Tim Sweetwood, a booking agent for Masquerade Music Park in Atlanta, introduced the festival in 2013. The name comes from the song "Steam Engine" by My Morning Jacket, a band of which Sweetwood is a fan.[1] Sweetwood founded the festival to fill a gap he saw in the Atlanta music scene, where preexisting festivals did not carry the types of artists that Shaky Knees now hosts. In an interview with the music magazine Consequence of Sound, Sweetwood stated that he envisioned Shaky Knees as a festival focused purely on music, as opposed to similar festivals like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which has attractions other than musical acts. Going into the future, he says he wants to continue to develop the brand, but maintain the festival at a smaller size than other festivals like Bonnaroo and Coachella to ensure that all of the festival's attendees can enjoy the experience.[2]
The first installment of the festival was held over two days in mid-May; it took place in Historic Fourth Ward Park and Masquerade Music Park, drawing acts such as The Lumineers, Jim James, and Band of Horses. The festival sold out and drew around 9,000 attendees per day.[4]
In following years the festival has moved to different locations as it has continued to grow, but has remained within Atlanta. Sweetwood has stated that a goal of the festival is to remain within the city in a place that is accessible to both attendees that travel from afar and those who live locally.[4] In its second year the festival moved to Atlantic Station, a neighborhood that was designed and redeveloped in 2005, and expanded to three days.[4] 2015 saw the festival move to Central Park, expanding its capacity to around 40,000.[4] In 2016 the festival moved to Centennial Olympic Park, where it remained in 2017.[3] In 2018-19 it returned to Central Park.
Accolades
In 2015 USA Today named Shaky Knees to the number four spot in its nationwide list of the "10Best Readers Choice: Best Music Festivals."[5][6]Rolling Stone magazine listed Shaky Knees as one of its "50 Must-See Music Festivals" of summer 2015.[7]
Sister Festivals
Over time the founders of Shaky Knees introduced similar festivals exploring different genres of music.
Shaky Boots Music Festival
In 2015, Sweetwood introduced Shaky Boots, a music festival centered around country music, because there was no major country music festival in Georgia.[2] The festival took place over two days and included artists such as Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, and Old Crow Medicine Show.[8] The festival was the first major multiple-day country music festival to be held in the state of Georgia.[9] The festival went on hiatus in 2016.
The Lumineers, Band of Horses, Drive by Truckers, Jim James, Gary Clark Jr., Dr. Dog, The Joy Formidable, Lucero, Delta Spirit, Kurt Vile & the Violators, The Antlers, The Heartless Bastards, Moon Taxi, J Roddy Walston & the Business, Murder by Death, Oberhofer, Vintage Trouble, Shovels & Rope, Robert Ellis, Frontier Ruckus, T. Hardy Morris, Hanni El Khatib, The Orwells, You Me and Apollo, Roadkill Ghost Choir, Death on Two Wheels[12]
2014
The Replacements
The National, Modest Mouse, Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, Spoon, Local Natives, The Gaslight Anthem, Violent Femmes, Cage the Elephant, Portugal. The Man, Dropkick Murphys, Conor Oberst, Iron & Wine, Trampled by Turtles, Jason Isbell, Jenny Lewis, Dawes, Foals, Lord Huron, Cold War Kids, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Lone Bellow, Deer Tick, The Devil Makes Three, The Hold Steady, Band of Skulls, Tokyo Police Club, Blitzen Trapper, White Denim, Wild Belle, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Langhorne Slim, Mason Jennings, The Whigs, Houndmouth, Man Man, Hayes Carll, Gregory Alan Isakov, Graveyard, Kopecky Family Band, Bright Light Social Hour, Jackie Greene, Foy Vance, San Fermin, Sleeper Agent, The Weeks, Phox, Apache Relay, American Aquarium, Mutual Benefit, Wake Owl, Paper Bird, The Districts, Packway Handle Band, Fly Golden Eagle, Benjamin Booker[13]
2015
The Strokes, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, Pixies, Social Distortion, Ryan Adams, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Tame Impala, Mastodon, Brand New, Old Crow Medicine Show, Neutral Milk Hotel, Interpol, TV on the Radio, James Blake, Manchester Orchestra, Flogging Molly, Milky Chance, Death From Above 1979, Dr. Dog, Spiritualized, Kaiser Chiefs, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave, ZZ Ward, Panda Bear, American Football, Clutch, The Black Lips, Xavier Rudd & the United Nations, The Devil Makes Three, The Mountain Goats, Best Coast, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, The Kooks, Real Estate, Wavves, Built to Spill, The Both (Aimee Mann / Ted Leo), Diamond Rugs, Mac Demarco, Minus the Bear, Old 97s, The Heartless Bastards, Mariachi El Bronx, The Mowglis, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Fidlar, Metz, The Bronx, Two Gallants, Tennis, Speedy Ortiz, The Whiskey Gentry, Fences, Zella Day, Palma Violets, The Sheepdogs, Asgeir, Surfer Blood, Jukebox the Ghost, The Damnwells, Haerts, Viet Cong, Halsey, Steve Gunn, Field Report, Nikki Lane, Black Pistol Fire, Matthew E. White, Blank Range[14]
2016
Florence + the Machine, My Morning Jacket, Jane’s Addiction, At the Drive-In, The 1975, Deftones, Walk the Moon, The Decemberists, Young the Giant, The Head and the Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, Foals, Silversun Pickups, Bloc Party, the Kills, Explosions in the Sky, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Cold War Kids, Ghost, Phosphorescent, Shakey Graves, Houndmouth, The Black Angels, Savages, Atlas Genius, Against Me!, The Sword, Eagles of Death Metal, Baroness, Crystal Fighters, JJ Grey & Mofro, Frightened Rabbit, Wolf Alice, Parquet Courts, Brian Fallon, The Struts, Wild Nothing, the Front Bottoms, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, The Dear Hunter, The Vaccines, Murder by Death, The Orwells, Noah Gundersen, Strand of Oaks, Hop Along, Kaleo, Foxing, Kylesa, Saintseneca, Son Little, Julien Baker, Coin, Ought, Day Wave, All Them Witches, Caveman, Beach Slang, David Ramirez, July Talk, Nothing, Diet Cig, Matt Vasquez (of Delta Spirit), Alex G, Barns Courtney, The Hip Abduction, Polyenso, Twin Limb, Adia Victoria, The Shelters, Baskery[15]
2017
The XX, LCD Soundsystem, Phoenix, Cage the Elephant, Pixies, The Shins, Nick Murphy, X Ambassadors, Third Eye Blind, Portugal. The Man, Moon Taxi, Sylvan Esso, Dr. Dog, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Bleachers, Shovels and Rope, Highly Suspect, The Revivalists, Fidlar, Wolf Parade, The Growlers, J. Roddy Walston & the Business, Warpaint, Car Seat Headrest, Anderson East, Hamilton Leithauser, Cloud Nothings, Bishop Briggs, Modern Baseball, Whitney, The Record Company, Lewis Del Mar, Twin Peaks, Temples, Pond, Pup, River Run North, Family and Friends, Preoccupations, Fruit Bats, Pinegrove, Lo Moon, Fantastic Negrito, The London Souls, Margaret Glaspy, Mariachi El Bronx, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Foreign Air, Mondo Cozmo, Arkells, Zipper Club, Hoops, Con Brio, Quaker City Night Hawks, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown, Ron Gallo, Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, Public Access TV, Flagship, Great Peacock, Amythyst Kiah, Songs for Kids[16]
2018
Jack White, Queens of the Stone Age, The National, David Byrne, Tenacious D, Fleet Foxes, The War on Drugs, Vance Joy, Cake, Courtney Barnett, Nathaniel Rateliff & the NIghtsweats, Lord Huron, Manchester Orchestra, Matt and Kim, the Distillers, Japandroids, Franz Ferdinand, Jimmy Eat World, The Voidz, All Time Low, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Black Angels, Alvvays, Parquet Courts, Circa Survive, Greta Van Fleet, Rival Sons, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Sir Sly, The Menzingers, Chicano Batman, Andrew W.K., Jacob Banks, Waxahatchee, Basement, Ezra Furman, Torres, Broncho, The Frights, Bully, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real, Parcels, Alice Merton, Charly Bliss, Mikky Ekko, Mt. Joy, The Wild Reeds, Bayonne, Post Animal, Lillie Mae, The Night Game, Teenage Wrist, Marlon Williams, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, The Ghost of Paul Revere, Welles, The Sherlocks, Stop Light Observations, Frankie Rose, The War and Treaty, L.A. Witch, Sun Seeker, Liz Brasher, Repeat Repeat, Songs for Kids[17]
2019
Tame Impala, Beck, Cage the Elephant, Incubus, Tears for Fears, Gary Clark Jr., Interpol, Foals, Father John Misty, Tash Sultana, Grouplove, Phosphorescent, The Struts, Tyler Childers, Dashboard Confessional, Liz Phair, Sharon Van Etten, Deerhunter, Oh Sees, The Dandy Warhols, Honne, Black Lips, Yellow Days, Bad Books, Calpurnia, Japanese Breakfast, Electric Guest, Wallows, Caamp, Mark Lanegan, Rayland Baxter, Soccer Mommy, The Joy Formidable, Jade Bird, Chon, Pedro the Lion, Foxing, The Murlocs, Lucy Dacus, Idles, Curtis Harding, Face to Face, Slothrust, Natalie Prass, Mipso, Welshly Arms, Peach Pit, The Nude Party, Devon Gilfillian, Wilderado, Low Cut Connie, Julia Jacklin, Cleopatrick, Ruen Brothers, Hannah Wicklund and the Steppin Stones, Demob Happy, The Blue Stones, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, Bones Owens, Liily, Duncan Fellows, Walden, Taylor Janzen, Illiterate Light, The Inspector Cluzo[18]
2021
Friday: Foo Fighters,[19] St. Vincent, Mac Demarco, Dermot Kennedy, Dominic Fike, Ty Segall & Freedom Band, Jay Electronica, White Reaper, Noga Erez, Black Pistol Fire, Cults, Peach Tree Rascals, Local H, Ayron Jones, Amigo the Devil, Forgivers, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Parker Gispert, Tejon Street Corner Thieves, Leon of Athens, Specialists
Saturday: Run the Jewels, Alice Cooper, Portugal. The Man, Royal Blood, Idles, The Hives, Living Colour, Larkin Poe, Arlo Parks, Kennyhoopla, Mammoth WVH, Mercury Rev, Lunar Vacation, Suki Waterhouse, Cloud Nothings, Neal Francis, Carlie Hanson, Liza Anne, Geese, Kid Sistr, Quinton Brock, The Alive, The Lowcountry Jukes
Sunday: The Strokes, Modest Mouse, Phoebe Bridgers, O.A.R., Orville Peck, All Them Witches, The Aces, Tennis, The Backseat Lovers, Ritt Momney, Delta Spirit, The Brook & the Bluff, Black Midi, Joy Oladokun, The Aubreys, Michigander, Bartees Strange, Lowertown, Songs for Kids[20]
2022
Friday: Green Day, Billy Idol, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Spoon, Highly Suspect, Lennon Stella, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Biffy Clyro, Grandson, Shannon and the Clams, Faye Webster, Barns Courtney, Sports Team, Nilufer Yanya, Mannequin Pussy, Flipturn, Motherfolk, Ultra Q, Ada Lea, Acid Dad, Little Image, Leon of Athens
Saturday: Nine Inch Nails, Chvrches, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Mt. Joy, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Japanese Breakfast, Gang of Youths, The Regrettes, Gerry Cinnamon, Guided by Voices, Djo, Amyl and the Sniffers, Reignwolf, Phantom Planet, Babyjake, Molchat Doma, Dehd, Hunny, Poorstacy, Pretty Sick, Chastity Belt, Francis of Delirium, Exum
Sunday: My Morning Jacket, Khruangbin, Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Horses, The Glorius Sons, Coin, Pup, The Garden, Colony House, The Happy Fits, Dirty Honey, Destroyer, Stephen Day, Angel Dust, Girlpuppy, Lanie Gardner, Pinkshift, Briscoe, Spiritual Cramp, Songs for Kids[21]
2023
Friday: The Killers, Greta Van Fleet, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cypress Hill, Manchester Orchestra, Grouplove, Placebo, Surf Curse, Digable Planets, Be Your Own Pet, Peaches, Spacey Jane, Copeland, Lovejoy, Matt Maltese, Illuminati Hotties, Charlotte Sands, Gringo Star, Arlie, Mom Rock, Desure
Saturday: Muse, Tenacious D, The Mars Volta, The Gaslight Anthem, Phantogram, The Front Bottoms, Suki Waterhouse, Futurebirds, Soccer Mommy, Wilderado, Babe Rainbow, Shame, Beach Weather, Joey Valence & Brae, Cafune, Heartless Bastards, Sunflower Bean, Olivia Jean, Daisy the Great, Me nd Adam, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, Tanukichan
Sunday: The Lumineers, Hozier, The Flaming Lips, Father John Misty, Future Islands, Live, The Walkmen, The Black Angels, Fidlar, Pond, Sun Room, Wunderhorse, Puma Blue, The Aquadolls, Off!, Taipei Houston, Water From Your Eyes, Trash Panda, Songs for Kids[22]
2024
Friday: Noah Kahan, Arcade Fire, Young the Giant, Interpol, The Revivalists, Yves Tumor, Metric, All Them Witches, Switchfoot, Del Water Gap, Pond, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Late Night Drive Home, Maserati, Ax and the Hatchetmen, Wine Lips, Odie Leigh, Ray Bull, Linka Moja, Winona Fighter, Mali Velasquez, 2007, Songs for Kids
Saturday: Weezer, Queens of the Stone Age, The Offspring, Girl in Red, Miike Snow, Royal Blood, Sunny Day Real Estate, Palace, Holly Humberstone, Chicano Batman, Microwave, Dexter and the Moonrocks, Quarters of Change, Dead Poet Society, Friday Pilots Club, Lido Pimienta, Blondshell, Bad Nerves, Tigercub, Pool Kids, Grace Cummings, Been Stellar, The Inspector Cluzo, Songs for Kids
Sunday: Foo Fighters, Billy Idol, Portugal. The Man, Men I trust, Dinosaur Jr., Waxahatchee, Matt and Kim, The Struts, Kevin Morby, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Loveless, Royel Otis, Nova Twins, Arcy Drive, Fazerdaze, Benches, Eric Slick, Certainly So, Lamont Landers, Songs for Kids[23]
