MARCH 2016 THECURRENTHUB.COM
28
THE MANY SOUNDS OF SPRING Local music festivals offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and hear great music. By Jessica Diamond
There are many things we do well here in the South. However, one thing we do exceptionally well is throwing big outdoor parties the moment winter turns its back. Come spring, us sun-starved suburbanites bust out of our homes looking for parties and festivals to celebrate the return of warm southern air and everything that comes with it, heedless of the yellow blanket of pollen. In recent years, we’ve gotten increasingly good at drawing national and international crowds to our door with a truly diverse collection Hometown girl Gwen Hughes of Divas of Swing. of original music festivals. Atlanta has long been a cultural hub for the music scene, and it only continues to grow and diversify to those of us here in the suburbs. Whatever your musical tastes, you’re sure to find a show that fits your mood, be it an intimate community pavilion or a raging international festival. Atlanta and its surrounding communities truly have it all. Come May, we will see the return of Roswell Riverside Sounds Concert Series at Riverside Park. This is a favorite for many reasons, not the least of which is that attendance is free of charge. On the first Saturday of each month, May through Oct., a different live band will perform for a crowd that has typically been gathering all day. Guests can bring their own food and drinks or enjoy the food trucks that usually set up shop nearby. It’s a cozy, community driven event that is produced by the Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department. This is a great opportunity to enjoy a summer night by the river and hear a variety of bands, both new and renowned. Learn more at www.roswellgov.com. If you’re in need of Friday night entertainment this summer, look no further than the Chukkar Farm T.G.I.F. Concert Series by the musically inclined nonprofit, Atlanta Plays it Forward. Guests can enjoy a different musical experience every third Friday of the month, April through Oct. at the Chukkar Farm pavilion in Alpharetta. The lineup has already been set for the 2016 season and