This past weekend, I dove headfirst into the marathon that is the Shaky Knees festival here in Atlanta: three full days of bouncing between four stages, plus two nights of midnight shows at partnering venues. By the end, I saw 26 bands (whew!). My feet are still recovering, but my spirit feels absolutely recharged.
Here are a few things that stood out to me:
- Live music is thriving. Every stage was filled with artists giving their all, and the crowds showed up in force.
- The joy of making music is undeniable. No matter the genre, every band, and especially the lead performers, brought a genuine connection to their songs that was impossible to miss.
- Music brings people together. Even in the heat, dust, and exhaustion, what I saw was kindness, respect, and a shared love of sound. And yes, even the mosh pits were “gentle” compared to the chaos of my youth.
- Music is a safe space. It allowed us (artists and audience members) to express ourselves fully and even wrestle with hard truths in a way that felt unifying rather than dividing.
The future of live music looks bright, and I was especially thrilled to run into three of our former students who were there soaking it all in. What a powerful reminder that the seeds we plant as teachers and therapists grow into a lifelong love and engagement with music.
Here’s what this weekend reminds me: recorded music always matters. It’s how we replay songs that mean something to us and how artists share their work with the world. But there is something about being there live that gives us the full scope of an artist’s message: the nuances, the energy in the air, the collective experience of sound that you cannot quite capture any other way.
So if you haven’t been to a live show lately, consider this your nudge. Whether it is a massive festival, a neighborhood concert, or one of our own student showcases, being there in person reminds us why music is so vital. It moves us, it connects us, and it gives us a place to belong.
-Allison Jarrell, Founder & CEO of Metro Music Makers