Chicago has Lollapalooza, Austin has Austin City Limits and Athens has the Athens Community Music Festival.
While the former bring in large national talent, the latter, the 15th edition of the Athens Community Music Festival, features local bands in six venues throughout town and throughout the night.
Shows can be seen at Donkey Coffee, The Union Bar & Grille, both Jackie O’s Public House and Brewery, Casa Nueva, and the Smiling Skull Saloon.
Daniel Spencer, bassist and vocalist for band Fathers of the Revolution, who will be playing the Union at 1 a.m. Saturday, said the festival is an opportunity to see “cool hidden gems” of bands who don’t play out as frequently during the school year.
“It’s like a whole town becomes a venue,” Spencer said. “It’s a mini-little festival.”
This year, according to the festival’s Facebook page, all of the proceeds from tickets sold will be donated to Arts/WEST, The Gathering Place and The Bryan Winland Memorial Arts & Music Scholarship.
Tickets to see all the acts at just one venue cost $5 and all-venue tickets cost $8 to get in anywhere for all the action. Tickets can be bought at any of the venues.
The emphasis on charity has been ingrained in the festival since its humble beginnings at the top of Washington Parking Garage, said Zachary Fuller, guitarist and vocalist for Weird Science.
Fuller, an Athens native, said that 15 years ago the festival was spearheaded by a group of kids who wanted to able to perform on top of the parking garage.
“It just seemed to make more sense to include more bands and kind of have it dispersed all over town since we were trying to have to do it as a community festival anyways,” Fuller said. “It’s really cool it’s lasted this long.”
Other veteran Athens bands will be out to take part of the festival, including Burning River Ramblers, Adam Remnant (lead singer of Southeast Engine), Joey Hebdo and his drum, Corbin Marsh Band and Controlled Folly.
Michael Carabaugh, bass player for Controlled Folly, said the strong music scene in Athens makes for a welcoming environment for musicians and audience members alike, which comes together in the festival.
“Athens is a good scene, especially for starting musicians,” Carabaugh said. “The general support makes for a good promotional scene.”
Spencer put it another way.
“An opportunity for a bunch of local guys coming out and playing. That is magic.”
If You Go
What: Athens Community Music Festival
When: Saturday, August 10
Admission: $5 for one venue and $8 for an all-venue pass.
Donkey Coffee & Espresso,
17 1/2 W. Washington St.
6:30 p.m. Bingxin Huang
6:55 p.m. Winter Wilson
7:20 p.m. Austin McGrath
7:45 p.m. Cory Love
8:10 p.m. Aubree Riley
8:35 p.m. The Geek Girls
The Union Bar & Grill, 18 W. Union St.
7 p.m. The Dead Hand of Man
8 p.m. Adam Remnant
9 p.m. Rattletrap String Band
10 p.m. Hex Net
11 p.m. County Pharaohs
12 a.m. Unmonumental
1 a.m. Fathers of the Revolution
Jackie O’s Public House, 24 W. Union St.
7 p.m. Leah Nairn
8 p.m. Joey Hebdo and his drum
9 p.m. Paranormals
10 p.m. Shamantis
11 p.m. Lennon Orchestra
12 a.m. Burning River Ramblers
1 a.m. The Porters
Jackie O’s Brewery, 24 W. Union St.
8 p.m. Bad Castle
9 p.m. JJ Reed
10 p.m. Appalachin Hillside Revolution
11 p.m. Controlled Folly
12 a.m. Dysfunktional Family
1 a.m. Black Spyral Dancer
Casa Nueva,
6 W. State St.
9 p.m. Dad Arm
10 p.m. Corbin Marsh Band
11 p.m. Wrongazi
12 a.m. Princess
1 a.m. Weird Science
Smiling Skull & Saloon, 108 W. Union St.
10 p.m. Slut Castle
11 p.m. Night Stalker
12 a.m. Torgo
1 a.m. Method Air
