Celebrating a 12-pack: SweetWater 420 Fest retains local roots

ATLANTA (March 21, 2016) In its 12th iteration, SweetWater 420 Fest – set for April 22-24 at Centennial Olympic Park – features a diverse menu of music genres with a healthy dose of local talent sprinkled in, including a pair of homegrown headliners: hip-hop superstar Ludacris and indie rock juggernaut Manchester Orchestra.

With five stages of entertainment, the three-day festival boasts an array of national headliners – including The Roots, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, AWOLNATION, Dawes, Kid Rock, Bastille, Leftover Salmon, Maceo Parker, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and Cypress Hill – but is also a showcase for Peach State performers.

“We’ve always been about retaining a local identity and sense of community,” said Jenn Bensch, President of Happy Ending Productions, which produces 420 Fest. “As we’ve gotten bigger, it’s been harder to fit those local artists in, but it’s always been important that we remain true to our roots.”

Here’s a breakdown of Georgia artists scheduled to perform:

420 Disco Stage

Electronic/hip-hop artist Daily Bread; dubstep deejay Ployd; ambient/electronic band Higher Learning; two-piece electro-fusion project Lucidea; DJ and producer Thrice Groove; electronic jazz-influenced trio Waking Astronomer; atmospheric keyboard-and-drum duo Bells & Robes; hip-hop duo Monday/Friday; and bass music/EDM outfit Marble Mansion.

Lyrics & Laughter Stage

Retro pop artist Wrenn; Funk/reggae/jazz/hip hop collective Funk You; alt-country/Southern rock band The Quaildogs; funky rock act Dank; self-described “psychofunk” band Voodoo Visionary; jam band The Orange Constant; and funk/disco/space rock combo The 200s.

Meanwhile on the Lyrics & Laughter Stage, a full slate of stand-up comedians will perform daily, all of them from the metro Atlanta area except for headliner Judah Friedlander. The local laugh-makers include Joe Pettis, Joel Byars, Dan Weeks, Samm Severin, Michael Albanese, Hank Denson, Mia Jackson, Jeremy Mesi, Greg Behrens, Amber North, Dan Imke, Kevin Saucier, Fray Forde, Ian Amber, Jen O’Neil Smith, David Perdue, Andrew George and Jeff Dauler.

Planet 420 Stage

In addition, winners of the SweetWater 420 Fest Talent Tap Contest, held in conjunction with Atlanta station Radio 105.7 and local alt-weekly Creative Loafing, will kick off each day’s docket of entertainment on the festival’s Planet 420 Stage.

Local Flavor

Besides the plethora of native musical talent on tap, other local connections run deep at this year’s 420 Fest, including many of the food vendors, artisans and non-profits that are participating.

Local grub includes: King of Pops, Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Fry Guy, Mac the Cheese, Mix’d Up Burgers, Yumbii, Corn Dog Inc. USA, Genki, Sweet Auburn Barbecue, The Bento Bus, Tex’s Tacos, The Atlanta Burger Truck, Greek Tavern and Choice Concessions.

Local non-profits participating in the festival include: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Georgia Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Coastal Conservation Alliance, Atlanta Humane Society, The Giving Kitchen, For the Kids, Aware Wild Life, Camp Twin Lakes and Georgia Jack Russell.

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.sweetwater420festival.com.

Follow the festival on Twitter/Instagram at @420Fest or on Facebook at facebook.com/420fest.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Morgan Smith-Williams, PR Specialist

Centennial Olympic Park | [email protected]

About the Georgia World Congress Center Authority

Located in the heart of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) now includes Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 3.9 million- square-foot convention center, the 71,250-seat Georgia Dome, and 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park. Additionally, GWCCA manages operations of the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. These public facilities represent the largest combined convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world. This past year, the GWCCA hosted 555 events and welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors who generated $1.33 billion in economic impact to the State of Georgia.