Atlanta has played a major or contributing role in the development of various genres of American music at different points in the city 's history . Beginning as early as the 1920s , Atlanta emerged as a center for country music , which was brought to the city by migrants from Appalachia . During the countercultural 1960s , Atlanta hosted the Atlanta International Pop Festival , with the 1969 festival taking place more than a month before Woodstock and featuring many of the same bands . The city was also a center for Southern rock during its 1970s heyday : the Allman Brothers Band 's hit instrumental " Hot ' Lanta " is an ode to the city , while Lynyrd Skynyrd 's famous live rendition of " Free Bird " was recorded at the Fox Theatre in 1976 , with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant directing the band to " play it pretty for Atlanta . " During the 1980s , Atlanta had an active Punk rock scene that was centered on two of the city ’s music venues , 688 Club and the Metroplex , and Atlanta famously played host to the Sex Pistols first U.S. show , which was performed at the Great Southeastern Music Hall . The 1990s saw the birth of Atlanta hip hop , a subgenre that gained relevance following the success of home-grown duo OutKast ; however , it was not until the 2000s that Atlanta moved " from the margins to becoming hip-hop ’s center of gravity , part of a larger shift in hip-hop innovation to the South . " Also in the 2000s , Atlanta was recognized by the Brooklyn-based '' Vice '' magazine for its impressive yet under-appreciated Indie rock scene , which revolves around the EARL in East Atlanta Village
Atlanta International Pop Festival
Atlanta International Pop Festival (1969)
Arts in Atlanta