Athens is known for its contributions to the rock and roll canon—our lil’ town birthed R.E.M., The B-52s, Pylon, Widespread Panic, Neutral Milk Hotel, of Montreal and Drive-By Truckers, among others—but there’s a lot more going on locally. There are thriving hip-hop and Latinx scenes. Roots music, including country and Americana, can be found just about everywhere, as can experimental and genre-defying acts. Athens is home to a remarkably high number of music venues, given its population size, and they range from small side rooms to the large arena.
Trust us when we say that Flagpole is your No. 1 source for all things Athens music, from the weekly print edition and comprehensive events calendar to our online premieres, photo galleries and beyond. Covering local music was our founding mission, and it remains an integral part of who we are at Flagpole and what we do.
Explore the History
The streets of downtown are decorated with the Athens Music Walk of Fame, which honors the movers and shakers who helped place our town on the map as a musical destination. New inductees are added every year, and Flagpole is honored to be among those announced for 2025. The walk recognizes honorees with bronze plaques that are embedded along a route that passes notable music venues. For a map and more information about each plaque, visit accgov.com/9580/Athens-Music-Walk-of-Fame.
The new Akins Ford Arena houses the Georgia Music Collections, which showcases music artifacts, instruments and memorabilia from the UGA Special Collections Libraries. It features over 200 artifacts spanning eight decades of Georgia music history, including pieces of Athens like the performance outfits and iconic beehive wig worn by Cindy Wilson of The B-52s. Formal tours of the collection are currently on a pop-up basis, but interactive displays allow for informative self-guided tours. More information and a calendar of events can be found at classiccenter.com.
There are a number of documentaries so you can take your exploration home with you. The 1987 documentary Athens, GA: Inside/Out is essential viewing for any aspiring local music buff for its interviews and live footage from the mid-’80s scene. Released in 2021, Athens/Inside-Out 2: Red Turns Into Blue follows up over 30 years later. For another glimpse into today’s cultural landscape, check out local filmmaker James Preston’s pair of documentaries Athens Rising: The Sicyon Project and Athens Rising 2: Transmittance (both free at athensrising.com), which compile vignettes of DIY house shows, festivals, performance art, comedy, restaurants and other interesting local organizations and independent businesses.
Don’t Miss the Present
Can’t make it out to a show you’ve been anticipating, or just want to relive it all again? There’s a good chance that the Athens GA Live Music YouTube channel has you covered. Gregory Frederick and Frank Russell document as many local and touring bands gracing stages across the city as they can each week. Check flagpole.com on Tuesdays for a curated recap of videos.
JOKERJOKERtv is a community platform that streams Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. on YouTube and Twitch, featuring interviews with musicians and creatives, local music videos and live studio performances. Each week spotlights something new, and there are sideshows by Athens content creators and entrepreneurs.
Tune In, Listen Up
You can hear local music all over the airwaves, starting with WUOG 90.5 FM, UGA’s student-run station that broadcasts “Live in the Lobby” performances every Tuesday and Thursday. 2022 marked WUOG’s 50th anniversary. University-chartered NPR affiliate WUGA 91.7 and 94.5 FM air “Sound of Athens” and “New South Showcase” segments of live concert recordings.
In terms of nontraditional airwaves, Ort Internet Radio, known as w.O.R.T. and named for Athens music figure William Orten Carlton, streams music from local musicians and frequent touring artists of our town. To listen, visit athensgeorgialive.com.
Music Venues
Athentic Brewing Co.
108 Park Ave. • 706-850-6252 • athenticbrewing.com
The patio of this Normaltown neighborhood brewery hosts a number of festivals and dance parties, in addition to singer-songwriters, folk acts and indie bands.
Boar’s Head Lounge
260 E. Washington St. • 706-369-3040 • instagram.com/boarsheadlounge
Classic rock or cover bands can usually be found on busy weekends with weekday open mic nights.
Bolo Bolo
160 Winston Dr., #2 • instagram.com/bolo.bolo.ath
Off the beaten path space hosts creative and genre-defying acts in an intimate setting with a DIY and house show-like energy.
Buvez
585 Barber St. • 706-850-0172 • instagram.com/buvez_athens
Located in the Boulevard neighborhood, this tucked away café frequently hosts local indie, pop, punk and electronic acts.
Ciné
234 W. Hancock Ave. • 706-353-3343 • athenscine.com
While films are playing up on the big screens, live bands can often be found performing across the foyer in The Lab. With a large projector setting the backdrop for the stage, you can find anything from folk singer-songwriters to hip hop and metal acts here.
Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
271 W. Hancock Ave. • 706-410-1043 • creaturecomfortsbeer.com
Live music in the courtyard is a staple at the Athens Farmers Market every Wednesday.
The Classic Center
300 N. Thomas St. • 706-357-4444 • classiccenter.com
The theater, Grand Hall, 440 Foundry Pavilion and Akins Ford Arena host big-ticket touring acts.
Flicker Theatre & Bar
263 W. Washington St. • 706-546-0039 • flickertheatreandbar.com
Hear a smartly booked selection of indie, experimental, metal, punk and more in the spiffed-up side room.
The Foundry
295 E. Dougherty St. • 706-549-7020 • hotelabacusathens.com
Hotel Abacus’ restaurant and event venue hosts trivia, private events and the occasional concert.
40 Watt Club
285 W. Washington St. • 706-549-7871 • 40watt.com
The world-renowned 40 Watt has been an Athens institution since 1978. Touring artists and locals share its hallowed stage.
Georgia Theatre
215 N. Lumpkin St. • 706-850-7670 • georgiatheatre.com
Owned by Live Nation and booked by Zero Mile, this is the downtown spot for trendy touring acts. The rooftop bar also features live music and DJs during warmer months.
Hendershot’s
237 Prince Ave. • 706-353-3050 • hendershotsathens.com
A welcoming java joint and pub known for evening shows, open mic nights and more.
Little Kings Shuffle Club
223 W. Hancock Ave. • 706-369-3144 • instagram.com/littlekingsshuffleclub
This historic space with a great patio occasionally hosts special events and dance parties.
Live Wire
227 W. Dougherty St. • 706-543-8283 • livewireathens.com
A state-of-the-art space with a plant-filled courtyard that hosts weddings and other special events, but also books live music concerts.
MaiKai Kava Lounge
1035 Baxter St., Suite A • 706-850-0813 • instagram.com/bulaatmaikai
Sober space hosting weekly open mics with occasional shows featuring local musicians.
Marigold Auditorium
373 N. Church St., Winterville • 706-742-0823 • wintervillecenter.com/marigold-auditorium
Built in 1953, the auditorium recently reopened after extensive restorations and renovations as a state-of-the-art performance venue hosting musical groups and theatrical productions.
Morton Theatre
195 W. Washington St. • 706-613-3770 • mortontheatre.com
Built in 1910, the historic building carries on Hot Corner’s legacy with gospel and soul, but it also hosts a variety of touring shows.
No. 3 Railroad Street
3 Railroad St., Arnoldsville • 3railroad.org
An informal community space hosting porch concerts for singer-songwriters, acoustic acts, bluegrass, country and more.
Normal Bar
1365 Prince Ave. • 706-548-6186 • instagram.com/normal_bar_athens
A Normaltown hot spot with a popular patio, the bar occasionally hosts intimate shows with local acts.
Nowhere Bar
240 N. Lumpkin St. • 706-546-4742 • instagram.com/nowherebarathensga
Frequent local and touring talent with a focus on blues, funk and rock.
Paloma Park
235 W. Washington St. • 706-850-7356 • palomapark.com
The restaurant’s large outdoor beer garden hosts bands that play live in front of the jumbotron during warmer months.
Red Line Athens
1958 Winterville Rd. • instagram.com/redline_athens
One of Athens’ few remaining DIY venues recently renovated to host outdoor and indoor punk, hardcore and metal shows.
Rialto Club
500 College Ave. • 706-546-0430 • indigoathens.com/events
Located on the ground level of Hotel Indigo, this upscale space hosts wedding receptions, meetings and concerts.
The Root
1235 S. Milledge Ave. • 706-395-6278 • therootathens.com
Located below The Pine, this Five Points neighborhood basement bar also hosts live music.
Terrapin Beer Co.
265 Newton Bridge Rd. • 706-549-3377 • terrapinbeer.com
In addition to its large outdoor area, Terrapin has a separately ticketed indoor space with state-of-the-art sound and lighting to showcase country, folk, jam, rock and more.
UGA Performing Arts Center
230 River Rd. • 706-542-4400 • pac.uga.edu
Classical performances from students and faculty, plus celebrated symphonies, performers from around the world and much more.
VFW Post 2872
835 Sunset Dr. • 706-543-5940 • facebook.com/vfwpost2872
This space near Bishop Park hosts a variety of events, including live music from country and rock bands, karaoke and Rabbit Box Storytelling.
work.shop
160 Winston Dr. #9 • 706-247-4513 • workshopathens.com
This community-oriented space hosts occasional shows and late-night raves in addition to a variety of classes and improv, comedy, dance and other performances.
The World Famous
351 N. Hull St. • 706-543-4002 • facebook.com/theworldfamousathens
A tiny room with a ton of character, featuring indie, punk, dance music and beyond.
On the Record
Looking to pick up some albums while in town? These are our locally owned stores:
Indie South
470 Hawthorne Ave. • 706-850-0644 • theindiesouth.com
Record collector Kurt Wood curates a wide selection of vinyls within this boutique store.
Graveyard Records & Comics
11661 Commerce Rd. (inside J&J Flea Market) • 706-255-5427
Diverse selection with a focus on niche genres and underground artists.
Low Yo Yo Stuff Records
261 W. Washington St. • 706-340-0473 • facebook.com/lowyoyostuff
A wide variety of music sold by super-knowledgeable clerks.
The Record Booth
1743 Lexington Rd. (inside Lexington Vintage) • 706-227-6867 • facebook.com/therecordbooth
Specializing in vintage vinyl, new arrivals are added every week to a healthy stock of rock, jazz, blues, soul and more.
Rock Nobster
52 N. Main St., Suite B, Watkinsville • 706-705-1459 • facebook.com/rocknobster
This vinyl record music store in downtown Watkinsville features selections across both time and genre, occasionally hosting live music.
Secret Sounds
Online • facebook.com/secretsoundsathens
Secret Sounds operates as a virtual storefront, but it hosts pop-up record fairs around Athens. Score vintage gems and browse new releases online or in person at these events.
Wuxtry Records
197 E. Clayton St. • 706-369-9428 • wuxtryrecords.com
With something for every type of music lover, Athens’ oldest record shop is a must-visit.
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