ATLANTA — The Shaky Knees hangover might be kind of itchy this year, as hundreds of people heal from fresh ink that guarantees entrance to the popular music festival for life.
“I went in 2015 and heard about the tattoos and got mine in 2016,” said Ciara McGonna. She pointed to a group of friends standing with her as they grabbed tacos on Saturday. “They live in south Florida, South Virginia, central Florida, I’m here in Atlanta…. It’s a way to get back together and is an amazing experience to do with your friends who are far away.”
This year was the last year fans could get the Shaky Knees ink for guaranteed free admission to all three days of the festival – and thousands took advantage of it.
“There are like 3,000 people that had the Shaky Knees tattoos at will call, and that’s not even counting the people who just came in (through the gates),” said Colleen Bayliss, who was working at the ticket counter.
Tattoo-holders had to register their tattoos with the festival, or they could have a picture of it taken at the ticket counter to register later.
“It has to have the ‘SK,’ and it has to be the size of a silver dollar,” Bayliss said. “Other than that you can customize it to what you want.”
Photos: Shaky Knees tattoos
One fan had the SK inside an alien head. Another had it sketched into a biscuit treat, along with a hand offering it to a happy dog.
“This was the last year to register, but not the last year you can use the tattoo,” Bayliss said. “That will go on as long as the festival.”
Beck, Incubus, Tame Impala and Cage the Elephant were just some of the major players this year.
“I’ve gone four times. This year it sold out in minutes,” said Mariah Martin, McGonna’s friend. “The payoff) is already tenfold. It was $250 for the three-day pass. I spent $100 plus tip for the tat … It’s our way of getting back together, it’s guaranteed – you just gotta buy a plane ticket.”
Madison Bailey is a long-time festival fan who tries to go to as many gatherings as she can.
“It includes a lot of people from diverse backgrounds. No matter how different we are, we work together in harmony,” she said. “It’s a utopian kind of feel … we put our differences aside and listen to the music."