Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/12/22

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Taste the Soul of the South at the Second Annual Festival, Created to Celebrate
Southern Food, Drink, Music, and Art
                                 

 It’s time to eat, drink and dance your way through Atlanta’s top culinary and drink offerings. Gather ‘round, the food, drink, music, and art festival that debuted last fall, is returning for its second year this September, from Thursday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 2. The four-day festival will be held in Atlanta’s west side at select locations of Lincoln Property Company’s Echo Street West including Westside Motor Lounge, Guardian Works and Guardian Studios, with each day packed with food, drink and culture, and proceeds benefiting organizations Speed Rack and Giving Kitchen.

Founded by Southern Culinary & Creative, Gather ‘round is a 4-day event full of intimate and collaborative food, drink, music, and art experiences. With music having a high seat at the table this year, guests are invited to gather and experience some of the South’s top culinary talent, along with artisans and creators of all kinds, through taste and sound. Proceeds from the weekend will benefit Speed Rack, a bartending competition aimed at empowering women in the bar industry, with funds raised being given to Giving Kitchen, the non-profit partner that provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources, on their behalf.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring back Gather ‘round to the Atlanta community this year,” said Elizabeth Feichter, co-founder of Southern Culinary & Creative. “We’ve worked closely with the South’s most creative culinary talent to put together a delicious weekend attendees will be talking about for years to come. From experiencing Atlanta’s pop-up culture and tempting your taste buds with Southern brewers while swaying to sounds that define the South to experiencing intimate, curated dinners and dancing the last day away on the Westside at a disco day party, there’s something for everyone. We can’t wait for you to Gather ‘round with us once again.”

Throughout each day, Gather ‘round has curated events that guests are invited to take part in. From the opening party on Thursday to dinners, drink tastings, seminars and music on Friday and Saturday, to the closing disco day party celebration on Sunday, there’s something for every Southern lover. Details on each day are below.

Thursday, Sept. 29: Soul of the South
Held at Guardian Works at Echo Street West from 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., this kickoff party is not to be missed. Soul of the South will feature a showcase of Atlanta’s hottest concepts from the pop-up scene curated in partnership with Punk Foodie, a tasting experience with the region’s top breweries, a cocktail and DJ pairing exploring the classic cocktails and musical genres that define the South, and an art exhibition by Guardian Studios also at Echo Street West. With over 35 stations of food and drink, the night will be full of delicious offerings for all. This event is $100 per ticket and includes unlimited food, drink, music, and art, with a full line-up and details here.

Friday, Sept. 30 & Saturday, Oct. 1: Sound & Flavor Dinner Series
A collaborative dinner series blending sound and flavor.

El Ponce’s Cena de Remezclas, (Remix Dinner), held at La Palapa at El Ponce, will be a journey of sound and flavor, with ingredients remixed to highlight tastes that will delight and inspire a delicious evening. This creative, flavorful meal will find you dancing the night away after filling your bellies as you sway to the best of DJ Rasta Root and go on a journey through the rich history of Mexican cuisine, along with a spirits selection curated by local bottle shop Elemental Spirits Co. – Friday, Sept. 30. More details can be found here.

Nicks Westside: Music Meets Food dinner, hosted by Nick Leahy and featuring chefs Duane Nutter of Southern National and Bruce Moffett of Moffett Restaurant Group, will dazzle your taste buds with a curated menu and sounds from each chef’s hometown. The inspired multi-course lineup will showcase their favorite music from the South and will be paired with a cocktail and/or wine selection to compliment the evening. Tickets are $125 per person and all-inclusive. – Friday, Sept. 30. Details and tickets located here.

One Flew the Coop, a dinner hosted by Chef Cedric McCroery (One Flew South) and featuring Chef Demetrius Brown (Heritage Super Club), Chef Allen Suh (One Flew South), and Arield Powell & Ray Samson (Bar Vegan), will take guests on a culinary journey inspired by the Blues music of the Mississippi Delta. The creative Sound + Flavor dinner will offer an immersive food and beverage experience paired with the introspective, soulful blues music that pays homage to the land that brought this passionate and fiery music to life. The interactive evening will kick off with a welcome cocktail and passed bites created by each chef, followed by a four-course, seated menu. Tickets are $125 per person and all-inclusive. – Saturday, Oct. 1. Additional information can be found here.

South Got Something to Say, held at Westside Motor Lounge at Echo Street West, will feature an incredible lineup of award-winning chefs and barkeeps as they create an unforgettable 10-course meal paired with cocktails, wine and beer. With an all-star roster from across the South, including Brittany Anderson of Richmond, VA, Ferrell Alvarez of Tampa, FL, Michael Gulotta of New Orleans, LA, Rebecca Masson of Houston, TX, Erika Moore and Raquel Ravenell of Atlanta, GA, and J’Nai Williamson of New Orleans, LA, the evening will be a living example of the profound influence the South has had on food, drink, music, and culture. Along with the inspired meal, the evenings will celebrate the diverse culture of the South and soundtracks that define it, from jazz, blues, soul, funk, country, and rock and roll. Tickets are $125 per person and all-inclusive. – Saturday, Oct. 1. Additional information here. 

Saturday, Oct. 1: Behind the Bar
Cocktail lovers unite. Behind the Bar, held at Westside Motor Lounge, includes tastings and technique masterclasses with premium spirit partners and top-shelf talent, including Kellie Thorn, Keyatta Mincey Parker, Lynnette Marrero, Meaghan Dorman, Tiffanie Barriere and more. Six beverage seminars and masterclasses will take place over three sessions. Topics include Cocktails + Confections, Throw It Back Y’all: Retro Cocktails, Get Low to Get Down: Low ABV, Everything That Sparkles: Mixing with Bubbles, The Soulful Spirits of Latin America, and The History of the Cocktail According to Gin. Session intermissions will include additional tasting opportunities, light bites, and shuffleboard and music from the expansive Westside Motor Lounge courtyard. A $125 ticket includes three sessions and is all-inclusive. Find more details here.

Sunday, Oct. 2: Apermoutho: A Disco Day Party
Closing out the Festival will be Apermoutho, an unforgettable disco day party from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Westside Motor Lounge and features the nationally recognized Speed Rack bartending competition. A $100 ticket includes unlimited light bites, Low ABC cocktails, natural wines and light drinking beer and a soulful disco soundtrack. The spectator-friendly Speed Rack competition is one of the most influential and community-connecting programs in the field and is aimed at empowering women in the bar industry. The weekend will come to a close with the crowning of the Atlanta bartender champ on this first of four regional tour stops. To purchase tickets, visit here.

Gather ‘round presenting sponsors are PNC and Lincoln Property Co., with many more organizations also sponsoring. For more details and tickets for this unforgettable weekend, head here. Interviews and photography are available upon request.