The final day of Shaky Knees 2025 cemented Piedmont Park as the festival’s rightful new home. From sunlit afternoon discoveries to a closing run of powerhouse performances, Sunday struck the balance between playful, nostalgic, and downright electric. If the first two days proved Shaky Knees could adapt, Day Three declared it triumphant.
The day began with the Improvement Movement on Peachtree, while Worry Club and The Criticals kept Piedmont and Ponce de Leon warm with jangly indie rock and swaggering riffs. On the Criminal Records stage, Teen Mortgage delivered a fuzzy blast of garage-punk, proving that even the smallest stage could pack a punch.
By early afternoon, the crowds had thickened across the lawns, and anticipation for the bigger names began to hum.
The Stereophonics took the Piedmont Stage and immediately elevated the energy. Their polished Brit-rock sound felt expansive under the Georgia sky, with soaring choruses and tight musicianship that made them one of the day’s first major highlights. Fans sang along with fervor, and the band’s easy command set a confident tone for the hours ahead.
Meanwhile, English Teacher delivered sharp, angular post-punk on Ponce de Leon, offering a cerebral counterpoint to Stereophonics’ anthemic uplift.
Atlanta’s own The Stews brought the hometown love to the Peachtree Stage. Their set was a celebration of rising Southern rock grit, blending bluesy undertones with youthful swagger. For many locals, this was a pride moment — a reminder that Shaky Knees is as much about nurturing Atlanta talent as it is about showcasing global names.
Nearby, Murder by Death leaned into gothic Americana on the smaller Criminal Records stage, weaving a darker, story-driven set.
By late afternoon, the Piedmont Stage roared to life as Franz Ferdinand launched into their dance-punk arsenal. Every track felt like a jolt of electricity, with “Take Me Out” triggering an eruption that rippled across the crowd. Their sharp grooves and kinetic energy made theirs one of the most crowd-moving sets of the day.
Simultaneously, 4 Non Blondes brought campy power to Ponce de Leon with “What’s Up?” echoing as a unifying shout-along, while Mdou Moctar stunned on Criminal Records with desert blues guitar heroics that mesmerized his audience.
Devo’s evening set on the Peachtree Stage was pure nostalgia, pulling the crowd back into their offbeat world of quirky rhythms and unconventional hooks. The performance wasn’t about theatrics so much as reconnecting with the songs that made them cult icons, and fans embraced every moment as a trip through new wave history.
Then came one of the weekend’s most talked-about curveballs: “Weird Al” Yankovic on the Piedmont Stage. His hour-long parody blitz was equal parts comedy and musicianship, and the sheer delight radiating from the crowd was proof that Shaky Knees isn’t afraid to let humor share the spotlight with rock legends.
At the same time, Wet Leg turned Ponce de Leon into a sardonic dance party. Their cheeky lyrics and infectious riffs drew one of the stage’s largest crowds of the weekend, cementing their status as a must-see modern act.
As twilight painted the park gold, Alabama Shakes returned to the Peachtree Stage, and Brittany Howard’s voice towered over the night. Soulful, commanding, and raw, their set was a reminder of just how magnetic the band remains after years away from festival stages. On smaller stages, Fleshwater unleashed heavy alt-rock textures while Lucy Dacus charmed Ponce de Leon with introspective indie-folk balladry.
Vampire Weekend took over the Piedmont Stage after dark, delivering a set that balanced crisp indie staples like “A-Punk” with looser, jam-friendly stretches that gave familiar songs fresh energy. Playful yet polished, they kept the crowd moving with bright melodies and clever rhythms, turning the nighttime air into a full-on celebration. It was an effortless and joyful setup for the chaos still to come.
Blink-182 closed Shaky Knees 2025 with a barrage of pop-punk anthems. The Peachtree Stage turned into a generational time machine, as fans of all ages belted out “All the Small Things,” “I Miss You,” and “What’s My Age Again?” The band leaned into nostalgia with a wink, their irreverent humor and boundless energy proving that the spirit of punk still thrives in festival fields. As fireworks lit the Atlanta skyline, Blink-182’s final notes sealed not just the night but a weekend of renewal.
Day Three showcased everything Shaky Knees does best: honoring legends, uplifting new voices, and embracing the unexpected. From Stereophonics’ soaring rock to The Stews’ hometown pride, from Franz Ferdinand’s frenzy to Weird Al’s playful absurdity, from Alabama Shakes’ soul power to Blink-182’s cathartic finale, the day was a full-spectrum celebration of sound.
Shaky Knees’ debut at Piedmont Park wasn’t just a change of scenery — it was the start of a new legacy.
