Festival Spotlight ::: Shaky Knees Festival Friday

The second installation of Shaky Knees Music Festival jumps out of the gates with a great first day. Headlined by The National the day is full of quality acts and is not without scheduling dilemmas. 

Here is the schedule plan we're going into the day with...

Piedmont Stage

12:45p - 1:30p

Mutual Benefit

Mutual Benefit is a music project created by singer-songwriter Jordan Lee. The band consists of various musicians gathered by Jordan Lee, and has no concrete band line-up. The band's most recent LP Love's Crushing Diamond has gained critical praise; being named Stereogum's Band to Watch, and Pitchfork's best new music. Contributions to Mutual Benefit have been made by musicians Marc Merza, Jake Falby, Cory Siegler, Dillon Zahner, Mike Clifford, Virginia de las Pozas, Julie Byrne, Cameron Potter, and George Folickman. The grassy lo-fi group blends sounds from various decades and styles. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, later movie to Texas, and being on a Brooklyn label you can see where they blend together.

Peachtree Stage

1:30p-2:15

Blood Red Shoes

Blood Red Shoes are an alternative rock duo from Brighton, England. They have released four full-length albums, Box of Secrets(2008), Fire Like This (2010), In Time to Voices (2012), and Blood Red Shoes (2014) as well as numerous early singles on limited 7" vinyl pressings. Their hard rocking and longing vocals are akin to Yeah Yeah Yeahs with a 90s punk influence. 

Piedmont Stage

2:15p-3:00p

Wild Belle

Wild Belle are an American indie rock band, composed of siblings Elliot and Natalie Bergman, who grew up in and around Chicago. Their debut album, Isles, was released by Columbia Records on March 12, 2013. They have released three songs from the album: "Keep You" in February, "Backslider", and "It's Too Late". Their song "Shine" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2013 movie The Way, Way Back. Their laid back afro-pop is unique and refreshing as is Natalie's voice.

Peachtree Stage

3:00p-4:00p

White Denim

White Denim is a four-piece indie rock band from Austin, Texas. Their music draws influence from dub, psychedelic rock, blues,punk rock, progressive rock, soul, jazz, experimental rock with home-based recording, jamming approach, intense looping work and unusual song structures. The group is made up of James Petralli (vocals, guitar), Joshua Block (drums), Steven Terebecki (vocals, bass), Austin Jenkins (guitar) and blend old school, southern, and psych rock.

Ponce de Leon Stage
4:00p-5:00p
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Charles Bradley is an American funk/soul/R&B singer, signed to the Daptone Records label under the Dunham Records division. His performances and recording style are consistent with Daptone's revivalist approach, celebrating the feel of funk and soul music from the 1960s and 1970s. One review stated that Bradley "echoes the evocative delivery of Otis Redding". He got his start as a James Brown impersonator amongst many other jobs. He was so good, he inked a deal and with his Extraordinaires they have traveled the world playing venues and festivals, always blowing the crowd away. Don't be surprised to see him get into the crowd.

Boulevard Stage
5:00p-6:00p
Man Man
Man Man is an experimental band from Philadelphia. Their multi-instrumental style is centered on the piano

playing of lead singer and lyricist Honus Honus.On recordings, Honus usually plays piano but during the live shows he uses a Rhodes Piano or a Nord Electro 3. He is accompanied by an energetic group of musicians and vocalists. Instruments played by the band include a clavinet,Moog Little Phatty, sousaphone, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, flute, bass clarinet, drum set, euphonium, Fender Jazz Bass, Danelectro baritone guitar, xylophone, marimba, melodica and various percussive instruments including pots and pans, toy noisemakers, Chinese funeral horns, spoons, smashing plates, fireworks, and—on occasion—audience members' heads.

Piedmont Stage
6:00p-7:00p
FOALS

Foals are an English indie rock band from Oxford, England. They are currently signed to Warner Bros. Records. They released their debut album, Antidotes, on 24 March 2008 in the United Kingdom and on 8 April 2008 in the United States. Having caught their show before, it's a cannot miss group. Expect lead man Yannis to scale anything and everything on the Piedmont Stage.











Peachtree Stage
7:00p-8:00p
Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in 2006. The group currently consists of Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, and Jared Champion. A group known for their live shows, I would make plans to be here. The group's audience expanded exponentially throughout 2011. Although they were formed in the late 2000s, the band earned the top spot in Rolling Stone's "Reader's Poll: The Best New Artist of 2011". 2013's Mespotamia completely changed our view of this four-piece alt-rock group. 


Piedmont Stage
8:00p-9:15p
Spoon

Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel; Jim Eno; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey. If the fact that this is only Spoon's second show after taking years off isn't enough to get you to the Piedmont Stage, maybe hearing new songs off their newest album, seventh in their collection will get you there. The band has played venues of all sizes and by early accounts have lost not touch at all in commanding an audience.







Peachtree Stage
9:30p-11:00p
The National

The National is an American indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, in 1999, and currently based in Brooklyn. This is not a headliner you will want to miss to get to an aftershow early, much less to get so sleep for day 2. Blowing audiences away throughout 2013-14 at festivals all over the globe, frontman Matt Berninger leaves everything he has on the stage, microphone, and in most cases the actual audience.