Diverse Voices Come Together at Amplify Decatur Festival - April 23, 2022

It’s easy to look the vast scope of the world’s problems and just want to give up. We don’t know what to do or how to do it or if we can even make any difference at all. However, once in a while an opportunity arises in which we can not only make a difference but also have a good time doing it. 

The Amplify Decatur Festival, now in its twelfth year, is such an event. A cooperative effort between Eddie’s Attic, Lenz, and numerous other local businesses, the goal is to provide top-notch entertainment in an effort to prevent and to end homelessness in Decatur and Dekalb County, or, as they put more eloquently, to “leverage the universal love of music to fight poverty at the local level”. 

 The Decatur crowd came out in droves to support the cause, and the day did not disappoint. Blue skies and balmy weather framed a curated set of performers, who like their audience, were diverse in style but similar in their desire to change the world. 

 The day began with the Mike Killeen band, who held their own against their more decorated peers, with Mark Evers’ slide solos floating sweet melodies in songs like Dear Scarlet and with lyrics like those in She Called Me Last Night reiterating sentiments of what must have driven the festival sponsors in conceptualizing and executing their vision: “If you believe in this thing and all that it means, it will follow you wherever you go”.

 S. G. Goodman juxtaposed Rosanne-like banter with haunting vocals, her songs clearly an effort to remind us to “give a shit” about people, both on the personal and societal levels. She closed with a powerful acapella story of a union-leader from her home state, emphasizing that we all have a choice of “which side you are on”.  

 The War and Treaty took the stage next and exponentially pumped up the volume and the mood. The Decatur crowd tends not to be a very dancy one, but there was no way that they could help but move and shake to the unique combination of gospel-inspired vocal modulation, R & B energy, and countrified soul. Son Volt continued the energy with Jay Farrar’s smooth sounds, still undiscernible from his Uncle Tupelo days, on some harder rock tunes balanced with alt-country crowd favorites like May the Wind Take Your Troubles Away.

 Ben Harper took the stage and brought the now rowdy crowd to near silence, his social justice convictions nearly palpable in plaintive vocals on top of simple rhythms, reminiscent of early 60’s folk singers and the old blues masters: Things gotta change around here/say it loud/say it clear.  Old Crow Medicine Show rounded out the evening and sent the crowd home with good vibes and foot-stomping jams. Hey, Mama rock me…. 

Decatur Square was the perfect venue for the event. Having just the one stage allowed for the audience to see every act consecutively, rather than having to negotiate multiple performances on different stages at the same time. Patrons could come and go as they pleased and support local businesses when they needed food or libations. The sheer number of volunteers buzzing about to manage every small detail was indicative in itself of the city’s commitment to their people, both those in need and those who just wanted to enjoy a lovely day and some good tunes. 

 One thing they don’t tell you at the School of Life is that making a difference can be so enjoyable, especially when diverse voices - those of the sponsors, volunteers, performers, and audience members alike bring their voices together in a common chorus to change the world, one space at a time. It’s no wonder that Amplify Decatur has experienced continued success throughout the years and, I imagine, will for many years to come.