About the bands

Please note that shows scheduled after midnight are noted on the day that the lineup starts. For example, while 1 a.m. on Saturday is technically 1 a.m. Sunday, it would be listed as Saturday since it is part of the Saturday night showcase.

Band bios composed by Jennifer Gibson, Allie Goolrick, Evan Fackler, Trisha Klein and Chris Starrs.

3 Foot Swagger (midnight Friday, Rye Bar) - This Athens quintet in part composed of three members of the now-defunct Melodious Ground, was formed in 2007 and has played to large crowds at the Georgia Theatre in downtown Athens. According to the band's Web site, their music "traverses funk, bluegrass, psychedelia and folk," a musical milieu indebted to the band's diverse personalities.

A. Armada (12:15 a.m. Saturday, 40 Watt Club) - The Red & Black has called A. Armada's live shows "as epic to watch as (they are) deafeningly loud." The band has been on the scene in Athens since 2004 and has been likened to Athens-based band Maserati.

All Night Drug Prowling Wolves (10:15 p.m. Friday, 40 Watt Club) - This Atlanta-based rock 'n' roll band is self-described on its MySpace page as "Four men from the dirty South who make dirty music ... and ... proudly wear their appetites on their sleeves." They liken their sound to Tom Waits, Woody Allen, Frankie Stubbs & Shane MacGowan.

Art Rosenbaum & Friends (1:20 p.m. Saturday, Hull Street Stage) - Art Rosenbaum's early 2009 release, "Art of Field Recording Volume 1: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented by Art Rosenbaum," earned him a Grammy for "Best Historical Album" and a nomination for "Best Album Liner Notes." The retired UGA art professor has spent the past 50 years documenting and recording American folk music.

Attest (9 p.m. Saturday, Caledonia Lounge) - Athens band Attest, formerly of Kill LeBaron, Paradise Boulevard and Carabelle, began playing together in the early summer 2008. Their music, according to their MySpace page, blends "ideas from every corner of hardcore, post hardcore and metal" into a sound that definitely is their own.

Bearfoot Hookers (midnight* Friday, Tasty World Uptown) - With roots in small South Georgia towns, the Hookers blend traditional country, blues and rock 'n' roll into a musical cocktail they call "Beer Drinkin' Gospel."

Betsy Franck & the Bare Knuckle Band (2:20 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage) - Betsy Franck & the Bare Knuckle Band have played in venues throughout the South, including Georgia and South Carolina. The quintet mixes blues, rock 'n' roll drumming and gospel/country vocals into what their Web site calls "shake-your-booty blues rock."

Beverly Smith & Carl Jones (8 p.m. Sunday, Morton Theatre) - Smith and Jones are veterans on the traditional music scene. Both multi-instrumentalists, they have played and recorded with musicians such as James Bryan and Laurie Lewis, and have taught and played at many different camps and folk festivals. Bluegrass Now said of the duo's 2001 release, "They have an authentic rural sound that celebrates yesteryear, and their songs illicit nostalgic images or give us inspirational messages that simply make us feel good."

Birds & Wire (11 p.m. Saturday, Farm 255) - Driven by lead singer and UGA grad Leralynn's powerful songwriting and full-bodied voice, and backed by fellow Athens musicians Neal Fountain, Marlon Patton and Robby Handley, Birds & Wire mixes elements of jazz, rock, pop and alt country.

The Black Lips (9 p.m. Friday, Main Stage) - Having been asked to leave India for their antics on stage (the likes of which have been known to include vomiting and spitting), Atlanta-based and self-described "hippie punk" rock band The Black Lips are somewhat infamous. Their recent album, "200 Million Thousand," has been called the band's breakout album, and they have toured the world promoting it.

Bloodkin (7:50 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers has called Athens-based Southern rock band Bloodkin "one of the most underrated bands on Earth." The band, composed of duo and childhood friends Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter, has penned more than 300 songs, three of which have been recorded by Widespread Panic.

Brave New Citizen (11:45 p.m. Friday, Little Kings Shuffle Club) - Fronted by former Empire State's Jay Nackashi, Brave New Citizen couples layered electro-pop with progressive rock rhythms. Known for building odd and creative instruments with Empire State, Nackashi brings the same experimental sensibility to his new outfit. The group cites "environmental hazards, strange perceptions and altered states of mind" as its influences.

Breathlanes (9 p.m. Friday, The Globe) - Guitarist and composer John Miley first coined the term "Breathlanes" in the '70s and later used it as the title for a solo record of guitar compositions. From there, Miley expanded the concept, forming an eclectic collective with a rotating cast of musicians who use the term to guide them in "creating an atmospheric, organic quality in modal improvisation."

Bros. Marler (10:30 p.m. Saturday, Green Room) - According to the group's MySpace, twin brothers Drew and Daniel Marler were "conceived in a freak accident" and have been singing and playing together since the moment they left the womb. The multi-instrumentalists bring a lot of grit and blues undertones to their rootsy Southern rock - but their harmonies stand out. Performer Magazine lauds their 2007 debut, "Songs For Pluto," for the brothers' "soul-inspired, Dylan-eske double vocal stylings."

The Buddy System (1:15 a.m. Saturday, Ciné) - Catching a show by the quirky foursome is as much a visual experience as an aural one. The brainchild of two art students and a pair of musical brothers, the band creates a stage-show to sync up each tune with a vibrant, fantastical animation filling the projector screen behind them. A hot pink monster's footfalls are marked with drum crashes, a pop art butterfly is paired with futuristic electronic tinkling. What results is not as much soundtrack as two equal parts that, according to the band, "are inextricably linked ... like the two are playing a game of Mirror and forgot who had been leading and who had been following."

Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove (1 a.m.* Saturday, Rye Bar) - Nominated in 2009 for Solo Artist of the Year by Flagpole Magazine, PGroove lead guitarist and vocalist Brock Butler still finds time to pen sweet acoustic guitar tunes while touring as the frontman of an internationally known jam band. Butler wrote much of his latest solo album, "Instrumentals and Incidentals," while on the road. He says his latest collection is an example of "being able to write anywhere and everywhere, especially with the laptop in tow."

Cacha a (10 p.m. Friday, The Globe) - Although it's dubbed its style "Cu-Brazil-Riccan Jazz," Cacha a (pronounced ka-SHA-sa) insists it's not your ordinary jazz collective. Named after a highly potent type of sugar cane, Cacha a brews fiery instrumentals that blend bossa nova, samba, tango, Caribbean and swing styles, just to name a few.

Cars Can Be Blue (midnight Friday, Ciné) - Describing their sound as "a wide swath of darkness shrouded in shiny pop confections," the garage-rock pair of Becky Brooks and Nate Mitchell certainly play off their duality. Brooks' sugary harmonies often are set against a cacophony of her distorted guitar riffs and Mitchell's relentlessly energetic drum section. The whimsical duo, who refer to themselves as a 'two-headed creature" released their second full-length album, "Doubly Unbeatable" in 2008.

Casper & the Cookies (1 a.m.* Friday, Ciné) - Fronted by Jason NeSmith (ex-of Montreal), the oddly-named kooky pop quartet "used to make lists of alternate, less cutesy names, but they've been so busy kicking ass that the moniker has ceased to be of any concern." Known for their on-stage costuming (think fake eyelashes) and their eclectic pop sound, the group has toured with Deerhoof and The Whigs. They released their third full-length, "Modern Silence," in May.

Cinémechanica (1:15 a.m.* Saturday, 40 Watt Club) - They might be from a town where how "indie" you are is determined by how tight your jeans are, but this fiercely progressive, hard-rocking quartet is the real deal. They produce and distribute their own albums through their own Hello Sir Records.

Circulatory System (9:30 p.m. Friday, Nu i's Space) - Composed primarily of former members of defunct Athens band The Olivia Tremor Control, fronted by Will Cullen Hart, the group will release "Signal Morning," the long-awaited follow up to their 2001 self-titled debut in August. Composed by Hart during his battle with Multiple Sclerosis, the new record is described by the band as "concerned with matters of the inner/the outer, the incomprehensibly huge and the very, very small."

The Corduroy Road (5:30 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - Kentucky natives Drew Carman and Dylan Solise had a good thing going as an old-time bluegrass duo. Adding drummer John Cable and bassist Tim Helms changed everything. "Picking up the low end added a rock feel to what we were playing," Carman says. The group now is known for bringing the explosive energy of punk rock to their live show. Their full length debut, "Love Is War," will be released this summer.

Creepy (10 p.m. Friday, Flicker Theatre) - This quintet is made up of some rockin' good female musicians in town, including Page Campbell, Melissa Colbert, Trish Scurry, S.J. Ursrey and Rebekah Rogers. As for the band name Creepy, perhaps it's because their songs are rather haunting.

Curley Maple (9 p.m. Friday, Melting Point) - Violinist extraordinaire David Blackmon named his traditional acoustic quartet Curley Maple for the wood that's used to make violins, mandolins and other stringed instruments. The band, which also includes Noel Blackmon (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Christian Lopez (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Chris Enghauser (bass) plays traditional Appalachian tunes, old folk songs and some Irish tunes as well.

Dancer Vs. Politician (2 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - Sounds like Saint Etienne, but with the alluring quirkiness of Belle & Sebastian. Some of the songs are sung entirely in German, which adds a serious dose of odd charm.

Daniel Mack & Pick'n Coop (midnight Saturday, Wild Wing) - Acoustic roots rock that would sound at home wherever they're drinking to love won and love lost. Fans of Whiskeytown/Ryan Adams should easily find comfort.

David Barbe & The Quick Hooks (6:30 p.m. Sunday, Hull Street Stage) - Veteran Athens musician David Barbe takes time off from producing records for Drive-By Truckers and performing with Patterson Hood's backing band The Screwtopians to perform with his own band.

Etienne de Rocher (9:30 p.m. Friday, Little Kings) - This former physics major dropped out to study African drums, and wound up writing sugary folk pop that garners comparisons to people like Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Buckley.

Dead Confederate (Thursday, Morton; 7:50 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - There's a reason these guys are one of the headlining acts and already have received lots of love from Rolling Stone and Conan O'Brien. So catch them now before everyone else catches on.

Deaf Judges (Thursday during the Flagpole awards ceremony; midnight Friday, Morton) - Sometimes sounds like early '90s gangsta rap, but with more melody and more funk, and always classic. If you stand rooted to the ground during this set, you must be deaf.

DJ Kurt Wood (10 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - Expect to hear some of the most danceable vinyl selections from nearly every genre you can imagine.

DJ Mahogany (1 a.m. Friday, Go Bar) - Let his love of funky classics carry you through the night.

DJ Triz (11 p.m. Friday, Rye Bar) - Turntable-heavy electro-funk.

Don Chambers + GOAT (6:40 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - A finalist and multiple winner in Flagpole Athens Music Awards, Chambers offers up countrified rock 'n' roll set to Appalachian melodies over gruff, soulful vocals. The slower tunes belong on a honky-tonk jukebox.

The Donner Party (midnight Friday, The Globe) - If you like songs about drinking, drinking songs and any other form of expression about drinking, this Pogues tribute band might be just what you're looking for.

Doctor Squid (10 p.m. Friday, Tasty World Uptown) - Anagram-loving catchy pop-rock that sounds like a cross between Weezer and marginally darker late '90s indie rock radio.

Dreams So Real (5:50 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage) - This late '80s/early '90s Athens indie rock could give The Cult a run for its money and battle out The Smithereens any day of the week. This is the band's first performance in more than a decade, so catch them before they go back into semiretirement.

The Dumps (midnight Saturday, Caledonia) - More metal than Metallica has produced since 1996. If you're a fan of heavy, thunderous rock, this is for you.

Liz Durrett (8:30 p.m. Friday, solo acoustic), Nu i's Space; 3:50 p.m. Saturday, full band, Hull Street Stage) - Sad, dreamy pop a la Suzanne Vega, but not as weird and with pretty '60s undertones. Bring tissues.

Electa Villain (10:15 p.m. Saturday, Farm 255) - Keyboard-heavy rock that is sometimes hard and psychedelic and sometimes disarmingly pretty.

The Empties (5:30 p.m. Friday, Main Stage) - Wonderful harmonies and occasionally playful beats work through this familiar pop-rock, with emphasis on the rock.

Sammy Ensley (10 p.m. Friday, Tasty World Uptown) - Folk, pop and country melodies surround the humorous observations that make up these songs. It's not joke rock, but his musings might make you double over.

Justin Evans (9 p.m. Saturday, Little Kings) - Old-time Southern folk and swing round out his work with his band. This time he's solo, but it should be much of the same.

ExcaliBRAH (8:30 p.m. Friday, Hull Street Stage) - There is not one single consistent thing about these guys, and that's the best thing about them. Their Justin Timberlake parody, "FutureWingsSexFood," is easily one of the weirdest tributes in recent memory.

Farmer Jason (noon Saturday, Hull Street Stage) - Kids will love the barnyard alt-country sounds of Jason Ringenberg's alter ego, and parents will love that their kids are digging the guy from Jason and the Scorchers.

Dodd Ferrelle (11 p.m. Saturday, Melting Point) - Soft, haunting Americana laced with pop power chords that won't quickly leave your mind or heart. His latest record, "Lonely Parades," is widely considered his finest.

Fire Zuave (1 a.m. Friday, Little Kings) - Slow, swirling indie rock that sounds like the offspring of 1985 and 1995, where hooks abound with a modern twist.

Five Eight (midnight Saturday, Melting Point) - Radio-ready punk pop for the masses, with influences ranging from The Who to The Pixies to The Replacements.

Flash To Bang Time (9 p.m. Saturday, Melting Point) - Sexy, freaky, new wave-y darkness to set your black light to. Glow-in-the-dark plastic sticky stars not included.

Fly Brothers (9 p.m. Saturday, Green Room) - Deep, dark, bass-heavy jam band done up like "Mother's Milk" era Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Forever (11 p.m. Friday, Ciné) - Brash guitars and infectious energy are said to run through the post-punk musings of this female-fronted rock band from Portland.

Founder & The Invisibles (11 p.m. Friday, Wild Wing) - They say he sounds like John Mayer with soul and blues to spare, but with no Internet presence you'll just have to hear for yourself.

Futurebirds (1 a.m. Saturday, Tasty World Uptown) - '60s pop by way of lo-fi vocals, twilight arrangements and college radio sensibilities. Muffled, slow and incredibly endearing.

Gabriel Kelley & The Reins (6:10 p.m. Saturday, Hull Street Stage) - Honest, simple Americana holding nothing back. Fans of Gillian Welch or The Jayhawks should be easily charmed.

Gemini Cricket (midnight Saturday, Flicker) - Short, sweet garageabilly surf pop reminiscent of a more radio-friendly Flat Duo Jets if they were on the scene in the '60s.

Gift Horse (10 p.m. Saturday, Morton) - Taking the wall of noise to excess with figurative smoke and fog and sometimes oddly majestic hooks. These songs demand to be taken seriously, or else.

The Ginger Envelope (4:20 p.m. Saturday, Main Stage) - Quiet alt-country folk that was made for those sad, slow days when nothing is going right. It won't pick you up, but you'll get the sense you're not alone.

The Gold Party (9 p.m. Friday, Go Bar) - This electronic act, a dead ringer for bands like Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys, will play its first AthFest show. Expect them to party like it's 1989.

The Gospel Starlights (11 a.m. Sunday, Main Stage) - This is funk rock for Jesus. Come ready to put your hands together and testify.

Grape Soda (11:45 p.m. Saturday, Ciné) - This duo scraps guitars in favor of organs and Meg White-style drumming to create cosmic pop art.

Grogus (4:40 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage) - Think of every Latin groove act you know, and you've got this band. Bring your salsa shoes.

Ham1 (1 a.m. Friday, Flicker) - Jim Willingham promises plenty of fun when he and his band - which blends Ennio Morricone with the Texas Playboys, among others - take the stage. Ham1's celebrated the vinyl release of its latest album, "The Underground Stream" and two years ago backed up Vic Chesnutt and Liz Durrett on a tour of Southeastern states.

Harp Unstrung (10:30 p.m. Friday, Green Room) - Established in 2008, this four-piece plays pleasing bar rock with singer-guitarists Kevin Fleming and Drew O'Donnell leading the way. Harp Unstrung has had a nice run of shows in town, primarily at Landsdowne Road Irish Pub.

Hayride (1 a.m. Friday, Caledonia Lounge) - Together since 1991 (founders Kevin Sweeney and Nick Bielli have known one another for 25 years), this still-blasting trio is an Athens institution and AthFest veterans, but don't expect them to phone it in. These guys played arguably THE best show at last year's fest.

Heavy Feather (5:20 p.m. Sunday, Hull Street Stage) - Out of the ashes of Jackpot City comes Heavy Feather, with Mamie Fike Simonds (keyboards, vocals), Kelly Noonan (guitar, vocals) and Kathy Kirbo (guitar, vocals) offering their poppy-with-an-edge tunes.

Holman Autry Band (3:30 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage) - There are no members named Holman or Autry, although their rehearsal space is on Holman Autry Road in nearby Madison County. Diligent purveyors of Southern rock with a proven three-guitar attack.

Holy Liars (8:30 p.m. Saturday, Hull Street Stage) - A hard-working, roots-rocking foursome with a hard-earned energy owing to their active tour schedule. In recent weeks, the Liars have played at both Arlene's Grocery in New York City and the Max Canada right here in Athens. And that's no lie.

Hope for Agoldensummer (11 p.m. Saturday, Flicker) - If they never did anything else, the Campbell sisters and Deb Davis should earn worldwide acclaim for their performances in the "Katalina" video. This is a gentle, friendly group, equally at home on stage or on your living room couch.

Hot Breath (11 p.m. Saturday, Caledonia Lounge) - Described as a thrash trio, the band features the Adams family - Clem (guitar) and LoLo (vocals) - and they like it loud.

Hot New Mexicans (9:45 p.m. Friday, Morton) - Yet another Athens-based three-piece, but one that deftly displays an affinity for both roots and wave history. They claim they'll play anywhere and YouTube evidence suggests they've got quite a devoted following.

The Ibilisi Takedown (11 p.m. Friday, Tasty World Uptown) - Shannon Morris, Andy Thompson, Daniel Carlan and Marcus Thompson lay down a solid wall of guitars with an engaging Southern tinge. The band recently completed sessions for a five-song EP at Chase Park Transduction.

Immuzikation (1 a.m. Saturday, Morton) - Alfred Lapuz Jr. fans the flames of electronica with his accomplished mixes and mashups. He had three sets at Bonnaroo and could be the perfect "last call" on Saturday night to be energized for AthFest's final day. He's also a finalist in the electronic category for the Flagpole Athens Music Awards.

The Incredible Sandwich (1 a.m. Friday, Tasty World Uptown) - "The Sandwich" plays a friendly and familiar mix of rock, funk, jazz and jam led by Rackley Davis, who has a degree in music composition from Georgia Southern. Keyboardist Damian Kapcala is one of Athens' busiest players, and you can hear why every time he tickles the ivories.

The Interns (midnight Saturday, Tasty World Uptown) - Not a new network TV drama or a championship tag team, the Interns channel Crazy Horse and Built to Spill in one straight-ahead package. They'll open for Cracker at the Earl in Atlanta next month.

JazzChronic (4:10 p.m. Sunday, Hull Street Stage) - Led by the superior reed work of Gnarly G (who plays with several other local ensembles), JazzChronic plays a bewitching blend of fast-paced styles guaranteed to keep audiences in constant motion.

Joachim's Dream (5 p.m. Friday, Hull Street Stage)- The winner of this year's Monsignor Donovan Ram Jam will be making its AthFest debut.

Junkyard Angel (11 p.m. Saturday, Rye Bar) - Comprised of members from such notable outfits as Stewart & Winfield, Park Bench Band and Remy Zero, the Savannah-based Junkyard Angel is a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n' roll. The band's debut album, "Medicine Jar," was released earlier this spring.

Kaitlin Jones and the County Fair (1 a.m. Saturday, Little Kings) - Sultry and composed (not to mention talented on that Telecaster), Jones and her gang walk the line between country, folk, Western swing and Americana.

Kenosha Kid (Thursday during awards ceremony, Morton) - Guitarist, composer and bandleader Dan Nettles earned major good will a year or so ago with his definitive jazz-and-rock score to the Buster Keaton classic "Steamboat Bill Jr." Nettles is perhaps one of the city's best guitarists, but he's no showoff, and the beautiful thing about Kenosha Kid is that there may be three players and there may be 10. Tonight, he'll be leading the house band at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards.

Kill LeBaron (10 p.m. Saturday, Caledonia Lounge) - These metallurgists take no prisoners with their speed-and-death-and-progressive sensibilities. Kill LeBaron will record its debut full-length album later this summer. You have been warned.

Kite to the Moon (10:15 p.m. Saturday, Farm 255) - Guitarist-vocalist Timi Conley may be more familiar as the co-founder of the Fuzzy Sprouts, the inspiration behind Aqualove or an integral part of Abbey Road Live, but Kite to the Moon deserves reckoning, as it plays with spunk and good humor and is not afraid to turn a simple set into a rock-show production. Conley will unleash his first solo album, "Nerd Sexy," in the near future.

Kuroma (10:45 p.m. Saturday, Morton) - Hank Sullivant has put in work with both The Whigs and MGMT, and his solo turn has earned tons of critical acclaim, which certainly is deserved. Sullivant might have become an official citizen of New York City by the time you read this.

Lazer/Wulf (