Five under-the-radar acts to see this weekend at 10th anniversary of seminal, sold-out Atlanta festival
Spacey Jane
Friday, 1:30 p.m., Piedmont
As you know by now, BLANK Newspaper loves some Australian rock music – as does Shaky Knees Music Festival, which has featured Tame Impala, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Courtney Barnett in the past. It is fitting, then, that we start off our must-see list with Spacey Jane, one of the hottest bands right now out of Western Australia. The group formed in Fremantle in 2017, released its debut album “Sunlight” three years later and have shot up the Aussie rock charts ever since. The band’s third effort (“Here Comes Everybody,” released earlier this year) has spawned an international tour, and Spacey Jane is poised to lead the next wave of great rock bands from Down Under. The group also will be playing an aftershow (that, like the festival itself, is sold out) at The Masquerade on Thursday night with fellow Shaky Knees participants Arlie.
Surf Curse
Friday, 3 p.m., Piedmont
Indie surf rock emanating from the desert of Reno, Nevada, you say? Well, sign us up! Formed at the University of Nevada in 2013, Surf Curse first became popular in 2020 via the short-video platform TikTok thanks in part to their song “Freaks,” which since has amassed more than 755 million listens. The jangling yet smooth rhythms should prove to be nice for a mid-afternoon set. Surf Curse currently is touring off of last year’s “Magic Hour” and will embark on a tour in support of another Shaky Knees act, Greta Van Fleet, later this fall.
Peaches
Friday, 7:30 p.m., Criminal Records
This is not truly an under-the-radar act, as Peaches aka Merrill Nisker has been crafting a unique version of electro-punk for over 25 years. However, for many music fans in the Southeast, this may be the first time they’ve had the opportunity to see the artist performing live. So in that regard, this is a must-see act for us, at least. Peaches blends electronic and punk while also blurring the lines of gender and dropping provocative lyrics. Peaches as done it all in a career that has included production work in addition to costarring on tracks by such varied artists as Pink, The Chicks and Major Lazer. Her live shows and stage presence are legendary and should make for a raucous time at Shaky’s best stage. Peaches will be playing an official aftershow, as well, with Laganja Estranja at Terminal West, so if you do not catch her set at Shaky Knees proper on Friday, you will have another opportunity a few hours later that night.
Babe Rainbow
Saturday, 5:30 p.m., Criminal Records
We will be back at our favorite stage chilling for Babe Rainbow’s late-afternoon session at the festival’s halfway point. Wouldn’t you know it that this five-piece hails from the Southern Hemisphere, as well – New South Wales to be exact – making the group yet another Australian band that will have graced the stages of Shaky Knees. It plays a throwback style reminiscent of 1960s-era psych rock, albeit in a fairly laid-back way. Babe Rainbow has released five albums and a slew of singles since 2017, even collaborating with King Gizzard leader Stu Mackenzie, who produced the group’s debut album. And much like the highly prolific King Giz, Babe Rainbow released two albums in 2022 in “The Organic Band” and “Levitation Sessions.”
Olivia Jean
Saturday, 12:45 p.m., Peachtree
Oliva Jean’s ascent in the music industry has been slow and steady. During her long rise, Jean taught herself how to play guitar (along with several other instruments), perfected her writing and learned to self-record her music. This arduous effort came to a fruitful head in 2009 when Jack White received a demo and signed her to his Third Man Records label. She started the band The Black Belles with the help of White and released a self-titled effort in 2011. Since then, Olivia Jean has released three solo studio albums and one EP via Third Man. Her latest release is the new single “Raving Ghost” off her new album of the same name due out later in 2023. Get to the park early on the second day to catch Olivia Jean. Who knows, maybe her new husband might join her onstage? (She and White tied the knot last April while on tour in his hometown of Detroit.)
