Festival attendees flocked onto the grounds of Centennial Olympic Park by the masses for this year’s SweetWater 420 Fest 2015, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 17th – April 19th. Atlanta is increasingly trying to stake it’s claim as the South’s Mecca for music, and with the ever-growing list of “can’t miss” musical events, the city is making a valid point. This year’s Sweetwater 420 Festival is one of those events that helps make a strong case, brandishing a star studded lineup with huge acts on each day of the three day event.
Things kicked off Friday around 4pm with music being played at three different stages, as well as a comedy tent. Acts such as the hometown favorite Ployd and Elliot Lipp shook the not-so Silent Disco stage that was reminiscent of an underground Roman Coliseum in which the musicians were the gladiators.
The Main Stage hosted a variety of acts on Friday night. Beats Antique brought their own unique style of electronic music to an ever-loving crowd, getting things primed up for the acts to follow.
Thievery Corporation was the next in line to WOW the crowd, and they did just that. With a number of guest appearances ranging from hip-hop artists Mr. Lif to Ras Puma (who added to the already thick reggae roots of the band on the song “Amerimacka”) it looked as if the stage was at max capacity. Thievery closed things off with a nod to the state of Georgia and our very own Godfather of Soul, James Brown, doing their take on “Get on Up” before ending things with “Thank You For Lettin’ Me Be Myself.”
‘Big Uncle’ Snoop Dogg closed things off on Friday night in fashion as only he can. He decided to put his Reggae Snoop Lion alter ego on the shelf for the night and treated the crowd to the classics, getting the biggest cheers on hits like “Drop it Like it’s Hot” and “Gin and Juice.” At one point he inexplicably asked the crowd if they liked rock and roll and sat back smoking a left handed cigarette as Joan Jett’s “I love Rock and Roll” played over the speakers. It was obvious that he was enjoying himself and the crowd fed off of it, especially at the end when he decided to give us the best advice anyone dished out all weekend. “Smoke Weed Every Day”.
Saturday started off with a bang, literally as the thundering rain fell on the concert-goers by the truck load. Of course, this did not help dry the already grass challenged mud pits that were created the day before, and caused a scene that some could’ve been mistaken for the famed of edition of Woodstock in 94’. However, the rain seemed to dampen everything but the crowd’s spirits, which seemed to be flying high on Saturday, and for good reason.
With local acts such as Skymatic and Modern Measure gearing up the crowd earlier in the day, things came to a head when the headliners made their appearances.
The Wood Brothers and Anders Osborne played enlightened sets on the main stage before turning things over to the ‘hardest working guitarist in the scene,’ Warren Haynes and his band Government Mule. Gov’t Mule helped the crowd trade in their mud boots for dancing shoes for favorites such as “Steppin Lightly” and “Thorazine Shuffle,” leaving the sold out crowd of 22,000 smiling.
While The Floozies got the crowd jumping at Planet 420 Stage, Primus took control of the main stage, giving the crowd a killer show. Fresh off of their Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory tour, Primus decided to show us some of that side, before breaking out the big guns with hits such as “Mr. Crinkle,” “Jerry was a Race Car Driver,” and a very fitting “My Name is Mud” which really could’ve been the theme song for the entire weekend.
Cage the Elephant closed things down on Saturday night, with their form of funk inspired alternative rock.
The crowd showed up in large numbers again on Sunday to help finish the festival out with another day of muddy musical goodness.
The Kyle Hollingsworth Band and The Revivalists put on great shows before it was the main act’s turn to light up the stage. Slightly Stoopid did just that, once again proving why the late and great leader of Sublime, Bradley Nowell, gave them his blessing before passing.
The weekend was closed out by crowd favorites such as the jam band moe. and the hip-hop rock styles of 311, who were able to get the sold out crowd going one more time by busting out a show full of hits like “Down” and “Come Original;” once again proving, you never miss a Sunday show!
Along with the incredibly diverse lineup of musicians the festival also bolstered a lengthy line of food trucks and top-notch vendors such as the leatherwork of Lost Sailor Designs, not to mention all the fresh Sweetwater brews one’s heart could ever desire.
All in all Sweetwater 420 Fest was another one for the record books, and we can only hope that it continues it’s steady growth in bringing such high quality musical acts to the great city of Atlanta.