ATHENS POPFEST
Daniel Johnston Credit: Peter Juhl
Daniel Johnston, Deerhoof, Love Tractor, His Name is Alive, Shopping, Guerilla Toss, Ought, Tunabunny, Eureka California, Bastards of Fate, Bunnygrunt, Antlered Aunt Lord, Marshmallow Coast, Half Sour, Haybaby, Bent Shapes, and Big Quie are just a few of the bands playing Athens Popfest 2016.
While major festivals like Bonnaroo and Coachella seem to be xeroxing each other’s lineup, it’s the growing number of local fests that are able to create truly unique experiences. At some point, before Coachella was a backdrop for ridiculous Kardashian Instagram pics, they too started with an idea of bringing people and good bands together while fighting the good fight against the Ticketmaster music monopoly.
Athens Popfest has been around for 12 years, but it has managed to maintain an indie ethos and sense of community while continuing to grow. This is in no small part due to the instincts of founder Mike Turner who also happens to run the label HHBTM Records, manages Wuxtry Records in Athens, and handles publicity for bands under Crashing Through Publicity.
Mike Turner
In 2004, Turner left North Florida for the long established music haven of Athens, Georgia. Turner, who had only booked a handful of shows at the time, decided to hold the first Athens Popfest to celebrate this next chapter of his life. “I just made a list of bands I wanted to book, sent out emails, secured the venue, and it just sort of happened. I learned so much in the moment as the event was happening and just took notes as what not to do in the future. That still applies with each one. You learn something new each time.”
There were 40 bands the first year. That number doubled by 2008 and demanded multiple venues. The festival took a hiatus in 2009, returning the following year as a non-profit. Record, comic, zine, and craft fairs were added in 2011— and then things just weren’t coming together in a way Turner felt right about. So, he took some time off. He went overseas and managed a few touring bands.
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“I hadn’t planned on bringing the festival back, but I was over in the UK at this amazing festival called Indietracks with the label band Eureka California and I was kidding around to someone who asked me if I’d ever do the Athens Popfest again and I said go ahead and pencil it in for August 2016.” Bands started approaching him at that festival to book for the Athens Popfest 2016 reboot. Just like that (and with a lot of organizing on the part of people like Eureka California Drummer, Maria A. Uhler)— it was on again. Turner guarantees a great time, but issues one warning to festival goers and bands alike: If you stay in Athens more than 2 or 3 days, you’ll end up moving here.
The four day, indoor festival happens August 10-13 at Little Kings, World Famous, and the Georgia Theatre. Tickets start at $12 and 4-day passes are $48. Find info and join the popfest at AthensPopFest.com See our small poster insert in this issue and watch videos from the bands below!
~ Jessica Chesler
