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| Venues |
 40 Watt
285 W. Washington St.
Shows Monday – Saturday
18+
The 40 Watt Club is inarguably the cornerstone of the Athens music scene. With a rich history and ever-growing roster of diverse acts that have graced its stage, this live music landmark has been standing strong in its current location at the end of West Washington Street for a remarkable 20 years. A national and regional haven for the best of indie rock and beyond, homespun meets national hype to shake hands as the 40 Watt plays host to everything from ambitious local acts to premier DJ talent. Once the regular spot for bigger Athens groups like The B-52's, Pylon, and Love Tractor, the intimate club is now home to newer local bands like Drive-By Truckers and The Whigs. Memorable performances by contemporary indie icons like The Flaming Lips, Kings of Leon, Spoon, Andrew Bird, Sufjan Stevens and My Morning Jacket have also popped in over the past few years on stops through town. – Sami Promisloff
 Caledonia Lounge
256 W. Clayton St.
Shows Monday – Saturday
18+
A small and cavernous vortex of sound, the Caledonia Lounge is the Classic City's capital of the underground. Nestled towards the back corner of a parking lot on Clayton Street, Caledonia's charming, expansive courtyard stands in stark contrast to the cubicle-like feel of the inside. Past the bar and the bathrooms is an intimate floor with a low stage to crowd next to -- that is, if the sound in the speakers doesn’t blow you away before you get there. It's the capstone of cool that's also cheap -- the cost of admission never exceeds $10 -- and acts of varied experimentation and status grace the stage nightly. – Sami Promisloff
 Little Kings Shuffle Club
223 W. Hancock St.
Monday – Wednesday 7 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Thursday – Saturday 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Closed Sundays
All Ages
Little Kings is the where the chilled out, creative crowd congregates. It’s an incredibly spacious spot settled on the west side of town that hosts rock and pop acts with committed circles of friends. Open only Thursday through Saturday, Little Kings is the get-together site where Athens kids often watch their friends perform and party to the tunes of local DJs. Little Kings is littered with vintage furniture and art, provides a long bar filled with affordable libations, and gives off a quaintly special hometown vibe. Be sure to head through Little Kings' glass-and-wood swinging doors to the patio outside, where patrons take a break from drinking and dancing to play the beanbag tossing game Cornhole with friends. – Sami Promisloff
 Classic Center
300 N. Thomas St.
For a more formal outing, music fans flock to the Classic Center, a multipurpose venue that's incredibly hard to miss. From Broadway musicals on tour, to choral ensembles and national headliners, the Classic Center is a seated theater that houses a couple thousand per performance. Popular acts that have graced its stage include Nickel Creek, The Flaming Lips, Wilco, Ben Harper, and a recent three-night hometown run by Widespread Panic in the spring of 2007. Film buffs also find their way to the Classic Center every spring for the annual Campus Movie Fest screenings and for TV personality Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival, which features showings and discussions with legendary film stars. - Sami Promisloff
 Flicker Theatre and Bar
263 W. Washington St.
Monday – Saturday 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.
21+
Nestled within spitting distance of the 40 Watt Club, a common street address is essentially the only thing similar between the two places. Flicker is, in reality, no larger than the backstage area of the neighboring rock club and has become a perfect destination for downsized bands and solo acoustic acts. Separated into two equal-sized rooms (one for drinking, the other for listening), Flicker provides a concert experience atypical to most rooms in the Classic City -- a crowd of 50 is comfortable, whereas twice that would be overkill. Quaint and quiet with an undeniable hipness, the warm atmosphere of Flicker Theatre and Bar is one of the most unique and intimate settings in Athens. – Alec Wooden
 The Georgia Theatre
215 N. Lumpkin St.
Shows Monday – Saturday
18+
Located in the heart of downtown, the Georgia Theatre’s marquee is a landmark in the Athens music scene and, often, a milestone to reach in the careers of young local musicians. Throughout the years the Theatre has seen its stage adorned by R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Widespread Panic and Blues Traveler, just to name a few. With a fluid capacity of between 600 and 800 and a number of recent renovations, the Theatre carries on as the place to be for Athens' biggest and best national and local acts. – Alec Wooden
 The Melting Point
295 E. Dougherty St.
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
Age restrictions dependent on show
As the name implies, this fairly new venue is one of the most diverse in town. In a short time, the Melting Point has proven its ability to draw national acts of all flavors, while remaining Athens' best-kept secret. Boasting a capacity of around 200, the Melting Point is attached to the Foundry Inn & Spa, making stops there just one part of a weekend that can include first-class lodgings, relaxation and meals before catching shows that generally start earlier in the evening. With pit, terraced and balcony seating, as well as on a spacious porch in good weather, the Melting Point hosts a variety of acts in a laid-back and classy environment. Nights not to miss include Tuesday’s Bluegrass Showcase, Wednesday night Blues, and a successful Thursday night Jazz Series. – Alec Wooden
 Tasty World
312 E. Broad St.
Monday – Saturday 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.
18+
Tasty World's two stories of full bars and stages have proved to be a fertile breeding ground for up-and-coming bands, ranging from solo acoustic acts to screaming hardcore bands and absolutely everything in between. Open daily for happy hour and cranking until last call at 2 a.m., Tasty World serves as an entrance venue of sort for bands looking to break into the Athens scene while on tour in the Southeast. A full bar and passable sound system makes for melodic nights of debauchery in a fun environment. – Alec Wooden
 Morton Theatre
195 W. Washington St.
For indie rock fans, Athens might be a living abyss of amazement – but the town also hones a historical flare within the same concentrated city blocks. Situated in its original location on Washington Street is the Morton Theatre, one of the country’s first African-American-appropriated venues circa the Vaudeville era, dating back to 1910. Now home to the annual Flagpole local music awards and other performing events, the theater originally housed legends like Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Louis Armstrong. – Sami Promisloff
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This section's contents are produced entirely by student journalists, brought to Billboard.com by UWIRE, the leading provider of student-generated content. UWIRE aims to identify and promote the brightest young content creators and deliver their work to a larger audience via professional media partners such as Billboard.com. Visit UWIRE.com to learn more. |
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- Amherst, Massachusetts
- Athens, Georgia
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This town profile was produced entirely by student journalists from The Red & Black, the leading news source for the University of Georgia community. You can learn more about the individual student contributors by visiting their profiles on UWIRE.com:
Text: Sami Promisloff, Alec Wooden
Photos: Sami Promisloff
Video: Jason Miller of Eikon
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