Katie Martin released a new album Hope this past Valentine’s Day and you should listen to it. For anyone who has followed her, the record is all you could hope for (no pun intended): the melodies, the lyrics, the vocal delivery, the production are all a linear step forward from her previous releases, but the unique core of her initial ear-grabbing artistry, the voice that can convey a wide range of emotions, are all still there.
Hey! Welcome to Atlanta Music Grapevine. I am glad that you found us.
I truly enjoy and am often amazed by the creative, talented people in music – artists of all genres for sure, but also the talent in music services whether the sound engineer who knows microphone placement, or the builder of custom amplifiers, or the band manager who foresees the next raw talent, or the venue owner who creates a unique vibe that attracts both fans and musicians. All of these can be found in abundance in Atlanta and out mission at Atlanta Music Grapevine is to tell the stories about all of them, and to connect them with each other.
In the past 20 years, our city, Atlanta, has almost doubled in population and there is no end in sight to that growth. The result is more home-grown talent, more talent moving here, and more places to hear live music. Any style of music you want is here. Finding it, on the other hand, is not always so easy. We are spread out and the various metro area neighborhoods can sometimes feel insular and disconnected, we want to make sure that you, our reader, begins to feel more connected with the Atlanta music scene by providing in-depth stories about the people and places in Atlanta that come together to create a vibrant music scene. In this world of Tweets and rapid-fire news updates, Atlanta Music Grapevine wants to properly tell a few stories at a time and commit the appropriate depth and focus to do so.
We are working on many cool stories, this site will be a work in progress and there will be some adjustments along the way, but we wanted to get started with some stories that will whet your appetite for more.
Your input matters, so please write to us with any suggestions for artists, venues, service providers that you would like to see covered. If you have a story idea and you want to write it and take the photographs yourself, reach out, we will make it happen.
Music is meaningful. It can be many things to many people. One thing that it is is joyful. Another is it is fun. Atlanta Music Grapevine looks forward to being part of your music consciousness and spurring a lot of fun as we grow together.
Here’s to our cool town and cool tunes.
Jeff Siewert
Chief Music Fan
Right before lunch I get in the car and turn on WABE. I hear a familiar voice and music behind it. I cannot believe what I am hearing out of the speakers and it catches me off guard a minute. “I have that record!” It is none other than Kyle Gordon of our favorite MammaBear in an interview on City Lights. Way to go Lois!
It is already time to start working for the weekend! The annual Summer Shade Festival is a wonderful kickoff to more pleasant weather outdoor entertainment. Among all the music and art are some of our favorite people including Lynx Deluxe Saturday at 3:20PM – they always deliver on stage with their batch of energetic tunes. Also check out Rare Birds Sunday at 4:00PM and James Hall & The Steady Wicked at 7:45PM. See the festival website for a full schedule!
Look at this sweet line up playing right now! It’s free!
This week marks the release of ‘Free Radical’, the fourth full-length studio album from MammaBear, the music project led by Kyle Gordon, who wrote and sings lead on all seven of the tunes, in addition to contributing drums and percussion, guitars, and bass. ‘Free Radical’ was originally recorded at Gordon’s home on an 8-track recorder during the pandemic and later finished in the studio, supported by renown local allies Benjamin J. Davidow (Gas Hound, Phantom Electric, The Buzzards of Fuzz), Josh Longino (Disapyramids, Gringo Star), and Tony W. Belser (Bloodplums), whose talents give this record a real band vibe.
There is so much good music happening all around Atlanta this holiday weekend. One show to which you should treat yourself is on Saturday September 4 as Smith’s Old Bar hosts The Ladies Of…
For a few years now we have enjoyed recordings by MammaBear, full of ear-grabbing buzzy licks and an easy, nonchalant hookiness and cool vibe.
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