03/18/2026
ATHENS MAIN STREET ANNOUNCES PACKED SPRING AND SUMMER 2026 EVENT LINEUP
Fridays After Five and Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series Bring Live Music to Downtown All Season Long
ATHENS, Ala. — Athens Main Street is bringing the energy back to downtown Athens this spring and summer with two beloved live music series — Fridays After Five and the Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series — offering residents and visitors plenty of reasons to spend time in the heart of the city.
Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series
Kicking things off in Merchants Alley, the Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series runs every Friday from 5:30 to 7:00 PM beginning April 24 and continuing through late June. Presented by Danny Crawford Alabama District 5 State Representative, the Spring 2026 series features an impressive roster of local and regional musical talent in one of downtown Athens' most charming outdoor settings.
The Spring 2026 lineup includes:
• April 24 — Limestoners
• May 1 — Nix Side Hustle
• May 8 — Joel Kisakye
• May 15 — McMeans Brothers
• May 22 — Zami Maré & Kevin Breedlove
• May 29 — Brad Mallette & Andy Clem
• June 5 — The Silver Silos
• June 12 — Cade Flaherty
• June 19 — Lottie Richards
• June 26 — The Cadillacs Band
Athens Main Street will also bring the Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series back this fall, with the Fall 2026 series presented by Senator Arthur Orr. Details on the fall lineup will be announced later.
Fridays After Five
Later in the evening, the party moves to the Eastside of the Limestone County Courthouse for Fridays After Five, running from 5:00 to 9:00 PM on select Fridays. The series features headline acts, food trucks, a Kids Zone, DJ entertainment, and extended shopping and dining hours throughout downtown.
The 2026 Fridays After Five concert lineup includes:
• April 24 — JUICE
• May 29 — Maclin & Co.
• June 26 — Matt Prater Band
• July 31 — The Velcro Pygmies
Notably, April 24, May 29, and June 26 offer a full evening of live music downtown, with the Merchants Alley Happy Hour Music Series starting the night in Merchant's Alley before Fridays After Five takes the stage at the Courthouse.
"This is a really special year for Athens Main Street, and these two series reflect everything we've been building toward for two decades," said Tere Richardson, Executive Director of Athens Main Street. "Downtown Athens has always had a great sense of community, and there is nothing quite like live music to bring people together. We want everyone to come out, explore our shops and restaurants, and feel what makes this place so special."
Fridays After Five is made possible through the generous support of presenting sponsor TOC-The Orthopaedic Center-Athens, along with DJ sponsor Open Door Logistics, Dining Area sponsor First Metro Bank, and Sound sponsor GROWL. Additional support comes from Take Flight sponsor Huntsville International Airport, Kids Zone sponsor Taylor's Cool Treats , and supporting sponsors North Alabama Airfest/Pryor Field Airport Authority - Pryor Flight Center, The LaunchBox at Athens State University, Ramona Js Restaurant, Ming Commercial Real Estate Group, and Morell Engineering.
"Twenty years ago, Athens Main Street was just getting started, and now we have two incredible live music series that fill our streets and alleyways all spring and summer long," Richardson said. "We are so grateful to our sponsors, our performers, and most of all our community for making downtown Athens the kind of place people want to be."
Both series are free and open to the public.
