Athens is a consolidated city-county in the U.S. state of Georgia. Downtown Athens lies about 70 miles (110 km) northeast of downtown Atlanta. The University of Georgia, the state's flagship public university and an R1 research institution, is in Athens and contributed to its initial growth. In 1991, after a vote the preceding year, the original City of Athens abandoned its charter to form a unified government with Clarke County, referred to jointly as Athens–Clarke County where it is the county seat.
John Michael Stipe is an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.
Murmur is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on April 12, 1983, by I.R.S. Records. The album was recorded at Reflection Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, with musicians Don Dixon and Mitch Easter serving as producers. Murmur drew critical acclaim upon its release for its unusual sound, defined by lead singer Michael Stipe's cryptic lyrics, guitarist Peter Buck's jangly guitar style, and bass guitarist Mike Mills's melodic basslines. In 2003, the album was ranked number 197 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". It retained the position in the 2012 list and was raised to number 165 in the 2020 revision.
Martha Kristin Hersh is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and composition style ranges from jaggedly dissonant to traditional folk. Hersh's lyrics have a stream-of-consciousness style, reflecting her personal experiences.
James Victor Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, West of Rome, was released in 1990. His commercial breakthrough came in 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a charity record of alternative artists covering his songs.
Pylon was an American new wave/post-punk band from Athens, Georgia, United States, who were active from 1979 to 1983, 1989 to 1991, and 2004 to 2009. The band consisted of singer Vanessa Briscoe Hay, guitarist Randall Bewley, bassist Michael Lachowski, and drummer Curtis Crowe. They released three studio albums and a number of singles from 1979 to 1990, as well as a live double album in 2016.
Bertis Edwin Downs IV is an American entertainment lawyer. He provides legal counsel for the rock band R.E.M., later also assuming management duties after the departure of original manager Jefferson Holt. He is usually credited simply as the band's "Advisor".
The music of Athens, Georgia includes a wide variety of popular music and was an important part of the early evolution of alternative rock and new wave. The city is well known as the home of chart-topping bands like R.E.M., Widespread Panic, The B-52's, and several long-time indie rock groups. Athens hosts the Athens Symphony Orchestra and other music institutions, as well as prominent local music media, such as the college radio station WUOG. Much of the modern Athens music scene relies on students from the large University of Georgia campus in the city. The University sponsors Western classical performances and groups specializing in other styles.
AthFest is a free annual music and arts festival in Athens, Georgia, first held in 1997. The festival spans three days in the downtown area during the summer, and planning for the event begins in November. Jared Bailey founded the festival to promote the music of Athens, Georgia; he was formerly of the free alternative weekly Flagpole and the influential early nightclub the 40 Watt Club. In 2009, AthFest became the 501(c)3 non-profit AthFest Educates, which seeks to advance high-quality music and arts education for local youth and the Athens community through direct support of school and community-based programs and events, including an annual music and arts festival. In 2010, AthFest Educates started the annual AthHalf Half Marathon as an additional fundraiser.
Athens, GA: Inside/Out is a 1986 documentary film about the mid-1980s music scene in Athens, Georgia. The film has been described as "the definitive portrait of the city's world-renowned music scene."
David Barbe is an American musician and producer/engineer from Athens, Georgia and director of the Music Business Certificate Program at the University of Georgia. He is chief of Chase Park Transduction studio in Athens. Barbe is known for his work as a songwriter, singer, guitarist, and bass guitarist in Sugar, Mercyland, and Buzz Hungry, as well as solo performances. He has produced nearly every album by the popular country rock band Drive-By Truckers, and has worked as producer and engineer with Son Volt. He has an all-star solo band in Athens called the Quick Hooks.
Nine High a Pallet is the first studio album by brute., a band based in Athens, Georgia, USA, which was a collaboration band between the guitarist Vic Chesnutt and members of Widespread Panic. The album was recorded at John Keane 's studio in Athens, Georgia.
Nuçi's Space is a resource center based in Athens, Georgia, United States, which provides rehearsal and performance space for local musicians, as well as services to support the well-being of the music community. As the global center for local music, Nuçi's Space seeks to preserve and enhance the music community in Athens through operating facilities, as well as services that support the well-being of performers and the local musicians community. In 2013, the company purchased the steeple of the former St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Prior to its demolition, the church was noted as being the venue for the 1980 debut performance of the band that became R.E.M.
Scott Stuckey is an American filmmaker and record producer from Washington, D.C. Stuckey is best known as the creator of the television show Pancake Mountain, as well as his work with singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt.
John Denison Keane is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, his hometown, which opened in 1981.
Five Eight is a band from Athens, Georgia, USA.
Reptar is an American band from Athens, Georgia founded by members Graham Ulicny, Ryan Engelberger (bass), William Kennedy (keyboards) and Andrew McFarland (drums).
Athens Tango Project is an Argentine tango music band founded in 2012 in the city of Athens, Georgia by Laura Camacho, a Double bass musician from Buenos Aires, featuring Monique Osorio on vocals, John Phillips on drums, John Cooper on violin, and Matt M Vu, David Marcus, on piano. The extended lineup includes Keiko Ishibashi, Franziska Brunner, Teresa Grynia, Curran Pendergrast, Bill Oglesby, Daniel Allen, James Perkins, Jaime Antonio Cardenas Espana, Serena Scibelli, Fernando Deddos, and Ricardo Hurtado.
The Welcome Home is an American indie rock band from Athens, Georgia composed of Ryan Steffes and brother duo Ethan and Lane Langston.
Jeremy Ayers was an American artist, writer, photographer, and musician. Ayers was a member of the Athens, Georgia, creative community. Early in his career he was Warhol superstar and wrote a column for Interview magazine. He published three books of photography, and co-wrote songs for The B-52's and R.E.M. In 2021, a newly discovered species of ant was named in his honor.
