Historic Oakland Cemetery Presents Tunes from the Tombs 2012

May 3,2012

Oakland Cemetery will again swing its historic gates open wide May 19th and 20th as the Historic Oakland Foundation welcomes more than 100 performing artists to the grounds of Atlanta's oldest public cemetery for the second annual Tunes from the Tombs.

The music festival draws several thousand music fans, Oakland supporters and curiosity seekers to the 162-year-old Victorian garden cemetery located near the heart of downtown Atlanta to see and hear live music in one of the most unique settings in the city. Tunes from the Tombs features musicians performing in and among Oakland's extraordinary monuments, mausoleums and renowned gardens. Several main stages will host amplified artists, while buskers/street performers will perform on distinct vignette stages throughout the cemetery. Many genres of music will be represented; Rock, Folk, Americana, Jazz, Classical, Big Band, R&B, Soul, Funk, Country, Blues and everything in between.

Among the acts booked for this year's Tunes from the Tombs are famed songwriter/performer Peter Case (known for his early alternative acts The Plimsouls and The Nerves). Also on the bill are The Whiskey Gentry, Lucy Dreams, Abby Wren and What It Is, NBC's The Voice contestant Rebecca Loebe, Ocha La Rocha, The Villain Family, Young Orchids, The Clap, Ghost Riders Car Club, Blake Rainey and his Demons, 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, Alexa Woodward, Jon Byrd, Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers, Sol Junky, The Bonaventure Quartet, Leticia Wolf, Stephen Simmons, and many, many more. The full schedule is available at www.tunesfromthetombs.com. 

Tunes from the Tombs will be held May 19 and May 20, 2012. Gates open at noon each day on the grounds of Historic Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30312. Tickets may be purchased at the gates and will be $10 per day or $15 for a two day pass. Children 12 and under will be admitted for $5 or $10 for a two day pass. Children 3 and under are free. There are two entrances; the main entrance at Oakland Avenue as well as the entrance on Memorial Drive across from Six Feet Under. The festival closes each day before dusk.

In addition to the souls who reside at Oakland, Tunes from the Tombs will have plenty of spirits: wine and beer, plus a variety of local foods. Free guided mini tours of the cemetery will be given throughout both days, or have their fortune read by Atlanta's own Robyn Avalon.

In keeping with Historic Oakland Foundation's green initiative, festival attendees are encouraged to ride MARTA to the King Memorial Station. The Atlanta Bike Coalition will also be on hand to provide valet bicycle parking outside the main gate on Oakland Avenue. Parking is also available on Grant Street at the Grady Health Systems lot, behind the MLK Marta station for $5. Parking proceeds benefit Oakland as well.

All proceeds benefit Historic Oakland Foundation. Last year's inaugural Tunes from the Tombs event raised more than $22,000 that went directly to the operations at Oakland. The work of the Foundation is supported by grants from charitable foundations, events like Tunes from the Tombs and memberships. A family membership in the Historic Oakland Foundation is only $65, individual memberships are $40.

This year's sponsors include: Six Feet Under, Creative Loafing, Scoutmob, Criminal Records, AM 1690, Cafe of Life (Grant Park), Community Music Centers of Atlanta, Craft Creation & Design, Doc Cheys, Pete Knapp & Company, 4th Ward Heroes, Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts, Hodge Podge Coffee, Melwood Springs, Orange Amplification, Republic, The Stacks, Avatar Events Group, Tin Lizzy's, and Woo Web Design & Development.