Atlanta Music Midtown music festival canceled for 2024

Peter Conlon, who runs Live Nation Atlanta and created the festival 30 years ago, did not respond to a text message or call for comment.

The festival, which usually takes place in September, has attracted a wide range of artists over the years, such as Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Eminem, Van Halen, Post Malone, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus. Last year’s lineup included Billie Eilish, Lil Baby and the 1975.

It also moved from its original home to Central Park, where the rival Shaky Knees festival was held last weekend. This rock-oriented festival featured artists like Noah Kahan, Weezer, Foo Fighters and Billy Idol.

Since 2011, Music Midtown has been located in Piedmont Park.

“Southside” Steve Rickman, longtime morning host in town on stations such as 96rock, Rock 100.5 and currently FoxFM, has attended almost every Music Midtown since 1994 when he remembers introducing Little Feat on stage and interviewing Collective Drunk.

Rickman speaks to Conlon regularly on his FoxFM show and plans to ask him questions about Music Midtown Friday morning.

“I’m sure it’s become expensive to operate and Live Nation has to fight with the city to make that happen,” he said. “Peter loves Music Midtown. It’s sad that this is happening, but I’m sure he’ll try to bring it back next year.

He thinks Conlon’s bosses at Live Nation have decided to focus their energies on Alpharetta’s Ameris Bank Amphitheater, which has a record 46 concerts scheduled this year, including many artists who could have landed on the Music Midtown stage , like the Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette. , Cage the Elephant, Mt. Joy, Staind and Creed.

Music Midtown has changed its programming over the years. In the early 2010s, they were a mix of acts aimed at both Millennials and Gen X. Then, for a while, the lineup became more youthful.

The festival was canceled in 2022 without explanation, just over six weeks ahead of schedule. That year’s lineup was supposed to include Fall Out Boy, Future, My Chemical Romance and Jack White.

Last year, Live Nation added a few artists that might appeal to older audiences, such as Pink and Guns N’ Roses. The concert organizer did not release attendance figures after the three-day event ended, but it did not appear to be sold out.

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