PARKLIFE Music Festival

Billed as a festival, it was really just an extended concert. The first three acts were utterly forgettable but fortunately Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit were booked for a full set to headline. I have seen them 5 or 6 times over the past few years and the evolution of the band as a live show continues to impress. Jason has (correctly) been lauded for his songwriting on the past two albums (Southeastern and Something More Than Free) but the albums are relatively subdued. However, the band has done a great job of re-working them for live shows so that they absolutely rock. Sadler Vaden was always solid but has really blossomed and adds a great dimension to the live performance. And the band is tight, tight, tight. Sounds great, and they look like they are having a great time on stage. 40 bucks for regular tickets was probably okay. I dinged the festival a star because the VIP tickets were overpriced for what you got (free Sweetwater beers but pay-for bottled water?). The area was basically fenced off but with no seating so that the great swarm of unwashed massed became a smaller swarm of slightly washed masses.

Isbell put on an incredible show. Was surprised the turnout wasn't higher, but didn't care that much. I was there to see Isbell and was pleased with how intimate the park was for the show. Depending on the artists, I would certainly consider a return.

The weather was absolutely perfect this past Sunday for ParkLife. High in the upper 60's to a cool fall night. The crowd was fairly older with a few younger Drive By Truckers fans looming in the shadows. Blankets were strewn across the Promenade lawn with the sun shining with people who actually wanted to listen to music and not just be the typical drunk concert goer. Unfortunately, we did not make it to see Natalie Prass but from what I have read, she put on an excellent set. Strand Of Oaks put on an incredibly good show. This was the first time I had heard him outside of recordings and he and his band sounded very tight and really blew his studio songs out of the water. Timothy Sholwater has an incredibly clear, strong voice and is always smiling. We spoke with him after his set about guitars, Neil Young, and Atlanta. One of the nicest and most humble people I have ever met and I cannot wait to see him when he comes back after he releases a new album in 2016. Chris Stapleton amazed the crowd with his incredibly powerful/soulful voice and simple tasteful guitar playing. I was already excited about coming to this show but with the later announcement after the initial announcement of Chris Stapleton being the other act, really solidified my decision to buy VIP tickets. Stapleton's band consists of his wife (who is from Jefferson, Ga), a bass player, and a drummer. From the sound coming from the stage, you would have thought there was 8 people up there playing. Just a wall of incredibly toned instruments and wonderful songs set up things nicely for Jason Isbell. Jason Isbell blew me away. What an incredible musician and person. He has been a favorite of mine for quite some time and he always has exceeded my expectations. His set consisted of songs of his past two critically acclaimed albums, DBT songs, and an incredible Rolling Stones cover of "Sway". His voice never went off key, his guitar playing never faltered, and he played one of the best sets I have ever heard in my life. I was hoping to talk to him after the show but he had to leave to attend to his recently born child who was "out of diapers". ParkLife did a tremendous job this year. The location of the festival was fantastic, everything at the venue was easily accessible, and everyone was so friendly. I emailed them several times with questions about the festival and they always gave me a quick and detailed response. My only complaint is not having a spot front and center for VIP tickets as they were $130.00 tickets. Great job to everyone involved and I cannot wait to attend next year. Maybe do it on a Saturday and not on a Sunday evening with free beer when I have to work the next morning haha.

Awesome lineup, respectful small crowd and a nice change from the chaos of music midtown. The crowd was large enough to be fun but small enough that there wasn't a bad "seat" in the house. Sound was great, scenery in the promenade was great. Lines for f&b were quick. Bathroom lines could have used some work, but that always seems to be the case with festivals.

Great show, great venue. bathroom lines were a bit long but other than that a fun time!

The venue was great, perfect size, perfect number of attendees. Plenty of drink booths but could have used a few more food options simply to reduce the lines. The lineup was an excellent combination of complementary acts.

I loved the music, especially Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell! The atmosphere was perfect...just the right size crowd...not overcrowded like Music Midtown. The Parklife organization did a great job in making it a stress free environment. I would definitely make this an annual event. Another BIG PLUS, I was able to meet Chris Stapleton, albeit briefly after his show!

Since I'd never seen a music venue in Piedmont Park before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was actually pretty cool. The Promenade is just a flat round surface on the side of the hill with grass on it. Terrapin was providing the beer, which was pretty good, not my favorite though. The only thing that sucked was getting to the bathroom. You had to walk a pretty good ways, so if you were really needing to go, you'd have to run down the hill and wait in line. During the time I went, they ran out of WATER and didn't tell you this until after you put soap on your hands. SUCKY. Overall though, the venue was pretty cool, but I probably won't go again during cold days.

The music and the sound were spectacular. The ground could have been less muddy, but that's always something to consider when you buy a ticket to an outdoor festival. What was very strange was the layout. While the VIP port-a-potties were right by their area, we peons had to walk all the way around the stage to get to them, and they were poorly lit. Also, the food trucks were in that backstage area, so you missed a lot of the set ordering and waiting for food. I'm sure there were regulations/logistics to abide by, but that's a real inconvenience.

Jason Isbell was one of the best shows I have seen at Peidmont Park. He is a real showman and his songs are played live with so much feeling and raw emotion. I am glad he went off on his own.