Music Midtown returned Saturday after a year’s hiatus because of the pandemic, and fans packed Piedmont Park for the annual festival featuring top-notch performers.
Organizers announced back in early August that festivalgoers would need to be to be fully vaccinated or have proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Those safety precautions did not keep the swarms away — and certainly did not make pits any smaller than past years — as about 50,000 people were expected to gather at the park by the end of the night.
“I almost teared up when I went on stage,” performer Eric Nam said with a fake cry in the middle of his late-afternoon set. “I was like, ‘live music’!”
When gates promptly opened at noon, the energy was low and only a few small groups of friends traversed the park, eventually situating themselves underneath trees far away from the four stages. It was hard to tell that the nearly empty fest would eventually turn into what seemed to be a giant mosh pit.
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
At the Great Southeast Music Hall stage, Morgan Vinson kicked off a day full of performances while people continued to take their time arriving to the site. A decent crowd formed around the stage in support of the artist, though. She started her set with her 2016 song “Uninvited” and fans immediately began to sway and cheer her on.
With still plenty of room to move about the grass, listeners tended to lay their towels down on the lawn and keep their distance from others.
“We’ve been kinda like up on the hill and if we get close to people, then we put on our masks,” first-time goers, Allahni Jefferson and Dayna Garett, said, emphasizing their continued caution despite being vaccinated.
Isolation up on the hill was not such an easy option as the day went on and more well-known artists began to play, though.
The back-to-back performers, Ashnikko and Girl in Red, saw the largest crowds by 4 p.m. Rather than encouraging a mosh pit, they asked the audience to sing and dance along, which fans happily obliged.
Credit: Caroline Silva
Credit: Caroline Silva
However, artists who did ask fans to open a mosh pit made sure to take into consideration that the pandemic continues to affect those around us.
“We love a good mosh pit as long as you’re respectful of those around you,” the lead singer of Mom Rock shouted from the stage into the dense crowd during the band’s early afternoon set.
The crowds at the venue finally began to settle by AJR and 21 Savage as the lines to get into the park nearly disappeared around 7:30 p.m.
AJR, the first trio of brothers performing Saturday night, began their show with “OK Overture,” the encapsulating interlude to their latest album. Moving straight into the second song in the album, “Bummerland,” the crowd jumped, cheered and sang each lyric with precision and passion.
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
On the other side of the park, 21 Savage began his performance with songs from his newest album “Savage Mode II,” which serves as a sequel to his original 2016 release “Savage Mode.” At that point, the pits at both stages were huge and social distancing was nearly impossible to practice, but the required safety precautions kept many fans at ease.
“I wouldn’t have come to Music Midtown if they weren’t requiring it. I don’t know if people are faking vaccine cards, but I mean it’s nice to know that everyone here is being safe,” Chloe Siegner said.
Looking forward to Maroon 5 and the Jonas Brother′s closing set, Sam and Haley McIntruff drove all the way from North Carolina and admitted they were afraid the festival wouldn’t go on after Imagine Festival canceled only 24 hours before gates opened. They were happy the show went on despite the drizzle that started in the late afternoon.
Under a starless sky and a light drizzle, the Jonas Brothers began their set on the Roxy stage with their new single “Remember This,” which is a part of their soon-to-be-released album and name of their current tour. Despite it being a relatively new song, fans knew most lyrics and instead of singing along — they yelled. The hype for their newer songs was far outmatched when the trio broke into their most popular song “That’s Just The Way We Roll,” which the crowd had been begging for since the beginning of their set. To say the least — fans were pleased when the song started.
But it wasn’t until their performance of “Burning Up” that the entire venue went crazy with excitement. Flames shooting from the stage before the music even started, every fan knew exactly what was to come next and they jumped right into the first lyrics as soon as the song began.
With the Jonas Brothers’ crowd only allowing for small, restricted movements as the pit seemed to continue on forever, Siegner and fellow fan Skylar Ellery were “very happy” about the vaccination and negative test requirements. For them it meant they could join the huge crowd without fear.
At the Verizon stage where Maroon 5 was performing the final show of the day, an equally large crowd dispersed across the lawn and up into the hills. Shirtless, yet completely covered with tattoos, lead singer Adam Levine serenaded the crowd with the hit song “One More Time.”
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
Credit: Ryan Fleisher
As the band closed its set, which featured an incredible light show, people left the park at various exits and took to the dimly lit Midtown streets in search of their cars or nearest Uber or Lyft ride. Some complained their feet hurt while others held a steady smile as their eardrums continued to buzz from the aftermath of live music.
“Guys, look at this, it’s a concert! A concert!” Levine shouted with sheer excitement in between songs in the middle of his set.
About the Author
