Sweetwater 420 Fest celebrates the two-decade mark this year, staying true to its roots with a fan-first experience that blends music, tasty beers, art, environmental awareness, and good vibes. I’ve been at most of the past 19 Sweetwater 420 Fests ranging from it’s days at Candler Park to the massive Centennial Park years. I attended last year’s event at Pullman Yards and got a taste for the newest era.
This year’s 3-day fest has a solid lineup leaning towards bluegrass. blues and funk with a bit of everything in between. The daily lineups are solid from top to bottom so the three-day pass is the best bet. Here’s my rundown day-by-day.
Friday Lineup
Marcus King is back to headline Friday night with his funky blues band.. The first time I saw him several years ago, he did a cover of “What is Hip?” by Tower of Power as he does in this video and I’m totally down for it. This is sure to have everyone dancing at the main stage.
Lettuce are today’s absolute funk royalty and for me one of the fest highlights. The fellas always pay homage to EWF, Tower of Power, War, The Crusaders and many great funk and soul originators of the 70s. But the highlight is always the new funk odyssey’s that they’ll take the fans on every single set.
Hiss Golden Messenger uses a base of country music to layer on blues, folk, funk, rock and a bit of everything to spice it up. This will be the first time I see this five-piece band live.
Linqua Franqa is a rapper from Athens, GA that hits on a variety of societal and political issues. She is also an activist using music for positive change.
Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge are a young, funk-soul band out of Nashville. The band is super tight and Grace has amazing guitar chops. This is one of the ‘new’ bands that I’m most looking forward to.
Saturday Lineup
Greensky Bluegrass are one of the most innovative bluegrass bands, blending traditional acoustic sounds with modern elements of rock and jam music. They formed ub Michigan about 25 years ago and have played so many of the major festivals around the country including Bonnaroo, Jam Cruise, Telluride and High Sierra. They feature complex instrumentation, tight harmonies, and a distinctive fusion of styles and have a reputation for high-energy shows and improvisational prowess.
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Drive-By Truckers out of Athens, GA have been playing gritty, Southern rock for more than 25 years.They’re known for their raw, unfiltered storytelling and emotive performances. Their albums are known for for their vivid lyrical descriptions and willingness to tackle difficult subjects with honesty and depth.
The Dip made their Atlanta debut back in 2019 and I instantly got hooked. That’s because their soulful and funky songs have that old school feel while still being fresh. Their 2024 album Love Direction has solid lyrics, all the punchy horn and rhythm lines and the great vocals of Tom Eddy. I’ve enjoyed the ride with them and looking forward to this set, another highlight.
Andy Frasco & The U.N. is straight up, a party band. They have great interaction with the crowd making every set memorable and are very talented musicians on top of that. They’ve been making a name for themselves touring endlessly for several years now and have been in many tour lineups nationwide. They recently signed their first major record deal and I’m sure will be pumped to be back in Atlanta.
Protoje is a Jamaican singer known for his blend of reggae, dub, and contemporary sounds. He’s earned recognition for his insightful lyrics, which often address social, political, and cultural themes. Protoje’s sets have smooth vocals, compelling storytelling, and innovative production.
Cassandra Lewis is a soulful singer known for her emotive voice and captivating performances. She has background in both jazz and contemporary music, and blends rich vocal textures with heartfelt lyrics.
Funk You are my hometown homies, good friends from Atlanta, and the best young funk band around. They’ve been touring nationally hitting major festivals like Hulaween regularly so they’ll light up the Sweeewater 420. Here’s a little taste from an the Whippersnap Music Festival in Florida I caught last year.
Sunday Lineup
The Revivalists have their own unique Southern funk-rock blend. David Shaw is a brilliant lead vocalist who also has a great crowd rapport. Their instrumentation with trumpet, sax, keys, lap guitar and traditional drum and base provides them great versatility in their arrangements. They’re now among the top NOLA groups touring nationally and this will be a great Sunday closer.
Cypress Hill is an famous hip hop crew out of California. They also have touches of West Coast latin and funk music. They’re also one of the first hip hop acts to embrace cannabis culture. They’re on my list of must see acts as I’ve never seen them before.
Lawrence is a band that just hits me in the solar plexus. They’re led by Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, brother and sister from Long Island, NY where I grew up. They both are amazing vocalists with Clyde also playing keys. Gracie has tremendous vocal chops and is a non-stop kinetic force. This band has it all – great vocals, harmonies, horn licks, catchy lyrics, stage presence, audience involvement and tons of fun. I first got wind of them at Sweetwater 420 in Atlanta in 2022 and their latest album Family Business was in my top albums list of 2024.
Sammy Rae & The Friends led by the charismatic Sammy Rae. Known is a high energy soul and funk group with a sparking horn section and excellent background vocals. I love their cover of KC and the Sunshine band in this video. The should get the crowd going with their positive vibes and danceable grooves.
Sierra Hull is one of my favorite artists over the last couple of years. I first saw her open for Cory Wong at Variety Playhouse and he praised her as one of the best musicians out there. She’s got a great voice, a charming personality and mad skills on mandolin. Her band is top shelf including Atlanta’s own Mark Raudabaugh on drums.
Emily Wolfe is an edgy rocker that I caught at Terminal WEst in Atlanta a couple of years back. She definitely sings with some grit with a powerful blend of rock, blues, and soul influences.
The Ries Brothers consistof brothers Charlie (guitar and vocals) and Kevin Ries (drums, keys), who blend a variety of genres, including rock, pop, and funk, with elements of electronic music. Their music has rich melodies, catchy hooks, and deep grooves. It’ll be my first time seeing this Florida-based band.