Amplify Decatur’s Friday Night Features Four Free Local Stages
To warm up for our big Saturday event featuring St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Patty Griffin, James McMurtry, The Suffers, and more, we’re bringing you FOUR free shows Friday night around the Decatur Square! Learn more below!
Decatur Bandstand
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Starting at 6:30 p.m., we’ll be hosting a free show featuring Ghoststories and The Dirty Doors: a Tribute to The Doors.
Ghoststories (6:30 p.m.) will be performing a collection of classic rock songs, jazz standards, and folk tunes. The band is comprised of Jared & Amber Humphries–a staple of the Atlanta singer-songwriter scene for good reason: winners of the Eddie’s Attic shootout, one of AXS magazine’s “Top 7 Atlanta Bands,” and rabid supporters of Amplify My Community, Jared&Amber leave audiences spellbound with an intense alchemy of roots, jazz, and theatricality.staple of the Atlanta singer-songwriter scene for good reason: winners of the Eddie’s Attic shootout, one of AXS magazine’s “Top 7 Atlanta Bands,” and rabid supporters of Amplify My Community, Ghoststories leave audiences spellbound with an intense alchemy of roots, jazz, and theatricality.
The Dirty Doors (8:00 p.m.) celebrates the energy, excitement, and passion of the timeless music of The Doors like no other tribute band. With an intoxicating sound, provocative and uncompromising songs, and the mesmerizing power of singer Jim Morrison, The Doors had a transformative impact on popular music and popular culture. Based in Atlanta, The Dirty Doors faithfully recreate the magic of a Doors concert in sound and stage presence with all the classic hits like “Light My Fire,” “Riders On The Storm,” “Hello, I Love You,” and “L.A. Woman” for audiences everywhere.
Is there anything better than plopping down at your favorite local restaurant for a drink and a bite, and being serenaded by incredible music? Join us on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at these iconic Decatur restaurants for some truly amazing music!
Brick Store Pub, Leon’s Full Service, and Mellow Mushroom
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Brick Store Pub
Wyatt Espalin – 5:30 p.m.
Songwriter/Singer/Fiddler & Storyteller Wyatt Espalin’s folksy blend of Americana has a hint of his Appalachian upbringing. Raised on a popular North Georgia campground where he entertained the tourists with clogging and old-time fiddlin’, Wyatt honed his songwriting craft during years in Nashville. It was after he moved back to his mountain town that he started exploring the unresolved elements of his life and decided to put them to the music that brought him home.
Mark Miller – 7:30 p.m.
For more than 20 years, Atlanta based singer, songwriter, guitarist, Mark Miller, has been performing for sold out audiences at listening rooms, wineries, theaters, and festivals from Georgia to Maine. Americana Highways declared his latest recording, “Standing on Shoulders”, as “one of the years best Americana albums… if you are looking for original songs, I give you Mark Miller’s ‘Standing on Shoulders.’.” The same album was hailed by Roots Magazine as one of the 10 best albums of 2022.
Leon’s Full Service
Slow Parade – 5:30 p.m.
Slow Parade is the musical messenger of Matthew Pendrick. Based in the fertile landscape of Atlanta, Georgia. Slow Parade’s forthcoming 3rd LP ‘Maybe You’ll Come Around Again’ distills a familiar
recipe of Roots, Blues and Country into a potent elixir once known as Rock & Roll.
Kristen Englenz – 7:30 p.m.
Kristen Englenz is a Nashville-based indie singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and 2009international bird call imitation champion. Stomp and Stammer wrote, “There is a stirring intimacy to these performances that holds you in their grasp. Englenz’s debut album, ingénue (2020), recorded by Ken Coomer (Wilco), includes a collaboration with gospel legends, The Blind Boys of Alabama, on “Pray For Rain.”
Mellow Mushroom
Morgan Rowe – 5:30 p.m.
A warm alto, singer/songwriter, Morgan Rowe connects with the audience with stories of real life. Having played such venues as the Kennedy Center, The Birchmere in the DC area, she moved to the Atlanta area playing festivals and venues across the state. She’ll be at the Decatur Arts Festival May 6 at 1pm with her band Morgan Rowe Band.
Rodney Bond – 7:30 p.m.
Rod has been performing live music since the early 1990’s. His style and music are similar to such artists as The Replacements, Son Volt, and Gram Parsons. Currently he is the singer and rhythm guitar player for Boxcar Radio from Decatur, Georgia and has been since Boxcar Radio was formed in 2014. Prior to that he was a member of The Cosmic West from 2011 – 2014 and Burnin’ Rain from 2007-2010. Rod was a founding member of Room Full Of Circles–a college radio band that toured around the Southeast from 1993-1998.
Thursday Event
Thursday, April 27
An Evening With Kevin Griffin – the award-winning songwriter from Better Than Ezra has released a new book, called “The Greatest Song.” Join us upstairs at The Brick Store Pub to meet Kevin and hear about his latest project.
Sunday Show
Sunday, April 30
A Tribute To Elliot Smith at Waller’s Coffee Shop, featuring a number of local and regional acts, such as Ian Rowland, Blake Rainey, Jason Waller, James Richards, and more! The show starts at 7 p.m. and costs $10 for entry.
FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES, CONTACT Info@amplifymycommunity.org
For press/media inquires, contact Jon Waterhouse
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING, CONTACT VOLUNTEER@POVERTYISREAL.US
JOIN US.
Amplify gives every dollar raised at our concerts to community organizations fighting poverty.
The Amplify Decatur Music Festival on Saturday, April 29, will be held outside on the MARTA plaza on the downtown Decatur Square.
Parking is limited. We encourage people to use transit. The Decatur MARTA stop is directly adjacent to the festival grounds.
Attendees are also encouraged to use car services, such as Uber and Lyft.
What is the Amplify Decatur Music Festival?
What is the Amplify Decatur Music Festival?
The Amplify Decatur Music Festival is a four-day music festival taking place Thursday, April 27, Friday, April 28, Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30, on and near the Decatur Square. The festival opens with a music-themed author event on Thursday, April 27.
Here’s the schedule:
THURSDAY, APRIL 27
TICKETED BOOK EVENT
Brick Store Pub in downtown Decatur
An Evening With Kevin Griffin (of Better Than Ezra)
Co-hosted with Little Shop of Stories
6:00 p.m.
$25 for entry and a copy of Kevin’s book
Tickets available ONLINE
FRIDAY, APRIL 28
FREE SHOWS AT PARTICIPATING VENUES
Downtown Decatur Gazebo, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Ghoststories
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — The Dirty Doors: A Tribute to The Doors
Leon’s Full Service
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — Slow Parade
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Kristen Englenz
Brick Store Pub
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — Wyatt Espalin
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Mark Miller
Mellow Mushroom
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — Morgan Rowe
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Rodney Bond
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
TICKETED SHOW
Downtown Decatur Square
2:00 p.m. — Doors open
2:15 p.m. — The Sundogs
3:05 p.m. — Jackson County Line
4:00 p.m. — Town Mountain
5:00 p.m. — James McMurtry
6:30 p.m. — The Suffers
7:50 p.m. — Patty Griffin
9:30 p.m. — St. Paul & The Broken Bones
11:00 p.m. — Festival ends
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
TICKETED SHOW: 7:00 p.m.
$10
Waller’s Coffee Shop
On Sunday, April 30, Amplify will host a tribute to Elliot Smith at Waller’s Coffee Shop in Decatur, featuring an all-star roster of local acts.
What are the ticket tiers for the Saturday event?
General Admission: $75
Access to local food, beer, wine, and restrooms. All attendance is first come, first-served — no assigned seats. Allowed re-entry.
VIP: $195
Preferred seating, behind Premium Seating (first come, first served). Complimentary beverages (3 per guest). Dedicated bar and VIP bathrooms. Allowed re-entry.
Premium VIP: $275
Premium seating at the front of the stage. Complimentary beverages (5 per guest) with service at seats during intermission. Dedicated VIP bathrooms. All attendance is first come, first served — no assigned seats.
How do I purchase and receive my tickets for the Saturday event?
Tickets can be purchased ONLINE.
We recommend that you print them at home or have them sent to your mobile device or within the Eventbrite app, which you will present at the Festival for entry.
Tickets will not be available to purchase at an on-site Box Office but can be purchased on Eventbrite until 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 29.
Patrons will be given a wristband when they check-in permitting them to enter and exit the festival as many times as needed. All of downtown Decatur’s incredible bars and restaurants are available to patrons to enjoy.
All attendance is first come, first served—no assigned seats. Allowed re-entry. The festival will take place rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable in the event of severe weather conditions.
All sales are final, no refunds allowed.
What is the festival doing to protect the safety and wellness of attendees?
Amplify My Community and the Amplify Decatur Music Festival are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our artists, attendees, volunteers, and vendors.
Although not required for Festival entry, we encourage patrons to get vaccinated and tested for COVID-19, if not already. Doing so is good for the individual, the community as a whole, and will help us fulfill our mission of leveraging the universal love of music to fight poverty at a local level.
Decatur and DeKalb Police will be present at the event on Saturday, April 29. The City of Decatur fire department will be on-site for first aid needs.
What are the hours/show times for this year’s Festival?
THURSDAY, APRIL 27
TICKETED BOOK EVENT
Brick Store Pub in downtown Decatur, 6:00 p.m.
An Evening With Kevin Griffin (of Better Than Ezra)
Co-hosted with Little Shop of Stories
FRIDAY, APRIL 28
FREE SHOWS AT PARTICIPATING VENUES
Downtown Decatur Gazebo, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Ghoststories
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — The Dirty Doors: A Tribute to The Doors
Leon’s Full Service
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — Slow Parade
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Kristen Englenz
Brick Store Pub
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — Wyatt Espalin
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Mark Miller
Mellow Mushroom
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. — Morgan Rowe
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. — Rodney Bond
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
TICKETED SHOW: 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
2 p.m. — Doors open
2:15 p.m. — The Sundogs
3:05 p.m. — Jackson County Line
4:00 p.m. — Town Mountain
5:00 p.m. — James McMurtry
6:30 p.m. — The Suffers
7:50 p.m. — Patty Griffin
9:30 p.m. — St. Paul & The Broken Bones
11:00 p.m. — Festival ends
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
TICKETED SHOW: 7:00 p.m.
On Sunday, April 30, Amplify will host a tribute to Elliot Smith at Waller’s Coffee Shop in Decatur, featuring an all-star roster of local acts.
Will there be food and beverage for sale?
Yes!
A wide variety of food and beverages will be available for sale, including:
Beer provided by Creature Comforts Brewing Co., 3 Taverns Craft Brewery, wine, and soft drinks.
Food provided by Mellow Mushroom, Ford’s BBQ, Stratford Pub, and Mothers Best (Fried Chicken).
How should I get to the festival?
Parking is limited! We strongly recommend taking MARTA to the Decatur Station on the East/West line. All major roads will be open and services such as Uber and Lyft are also smart options and can get you close to the festival gates.
Where should I park?
Several parking decks and surface lots are available in downtown Decatur. You can find a guide to parking on the City of Decatur website.
Who does Amplify Decatur raise money for?
Proceeds will be directed to Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM), Decatur Education Foundation (DEF), and Giving Kitchen to aid their vital missions. The 2022 festival weekend featured Ben Harper, Old Crow Medicine Show, Son Volt, and The War & Treaty, and raised $50,000 for DCM.
Are children allowed and do they need a ticket?
Children are allowed, and kids 12 and under get in free to the General Admission section. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and no more than two children per adult are permitted.
Please be advised this is an event with alcohol sales, and we do not recommend bringing children under 12.
What ADA accommodations are available at Amplify Decatur Music Festival?
There is a specially designated section for ADA. After scanning your ticket at the entrance gate, a volunteer can escort you to that section.
Can I bring a camera, chairs, blankets, or strollers?
Cameras are allowed only if they DO NOT have interchangeable lenses. Please be courteous with the use of smartphones for photos and videos during the show.
One chair per attendee is permitted. Chairs must remain in the dedicated area in the back of the General Admission section (see map on homepage). Strollers and blankets are also allowed in the designated area (see map on homepage).
Will there be merchandise for sale?
Yes, you can purchase Amplify t-shirts, commemorative festival t-shirts and posters, stickers, hats, and artist merchandise.
What is prohibited?
NO firearms
NO glass of any kind
NO weapons of any kid
NO paint of any kind including paint markers and spray paint
NO fireworks
NO illegal substances
NO drugs or paraphernalia
NO laser pointers
NO umbrellas
NO vending without permit
NO bicycles, scooters, go-karts, or ATVs inside the gates
NO pets (service animals permitted)
NO coolers
NO outside food or drinks (food purchased outside of the Festival gates must be consumed before re-entering)
No multi-pocket backpacks (drawstring bags ok)
Any items deemed as posing a threat to the safe enjoyment of the patrons at the Amplify Decatur Music Festival
Will there be security and medical staff?
YES. Decatur and DeKalb police will be manning the event on Saturday, April 29. Any patron wishing to drink alcohol must show valid ID and will receive a special wristband. Anyone caught consuming alcohol without a wristband will be asked to leave the premises. UNDERAGE DRINKING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
The City of Decatur fire department will be on-site for first aid needs.
What if there’s inclement weather?
The Amplify Decatur Music Festival is a rain or shine event.
In the event of inclement weather, we will work with the Fire Marshall and City of Decatur officials to ensure safety of all patrons. Our lawyers want us to let you know that you, the ticket user, bears all risks, including cancellation of the event and of inclement weather. This means no refunds.
What is Amplify My Community?
Amplify My Community is the Decatur-based 501(c)(3) that hosts music concerts to raise money and awareness for locally-acting nonprofits all over the South fighting to alleviate homelessness and poverty. Formed in 2011, Amplify concerts have raised over $450,000 and over $335,000 in Decatur alone to help our neighbors who need it most.
I see Eddie’s Attic on the poster, is this at Eddie’s?
No. The Saturday, April 29 outdoor festival will be held on the Downtown Decatur Square — not at Eddie’s Attic. The event is produced in partnership with Eddie’s Attic.