Athfest’s Sunday shows tend toward the mellow, jam, Americana, and world side of the spectrum, perhaps because Sunday is more of a family-oriented event. Or perhaps it’s because everybody sports serious hangovers and third degree sunburn. A bunch of heavy metal would just hurt. The Club Crawl portion of the event is over at this point, so most of the shows are outdoors (yay?) or at all-ages venues. Here are a few recommendations:

12:00 PM
Nuci’s Space Camp Amped Student Band Showcase — Side Stage
Free!
Camp Amped is a rock camp held at Nuci’s Space over the summer, much in the vein of School of Rock, but without Jack Black mugging his way around the joint. From what I’ve heard, the 11-17 year olds have a blast and put together some rad bands in their short time there, all under the tutelage of some of Athens’ best musicians. This is a chance to check out this latest round of campers’ progress. Middle and high schoolers playing rock music onstage? Sold.

5:50 PM
Dreams So Real — Main Stage
Free!
Trent Allen and Co. are reuniting after nearly 20 (I’m old!) years of inactivity. I remember liking this band way back in the day, but I honestly can’t say I remember that much about them now. Still, they were a part of the Athens college rock scene (See also: Vigilantes of Love and Guadalcanal Diary) that arose after R.E.M.’s first round of success. One of their early songs was produced by Peter Buck, and they were even signed to Arista Records for a few years. This will be a good opportunity to check out a piece of Athens musical history.

8:00 PM
Mountain Music & Medicine Show — Morton Theatre
$10/$5 with Athfest wristband
The concept behind this Dahlonega-based radio show (relocated for this event at Athens’ Morton Theatre) is the kind of public radio catnip that sends people like me running: “The setting observes Doc setting up on the town Square, the hub of local commerce and social center of the area. Doc brings his own brand of humor while he exhorts folks to buy his “Wizard Water”, elixir for improving their lives.” Eek. I like “A Prairie Home Companion” as much as the next milquetoast liberal white dude, but I can only take so much cornpone, downhome “humor.” However, the lineup assembled for this old-timey radio show is quite good, particularly the inclusion of the Packway Handle Band and the Solstice Sisters. These two alone make this thing worth attending.

The Packway Handle Band are one of Athens’ biggest bands and a burgeoning force on the bluegrass scene nationwide, but they are edgier and more subversive than most people give them credit for, swinging a sledgehammer at convention whenever they can (they cover songs by the Pixies and Madonna, for example). Solstice Sisters are folk in the early 20th century tradition. If you think “folk music” is strumming some major chords on an acoustic guitar then you’re in for a surprise. Solstice Sisters have Andrews Sisters-quality harmonies and a keen ear for the nuances of traditional American music.