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ATHFEST is your one-stop event for Athens music.

The annual gathering is an awesome way to catch up on what's happening in the thriving music scene in Georgia's most vibrant college town. After all, this is the town that gave us R.E.M., the B-52s, Widespread Panic and Pylon. And Athens is still producing a mind-boggling volume of great music.

Courtesy: AthFest (ENLARGE)
Modern Skirts will perform June 21 at AthFest before heading to Europe, where their schedule will include an opening stint for R.E.M.
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The next big-name act could be among the more than 170 acts performing during the fest, both indoors and out. The best bets are the free outdoor music stages, if only for the stunning art-damaged, punk-meets-acid-rock-and-marching-band hootenanny of Dark Meat (at 9:10 p.m. June 20). The 17-strong combo is now signed to Vice Records, also the label home of Atlanta's Black Lips, which re-issued their 2006 debut album "Universal Indians" in April.

On June 21 at 9 p.m., cleanse the palette with the melodic pop-rock power of Modern Skirts, a band on a roll. One week after this show, Modern Skirts will play at the U.K.'s Glastonbury Festival and then will open for R.E.M. in Amsterdam. The R.E.M. connection extends to the band's recorded work, too, since Mike Mills has been involved with the production of the quartet's upcoming sophomore album.

Music is just one of the components of AthFest. There are film screenings, art events, theatrical performances, kids' activities and, on June 19, Flagpole's annual Athens Music Awards.

? THE 411: Athfest. Outdoor stages and fests free; $15 wristband for club crawl. 8 p.m. June 19: Athens Music Awards at the Morton Theatre. Outdoor stages 5-10 p.m. June 20; noon-10 p.m. June 21; noon-8 p.m. June 22. Music will continue in the clubs until 2:30 a.m. June 21 and 22. The main stage area is on Washington Street in the two blocks in front of the 40 Watt Club (at 285 W. Washington St.). 1-800-653-0603, www.athfest.com.