THE GEORGIA THEATRE

by: Nicholas Palumbo

When a New Yorker wants to see a good concert, he or she has the pick of the litter – there are dozens of concert venues situated sporadically throughout Manhattan and surrounding boroughs. If you were to ask a New Yorker about some of the more historically famous landmark halls, you’ll get answers like the Apollo Theatre, Madison Square Garden and even Central Park.

If you were to head down to Athens, Georgia and ask the same thing, the residents would only have vague memories of what one was the Georgia Theatre.

With one of the most colourful and lengthy histories of any concert venue in the United States, the Georgia Theatre was a hometown favourite for fans and musicians alike. Erected in 1889, the building originally housed a music store and a YMCA. Since then, it would go on to host famous performances by the likes of The Police, Beck and The Derek Trucks Band, who recorded their 2004 live album at the theatre. A fire in 2009 would gut the entire theatre and make it inoperable – until now.

The Georgia Theatre is opening its doors for the first time in two years with two weeks of unforgettable performances. Local indie heroes The Glands get the ball rolling on August 1st. Festivities include performances by Gillian Welch, Big Boi, and Drive-By Truckers.

The Georgia Theatre is a vital piece of American history and I, for one, am glad to see it back again – doing what it does best.