Secret Stages Music Festival 2019: What To Know

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Birmingham's own "discovery" music festival is back this weekend, as Secret Stages is set to kick off August 2 in Avondale.

What sets Secret Stages apart from other festivals in Birmingham is that its organizers have put together a lineup that does not necessarily include "marquee" artists. The idea, from the festival's beginning in 2011, is for festival-goers to discover new music they may not have heard before - hence, dubbing the event as a "Music Discovery Festival."

This year's festival takes place in Avondale for the second year. Until last year's festival, the event was held in Birmingham's Loft District. Venues participating in the festival include 41st Street Pub, Avondale Brewery, Saturn and The Hangar.

More than 50 artists are scheduled to play the two-day festival, including regional bands from Birmingham, Nashville, Memphis, jackson, Atlanta and Athens - in addition to bands from New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California and Missouri.

The festival in the past has included the likes of artists such as St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Lee Baines III & The Glory Fires, Dawes, John Paul Kieth, Seratones and Sun Seeker - all of whom have gone on to receive national acclaim.

Day passes start at $35 and weekend passes start at $55.