Radfest returns Friday, January 19, at eyedrum art & music gallery. ALL AGES!

This year’s lineup is stacked with punk, post-hardcore, and noise galore.

Two stages this year! Gebidan marks their live debut. The trio features Mike Patton of The Middle Class, a group that is often cited as the first hardcore band EVER. He was in Cathedral of Tears with Jack from TSOL, Eddie and The Subtitles, and Trotsky Icepick too! Patton lives in Georgia now. With Gebidan he’s part of a new trio that crafts a more expansive, psychedelic take on post-punk, indie, and alternative rock. Don’t miss it!

Whiphouse brings some death-afflicted goth punk jitters to the stage. It’s one of my favorite new bands to emerge from these parts in quite some time. Lots of homies in this group too!

WREK 91.1 FM‘s “Destroy All Music” co-host and bass player Tony Gordon teams up with guitarist Curtis Stephens for tONY cURTIS to create a scrapping, smoldering grind. Gordon (also of FREEBASS fame) is well aware of the power of subtlety, especially when it’s blasted at maximum volume. The 11 numbers that make up up their latest release “tc2” lull the ears and the brain into a meditative state by commanding a deeper and higher level of ecstatic listening. Beyond rhythm, beyond melody, and beyond the drone lie the pure sonic textures of steel strings, and they are teeming with abstract beauty and limitless prompts for the imagination.

Earlier this year, Scratch Offs hit hard with “Tidal Wave,” an 11-song debut that distills the traditions of post-hardcore’s top-tier and most forward-thinking luminaries—Fugazi, Hot Snakes, Jawbreaker, Quicksand, Helmet, et. al.—into a streamlined and modern-sounding opening salvo. They bring a fun and energetic presence to the stage, and they’re definitely a highlight of this year’s Radfest.

On stage no. 2, Michael Potter is heading up a NULLZONE showcase, featuring performances by Athens-based acts x.nte, Grant Evens, and the almighty The Electric Nature. It’s been a minute since Michael has played a show around these parts. I’m stoked to have his label playing such a prominent role in this year’s Radfest.

Shout outs and exhaustive thank yous to our sponsors: Pabst Blue Ribbon, Topo Chico, Emory University’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Record Plug Magazine (!!!), Tight Bros Network, eyedrum art & music gallery, and to Dain Johnson who created the magnificent flyer that you see here.

This will be the best one yet!