Amplify-DL_Official-Guide.2026

SERVING ATLANTA INTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS

S P E C I A L S U P P L E M E N T • D E C AT U R L I V I N G. C O M

OFFICIAL GUIDE

Amplified Together

How Decatur’s iconic music festival became the heartbeat of a community

By Michael J. Pallerino

BEFORE AMPLIFY DECATUR became a community tradition, before the crowds filled the Square and nationally known artists lit up downtown stages, there was a much more pressing concern: One of the headliner’s buses was on fire.

Literally.

On the way to Decatur for the first Amplify in 2016, the bus carrying the folk group Elephant Revival caught fire, destroying much of the band’s equipment before they ever reached the stage. For most first-year festivals, 2

A m p l i fy

that kind of chaos would have spelled disaster.

For Amplify, it became a preview of everything the event would eventually stand for.

Following some frantic phone calls, local music shops, musicians and community members started showing up with donated instruments, gear and whatever they could spare to help save the night. Somehow, the show went on. “It showed us what ‘community’ meant in action,” says Christine Mahin, co-Board Chair, and festival Director of Amplify, and VP at Lenz. “Local businesses

| DECATUR LIVING - S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t 2 0 2 6

hearing about someone in need and rallying to donate and support a cause.”

Ten-plus years later, that story still feels like the perfect opening note for Amplify.

Sure, the music always mattered. The Lucinda Williams singalongs. The packed crowds.

Local bands clawing their way toward bigger stages. But more than a decade later, the festival’s identity has grown far beyond the performances themselves.

From the beginning, Amplify grew into something larger than a weekend event.

Founded in 2010, its mission has always been to leverage the universal love of music to fight poverty at the local level.

“If you look around, it’s pretty obvious that something needs to be done to help those who are less fortunate,” says Mike Killeen, co-Board Chair, and President of Lenz Inc. “There wasn’t a lightning strike. It was just time to try to do what little we could to make a difference. And we felt that leveraging the power of music was the best way to succeed in that effort.”

In those early years, even before organizers could fully explain their vision, the community was on board. “I say this with gratitude and humility, but I knew right away how this would resonate with the community because every person we told about Amplify asked how they could help before we could ask them to,” Killeen says. “We sometimes say that nobody has ever said no to Amplify. And it still feels that way.”

More than 10 years and a speed bump or two along the way (COVID and the recent Square renovation), Amplify’s spirit still runs through the community. You see it in the national acts that have dropped by to play (see sidebar, “10+ Years and On...”), the local artists earning some of the loudest applause of the weekend and the crowds spilling into restaurants and storefronts long after sets end.

Over the years, Amplify has produced more than 140 concerts, raising and donating more than $645,000 in unrestricted gifts to locally oriented anti-homelessness and poverty-focused organizations like the Decatur Cooperative Ministry (DCM), Decatur Education Foundation and Neighbor in Need.

Drew Robinson, festival co-Board Chair and Managing Director at Newmark, recalls the story of how unrestricted funds from Amplify helped the DCM relocate 70 families from hotel rooms to permanent housing.

Under normal channels, the initiative would have required a lengthy grant approval process. “Without our funds, the program likely would never have been realized.”

1... 2... 3...

When the first note hits Thursday night, June 4, with Penny & Sparrow and Eliot Bronson at the Avon Theatre, Amplify will launch “A Decade of Music on the Square,” a four-day celebration spread across the Avon, the new Decatur Square stage and Eddie’s Attic.

The first music to hit the new Square stage arrives June 5 with a free performance

by Sundogs and Canyonland, followed by the festival’s marquee ticketed concert on June 6 featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Patterson Hood, and more. The weekend closes June 7 at Eddie’s Attic with the “Amplify Hall of Fame: Celebrating a Decade of Music on the Square” finale (see sidebar, Lots of Good Rockin’...).

It is there, immersed in the music, that magic happens. Today, Amplify feels less like an event and more like part of Decatur’s rhythm. A place where nationally touring artists and hometown musicians share the same spirit. Where strangers dance together.

Where the music somehow makes the whole city feel smaller and closer.

“I remember walking through the Square, beyond the festival area, seeing a couple at an

A m p l i fy

outside table on a first date enjoying Lucinda Williams’s half-bourbon, half-honey voice singing, ‘Lake Charles,’ and thinking this is a good thing for our community in many ways,” Killeen recalls. “I hope everyone always feels like they are part of a community that can do anything if they work hard, work together, do what’s right and listen to great music.”

That feeling—part music, part community and part unmistakable Decatur energy—is something Mahin says continues to define Amplify year after year. “One aspect of the festival that I’m most proud of is how positive and well-meaning the crowd has been. It warms my heart to look out across the audience each year and see people dancing, smiling, singing, helping each other. There has been a remarkable lack of tension or bad behavior. I like to think that because of the music and the magic of Decatur, the vibes are good.”

Maybe that is the real legacy of Amplify after all. Not simply the bands or the stages, but the feeling that for one weekend each year, Decatur slows down long enough to move together. Somewhere between the first guitar chord and the final encore, the whole Square starts feeling like home.

| DECATUR LIVING - S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t 2 0 2 6

3

OFFICIAL GUIDE

Where the bands are...

Your stage-by-stage guide to the acts turning up the volume at Amplify - Click here to visit Amplify AVON THEATER: Thursday, June 4 Penny & Sparrow with Eliot Bronson 7 p.m.

Austin-made singer-songwriter duo Penny & Sparrow dwells in the spaces left between contradictions and opposing forces. In fact, it’s where they’re most at home. As the title of Let A Lover Drown You suggests, they know intimately the ideas of using pain as a barometer of passion and giving as a means of gaining.

` Click here for more information

Decatur Stage: Friday, June 5 The Sundogs 6:30 p.m.

Playing every Tom Petty song an audience could possibly want to hear—all the hits and a rotation of the b-sides.

Canyonland, featuring Michelle Malone 7 p.m.

The “Take It Easy Rock Experience” is a live celebration of timeless classics from Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty and Bonnie Raitt.

MAIN STAGE: Saturday, June 6, 3-11 p.m.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, 9:30 p.m., have always made music that feels discovered instead of written. Each song drifts through American roots— music carrying heartbreak, beauty and quiet truths that feel both deeply personal and larger than time itself.

Kyshona, 5 p.m., is an American singer/songwriter. Her songs incorporate elements of roots, rock, R&B, and folk and often feature themes of liberation and community.

Patterson Hood, 7:45 p.m., is an American singer/songwriter and co-founder of Drive-By Truckers.

Through his band and solo work, Patterson has spent decades turning Southern life into something far more layered than stereotype.

Georgia Mountain Stringband, featuring Reverend Hylton, 3:45 p.m., has been captivating audiences with his sincerity, musicianship, and the raw vulnerability of someone who has walked through darkness and now sings with the light at his back.

Dylan LeBlanc, 6:15 p.m., is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with an alternative country, folk, Americana sound.

4

A m p l i fy

| DECATUR LIVING - S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t 2 0 2 6

THE AMPLIFY POP-UP LINEUP: Friday, June 5, 5-6:30 p.m.

Once again, Amplify is proud to host free musical pop-up stages at local hot spots. Here is the schedule:

Reverend Hylton

Alex Brenner

The Atlanta singer/songwriter Reverend Hylton spent the better part of the last decade touring the country sharing songs about heartbreak, addiction and traveling.

Starting in the clubs at 16, Alex Brenner has shared the stage with artists like Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks and Drive-By Truckers in his hometown of Pittsburgh. A veteran of 30-plus albums with several bands, he continues to gain critical acclaim for his honesty and depth.

Brick Store Pub Community Beer Garden

` Click here for more information Eli Blackshear

O’Sullivans Irish Pub

Eli Blackshear is a Georgia-based singer/ songwriter whose music combines emotionally grounded lyricism with a deeply human approach to storytelling. Drawing influence from Americana, folk, indie and soul-infused songwriting traditions.

` Click here for more information The Hamstrings Smiley’s Burger Club

Weaving Americana roots with a country heartbeat, reimagining pop songs, and crafting originals that hit like a shot of whiskey and a story well told.

Trackside Tavern

` Click here for more information Morgan Rowe The Marlay House

Singer/songwriter Morgan Rowe conjures up some of the best female voices, from Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls to Margo Timmons of the Cowboy Junkies. Her distinctive, sultry acoustic power pop sound draws on her experience in small town America.

` Click here for more information

` Click here for more information

EDDIE’S ATTIC: Sunday, June 7, 8 p.m.

Amplify Hall of Fame – Celebrating A Decade of Music Join us as a collection of revered local and regional artists round out the Amplify Decatur weekend by performing songs by the artists who have played the festival over the last 10 years, such as Indigo Girls, Lucinda Williams, Ben Harper, Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Old Crow Medicine Show, Melissa Etheridge, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Rodney Crowell, The War & Treaty, Patty Griffin, James McMurtry, John Paul White, Son Volt, Justin Townes Earle, Bruce Hornsby, Milk Carton Kids, Ricky Skaggs, Julien Baker, Drivin’ N Cryin’, Junior Brown, Amanda Shires, Bobby Bare, Jr., Lucero, Colin Meloy, The Mavericks, Shawn Mullins, The Lone Bellow, The Jayhawks, Jay Farrar, and Harold Holloway & Co.

Hosted By: Davi Crimmins Featuring: Run Katie Run Eli Blackshear Story Ghost Mike Killeen Wyatt Espalin Polly Holliday

A m p l i fy

| DECATUR LIVING - S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t 2 0 2 6

5

OFFICIAL GUIDE

Where’s the Music?

The outdoor portions of this year’s festival (Friday and Saturday main stage shows), will be held on the new stage in downtown Decatur. In fact, Friday night’s performance will be the first official show on the stage. Amplify is proud to hold this distinction and sincerely thanks to the city for all of its guidance and support.

See below for our site map.

Parking Parking is limited! We 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.

Amplify’s official parking partner is SP+ Parking (RMR Group), located here.

By parking there, you are supporting the organization, and you’ll only be a few short steps from the main event!

You can find a guide to all other parking options on the City of Decatur website.

6

A m p l i fy

| DECATUR LIVING - S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t 2 0 2 6

Where Should I Eat at the Festival?

Where should you eat at the festival? Decatur offers some of the best and most diverse restaurants and cuisines in Atlanta, but the following spots are official Food Partners of Amplify–supporting the organization and even offering select discounts to patrons. We encourage you to visit these friendly establishments.

The Brick Store Pub 125 E Court Square Click here for info Smiley’s Burger Club 310 E Howard Ave Click here for info O’Sullivans Irish Pub 111 Sycamore St Click here for info Trackside Tavern 313 E College Ave Click here for info The Marlay House 426 W Ponce de Leon Ave Click here for info

AMPLIFY FAQs

1. What is the festival doing to protect the safety and wellness of attendees?

Decatur and DeKalb Police will be present at the event on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. The City of Decatur Fire Department will be on-site for first aid needs.

2. Will there be food and beverage for sale?

Beer provided by Creature Comforts Brewing Co., 3 Taverns Craft Brewery, wine and soft drinks.

Amplify has also partnered with local restaurants, who will be offering select discounted food and/ or drinks, including Brick Store Pub, Trackside Tavern, The Marlay House, O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub and Smiley’s Burger Club.

3. Are children allowed?

Children are allowed, and kids 8 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

A m p l i fy

this is an event with alcohol sales. We do not recommend bringing children under 8.

4. How should I get to the festival?

Parking is limited. We 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.

You can find a guide to other parking options, click here to view from the City of Decatur’s website.

5. 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. You may bring strollers, blankets and chairs.

Placement is first come-first served and Amplify staff cannot guarantee or hold spots for attendees.

For more FAQs, CLICK HERE.

| DECATUR LIVING - S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t 2 0 2 6

7

PRESENTS

NTS

E

VIDED BY

PRESENTS

BENEFITING BENEFITING BENEFITING BENEFITING BENEFITING IN PARTNERSHIP BENEFITING WITH

r sponsors!

M

PRESENTS PRESENTS PRESENTS PRESENTS

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ININ PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTNERSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IN PARTNERSHIP W

Thank you to our Thank you oursponsors! sponsors!

Thank you toto our sponsors!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Thank you to our sponsors!

Thank you to our sponsors!

PLATINUM PLATINUM PLATINUM PLATINUM PLATINUM PLATINUM

N ATA L I E G R E G O RY GOLD

GOLD

GOLD GOLD GOLD

SILVER

SILVER SILVER SILVER SILVER

BRONZE

BRONZE BRONZE BRONZE BRONZE BRONZE

GOLD

SILVER

CRAFT BEER PROVIDED BYBY CRAFT BEER PROVIDED BEER PROVIDED BY CRAFT BEER CRAFT PROVIDED BY CRAFT BEER PROVIDED CRAFT BEER PROVIDED BY FOODBY PARTNERS