Shaky Knees Announces 2025 Lineup: Deftones, My Chemical Romance and Blink-182 to Headline 

For the first time in 12 years, the much-loved festival will take place in Piedmont Park, in the slot that Music Midtown vacated. Pre-sale ends Thursday, February 27, at 10 a.m.

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Shaky Knees Music Festival is returning for its 12th year this year, bringing an impressive array of more than 50 indie, hip-hop and alternative acts to Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Scheduled for September 19 through September 21, the festival will headline performances from Deftones, blink-182 and My Chemical Romance.

Pre-sale signups for the fest are underway now through Thursday, February 27, at 10 a.m. If any tickets remain, a public on-sale will follow.

This marks the festival’s first year at Piedmont Park. Held since 2018 at Atlanta’s Central Park, Shaky Knees will now take over the traditional booking slot of Music Midtown, which announced its indefinite hiatus in 2024.

Since its inception in 2013, Shaky Knees has cemented its place as one of the most anticipated festivals in the Southeast. Known for its signature blend of hipster nostalgia and emerging talent, this year’s lineup is, perhaps, the festival’s most quintessentially “Shaky” roster in years. 

A hard-hitting undercard boasts Alabama Shakes, Pixies, Devo and Lenny Kravitz, marking his first Atlanta performance in nearly seven years, alongside returning fan favorites such as Mannequin Pussy, Idles and Cage The Elephant. Local talent adds to the excitement, with standout features from The Marías, hey, nothing and must-catch Improvement Movement. Those who missed their chance to join The Black Parade on My Chemical Romance’s recent (sold out) stadium tour will be lining up for their long-awaited headlining slot, while those who long for the days when a one-bedroom in Atlanta could be had for under $1,200 will no doubt be lighting up an American Spirit during TV On The Radio.

And for those who may sense reality increasingly blurring into parody in our world today? Well, “Weird Al Yankovic” (slated as a special guest) will be there, too.

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Lindsay Thomaston is a photographer and culture writer with a background in media and politics. Her work has also appeared in Paste Magazine, Rolling Stone, i-D, Dazed, Fashionista and Immersive Atlanta, among others.