Friday night will also include the first ever Up Next Showcase, with performances by and for young adults, which will be on the KidsFest stage and will feature Blue Box at 6:00, Absent Mind 6:50, Benjamin Simpson 7:40, Feedback 8:30 and DJ Nowa at 9:00.

Troy Aubrey, Music Booking Chair for AthFest said, “We’ve all worked hard to curate a well-rounded sampling of acts from our ever-shifting music scene here in Athens, including everything from acts that will feature legendary Athens musicians to some of Athens’ best new artists. Whether you are into Indie rock, Americana, soul, jambands, classic alternative Athens bands, neo-folk, country, hip-hop, or many other genres of music, we’ve definitely got something for everybody this year! I personally can’t wait to see all of these great bands perform in June and to witness Athens as we continue our town’s growth locally, regionally and nationally as a respected leader in music, arts and fun!”

AthFest Music and Arts Festival is a fundraiser for AthFest Educates, a non-profit which seeks to advance high-quality music and arts education for local youth and the Athens community through direct support of school and community-based programs and events, including the annual AthFest Music and Arts Festival, which will take place June 26th to the 28th in downtown Athens.