The Ninth annual Music Midtown festival was a 3-day music extraveganza that stretched over a huge plot of midtown Atlanta, GA. Pulling crowds each day of over 300,000 people, over 40 artists were scheduled to perform on nine stages conveniently plotted in parking lots, parks, and, well, just about anywhere one would fit. Begginning on Friday evening, the 99x stage was the center of attention with Hoobastank, Butch Walker, and Incubus headlining the night. The following night, Stone Temple Pilots, Adema, Counting Crows, and Puddle of Mudd took the stage, and Sunday offered sets from Bush, No Doubt, Garbage, and Pete Yorn. Meanwhile, at the other eight stages, the unlimited music of dozens of artists ensured everyone a good time.

      Rain graced our presence for the first two nights, even catching us through the days. Swarms of people would run for the trees and tents, avoiding what seemed like the never-ending rain. As if the raining weren't bad enough, over half of the stages were set up over dirt and grass, leaving the classic mud wars of prior festivals to yet again arise. At the end of the Stone Temple Pilots set late Saturday night, the crowd set for home, wherever that may be, thinking of nothing but the next day's events and avoiding rain at all costs.

      Sunday morning was a little more promising, offering clear skies for the day throughout. Funny how the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side", fits to the "T" here. With the sudden drop of both rain and the cold front which had graced our presence before, we were left with nothing but the sweltering sun and memories of coolness from the days before. Sun burns were apparent by 4PM, and spirits were dropping, fast. Concert-goers had gotten fed up fast, and were determined to let us know. But only 8PM, it was nearly impossible to walk through even the back of the crowd, the swarm of thousands in front of the 99x stage seemed like a never ending mosh pit, pushing and pulling, and leaving no room for movement. Traveling from one side of the stage to the other was an impossible mission I had to take between every band, (they made press walk back and forth every time) leaving me restless and ready to go home by the end of the night.

      Despite the weather disagreement and the roudy crowd, Music Midtown was the mother of all festivals in 2002. Music to fufil any apetite, and unbeatable prices (access to the concert for all three days and every stage was only $40), made the festival a memorable event that is sure to have success in all of it's future years.

- Whiz Delio
bandchat.org correspondent
Atlanta, GA
Music Midtown Event