Atlantans turning out for free concert series despite concerns

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Posted 8:07AM on Sunday, July 21, 2002

ATLANTA - Dueling summer concert series_ featuring 21 free shows on stages within shouting distance - have thousands of people spending their Friday nights in downtown Atlanta, which usually empties out as the sun sets. The acts include Top-40 favorites such as Alanis Morissette and Michelle Branch, along with harder-edge bands Nickelback, Alien Ant Farm and Hoobastank. The atmosphere is more county fair than rock concert, with hot dogs, funnel cakes, cold drinks and inflatable slides for the kids. "It's a nice night, it's Friday night, free music downtown," said Marc Corbet, from suburban Peachtree City. "What could be better?" Apparently, lots of people - hundreds of thousands of them - feel the same way. On the Bricks, the larger of the two series, is in its second year, featuring a dozen shows at Centennial Olympic Park. The series drew a half million people last year and is averaging about 35,000 fans per show this year. Held in an old parking lot across the street, Downtown Rocks sports an edgier sound but similar results. It is averaging 20,000 to 40,000 fans a show. Alternative rock radio station WNNX helped sponsor On the Bricks last year but this year decided to break out on its own and start Downtown Rocks. "We've always been captivated by the idea of having a series of summertime concerts in downtown Atlanta," said WNNX market manager Mark Renier. "I think just the thought of the experience of a hot summer night in Atlanta, people outside listening to music, we really got into that." On the Bricks producer Marcie Allen, whose company Mad Booking also produces free concert series in Nashville (Dancin' in the District) and Washington (D.C. Sessions), said response to On the Bricks has surpassed expectations. "When I first went down to Centennial Park, I said, 'Oh, we'll do 5,000 to 6,000 a week,'" Allen said. "Then, when all of a sudden we had these crowds, no one really knew what to say. "It was good for everybody, and I think most importantly it was good for downtown," she said. "And that's why it got so much support from the state," which owns Centennial Park. Support from the city was another matter. Mayor Shirley Franklin refused to grant Downtown Rocks a concert permit, citing concerns about the two series' coordination of security and traffic. A city-hired arbitrator overruled Franklin and the competing concerts were on despite the worries of city officials. Some of those concerns were realized when John D. Stump, a 21-year-old from Gainesville, died in a post-concert fight. Nathan Combiths, 17, of Atlanta, was charged with voluntary manslaughter. Stump's death was "an unfortunate validation" of the mayor's security concerns, said Franklin spokesman Gary Cox. But, with better security coordination, "the summer concerts series can be a win-win situation for the city, the promoters, our residents and our visitors." The series offer differing styles of music - On the Bricks brings in Top 40-type talent including Grammy nominee India.Arie, Sister Hazel and Rusted Root, while Downtown Rocks features alternative acts such as Cowboy Mouth and Cake. But the shows have very visible crossover appeal. The bright bandanas given out at Downtown Rocks have become the must-have fashion accessory among both crowds, which range from teen-age to middle age, pimples to parents. Vicki Greve of Decatur said she and her husband found attractive acts in both lineups: They Might Be Giants at On the Bricks one week, local favorite son Butch Walker at Downtown Rocks the next week. "We don't even go out unless something's going on," said Greve, 49. "This being free, man it's awesome." Anther concert-goer was even more blunt about his attendance. "It's something to do. It's free," said 18-year-old Brian Addams of Kennesaw. "If I had to pay, I wouldn't go to it." Still, the producer Allen said there are more redeeming qualities to the shows than their lack of an entrance fee. "I think that the event has become just that - an event," she said. "If you come down on a Friday night, you see a lot of older people - people who have their kids, their chairs, their blankets - and they don't even know the band is playing. They're just there because it's an event, because they feel like they're supporting the community."