Shaky Knees is almost upon us! As the city of Atlanta begins to gear up for the acclaimed festival, fans prepare to hear acts both old and new. Some of the most anticipated acts of the festival include English artist James Blake, the legendary Wilco, and the slacker Mac Demarco.
James Blake
The popular English electronic artist is gracing Atlanta with his presence with on Friday night. He has some stiff competition, though; sharing a timeslot with Pixies and Brand New isn’t easy, especially when the festival caters to the indie and alternative rock crowds. However, I’m personally excited for the show. We might even hear some hints of a new record, which Blake has been quiet about for the past two years.
Wilco
As someone who doesn’t have nearly enough money to even see Tweedy, getting to see Wilco live is going to be a treat. I’m personally hoping for some serious Yankee Hotel Foxtrot throwbacks, but as long as the band puts out a solid performance, they can only play their self-titled for all I care.
Viet Cong
What? Sold post-punk in 2015? Who would have thought! Viet Cong’s self-titled LP debut certainly delivered after a promising cassette EP, and songs like “March of Progress” will surely be transcendental in a live setting.
Matthew E. White
2015 has been a big year for Matthew E. White. After founding Spacebomb Records in 2012 and releasing his acclaimed debut Big Inner, we didn’t hear much from the Virginia artist. However, not only did he release his second album, Fresh Blood in March, but his signee Natalie Prass had a debut that got a lot of attention, mine included. The combination of Natalie Prass and Fresh Blood have given Spacebomb a strong one-two punch to start off 2015. I’m excited to see how they can translate that success into a festival atmosphere.
Mac DeMarco
Yep, Mac is coming back to Atlanta! The Canadian Slacker King is famous for the laid-back atmosphere in both his studio work and concerts, making him a perfect fit for a springtime festival spot. I last saw DeMarco play at The Goat Farm while he was touring his successful sophomore LP Salad Days. The show was delightful with a lot of crowd interaction and snide remarks that really helped Mac’s personality shine. The 4:15 p..m. to 5:15 p.m. timeslot on Friday should fit him nicely, and hopefully we’ll be able to hear some new material off of his upcoming LP Another One.
– Trevor Adams