Although late night thunderstorms had turned the ground to mud and muck by Friday, a throng of locals and visitors gathered in Candler Park to celebrate the 7th annual Sweetwater 420 Fest over the weekend. Early that morning, around 9 a.m., participants in the 420 5K run hustled through the streets to benefit the Candler Park Neighborhood Association. Sponsored by Sweetwater Brewing Company and Gas South, the free festival celebrated Earth Day with live music, refreshments, local vendors and education on conservation.
Sweetwater ice-trucks circled the park selling draft beers. The aromas of Greek pita, funnel cake, dog treats, roasted nuts, locally farmed honey, fudge and other assorted organic cuisine wafted through the breeze across the promenade. A rampage of children and parents chased one another across the park, tramping through the front yard of Candler Park and causing a few mild slips and falls.
I’d never known such a beautiful, tucked away corner of Atlanta existed until that day. A few short blocks from Euclid Avenue, across from the intersection of Moreland Avenue and North Avenue, 420 Fest resembled the recreation centers of my childhood, minus all the hippies. It seemed out of place. A mere 15 minutes from SCAD Atlanta, Candler Park is within the city limits, but feels far removed from the traffic, skyscrapers and rush of the metropolitan life.
The festival didn’t only cater to thirsty patrons and voracious children; it also accommodated an abundance of dogs. From Hollywoof Styles dog accessories to gourmet dog foods like Josie’s Dog Treats,Taj Ma-Hound and Bark and Beg, 420 Fest was a great place to spoil the family pooch.
Vendors offered a wide assortment of goods, including: candles, soap, vintage and handmade clothing, jewelry, handmade pottery and glass, henna, antique buttons, boutique arrangements, massage, paintings, drawings and items composed completely from recycled materials. The retailers focused on raising advocacy for recycling, organic foods and local business.
Jordan Wright, a third-year fashion student, and I walked over to the main event stage to catch Dead Confederate’s set. The four-man, alt-rock, grunge powerhouse hails from Augusta. Their sound is like Nirvana on Codeine with an early Deftones vibe, resembling the slow marching sound of Manchester Orchestra and the jam-band quality of Neil Young or the Grateful Dead. We strolled right up front without any pushing or shoving. It was a relief not to have to worry about sweaty guys rubbing their stink on you or sticky venue floors covered in beer. There was just clean spring air, swaying music lovers and kids fighting over balloon animals.
But, like any good festival, it had its share of funny moments and odd characters. Half way through the set, we saw a man dancing suggestively in front of the stage. As the group played the last few verses of “Run From The Gun” from their 2010 album “Sugar,” I went closer to get a picture of lead vocalist and guitarist, Hardy Morris. While I was taking his picture, the dancing man grabbed me by the waist and began humping my leg. I pushed him off, but we parted amicably. After all, it’s not a real festival if you don’t have one strange encounter.
Dead Confederate was my favorite band of the day. Their energetic, yet intimate performance stole the show at 420 Fest, playing songs from all three of their previously released albums, including “The Rat” from their self-titled EP. Unlike others, who seem to rush through their performance to cover up their inadequacies, Dead Confederate’s live performance seemed even better than their studio recording. There are so many nuances to the live performance that slip by unnoticed on the album.
As my friend and I began to walk home down Miller Road, we reflected on the bargain the festival represented. As Jordan put it: “We paid five dollars to lay in the sun and listen to great music all day.”
I’m already looking forward to next year’s Sweetwater 420 Fest.
Editor’s note:
Dead Confederate will be playing at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Friday, April 22, and at Sky City in Augusta, Saturday, April 23.
