Tourists Are So Stuck On Nashville And Austin They Miss Athens, Georgia's Vibrant Music Scene

As far as music cities go, Nashville and Austin are preceded by their reputations. Tourists are rightly drawn to these magnetic cities — and the bars, concert venues, and live houses therein — but it means they often overlook Athens, Georgia's very own city of music.

That's not to say Athens, a vibrant and artsy college town in the Appalachian foothills, is entirely off the radar. Tourism has been booming here in recent years, driven by a wave of smart new restaurants and bars joining the old theatres, grungy music venues, and atmosphere of creative independence. The BBC proclaimed it to be the country's coolest southern college town, no longer simply known for its University of Georgia campus.

Athens' credentials as a music city are often discussed in terms of the bands it birthed. R.E.M. and the B-52s, globally renowned rock bands that sold millions of records, defined the sounds of the city in the late 20th century. Following their 2011 breakup, The Atlantic called R.E.M. "America's greatest band" — without apparent hyperbole — while the B-52s helped define new wave and post-punk music, and were among the most influential bands of their generation. Lesser-known artists like the Drive-By Truckers, Widespread Panic, Pylon, and Neutral Milk Hotel also emerged from the Athens scene. The osmosis — or "scenius," as it's sometimes known — that created the conditions for musical artistry to flourish is still part of what attracts people to Athens today. It's not just a museum to music of the past, but a place where musicians can define their own futures.

Nashville is famous for downtown destinations full of live music venues, but it's really a country town, with major record labels specializing in this genre. Austin's music landscape is robust and varied, with traditions of blues, soul, country, folk, Latin, indie rock, and hip hop. Athens, however, carved its own path. It gradually achieved icon status for its live music scene, attracting musicians from around Georgia and beyond. It has matured into a music city that promotes various genres — rock, indie, folk, country — while retaining its old-school authenticity and spirit of experimentation.

The 40 Watt Club is one of Athens' best known music joints — seeing a gig there should be atop your itinerary. Luminaries including Nirvana and Sonic Youth have played at 40 Watt, as have all the Athenian big hitters of the last 45 years. One of their unique events is the Athens Face/Off, where 60 local musicians are randomly split into trios and tasked with creating a new set list to be played on the night of the gig. It's a great way to showcase the caliber of local talent.

Flicker Theater and Bar is a cool venue, hosting gigs or events most nights of the week (and it has a fun, and reasonably priced, cocktail list). The Morton Theater, a century-old playhouse, stages gigs, as does standing-only rock 'n' roll venue the Georgia Theater. You can also embark on a walking tour of Athens' musical history — a downloadable brochure pinpoints different sites of interest around town. And to add nature into your trip, there are lots of scenic lake getaways just outside Athens.