Athens thrives on a rich blend of arts, music and togetherness. To live in Athens is to explore and support local artists, musicians and organizations. For newcomers, lifelong residents and those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the magic of Athens, familiarizing oneself with the local music scene is an excellent way to get started.
Rylee Bapst, a singer and songwriter based out of Athens, has a distinct blend of music combining familiar soundsfrom the likes of John Mayer, Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers and making them his own.
Bapst’s first EP, “Afraid of the Change,” was released in March, and he is a frequent character in the Athens music conversation. His upcoming shows include a set at Eclipse Company Store on Sept. 20 and College Green on Oct. 8.
Last fall, Athens’ newest all-girl band, Blush, took over the town. The members of Blush, Caden Primmer, Ella Franks, Sophie Butler, Emma McGowan and Jenelle Fauber wanted to create a greater space for women in Athens’ male-dominated music scene, according to a previous Postreport. Blush takes inspiration from ‘90s rock and a variety of alternative musicians to create its sound.
Blush had a busy and successful first year on the scene with a handful of shows at The Union and a closing set at ACRN’s annual Lobsterfest.
OU student Jillian Kay is another dominating artist in the music realm. Kay released her first EP, “Young Recollections," in 2023, and her latest EP, “It’s Partly Fact and Partly Fable,” was released in April. Kay’s distinct sound makes her hard to forget.
Kay has found great success with performances at the Music Industry Summit, the Athens Halloween Block Party and plenty of showcases at The Union.
Catch Kay at her next performanceat the Rambling House in Columbus, Ohio.
No Athens music playlist would be complete without a beat or two from folk band Caamp. Evan Westfall and Taylor Meier createCaamp in Athens while studying at Ohio University. Matt Vinson, Joseph Kavalec and Nicholas Falk joined along the way, and the Ohio-native band has since released four albums and headlined shows across the U.S. Caamp is currently touring in the U.S. with upcoming shows in Europe later this fall.
A great resource for those looking to further dive into and explore the Athens music scene is ACRN, OU’s student-run radio station. ACRN frequently spotlights local artists and hosts Lobsterfest each year, showcasing some of the best acts in town.
Venues such as The Union, the Side Bar, Latitude 39 and Donkey Coffee often host shows and open stages for those wanting to perform and those wanting to take in all of the music Athens has to offer. Upcoming live music shows include Hip Hop Shopon Sept. 4; One Exit Down, Frances Ford, Ananke and Swerve on Sept. and Midnight Musicon Sept. 6 at The Union.
