The fall festival lineup welcomes newcomers. Get to know Atlanta's newest music festival, Highball Fest, at Pullman Yards.
Futurebirds band members (backrow from left to right:) Spencer Thomas, Brannen Miles, Carter King, Daniel Womack and Kiffy Myers, (front row) Thomas Johnson and Tom Myers PHOTO COURTESY OF FUTUREBIRDS.
Sometimes, fledgling ideas become tradition, which is exactly what the popular rock band Future Birds (@futurebirds) takes on. This fall, look out and listen for rumblings about the newest music festival, Highball Fest (@highball.atl), featuring some of your current and longtime favorite bands. From The Head and the Heart to Band of Horses, Futurebirds, a band that started in Athens and is now a staple of any social playlist, have worked with Rival Entertainment (@rivalentertainment) to bring us a production unlike anything we’ve seen in the city. Contrary to Music Midtown, they are planning a niche and more concentrated lineup. “It’s a total dream to get some of our heroes and friends [together] to play,” says frontman Carter King. And when the birds called, much like their fans, their favorites flocked.
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What started as a fun idea to see if they could successfully curate their own music festival turned into a lesson on what it takes to bring it all together, from the lineup to rallying vendors and getting the word out. “The folks at Rival are well-versed in all that. We threw out partners that we’d love to see there,” says King. “All the food and alcohol [vendors] are coming together right now. There’s a bunch of awesome local eateries we’ve targeted for that, too.” You are guaranteed to be fed and entertained for two days straight, and with guidance from Rival, things are gradually coming to fruition. But why the name Highball? After sitting around and brainstorming the perfect moniker for the vision, they came to an agreement on the perfect title: Highball. Referencing the speed of a train, the migratory duck call, and not to mention, a delicious cocktail, they have put into a simple name the message they want to put out to their fans. If you come, you’re going to have a good time. “It’s a great fall weekend centered around fall breaks and football season,” King says. “We want people to travel to Atlanta, see how awesome the city is, eat good food and have a great time at the festival.” And with Future Birds, there will be no shortage of that sentiment.
Photography by: Futurebirds
