this girl in action!

Lera Lynn @ 12 AM @ 40 Watt

Lera Lynn's powerful voice and indie folk rock combine to make every show of hers just spectacular!

Sat, June 23:

Emily Hearn @ 1:30 PM @ Pulaski Street Stage

I've never seen this girl live, but several of my friends are crazy about her, and from what I've heard, her voice is just incredible!  This'll be a show to remember.

Packway Handle Band @ 4 PM @ Pulaski Street Stage

After all the amazing things I've heard about this bluegrass folk band over the years, it's shocking that I've never truly had a chance to see them until now.  Playing the main stage this year, I'm sure Packway Handle Band's show will be amazing!

Ruby Kendrick @ 6:30 PM @ Pulaski Street Stage

Ruby Kendrick's soft and sweet melodies will, no doubt, bring joy to your ears!

Bambara @ 9 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Blog favorite Bambara returns to the Ath-town for one night only to give us that delicious noise rock sound we've been craving!  They may be Brooklyn boys now, but they know Athens is always pumped to let them melt our faces off with their tunes once more.

Mad Axes @ 10 PM @ Little Kings Shuffle Club

If rap and hip hop's your thing, Mad Axes is your band.  As the latest incarnation of former Flagpole Award winners Deaf Judges, you'll love their style!

Sun, June 24:

Sean VanMeter @ 2:20 PM @ Kidsfest Stage

Yup, this one's from the Kidsfest Stage, but you've got to recognize talent when you hear it!  From what I can tell online, this kid's something of a piano prodigy, and his show sounds like it'll worth checking out.  Always gotta keep an ear towards the future!

Want to see these show picks on the go?  If you've got an iPhone or other mobile device, here's how you can download our web app: All you need to do is visit http://www.echoreyn.com/ofathens (which differs slightly from our blog url) on your device and add the link to your home screen. Now you can take our show suggestions with along with to the festival!

** Remember: exploration is key. I encourage you to check out all the bands you can find at Athfest 2012. Let this list just serve as a starting point to help keep you from getting lost in the massive sea of sights and rockin' sounds!

Also, we've got videos from Athfests past of many of these bands up on our Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel if you want to get a feel for their sound. And hey, if you like what you see, feel free to subscribe! We'll be putting up footage from some of the best shows we see at Athfest this year once the festival ends.

Stay tuned for our final Athfest 2012 Guide coming tomorrow!

Athfest 2012: EoA's Guide to Athfest: Things to Bring

Echoreyn of Athens' Guide to Athfest

Things to Bring

• Sunscreen

- It gets hot out there (this year's temperatures are around the high 90s!), so be sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of it, the higher the SPF, the better. You might also consider bringing along a hat. After all, tunes are no fun when you're burned to a crisp!

• Sunglasses

- At Athfest, the sun will make its greatest effort to try to blind you and keep you from seeing all of the awesome acts rocking the outdoor stages.  Don't let the sun win.  Bring along a pair of shades!  Without fail, I forget to bring these every year, and there's never a day at the festival when I don't wish I had them with me.

• Water (and other hydrating drinks)

- Dehydration is a serious problem in Athfest-level heat, so make sure to keep yourself stocked with plenty of liquids especially since drinks bought at the festival can be pretty expensive. Also, if you're feeling overheated, be sure to step into some shops or seek out some shade. I've had heat stroke at least once at every Athfest I've attended, and trust me, it's no picnic.

• A Raincoat or Umbrella

- It rains at Athfest almost every year (heck, last year's storm was so memorable, we wrote several entries about it) so be sure to come prepared. Since all of the shows during the day are outdoors, it's a very likely possibility that you will get wet. Also, if you're on Twitter, you should definitely follow @athensgaweather for up-to-date and in-depth weather details.

• Snacks

- If you'll be spending all day at the festival, you'll need more than just the free samples you collect from the booths to keep you on your feet. Bring along a sandwich or some energy bars for the road.

• Money

- Chances are, you'll find a band whose tunes you just love. Or maybe, something in one of the artists' booths will catch your eye. Or hey, perhaps you'll be craving a bit more food and drink than you brought with you. No matter what, you'll need to remember to bring some cash so that that CD, t-shirt, or Snow Cone can be yours!

• Wristband and ID

- If you're participating in the nighttime venue crawl, this one's a must! I suggest keeping your wristband on throughout the weekend (it's waterproof) or attaching it to something you'll always bring with you, like a purse or wallet.

• Schedule of Bands You Want to See

- Make a list of bands you're dying to catch in action along with all the info on where and when they're playing so that you can make the most of your Athfest experience! Not sure which of the almost 200 bands you should go see? Check back tomorrow for Echoreyn of Athens' Athfest show picks list!

• Phone

- If you come to Athfest with friends, chances are you'll want to split up at some point to catch different bands or take breaks from the heat in some of the air-conditioned shops downtown. Don't forget your phone so that you can catch up with them again later! Also, you can follow us at @echoreyn on Twitter and get all kinds of Athfest updates and special tips straight to your phone as well.

• Camera

- Athfest is a wild, awesome, and incredible experience! Bring along a camera to capture your favorite memories of the weekend.

And most importantly, bring a sense of fun and get ready to rock!

Athfest 2012: EoA's Guide to Athfest: Intro

Wow, get ready to rock out... Athfest 2012, Athens' biggest celebration of music and the arts, kicks off this week! Craving some tips on how to get ready and make the most of this awesome festival?

Presenting...

Echoreyn of Athens' Guide to Athfest 

 What is Athfest? 

Here's the lowdown on the festival for those new to this scene. More than 150 bands will fill our town with their tunes throughout the massive show which spans this entire weekend from late Friday afternoon through early Sunday evening. Two outdoor stages, which sit at the Washington St. intersections of Hull St. and Pulaski St., will feature band after awesome band throughout the daylight hours, and best of all, this part of the festival is completely free! Also, during the day, there will be shows and activities just for kids at Kidsfest which will take place at the Lumpkin St. intersection. Plus, there will be booths showing off some of the creations of Athens' talented artists lining the streets of the festival. At night, venues all over Athens will host unbelievable lineups of bands for the 18 and up (and sometimes 21 and up) crowd to rock out to provided they've purchased an Athfest wristband. This year, many of the venues will be strictly wristband only, so get one for yourself now for just $22.50 right here (or you can purchase one during the weekend for $20 without the online surcharge). For more general Athfest info, you can check out their official site here.

 Athfest tidbits 

Ok, now let's get to the fun stuff. Have you got an iPhone or iPod touch? If so, later this week you'll be able to access our Athfest 2012 Edition of show picks right here on our mobile show picks web app!

And remember those Flagpole Athens Music Awards you voted for a few weeks ago? Well, you can check out the top nominees in each category to see if your favorites made it to the list by picking up a copy of this week's Flagpole magazine or checking out page 16 of the PDF version over at Flagpole.com. And don't forget to make your way over to the Morton Theatre at 7:30 PM on Thursday evening for the big awards show!

 We'll be posting even more Athfest info every day of this week including our picks for must-see shows and a list of things all music fans should remember to bring.  To make sure you don't miss a single post, be sure to 'like' our page over on Facebook, and tell your friends about Echoreyn of Athens too!