Something about the tension of rising temperatures and the natural July lull in Athens has a history of making it the perfect time of year for the local punk and hardcore communities to sweat it out festival-style. Most Known Unknown, the promotion label of prolific band member and 40 Watt Club employee Thomas Kim, is hosting a massive 17-band lineup called Threats & Promises at the 40 Watt on Saturday, July 26.
The one-night festival features an equally weighted regional and local bill, including two of Kim’s bands, Arms Dealer and Big Trouble. Featured Athens bands include Centipede, Multiple Miggs, Regulator and Spoil, joined by Chloride (Atlanta), Dark Vaughn (Atlanta), Whiphouse (Atlanta), Coffee Stain (Jacksonville, FL), Magic Cross (Jacksonville, FL), Rosary (Orlando, FL), Confusion’s Prince (Birmingham, AL), Refuse to Thrive (Birmingham, AL), Pollute (Durham, NC), Coyote (Richmond, VA) and U.S. Gas (Roanoke, VA). Bands will alternate playing between two stages to keep the music flowing.
Kim was inspired to fill the void in the 40 Watt’s sparse summer schedule, as well as the one left in the community by the discontinuation of Slopfest, the townie-centric July festival founded by the late Derek Wiggs.
“With Derek Wiggs, he was one of the most approachable dudes. He was just very good about getting all kinds of cool bands that don’t usually get to play like AthFest or asked to do stuff like that. Same with the cool Atlanta or regional punk and hardcore bands,” says Kim.
As a niche genre in a smaller music city, Kim says he understands that it’s not the most approachable music. The intent is to be confrontational and loud to get the message across. But at the same time, Athens can feel like certain genres are given priority a lot more than in larger music cities. With the post-pandemic closing and changing of many local venues, some untraditional places like Buvez are stepping it up in terms of being open minded to these lineups, says Kim.
For those completely unfamiliar with the local punk and hardcore scenes, this will be a great opportunity to get acquainted with a lot of the most prominent local bands. Kim says that even the out-of-towners are great representatives of the Southern scene as a whole. One of the unique things about these bands that even makes such a massive lineup in a short amount of time possible is that they typically play 15–20 minute sets. It’s a lot of energy coming at you fast.
“Lightning in a bottle,” says Kim.
Proceeds from Threats & Promises will benefit the Athens Pride & Queer Collective. It was important to Kim to direct aid to the LGBTQ community and people of color.
“Obviously there are so many terrible, terrible, terrible things going on in the world, and there’s so many causes you can give your money to,” says Kim. “It’s not easier but… I’m just like, you know, what can we do in our own little town? I feel like it is important to try to invest in your little block.”
As the last amp crackles to a halt, the music will continue just up the street for an electronic punk-based after party at The World Famous. Doors will open for the free show at 11:30 p.m. with the music starting back up again at midnight. This lineup includes locals Obscurity and Rauncher with Atlanta-based CRT and Nashville’s Spectral Body.
“Most of the bands playing are out of town. I know we’re all going to hang out somewhere after the show, so I was like, why not just make The World Famous that?” says Kim. “It’s just like an event for all my friends to come together and hang out in the middle of summer. It was essentially like, what’s stopping us? Just like, why not? Why don’t we have an event for the townies that love punk or just want to come out to a show.”
WHAT: Threats & Promises
WHEN: Saturday, July 26, 5 p.m. (doors)
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
HOW MUCH: $12
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