Just like previous years Athens is ready to help the local community the best way it knows how — with a music festival.
The 16th annual Athens Community Music Festival has arrived. This festival will help the community in more ways than one. The proceeds are going to the Athens Rock Camp for girls, The Gathering Place and The Bryan Winland Memorial Art and Music Scholarship.
But, this festival is also helping local businesses, such as Donkey Coffee & Espresso, 17 W. Washington St., thrive with new business.
“Music is one of our top priorities,” said Kyle Dasher an associate for Donkey Coffee. “We have shows all time we’re a pretty well known and respected stage. We’re also very into the local movement down here in Athens. This festival encompasses everything that we love.”
Many local bands look forward to performing for the community and showing what they have to offer.
Local punk group Weird Science has been involved with the festival since its inception. Zach Fuller, frontman and founding member of the band, said he was a junior in high school when the first event kicked off and has been highly involved ever since.
“I like this festival because it has a lot more diversity as far as music goes,” Fuller said. “This festival is all over the spectrum as far as styles and experience and age. They’re people out of high school performing and then people up in their 60s and 70s performing as well.”
Weird Science will perform at the Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St., at midnight along with Dead Hand of Man, Pegasister, Red Feathers and Slut Castle.
Like most performers in the festival, Laura Nadeau is definitely familiar with this great opportunity. Nadeau is a singer songwriter, and a self-taught rhythm guitarist.
“I’ve been performing in this festival for years,” Nadeau said. “Almost 15 years now. I usually do it every year but last year I couldn’t do it because I had a gallbladder attack and I was so bummed. I get excited to perform because of what the festival is for — the great foundations that they contribute money towards.”
