Come celebrate our 10th Anniversary Summer Festival and Blue Ribbon Ball AKA "The Prom" from July 25th-28th

Starlight Mints are a group of beautiful pop mutants: four oddballs whose love for archetypal pop music and AM radio has provided a rock-solid foundation for a whole bunch of inspired weirdness. They began jamming together in the '90s, giving birth to their own funky brand of heavily instrumental, surrealistically worded pop sound. Maybe you could call it bubblegum psych. It all adds up to something very grand: one marvelous piece of orchestrated, catchy surrealism after another. The band combines classic string arrangements, cheeky boyish vocals, and a feel good vibe to bring a glossy, fresh sound to indie rock.

On their sixth full-length, this Brooklyn-based collective crafts a delicate mix of hazy, airbrushed melancholia infused with a brighter undercurrent - a promise of good things to come in a country tinged manner that'll have the hardest of hearts melting. Channeling Fred Neil and Bobby Goldsboro, Gary Olson fulfills his promise as one of the more inspired songwriters of the past decade and anchors his current batch of songs with his restrained baritone.

tin cup prophette leader Amanda Kapousouz whips up an atmosphere of profound and powerful minimalism with her violin loops and energetic, but sparse beats. tin cup prophette's sound is twofold; she still holds onto the traditional Irish music that saved her from putting down her fiddle for good, and her original music forges into a genre all its own. She remains an active performer in both the indie rock and Irish traditional realms. tin cup prophette's live performances are always memorable, whether you're watching her red-haired bow blur in a whirlwind of uptempo fiddle tunes or whether you're watching her loop her violin into pedals, creating a chamber of strings to back up her voice. Currently, tin cup prophette's debut album of original songs, Liar and the Thief, is receiving much praise and was nominated for Album of the Year in this year's Flagpole Music Awards. She has also earned a four star review in Paste Magazine.

Deerhunter began in 2001 with the ambition of fusing the lulling hypnotic states induced by ambient and minimalist music with the clang and propulsion of garage rock. The band has weathered chaotic line-up changes, the death of a member, and much discouragement. Their live performances almost always leave audiences polarized. They are a five-piece based in Atlanta. Currently signed to Kranky Records, the band's recent LP, Cryptograms, was highly acclaimed, most notably by Pitchfork Media.

Philadelphia power-poppers Bottom of the Hudson are playing behind Fantastic Hawk, the band's most anthemic and complete work to date (and also its first as a multi- person unit to date) with more aggressive arrangements, clearer production, and airtight songwriting without sacrificing the mid-fi charm for which the band is known.

One of Athens' hottest bands, King of Prussia's epic pop anthems will stick to your ribs. Band scion Brandon Hanick's literate, poignant lyrics bounce along rich Brit-tinged songs that recall Belle and Sebastian, Richard Hawley, and even the decidedly non-British Unrest. The band's first EP, Save the Scene, is a work of confidence and craft.

Jim Willingham is an intrepid English-as-a-second-language teacher by day and enigmatic songwriter and bandleader by night. Willingham's dusty, surf-and-western-influenced indie folk is ably fleshed out by an ace band that includes Eric Harris, formerly of Olivia Tremor Control. Add trombones, cellos, and found sounds and you have a recipe for success. Ham1 is releasing its second album, The Captain's Table, in the fall on Orange Twin Records.

Two hot girls (and one hot guy) with big love for power ballads...and lo-fi home recordings. The Folk Yous play revamped "folk-style" versions of all sorts of ridiculous rock songs (think "Pour Some Sugar On Me"), often stripping them of their inherent machismo and retrofitting them with humor, grace, and just the right dose of pathos.

Zachary Gresham's long-running project Summer Hymns just released what might be its finest album ever, 2006's Backward Masks, a cohesing of the band's experimental and traditional elements. Summer Hymns' progressive Americana is bittersweet and frequently lovely, but they come imbued with a shocking and caustic wit, which often translates to the band's free-flowing live performances.

Simone rejects the generically folksy strum that keeps many talented singers stuck on the coffee-shop circuit, choosing instead to wrap her smoldering voice around dark, fractured arrangements that tremble on the verge of vanishing entirely.

One of Athens, GA’s most intense live acts, Cinemechanica has also found national acclaim for last year’s The Martial Arts, which served notice that so-called “math rock” bands can make compelling, diverse albums that capture the spirit of their live shows. Now expanded into an astounding two drummer lineup, Cinemechanica never fails to deliver a mind-bending live experience, complete with twists, turns, and buckets and buckets of filthy riffs.

Castanets is American music drowned then reborn clear-eyed and wet with sea spray. Castanets is murderous nights and the 10 west sunset and crying gulls. Castanets is Raymond Raposa. Castanets is Raymond Raposa alone, walking through the dark and crowded dancefloor, singing bare voiced (rangy, high, cracked and real) with acoustic guitar. Castanets is a four-piece or a five-piece, six-piece, seven-piece, all-of-us-everywhere-piece stomping out electric tombstone chants or something that sounds like Pink Floyd with more heart. Castanets is delta heart, Nashville hands, outer space brain. Castanets is Cathedral (Asthmatic Kitty, 2004) and First Light's Freeze (Asthmatic Kitty, 2005). Castanets is banjo and strings of bells and howling feedback and high plains drifting and horn sections and brother folk-rock riding in a beater Datsun with sister free-jazz. Note: Castanets and Phosphorescent will be playing together as one unit for this performance.

Matthew Houck's Phosphorescent recorded two frighteningly brilliant works, 2003's A Hundred Times or More and 2004's The Weight of Flight EP, both released on the WARM label to quiet but lavish praise. While they weren't widely heard, those who that did tune in felt the spark in Houck's cracked voice, wondered at the weird and beautiful poetics, sensed the involuntary smile behind the lyrics, and settled in for the ride. Aw Come Aw Wry (Misra) moved the band's loose, ever-shifting arrangements away from the sparse and melodic and toward the rowdy and unhinged, at times conjuring a free, revival-tent spirit awash in homespun orchestrations and brushed with spiritual and psychedelic undertones. Phosphorescent is entrancing, unruly, cacophonous. Note: Castanets and Phosphorescent will be playing together as one unit for this performance.

A Northern Chorus is a string-laden band of Canadians whose songs deal in the momentous and beautiful. Reviews regularly use words like "epic" and "ambitious" and they are not lying. ANC has toured the continent several times, and have even crossed the pond for a small tour of the UK. They've steadily gained popularity in North America, and are anxious to do the same overseas. Over the last few records, the band's sweeping pieces have gained tempo and volume without losing the constant striving for emotionally stirring arrangements.

Arizona is the ka-tet of five close friends who like to drink mezcal and sling songs forth. Each member dresses in a sexy pajama outfit. The band currently wanders in Asheville, North Carolina but still calls New York City home. The music sounds like sweetly sleeping faeries nestled in the dewy grass of a magical land while dark, sharp, drooling creatures lurk nearby. Arizona is a masterless wanderer. Listening to Arizona's richly imaginative music will allow you to hear colors and taste thoughts, to hold moonlight in your hand, and to better know your own heart.

Annual W's vs. K's Radio Station Kickball Tournament. Last year's game brought sweat, tears, blood, sweat, the thrill of victory, the soul-punishing agony of defeat, and more sweat. Over 50 college radio station and record label types participated in a kickball game of epic proportions. This year's event should surpass all other kickball games played ever in the history of the world. The W's are anxious to defend their crown!

Performance by Calvin Johnson. Based in Olympia, Wash., Calvin's work in underground culture started as a teenage fan volunteering at the local community radio station, KAOS-FM. He moved on to writing for fanzines, organizing music and film events, playing music in various ill-fated bands. Calvin established K, a locally oriented media outlet, in 1982. In 1993 Calvin founded Dub Narcotic, a recording studio, in which he has documented the work of the Somehow Is and Never Was, such as Mirah, the Blow, Versus, Built to Spill, Fitz of Depression, Make-Up, and Little Wings. It has also been the incubator of many Calvin experiments in collaboration and self-expression, such as Beat Happening, Halo Benders and Dub Narcotic Sound System.

The cinematic element of Benjy Ferree's music is by no means an accident. Many of Benjy's songs have origins and inspirations taken from films, much like a detail taken from a painting. Furthermore, Benjy was inspired at an impressionable age by Will Oldham: not to rock, but to act, thanks to young Will's performance in John Sayles' Matewan. The movie held a special attraction to Benjy as his family originated from the film's West Virginia setting and characters in the movie were based on flesh and blood (The Hatfields of that famous familial squabble, if you must know). After high school, he moved straight to Los Angeles to pursue "the craft," supporting himself in a variety of service industry jobs (including a brief stint in the employ of David Lynch as an au pair). Frustrated with his experiences there, Benjy returned to The Mid-Atlantic. While bartending at The Black Cat in DC, he was befriended and encouraged by Brendan Canty (Fugazi), amongst many others, to focus instead on the songs Benjy had been writing for his own personal enjoyment.

A founding member of Poi Dog Pondering and GRAMMY-nominated singer of the top 40 hit, "Four Leaf Clover", Abra Moore has learned a few things about music, life and the intrinsic value of happiness and balance. The quiet confidence she's found seeps through every element of On The Way, the new record she's made with long-time collaborator and producer Mitch Watkins. The new collection is subtle, seductive and assured. In her own words, it's a "gentle sway" of an album. It recaptures the organic, intuitive style that led to worldwide acclaim for her breakthrough album, Strangest Places.

The 10th Annual Blue Ribbon Ball featuring Bobby Conn - Chicago rocker Bobby Conn will do a mixture of covers and originals as guests at the prom will gadabout in their finest James Bond-influenced attire! The prom will feature decorations, photos, refreshments, secretive makeout sessions, too-close dancing, and plenty of Pabst Blue Ribbon. It's the yearly highlight of the Athens social calendar! Bobby Conn is known for his wild live shows, so it should be a real treat for all!

Dan Geller (aka Tiny Danger, Twin Powers, Thumper) has been involved in Biofuels research for over 10 years. He received a Master's degree in Biological Engineering where he studied the use of alternative feedstocks for the production of Biodiesel. He also holds an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. He has authored over 10 scientific journal articles on biofuels and other energy topics. Dan also started the Kindercore Record label and was a member of bands such as I am the World Trade Center, The Agenda and most recently USSR and Ruby Isle.