For many Westminster upperclass students, the legendary Music Midtown Festival is a highlight of their high school experience. Music Midtown is an annual event held in mid-September, typically kicking off on Friday evening and concluding late on Sunday night. Once a year, Westminster students and music enthusiasts alike take to the grassy fields of Piedmont Park to enjoy three thrilling days of live music. However, unbeknownst to many of the attendees belting their hearts out, Music Midtown could potentially be gone forever.
The festival was founded in 1994 by Atlanta-based music promoters Alex Cooley, Peter Conlon, and Alex Hoffman. They hoped to create an event similar to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, displaying a variety of their favorite musical styles. The festival has featured pop, jazz, soul, rap, and rock artists and groups from a plethora of other styles that represent the rich Atlanta music scene. Recent headliners include Billie Eilish, P!nk, Pitbull, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Post Malone.
While this festival is undoubtedly a longstanding tradition, it has not continued without adjustments. Over time, the venue of Music Midtown has shifted due to urban construction, guest convenience, and capacity requirements. Initially, in 1994, the festival was housed in the heart of the Midtown business district on a plot of undeveloped land, but over time the area was purchased, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta replaced the original Music Midtown location. After, the festival moved to the Centennial Olympic Park, but, due to logistical concerns, later switched venues again. For the past few years, Piedmont Park has been the festival’s home base.
Since its founding in 1994, the annual event has also been subject to some interruptions. For 2006 to 2010 the festival went on hiatus, reportedly due to the rising costs of the event space and competition from other festivals. Much to many concert-goers’ excitement, the event returned as a single day event in September 2011 at its current home, Piedmont Park. Coldplay and The Black Keys headlined the event, officially marking the return of the festival. The festival continued operating smoothly until 2020 when it was canceled due to health risks from the global COVID-19 pandemic, though it made an exciting comeback in 2021.
In 2022, however, the concert was unexpectedly canceled, this time due to a cause that few anticipated: gun control. While the Music Midtown leadership cited, “circumstances beyond their control,” as the cause of the last-minute cancellation on social media, anonymous sources reported connections between the cancellation and Georgia’s Safe Carry Protection Act. The law, established in 2014, allows guns to be carried in public spaces, with some exceptions. Because Piedmont Park is a communal space, worries arose about whether the festival coordinators could enforce a gun-free zone. The inability to restrict firearms led to the last-minute cancellation, disappointing many fans.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the festival returned for a thrilling performance in 2023 with a strict no-weapons policy, boasting popular headline artists including Pitbull and P!nk. Unfortunately, the excitement did not last for long. In early April, it was announced – once again through social media – that the festival would be going on hiatus this September. An explanation did not accompany the 2024 cancellation, but an encouraging message telling fans to stay tuned for future updates and “continue supporting the live music in Atlanta” was shared.
The mysterious cancellation has provoked mixed emotions among the Westminster student body. While many students are upset that they won’t get the chance to attend, others, discouraged by the crowds and high ticket prices, are unbothered.
Not all students feel at home in the loud crowds and, oftentimes muddy, Piedmont Park fields. Rising ticket prices also deter some possible attendees. While two-day ticket prices started at roughly $15 dollars in 1994, in recent years, similar two-day general admission passes cost between $135-$160, with VIP prices reaching around $600.
For many, the thrilling experience of jumping up and down in the mosh pits and belting to song lyrics backed by live performers is worth the costs.
“I had so much fun at Music Midtown last year. Pitbull’s performance was definitely a highlight!” shared senior Anjini Naidu.
“The experience definitely does justify the cost,” said senior Augie Bunting.
Despite the mixed opinions regarding festival attendance, one thing is for certain: the Atlanta music community will sorely miss the festival this fall. While fans wait for more news, they hold their breath, hoping this hiatus won’t mirror the five-year event break in 2006. The music community optimistically hopes for a strong comeback of the iconic festival in 2025!
Edited by Lauren Foglesong
