Music Midtown gets bigger and better every year since its return in 2011. This year was no different, as the festival included three stages – Electric Ballroom, AT&T Live and Honda Stages, which encompassed the landscape of Piedmont Park in the heart of Midtown Atlanta on Friday, Sept. 19 through Saturday, Sept. 20. With 24 live performances in a wide arena of genres providing a broad cross-section of musical delights, as Jack White and John Mayer headlined Friday night and Eminem and Zac Brown Band closed out the festival Saturday night, MM 2014 was the place to be, basking in the Indian Summer with friends and loved ones surrounded by memorable performances from the likes of Lorde to Iggy Azalea all the while being surrounded by tens of thousands of music lovers.
Top Moments relived from Music Midtown 2014
Seeing the gates opened on Saturday at noon and watching people sprint across Piedmont Park in order to get to the front of the Electric Ballroom Stage and the Honda Stage. It was a sight to see, as people burst to each of the stages in full tilt and speed as adrenaline over took and swept them up into a frenzy. It looked like a cross between the running of the bulls or a zombie chase.
B.o.B. mixed it up and playing with the crowd, as he got off stage and right into the pit, singing, dancing and taking pictures with the crowd’s phones and GoPro cameras.
Watching Lorde’s performance Friday night was breathtaking. Initially, I wasn’t sure what her stage presence would be to go with her sound. Would Lorde hide behind her hair and be shy? I couldn’t imagine her being boisterous or loud. Once she stepped onto the stage, it was hers. Lorde was beyond impressive, as she sung into the mic and used her hair as tool, not to hide behind, rather to embolden her. Truly, it was magical watching this young woman command the crowd, all the while being humble and grateful to be on the stage.
Seeing Run DMC bring “It’s Tricky” to Piedmont Park and watching the crowd go absolutely crazy, singing along and dancing.
The true highlight of the weekend came as a surprise to me, as I watched Zac Brown Band perform with vigor and gusto as they alternated between the band’s musical catalogue, like “Whiskey’s Gone” to a Led Zeppelin cover of “Kashmir.” But what left me gabsmacked was the band’s rendition of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” I was utterly at a loss for words. In one word, epic.
It truly was a perfect weekend filled with drinks, laughter, friends and great tunes. Not to mention the outstanding weather – no rain and lots of sunshine. Like I said, Music Midtown keeps getting better and better each year. I can’t wait to see what they can come up with for next year.
Day One of Music Midtown 2014 Friday, Sept. 19, 2014
Gallery of Fans Frolicking at #MM2014
Full Photo Gallery of Ron Pope
Full Gallery of Mayer Hawthorne
Full Gallery of BANKS
Full Gallery of Run DMC
Full Gallery of Iggy Azalea
Full Gallery of Lorde
Full Gallery of John Mayer
Day Two of Music Midtown 2014 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, GA.
