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Kemp weighs special session as ballot law deadline looms

Election officials have a July 1 deadline to stop using QR codes to count ballots.

News

Pressure is building for Gov. Brian Kemp to call a special legislative session to delay a major overhaul of Georgia&#x27;s voting system before the elections.Why it matters: Calling lawmakers back is rare, logistically complex and politically fraught — especially this year, as officials face tight election timelines and an expected debate over voting security.

Edibles.com opens first store near Atlanta Beltline

The store, which is located near the Atlanta Beltline, will feature a variety of CBD and hemp-derived products.

Business

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Edibles.com" data-vars-click-url="https://edibles.com/" data-vars-content-id="10a3f09a-9f17-4399-b056-a4b3c375ecbd" data-vars-headline="Edibles.com opens first store near Atlanta Beltline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://edibles.com/" target="_blank">Edibles.com</a> has opened its first retail store near the Atlanta Beltline&#x27;s Eastside Trail in Inman Park.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Edible Brands" data-vars-click-url="https://ediblebrands.com/" data-vars-content-id="10a3f09a-9f17-4399-b056-a4b3c375ecbd" data-vars-headline="Edibles.com opens first store near Atlanta Beltline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ediblebrands.com/" target="_blank">Edible Brands</a>, the parent company that established Edibles.com last year, said in a news release it&#x27;s ready to expand its operations to include brick-and-mortar stores.

90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee

Executive director Brian Hill told Axios the Dogwood Festival is charging a "nominal entrance fee to be able to keep the festival alive."

Things to Do

The popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta Dogwood Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://dogwood.org/" data-vars-content-id="fdef238c-6953-4059-8d40-604e1ed84add" data-vars-headline="90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dogwood.org/" target="_blank">Atlanta Dogwood Festival</a> returns to Piedmont Park this weekend, and for the first time will charge visitors a small fee to attend.Why it matters: The three-day festival was in &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grave risk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/26/dogwood-festival-piedmont-park-shutting-down-fundraising" data-vars-content-id="fdef238c-6953-4059-8d40-604e1ed84add" data-vars-headline="90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/26/dogwood-festival-piedmont-park-shutting-down-fundraising" target="_self">grave risk</a>&quot; of not returning due to budget constraints fueled by the pandemic, rising costs and falling sponsorships.

Airbnb releases tool to estimate potential earnings as World Cup host

The new estimator comes on top of Airbnb offering a $750 incentive to first-time hosts who list their entire homes on the site.

If you&#x27;re weighing whether to list your property on Airbnb for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/06/12/2026-fifa-world-cup-atlanta" data-vars-content-id="bee1e3c9-068b-4603-b952-30b48977f230" data-vars-headline="Airbnb releases tool to estimate potential earnings as World Cup host" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/06/12/2026-fifa-world-cup-atlanta" target="_self">World Cup</a> visitors coming into town, a new tool released by the company could help you make that decision.Why it matters: It pays (pun intended) to see how much you could earn from offering your space for rent.

Decatur shop keeps rare accordions alive and playing

A basement shop on a residential street in Decatur restores decades-old accordions.

In the downstairs workshop of a Decatur bungalow, Jack Brantley and Kyle Turner keep accordions from across the country bellowing and droning.Why it matters: Brantley and Turner run <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Accordionology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.accordionology.com/" data-vars-content-id="296b311a-1a66-470d-9950-2a28e9fdf5fc" data-vars-headline="Decatur shop keeps rare accordions alive and playing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.accordionology.com/" target="_blank">Accordionology</a>, a two-person, appointment-only business with decades of combined experience repairing and restoring the niche instruments.<ul><li>&quot;We are the only full-service accordion shop in the entire Southeast,&quot; Brantley, who lives upstairs with his wife and dogs, told Axios.</li></ul>

The Strokes, Wu-Tang Clan and Gorillaz lead Shaky Knees

The 3-day Piedmont Park festival returns with Gorillaz, Wu-Tang Clan and rising indie acts.

Music

Rising bands Geese and Fontaines D.C. will join legends LCD Soundsystem and Pavement and dozens of other acts at Shaky Knees in September.Why it matters: Now in its 13th year, the weekend festival stretching across multiple stages in Piedmont Park is one of the Southeast&#x27;s top music events.<ul><li>This year&#x27;s line-up is really solid.</li></ul>

SweetWater 420 Fest moves to new location for 2026

The Atlanta music festival will be held April 17–18, 2026 at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.

Organizers of Atlanta&#x27;s SweetWater 420 Fest will once again move the popular festival to a larger location.Why it matters: The relocation to Shirley Clarke Franklin Park — the largest green space in the city with 280 acres — will allow organizers to attract more music lovers.

Drake boots Taylor Swift as Atlanta's top 2025 artist on Spotify

Atlanta was really feeling Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "luther" this year.

Atlantans have a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="top music artist" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/spotify-wrapped-2025-new-features" data-vars-content-id="b587eac7-6419-4cd3-ae7e-b961dcdedbad" data-vars-headline="Drake boots Taylor Swift as Atlanta&#x27;s top 2025 artist on Spotify" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/spotify-wrapped-2025-new-features" target="_self">top music artist</a> on Spotify.Driving the news: Drake overtook Taylor Swift as the top artist streamed this year in Atlanta, bumping her from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="top slot she held last year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/12/05/atlanta-spotify-wrapped-taylor-swift" data-vars-content-id="b587eac7-6419-4cd3-ae7e-b961dcdedbad" data-vars-headline="Drake boots Taylor Swift as Atlanta&#x27;s top 2025 artist on Spotify" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/12/05/atlanta-spotify-wrapped-taylor-swift" target="_self">top slot she held last year</a> to second place.<ul><li>Morgan Wallen comes in third, Bad Bunny ranks fourth and Kendrick Lamar rounds out the top 5.</li></ul>

Outkast's Rock Hall induction honors Atlanta's legacy and hip-hop roots

The duo was inducted during a ceremony at L.A.'s Peacock Theater on Nov. 8.

Los Angeles&#x27; Peacock Theater morphed into the Dirty South for Outkast&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame induction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/04/28/outkast-rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame" data-vars-content-id="211454f5-daf9-458d-828a-3a6f29fe34e8" data-vars-headline="Outkast&#x27;s Rock Hall induction honors Atlanta&#x27;s legacy and hip-hop roots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/04/28/outkast-rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame" target="_self">Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame induction</a> on Saturday night.Why it matters: The event highlighted the group&#x27;s influence on modern hip-hop, as well as Atlanta&#x27;s rich music history.

Your guide to Shaky Knees 2025 at Piedmont Park

First off, take MARTA or use the Atlanta Beltline. Please.

Shaky Knees, one of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta" data-vars-content-id="24566a6d-728f-4c20-a3a2-397e5c5585d4" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Shaky Knees 2025 at Piedmont Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta" target="_self">Atlanta&#x27;s</a> heavyweight music festivals that brings something for every generation, comes to Piedmont Park this weekend.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Limited tickets remain" data-vars-click-url="https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/tickets" data-vars-content-id="24566a6d-728f-4c20-a3a2-397e5c5585d4" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Shaky Knees 2025 at Piedmont Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/tickets" target="_blank">Limited tickets remain</a> for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weekend festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/" data-vars-content-id="24566a6d-728f-4c20-a3a2-397e5c5585d4" data-vars-headline="Your guide to Shaky Knees 2025 at Piedmont Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.shakykneesfestival.com/" target="_blank">weekend festival</a> showcasing up-and-coming bands and rock legends.

Georgia ranks high in solo ticket sales

New SeatGeek data shows single-ticket sales are up as Gen Z prioritizes experiences over company.

Culture

Single-ticket purchases to concerts and professional <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sporting events" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/13/la-olympics-world-cup-mega-decade" data-vars-content-id="d1351f37-4e4a-49ef-8d0b-2cf75208e45f" data-vars-headline="Georgia ranks high in solo ticket sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/13/la-olympics-world-cup-mega-decade" target="_self">sporting events</a> have steadily increased in recent years, according to data from SeatGeek.Why it matters: The ticket vendor says <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gen Z" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/09/smiley-emoji-gen-z" data-vars-content-id="d1351f37-4e4a-49ef-8d0b-2cf75208e45f" data-vars-headline="Georgia ranks high in solo ticket sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/09/smiley-emoji-gen-z" target="_self">Gen Z</a> and younger millennials are prioritizing &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="experience-first" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/26/netflix-spotify-paramount-streaming-live-experiences" data-vars-content-id="d1351f37-4e4a-49ef-8d0b-2cf75208e45f" data-vars-headline="Georgia ranks high in solo ticket sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/26/netflix-spotify-paramount-streaming-live-experiences" target="_self">experience-first</a>&quot; spending habits, even if that means going solo.State of play: SeatGeek ranked U.S. states by the percentage of single, resale ticket purchases to concerts and the four major pro sports leagues within each state and shared its findings exclusively with Axios.Zoom In: In Georgia, solo purchases accounted for 15% of pro sports ticket sales, ranking around in the top 10 nationally.<ul><li>Georgians are apparently more sociable than most states when it comes to concerts, though — 30% of sales were single-ticket purchases, up from 2024.</li></ul>Context: The resale platform credits a greater availability of general admission seats sold at concerts as a factor.The bottom line: Fans don&#x27;t need company to be entertained.Thomas&#x27; thought bubble: I agree 100%. A 2018 solo trip to Austin to watch &quot;Koyaanisqatsi&quot; performed live by the Philip Glass Ensemble was a bucket-list item for me.

Here are the top 5 songs Atlanta listened to on Spotify this summer

According to Spotify data, this summer was the least danceable and lowest-energy summer for music.

Alex Warren&#x27;s &quot;Ordinary&quot; was the top song this summer for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Spotify" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/spotify-user-numbers-investor-relations" data-vars-content-id="bd887a12-4e56-49bb-9e5c-863e8b06bfea" data-vars-headline="Here are the top 5 songs Atlanta listened to on Spotify this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/29/spotify-user-numbers-investor-relations" target="_self">Spotify</a> users in Atlanta.The big picture: According to Spotify data, summer 2025 was the least danceable and lowest-energy summer for music, based on the tempos, rhythm stability, beat strength, and overall regularity of its top tracks.

Beyoncé in Atlanta: How to get last-minute tickets

Beyhive members from all over the world will descend onto Atlanta over the weekend.

The moment for which you relinquished hundreds (or thousands) of dollars, splurged on the perfect outfit and memorized all of the songs has finally arrived in Atlanta.Why it matters: Beyoncé&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cowboy Carter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/02/03/grammy-awards-2025-beyonce-best-album-cowboy-carter" data-vars-content-id="2fc82726-00e2-402c-a194-67db502fd705" data-vars-headline="Beyoncé in Atlanta: How to get last-minute tickets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/02/03/grammy-awards-2025-beyonce-best-album-cowboy-carter" target="_self">Cowboy Carter</a> tour stop in Atlanta will occur over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="four days" data-vars-click-url="https://beyonce.com/tour" data-vars-content-id="2fc82726-00e2-402c-a194-67db502fd705" data-vars-headline="Beyoncé in Atlanta: How to get last-minute tickets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://beyonce.com/tour" target="_blank">four days</a> — Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday — at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

André 3000's pop-up concerts reflect his love for Atlanta, creative vision

André 3000 was seen performing last week in neighborhoods across Atlanta.

Nobody does surprise quite like André 3000, as shown by his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="free pop-up flute performances" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/06/05/1-photo-to-go-andr-3000-just-wants-to-play" data-vars-content-id="b19f61ed-9dc9-42be-b858-aba70f4d5c01" data-vars-headline="André 3000&#x27;s pop-up concerts reflect his love for Atlanta, creative vision" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/06/05/1-photo-to-go-andr-3000-just-wants-to-play" target="_self">free pop-up flute performances</a> around Atlanta.Why it matters: The rapper and flutist is rarely spotted around town, but these outings could be a sign that we might see more of him — and not just because he may be promoting new music, said Maurice Hobson, a historian and Georgia State University professor.

Music

Decatur shop keeps rare accordions alive and playing

Atlanta rapper Jeezy unveils Las Vegas residency

The Strokes, Wu-Tang Clan and Gorillaz lead Shaky Knees

SweetWater 420 Fest moves to new location for 2026

Drake boots Taylor Swift as Atlanta's top 2025 artist on Spotify