These can be yours, kids. (And in real life, you can actually read the type!)

[Updated 5:46 p.m.: We have a winner! Congrats to Anntanise Clemons, our randomly selected winner of the Music Midtown VIP tix. Thanks to ALL who participated - and there were many of you! Hope to see some of you out there this weekend!]

Wanna rock out for free this weekend – AND as a VIP?

We’re giving away a pair of tickets to Music Midtown, Friday and Saturday at Piedmont Park.

If you want to check out Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, T.I., Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Ludacris, Adam Ant, Garbage, Girl Talk and all of the other acts playing the fest, here’s what to do.

• Complete our Music Midtown quiz.
• Send answers to mruggieri@ajc.com (please put Music Midtown Quiz in the subject line).
• One winner who submitted correct answers to the entire quiz will be randomly chosen at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets can be picked up at the Music Midtown will call area beginning at 3 p.m. Friday.

Thanks to the folks …

Continue reading We have our Music Midtown winner! »

The North Stage at Music Midtown. Photo: Courtesy Live Nation

•  There is no smoking in Piedmont Park.

• Parking is extremely limited; taking MARTA, biking or walking is encouraged.

• Street closures: Through Friday at 9:30 a.m., one lane on 10th Street from Charles Allen Drive to Piedmont Avenue (closest to Piedmont Park) will be closed. Beginning on Friday at 9:30 a.m., the two west-bound lanes (closest to Piedmont Park) will be closed. On Friday, 10th Street between Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive will be closed until Monday at 4 a.m. On Sunday, 10th Street between Charles Allen Drive and Monroe Drive will be closed until 4 a.m. on Monday for festival load-out.

• You may leave the premises and return if you have your ticket scanned upon exit and use the same ticket upon returning.

• Patrons can bring one …

Continue reading Tips for Music Midtown »

Shirley Manson and Garbage are back after a seven-year hiatus. Photo: Courtesy BB Gun Press

Shirley Manson is philosophical about playing festivals.

She loves meeting musical peers she’d otherwise not have the opportunity to cross paths with, but unless you’re the headlining act, it’s likely you’ll be playing in daylight – a sort of kryptonite to vampiric-minded musicians.

“Would I rather be playing in darkness with my band? Absolutely,” Manson said last week, calling from a tour stop in Richmond, Va. “I don’t think festivals are the ideal place to see us, but I love the fact that it’s great for a fan to get to see a bunch of artists they might not otherwise.”

Manson, 46, is the still-striking frontwoman of Garbage, one of Saturday’s main stage performers at Music Midtown, which kicks off Sept. 21 at Piedmont Park.

The band, which includes drummer Butch Vig, guitarist/keyboardist Steve Marker and bassist/keyboardist Duke Erikson, slipped into a quiet …

Continue reading Garbage to bring their ethereal brew to Music Midtown »

It's sad when Dave Grohl just phones in a performance and puts in no effort or passion whatsoever, isn't it? Photo: Getty Images

When Music Midtown returned last year after a five-year hiatus, there were plenty of questions.

Would people still come? Was the lineup strong enough? Did trimming it to one day instead of the multi-day fests of yore indicate a shaky market?

The answers were resoundingly positive.

About 38,000 fans flocked to Piedmont Park last September to immerse themselves in music from Coldplay, the Black Keys, Cage the Elephant, Joy Formidable and others.

No major problems distracted from the music, the weather cooperated, MARTA handled a significant portion of concertgoers and most patrons even agreed that concessions were reasonably priced.

“Coldplay called our CEO and said it was the best festival they’ve been to,” said Peter Conlon, president of Live Nation Atlanta, the promoter of Music Midtown. “They just loved the site, but it comes down to the …

Continue reading Music Midtown expands, ready to thrive »

Garbage recently released its first new album in seven years, "Not Your Kind of People."

Get ready to get glam.

Music Midtown has added a trio of acts to its lineup: Garbage, Neon Trees and Adam Ant.

The threesome joins previously announced performers Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, T.I., Florence + The Machine and more.

Live Nation’s Peter Conlon, who is promoting the September event at Piedmont Park, said the lineup is now complete and noted, “Fifteen artists over two days for $100 – you can’t beat that.”

Concertgoers can still purchase early bird-priced general admission tickets for $55 (one day), $100 (two day pass) or VIP and Super VIP tickets that allow access to private hospitality areas. An additional dollar per ticket will be donated to Centers for Hope. Visit www.musicmidtown.com for package rates or to purchase general admission tickets.

A schedule for the two-day event was also unveiled today:

Friday, Sept. 21, doors open at 4 p.m.

The Electric Ballroom …

Continue reading New acts, schedule announced for Music Midtown »

Foo Fighters will headline the first night of Music Midtown.

Last year’s exploratory return has evolved into this year’s full-fledged declaration that Music Midtown is back.

The long-running Atlanta music festival, resurrected in 2011 after a five-year break, will again claim Piedmont Park as its locale this fall with a two-day lineup stocked with star power and diversity.

Veteran rockers Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam will headline Sept. 21 and 22, respectively, while acts including T.I., Florence & The Machine, Ludacris, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Avett Brothers, Girl Talk, Van Hunt, Civil Twilight, LP and Oh Brother will fill in the rest of the slots on two stages erected at the park.

Initially, tickets will cost $55 for one day, $100 for both, with VIP packages ringing in at $250 and $500 and a “Super” VIP option for $1,000 for the weekend. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday via Ticketmaster. Prices are expected to increase – likely $65 for a one day pass and …

Continue reading Music Midtown returns for two nights with Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters »

Music Midtown will return this fall, this time for a two-day engagement.

The Live Nation-produced event, which was resurrected last year for the first time since 2006, will take place Sept. 21-22 at Piedmont Park.

Last year’s show – also at the park – featured Coldplay and The Black Keys, as well as alt-rock acts Young the Giant and Manchester Orchestra.

The all-day event drew a crowd of about 40,000.

Who are you hoping to see at this year’s show?

Continue reading Music Midtown to return in the fall »

Having the opportunity to attend 40-plus shows in 2011 is something I view as a privilege. All of the downloaded songs on the planet can’t compare with a live concert, from the second the lights snap off to the final encore.

As with any list, it’s tough narrowing anything you love down to just a few. This one, of my favorite 10 concerts of 2011, could just as easily included Cyndi Lauper at Cobb Energy Center, Paul Simon at Chastain, Keith Urban at Gwinnett Arena, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monae at the Fox or yes, even the NKOTBSB reunion at Philips – a blast of a show that perfectly targeted its demographic.

So now that I’ve shown you mine, it’s time for you to share your favorite shows of the year in the comments section. As always, let’s please keep the discussion about music and play nice.

Sade's first tour in a decade was mesmerizing. Photo: Kevin Mazur

1. Sade

July at Philips Arena

It took a decade for Sade to return to the stage, and her captivating …

Continue reading A look at the Top 10 (ish) favorite Atlanta concerts of 2011 »

Chris Martin leads Coldplay through "Yellow" during the early part of their headlining set at Music Midtown. Photo: Max Blau

With so many variables going into the return of Music Midtown – How many days should it be? Which artists would attract crowds while not bankrupting promoters? Will people still care about a festival that hasn’t existed for six years? Would the weather cooperate this time? – it’s a bit amazing that Saturday’s event fired flawlessly.

That pesky Mother Nature, who received a chunk of the blame for the fizzling of the well-regarded music festival in 2005, seemed to be apologizing to Peter Conlon and the Live Nation crew, as the sun seared brightly and temperatures hovered at 80 during the day and dipped pleasantly into the 60s by the time Coldplay took the stage.

Though this was a mini version of the Music Midtowns of yore –10 bands instead of dozens, one day instead of three – and the lineup was heavy on alternative rock acts popular among …

Continue reading Coldplay honors R.E.M. at Music Midtown »

The band Mona has been forced to pull out of Music Midtown due to an injury to frontman Nick Brown.

The singer/guitarist broke his ribs after falling on a monitor on a wet stage at a recent show in Ohio and the band has canceled its September shows.

Mona was slated to perform second at the Sept. 24 music fest at Piedmont Park. We’ll keep you posted if a replacement act is named.

Continue reading Mona forced to cancel Music Midtown appearance »