Athens Music Festival: Pylon | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Athens Music Festival: Pylon

ATHFEST TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 23-26, 2005. PYLON AND SHAWN MULLINS headline. MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTS A VARIETY OF FREE MUSIC & FAMILY ORIENTED EVENTS. Athens, Georgia, a town well known for its thriving arts and music scene, is the proud host of ATHFEST 2005 presented by VERIZON WIRELESS. Started in 1997, ATHFEST is an award-winning annual non-profit music and arts festival held in the heart of downtown Athens. This year the festival will take place from June 23 to June 26, 2005, with the main stage area located on Washington Street near the legendary 40 Watt Club. ATHFEST 2005 is included in the TOP 20 Events for June by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Most of the music performances and activities are FREE OF CHARGE. These include the outdoor daytime and evening music stages, a Juried Artists' Market, and KidsFest. Additionally, the festival includes evening performances at the various clubs around Athens, including the 40 Watt, The Georgia Theater, Tasty World, Caledonia Lounge, Lunch Paper, DTs, and Go Bar; The Flagpole Music Awards; a CD release show for the ATHFEST music compilation; and film showcases presented by the Athens Film Foundation. Wristbands or cover charges are required for certain events.

This year the line-up of over 100 performers is a stellar array of diverse artists showcasing the legendary Athens music scene. Headline artists include local legends PYLON, current Athens buzz band THE WHIGS and Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling artist SHAWN MULLINS. Other performers include Jack Logan & The Monday Night Recorders, making Jack's first public performance in several years! The list is too lengthy to include, but noted artists include Elf Power, Love Tractor,
Five-Eight, Randall Bramblett, Bain Mattox, Southern Bitch, Bill Mallonee, Dave Barbe, Lona, Ken Will Morton, Modern Skirts, Jet By Day, The High Caliber, Don Chambers, Stewart & Winfield, Summer Hymns and more!

Ghostmeat Records, in conjunction with ATHFEST, just released the ATHFEST 2005 CD featuring some of Athens' most promising talent. This year, the CD includes: THE CHASERS, IRON HERO, NUTRIA, COUNT, JET BY DAY, CASPER & THE COOKIES, FLASH TO BANG TIME, ERIK HINDS, KEN WILL MORTON, THE PACKWAY HANDLE BRAND, AN EPIC AT BEST, COULIER!, JACKPOT CITY, LOVE TRACTOR, BOB HAY & THE JOLLY BEGGARS, GARBAGE ISLAND, POLEMIC, MODERN
SKIRTS, THE BEARFOOT HOOKERS, and WORKHORSES OF THE ENTERTAINMENT &
RECREATIONAL INDUSTRY. Production of the ATHFEST CD is sponsored by Flagpole Magazine, Chase Park Transduction, Musician's Warehouse, Athens Downtown Development Authority, Atlanta Manufacturing Group, Ghostmeat Records, ABC Printing, and Rock 103.7. A show commemorating the CD will take place on June 23rd at the 40 Watt Club.

ATHFEST is a family oriented event. KidsFest, which is held from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, provides exciting ways for children of all ages to explore a wide variety of fun activities. It features a variety of entertainment including children's musical
performances, The Alchemy Drumming Circle, educational toys from Discovery Toys,
reptile encounters from Sandy Creek Nature Center, a petting zoo, arts
and crafts, inflatable jumping chambers, tye-dying t-shirts, fish
printing known as Gyotaku, face painting, and much more. Most everything is
free or has a nominal fee.

The full performance schedule, and information about wristbands,
KidsFest, parking, accommodations, and general festival information may be
found at WWW.ATHFEST.COM

This year the festival will take place from June 23 to June 26, 2005, with the main stage area
located on Washington Street near the legendary 40 Watt Club.

The event features many free activities, including outdoor daytime and evening music stages, a Juried Artists' Market, and a KidsFest.
Additionally, the festival includes evening performances at the various clubs around Athens, including the 40 Watt, The Georgia Theater, Tasty World, Caledonia Lounge, and more; The Flagpole Music Awards; a CD release show for the ATHFEST music compilation; and film showcases presented by the Athens Film Foundation. Wristbands or cover charges are required for certain events.

Longtime fans of Athens music will be excited to know that local legends PYLON, in a rare public performance, is scheduled to headline the Friday night outdoor showcase. With their recent reunion last year that marked their first appearance since 1991, PYLON continues to win new fans as they perpetuate the legend they built in their heyday in the 1980s.

The Atlanta-based, Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling artist SHAWN MULLINS, widely known for his chart-topping song "Lullaby," will be headlining the outdoor stage on Sunday. The complete list of artists, including the headliner for Saturday night, will be released in the near future.

Ghostmeat Records, in conjunction with ATHFEST, will release the ATHFEST 2005 CD featuring some of Athens' most promising talent. This year, the CD will include: THE CHASERS, IRON HERO, NUTRIA, COUNT, JET BY DAY, CASPER & THE COOKIES, FLASH TO BANG TIME, ERIK HINDS, KEN WILL MORTON, THE PACKWAY HANDLE BRAND, AN EPIC AT BEST, COULIER!, JACKPOT CITY, LOVE TRACTOR, BOB HAY & THE JOLLY BEGGARS, GARBAGE ISLAND, POLEMIC,
MODERN SKIRTS, THE BEARFOOT HOOKERS, and WORKHORSES OF THE ENTERTAINMENT &
RECREATIONAL INDUSTRY. Many of these artists will be performing at ATHFEST 2005. Production of the ATHFEST CD is sponsored by Flagpole
Magazine, Chase Park Transduction, Musician's Warehouse, Athens Downtown
Development Authority, Atlanta Manufacturing Group, Ghostmeat Records, ABC
Printing, and Rock 103.7. A CD release show will take place on June 23rd at the 40 Watt Club. www.athfest.com

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