35 Years of Masks and Mayhem: Celebrating The Masquerade's Iconic and Gritty Legacy in Atlanta
Regarded by many as one of America’s best independent music venues, The Masquerade has stood the test of time, first at the historic DuPre Excelsior Mill on North Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward, opening in September 1989. The venue’s stages- Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, have hosted a litany of alternative music royalty. Acts like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, Fugazi, and The Refused have all flexed the floorboards, whipping fans into a frenzy. During the same period, on its grounds, The Masquerade has been the home to the first ever Warped Tour, One Music Fest, Shaky Knees Music Festival, Imagine Music Festival, and the first two editions of The Wrecking Ball ATL. Any given night, fans can find rock, alternative, indie, electronic, metal, punk, hip hop, and more live and ready for consumption.
While redevelopment of the area necessitated a move to Kenny’s Alley at Underground Atlanta in 2016, it did not slow the venerable music venue, which celebrates its 35 years in Atlanta this year. With this landmark anniversary, The Masquerade is introducing a fourth room, a 250-capacity space called Altar, which will feature local and nationally touring artists of all genres, as well as a monthly comedy weekend curated by the former tenant Atlanta Comedy Theater. The new room is added to an already impressive calendar that will see The Masquerade present over 700 shows on its stages and across venues in Atlanta and the Southeast.
"It's exciting to celebrate the impressive 35-year history of The Masquerade and, at the same time, open a new room. We're looking forward to creating opportunities for both up-and-coming artists, as well as downtown Atlanta, to flourish over the next 35 years and beyond." - The Masquerade's Talent Buyer, Elena de Soto.
The lineup for Altar is already coming together with shows booked through May including Anthony Green (of Circa Survive, Saosin, The Sound of Animals, and L.S. Dunes); The Broken View; TRSH; NOT; Better Place; Worlds Greatest Dad; Treehouse!; WRASFest; Sheer Mag; Dinner Time; Makari; Natalia Taylar; Glimmers; Girlpuppy; Soft Blue Shimmer; Lø Spirit; Night Club; Fleshwater; Me Nd Adam; Skating Polly; Background Character; Cry Baby; Jameson Tank, and more. Additional artists will be added in the coming weeks. The lineup is subject to change.
In addition to adding to the musical offerings The Masquerade brings to Kenny's Alley, Altar will feature an expansive kitchen. A variety of simple, healthy, and tasty food offerings, including plant-based options, will be available from Altar's kitchen before, during, and after shows. Concertgoers for shows at The Masquerade can place orders through a to-go window outside Altar, with dining at tables set up in Kenny's Alley.
The Masquerade General Manager, Greg Green, thinks the kitchen will be a game-changer for the concert experience. "Consistently, one of the most common questions we get is, 'What is there to eat?' The answer, until now, has been nothing. A lot of people are going to be happy that is no longer the case!"
Additional details on Altar, scheduled to open on March 20th with onsite activations and a performance by Anthony Green, are coming together daily. Visit www.masqueradeatlanta.com for the most up-to-date information on Altar and all shows at Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Stay connected on Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter at @Masquerade_ATL and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasqueradeAtlanta. The Masquerade is located at 75 Martin Luther King Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia.
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