The Release of Athens is a yearly festival with a diverse roster of top acts from around the world. Past editions featured such artists as PJ Harvey, Sigur Ros, London Grammar, Richard Ashcroft, and The Chemical Brothers. Other acts include Rag’n’Bone Man, Beirut, and Moderat. Past editions also featured Postmodern Jukebox and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The 2019 lineup will be just as exciting.
Athens is a music mecca
While you’re in Athens, you’ll likely hear residents name drop famous bands, including the B-52s. This isn’t just a city of music nerds, though: the town is home to an incredibly fertile and thriving music scene. The storied independent music scene in Athens is a prime example of the city’s unique music scene.
There are a variety of ways to celebrate the town’s music heritage. The Athens Welcome Center offers guided tours and walking guides for music history. Tours include two dozen points of interest, including the R.E.M. trestle (pictured above) from the band’s album Murmur. Another notable point is the house where the B-52s first performed. Whether you’re into folk, rock, or soul, Athens has a variety of cultural experiences and events to suit your style.
It’s a film mecca
The city of Athens has a rich film culture and boasts a number of film festivals each year, but few showcase the city as a movie-making destination as AthFest. Whether you prefer Hollywood or independent films, Athens offers something for every taste. AthFest Picture Show Short Films, presented by Shearer, showcases the creative minds of the city’s film-making community. The short films include one by Shearer, whose “Powerless” is a tale of a dying electronic and a power outage that forces two people to communicate.
One of the most famous films filmed in Athens is “Boy on a Dolphin”, a 1960 Greek drama about an archeologist who discovers a lost treasure on an island. Phaedra (Sophia Loren) must decide whether to become an archeologist or an art collector. The film was the first major production to shoot on the Acropolis, inspiring a Greek Tourism Organization tourism campaign.
It’s a music festival mecca
There are several reasons why Athens, Georgia, is a music festival mecca. The city is known for hosting experimental jazz concerts since 2002. Peter Brotzmann, a German saxophonist, will be a featured artist at the ACME this year. His Chicago tentet, which includes four saxophones, strings, brass, and two percussionists, will be performing twice in Athens. With a diversified repertoire, the band will cover the entire jazz spectrum.
Athens is home to the AthFest music festival in June and the Wildwood Revival in September. Many touring musicians stop by to pay homage to their idols. Musicians often find it hard to leave the city once they arrive, thanks to the cheap rent, cheap food, and live music seven nights a week. In addition to this, many breweries employ artists to make the town’s music scene a vibrant one.
It’s a food mecca
A recent article in Gourmet Magazine named Athens, Georgia, as the “Next Big Scene” for food and music. It cited the city’s storied independent music scene, cheap and gourmet dining, and late night rock. Now it’s time to try the city for yourself! Here are some of the foodie spots to check out:
The Arcade of Books, in central Athens (about 20 minutes from the Acropolis) is being transformed into Eataly by Legendary Food. The concept will feature artisanal producers from throughout Greece, offering a panorama of the cuisine. The food market is expected to feature Greek cheeses, olive oil, and other products. The restaurant will focus on small-scale food producers, which are often overlooked by tourists.