Midtown Festival of the Arts to Take Over Peachtree Street, September 25 and 26

Atlanta’s “Midtown Mile” is really coming into its own. Chic stores, fab restaurants, people actually walking everywhere – just like a real city! And to celebrate just how far Peachtree Street and its offshoots have come in the past few years, Midtown Atlanta is throwing the first annual free Midtown Festival of the Arts this September 25 and 26. Not only does it look like a pretty great selection of artists, food vendors and restaurants are going to be coming along, but the festival will also be shutting down Peachtree Street from 5th to 10th Street to make it a for-real pedestrian event.

Joining the 100 booths for artists, performing and literary arts, a kids zone, street performers and film showings will be a one-mile race (the aforementioned Midtown Mile) from Colony Square to the Fox Theatre and lots of lovely street food vendors from the likes of YEAH Burger, JCT Kitchen, Yumbii Truck, King of Pops and Westside Creamery. Yum. Oh and a beer garden. Of course.

And for those really love their food (like us) you can go the extra Midtown Mile (see what we did there?) and get tickets for the incredible Plates on Peachtree Tasting Area, which will feature fabulous dishes and drinks from Park 75, Bacchanalia, Shaun’s, Tap, Bakeshop, Top Flr and more. We’re drooling already. Tickets go on sale August 30.

AMG Weekend Picks: Young Orchids, Caddy Shack, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Deer Tick and Crowded House!

We’re all looking forward to a weekend inside, with cool drinks and the AC turned up way, way high. So for this week’s Weekend Picks, we’re staying away from the outdoor events and have even included a movie at The Fox, because when it gets this hot, sometimes you just want to sit in a dark room and laugh for a couple of hours. We’ve also started including events that are  going on sale this weekend too, not least because it reminds us that fall is just a month and a bit away. Enjoy! … Continue Reading

Bits and Bobs: Deerhunter, Movie Music Geeks, Kele, Tron

- Deerhunter is gearing up to release their new album Halcyon Digest in September, and they’re already throwing some treats out to their fans. For the street-teamers who printed out the flyers and posted them everywhere, Pitchfork reports that Deerhunter has bestowed the tracklisting, cover art, and now a free download. Visit the album website for more details.

- In other Deerhunter news, Ohmpark is reporting that there is a concert documentary in the works, directed by filmmaker John Albrecht. Check out the trailer below.

deerhunter live – film trailer from John Albrecht on Vimeo.

- In honor of all music geeks, Spinner has a great top-20 list of the greatest movie music geeks.

- Bloc Party’s Kele is looking quite the (very emotional) fittie in his new video for the amazing “Everything You Wanted,” from his solo record The Boxer. It’s like out generation’s “Nothing Compares To You,” with the teary Sinead O’Connor. Check it out on Stereogum.

- We are really starting to wish we were at ComicCon. They just premiered the new trailer for Tron: Legacy, which may or may not look just a wee bit confusing. For folks not massively familiar with the movie, like me, go over to Gawker to check out the trailer and see the break down. The only thing missing from the trailer: the Daft Punk soundtrack. Didn’t sound like any of the robotic duo’s recognizable tunes were there.

Bits and Bobs: Jim Stacey, Dandy Warhols, The Avett Brothers, Howl, Crop Mob

- Are we the only ones who didn’t know that Jim Stacy – Star Bar owner, Starlight Drive-In manager, corndog maker, all round Atlanta hero – had a TV show on PBA-30 highlighting our town’s fab hidden food spots? Well, after last night, now we do. “Get Delicious” airs again Thursday, July 22.

- “Cool As Kim Deal” rockers The Dandy Warhols released a compilation of their Capitol Years today everywhere in the world, except America, where it comes out August 24. The band will be touring this fall and hit Atlanta’s Center Stage on November 11. Tickets go on sale July 23 HERE.

- The Avett Brothers premiered a stunning animated video, made with one gradually-altered painting, over on NPR last week, reports Paste. “Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise” is from the band’s latest record I and Love and You, but the band is already readying a new live record, which will come with a concert DVD too.

- The trailer for Howl, the Allen Ginsberg biopic staring James Franco as Ginsberg, is over on the A.V. Club, and it looks pretty incredible.

- We like the sound of these Crop Mob folks: “A group of young, landless, and wannabe farmers who come together to build and empower communities by working side by side … [with] a group of experienced farmers and gardeners willing to share their knowledge with their peers and the next generation of agrarians.” Basically they visit green spaces that need a bit of work (past “Mobs” have included Sheik Burritos and Green Leaf Farms) and just go to it. They also like to recommend places that they love, like Miller Union – a recommendation we agree with wholeheartedly. Learn more (and maybe join in) here or follow Crop Mob on twitter @CropMobATL.

AMG Weekend Picks: Hal Sparks, The Selmanaires, Counting Crows, Zoroaster and More!

My goodness, what a week. It’s been hot, stormy and maybe just a little miserable – and that’s just been our moods. Maybe it was just a full-length week after two short weeks, but we really need this weekend. There’s plenty to do, from Broadway shows to stand-up comedy, kick-ass local rock to a classic dance night. So bring on Friday night and beyond! … Continue Reading

Bits and Bobs: Matisyahu, Death on Two Wheels, Helen Mirren, Last Chance Runaround, Dark Night of the Soul

- Matisyahu will be joined by the new reincarnation of Sublime, Sublime with Rome, for a super-mellow night of reggae at The Masquerade on July 23.

- Tickets are now on sale for Kenny Leon’s True Colors 2010-2011 season. And if you order your subscription by July 15, you’ll get two free tickets for the always-popular Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity. The offer expires tomorrow (Thursday, July 15) so get on this now. More information here.

- Local rock ‘n’ roll heroes Death on Two Wheels will be kicking off their summer tour with The Rocketboys at The Masquerade on July 30.

- Our favorite harp-wielding folk rock duo Last Chance Runaround will be playing Decatur’s ace watering hole Twain’s on … Continue Reading

Bits and Bobs: Rosanne Cash, Band of Horses, Scissor Sisters, R.E.M., Big Boi

- Rosanne Cash, country star and daughter of the legend that is Johnny Cash, will be signing her book, Composed, at Agnes Scott College’s Presser Hall on August 14. The event is presented by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival (AJC DBF) and Yuengling Beer and is hosted by Agnes Scott and A Cappella Books, and will include a performance by Cash herself. … Continue Reading

Bits and Bobs: Arcade Fire, Limelight, Colour Revolt and More

- Arcade Fire will make a sure-to-be-watched-by-millions-of-hipsters everywhere (ourselves included) appearance on “The Daily Show” on August 12, just a few days after their album is released.

- Famed Atlanta nightclub Limelight will be making a comeback (sort of) for one night only at the Buckhead Theatre. Atlanta INtown has some reminisces and details. And if you really want a giggle, watch the videos (unable to embed, unfortunately) of buff men, skinny ladies and bad dancing.

- For all you Twihards out there, in honor of the latest bloody (which we mean in more ways than one) film, Rolling Stone has put up a gallery of skillfully photo-shopped rock ‘n’ roll vampires. While we do take issue with their use of the word “rockers” (erm, Miley Cyrus?), it’s still a good bit of fun.

- Big Boi throws his “Art of Life/Canvas for Kidz” benefit July 17, which will feature one-of-a-kind, original art work from some of our favorite people (Martha Stewart, Janelle Monae, George Clinton) up for auction. There’s other fancy stuff up for grabs as well as some great food, all in aid of Big Kidz Foundation. Atlanta INtown has more information.

- Paste Magazine reports on Colour Revolt‘s new album (The Cradle, our August 10) and gives away one of its songs for free. The band will also be playing The EARL on August 20.

Bits and Bobs: Big Boi, The Fat Boy Chronicles, Gary Numan, Dragonette, MIA

- Big Boi has the whole of his upcoming record, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (out July 6) streaming on his MySpace.

- The Fat Boy Chronicles has its Atlanta premiere tonight at The Plaza Theatre. The movie is sold out, but there will be a few tickets available for the after show concert at Vinyl, featuring bands from the soundtrack – including All Get Out, Weapons of Audio and Club Awesome.

- The Electro Godfather (the ElectroFather?) Gary Numan will be playing the entirety of his seminal 1979 album The Pleasure Principle at The Masquerade on October 18. Tickets go on sale July 2.

- Fabulous, stylin’ and cool band Dragonette has their song “Pick Up The Phone” as the iTunes Single Of The Week. The band plays Drunken Unicorn August 16 (tickets).

- M.I.A. drops the kick-ass rough ‘n’ ready “Teqkilla” today, as well as a nice handful of remixes of “XXXO” – they’re all up to listen to on her MySpace page.

Bits and Bobs: Harry Potter, Andre 3000 Covering The Beatles, New Of Montreal

- The latest trailer for the new Harry Potter film is now up. Though the last book (number seven, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) will be split into two films, this trailer is for both films. And it looks epic. Check out the trailer below.

- We now have a full-length version of Andre 3000 covering The Beatles’ “All Together Now,” which first appeared in a Nike/NBA commercial. It’s over on Idolator now.

- Of Montreal will release their 10th album on September 14. False Priest will feature collaborations from the likes of Janelle Monae and Solange Knowles. You can download the first single “Coquet Coquette” on the band’s website.