Music Midtown in Atlanta this weekend
 

I've gone to this fest in the past and had a great time.
Not this year. The lineup is incredibly lame and I'm disappointed.
Maybe next year. There are only a handful of bands I'd be interested in seeing (Garbage for one), but at $40 to stand around and be bored while freakin' JOURNEY is playing makes no sense. The ROCK music they are bringing in is horrendous. The organizers are obviously spending money on some name bands, but it sure ain't the names I was hoping for. In the past I saw Jonathan Richman, Sam Phillips, James, Lucinda Williams, Cracker, Patti Smith, Al Green and some other respected acts. There might be a few little bands on here that are quite good. If so, tell me who they are...thanks! Here's this year's list:

10 Degrees Off
30 Seconds to Mars
4 Shades
Accusations
Acres
Adema Miller
Aisha Daiby
Alastor
Albita Ford
Angie Aparo Sanyo
Asphalt Blaster
Avant Coke
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
Better Than Ezra
Big People
Blood Sweat & Tears
Bo Diddley
Bone Thugs N' Harmony
Bonnie Raitt
Brizz
Bruce Daigrepont
Bubba Sparxxx
Bush
Butch Walker
Cee-Lo
Charivari Ford
Cindy Wilson of the B-52s
City High
Cornbread
Counting Crows
Course of Nature
Darius Rucker
David Dunning
David Lee Roth
Deeper Shade of Soul
Deidre Curreie
Disco Biscuits
DJ Menelik
DJ Nav
Don McLean
Doria Roberts
Dot Matrix
Dropsonic
Earshot
Earth, Wind & Fire
Echolalia
Edwin McCain
ELEVEN50
Elocia
Equilibirius
Familiar 48
Flickerstick
Francine Reed
Frani Green
Garbage
Geno Delafose
Georgia Satellites
Giwayen Mata
Greta Lee
Grooveyard
Headstrong
Hoobastank
Hot August Knights
Incubus
Israel Vibration
Ja Rule
Jack Johnson
Jack Sleeve
JAD
Jaheim
Jethro Tull
Jim Crow
Jimmy Bosch
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Joe Bonamassa
John Butler Trio
Journey
June Carter Cash
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
Kid Rock
L.O.A.
Lake Sermon
Lake Trout
Live Poets
Mark Farner
Metroscene
Michelle Malone
Mike Mills of R.E.M.
Mother's Finest
Mutable Muse
Mutagen
Mystikal
Naked Soul
Nathan& the Zydeco Cha Chas
No Doubt
O.A.R.
Ohio Players
Oliver Mtukudzi
Perla Flanenca
Perpetual Groove
Pete Yorn
Peter Redbird
Ph Balance
Producers
Project Digitalia
Puddle of Mudd
Rana
Remy Zero
Res
Rick James
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Rosie Ledet
Royal 7
Rubyhorse
Salsa Dancing
Savoy Brown
Sean Costello
Sense Field
Shag
Sharissa
Skid Row
Slim Fatz & Dave
SlowEarth
Stone Temple Pilots
Supermatic
Swing Dancing
The Banyon Trio
The Celebration Choir
The Rantings of Eva
The Wood
The Yard
Tinsley Ellis
Tony Klingmeyer
Tony Rich
TrancesArc
Twittering Machine
Uncrowned
War
Zoom Culture
Zydeco Boneshakers
Zydefunk

The Disco Biscuits are pretty great live. They're lumped into the jam scene, but improperly, I think. They do live trance music for the most part. Lake Trout is along the same lines, but they do live, improvised drum n' bass. Also, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe is a great funk band. Robert Randolph is an excellent pedal steel guitarist, and Bela Fleck is amazing live.

I know you're not really into improvised music, and all of the above-mentioned perform it for the most part, but those are some bands I'd want to see. Garbage, Pete Yorn and Remy Zero are the only other ones listed that even kind of interest me. That is a pretty weak lineup for such a large show...

Yeah, I'm not a big improv fan. Bela Fleck has played at this fest before a couple of times. I watched him for a few minutes and moved on. No doubt he's talented, but not my type. I would like to see Pete Yorn. He's actually the ONLY musician that fits into my festival desire... and that is to be able to go see someone I might not go see normally, but in a situation like this I would. Unfortunately, I was hoping for MANY bands like that so that showing up would be worth my time and money.

Lake Trout sounds interesting. Is it typical drum n' bass?

Lake Trout plays with mostly with live instruments...jazzy drum n' bass with some pop rock elements there as well. They've got some songs for donwload on their website.

Lake Trout

I'm volunteering to be serving beer at one of the concession stands on Sunday during the day, and getting to catch the acts in the evening. Oh joy!

I might be wrong in stating this, but it doesnt look like there are any brit-bands playing this year.
:(

Dude, Bush is very clearly listed in that list...you don't get more Brit than that. ;)

oh your right, seemed to miss that one, but I dont count them since they purposely try to sound like an American grunge act. -wink-