Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Music Festival returned to Piedmont Park over the weekend for its 2025 edition, drawing sold-out crowds for three days and nights packed with rock heavyweights and rising acts. Headliners My Chemical Romance, Deftones, and Blink-182 topped a diverse bill that spanned alternative, punk, indie, and hip-hop.

Friday’s slate was led by Deftones, with additional sets by Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, The Marías, Pixies, IDLES, Spoon, and Inhaler, among others. The mix of legacy names and buzzy newcomers set the tone for the weekend, balancing nostalgia with the thrill of discovering new sounds and artists.

Saturday brought My Chemical Romance to the stage alongside Cage The Elephant, The Black Keys, Public Enemy, The Backseat Lovers, TV On The Radio, The All-American Rejects, and Highly Suspect, plus a range of emerging acts including The Linda Lindas, Bilmuri, CMAT, Scowl, and more. The day’s lineup leaned into high-energy performances that kept the crowd engaged, whether that was through a mosh pit or a singalong.

Related: My Chemical Romance Expands ‘The Black Parade 2026’ Stadium Tour To North America, U.K., & Europe

Sunday closed out with Blink-182, Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, Lucy Dacus, Devo, Franz Ferdinand, Stereophonics, and “Weird Al” Yankovic, in addition to a deep roster of emerging artists. The finale provided a fittingly eclectic sendoff, with a blend of pop-punk, indie-rock, and enthralling sets that capped the weekend on a powerful note.

Shaky Knees’ return to Piedmont Park marked a significant upgrade in both scale and atmosphere. Long celebrated as the historic home of Music Midtown, the 200-acre green space offered expansive lawns, tree-lined pathways, and sweeping skyline views that elevate the live music experience while accommodating larger crowds. After several years at Central Park and earlier runs at Atlantic Station and Centennial Olympic Park, the move to Piedmont ushers in a bold new chapter, expanding capacity and infrastructure while delivering a more vibrant setting for festivalgoers.

In its twelfth year, Shaky Knees continued its reputation as one of Atlanta’s marquee live music events, bringing thousands of fans to the heart of the city. With its strongest ticket sales yet and a refreshed sense of place, the event reinforced its role as a key figure on the national festival circuit

For more information on Shaky Knees, click here or follow the festival on Instagram here. Check out a gallery of images from the festival below, courtesy of Emily Butler, Charles Reagan, Ismael Quintanilla III, Pooneh Ghana, Roger Ho, Stephanie Heath,