Lucy seems like such a genuine and caring person. Her performance at Shaky Knees warmed the crowd, enjoyed by thousands of fans who clearly came ready. She was so humble too; thanking everyone for showing up and talking about previous times she’s played in Atlanta. It was obvious she has a lot of loyal fans here, many of whom know every word of every song.

Her setlist mixed old favorites with surprises. She played “I don’t wanna be funny anymore” and “Hot & Heavy,” and one of the most beautiful moments was her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.” Hearing that live felt special as it’s one of my mom’s favorite songs.. Although the stage design was simple, it suited the mood, lights cascading like waves over her and the crowd, tying us together under the same sky.

She shared the spotlight too. After a short introduction, she brought Casey and Madison up onto the stage and married them. Standing center stage, surrounded by applause, it was a beautiful, intimate moment.

There was also a moment of humor and surprise: when she said she was shocked so many people were there instead of Vampire Weekend, the crowd erupted. At the end of her set, she displayed flags the trans rights and palestine flags as she walked off. A meaningful gesture that added a lot of weight to her performance.

Her set was a relaxing and lovely way to drift toward the festival’s close. I laid back in the grass toward the back, listening to her introduce her band before her final song and wave goodbye, promising she’d return to Atlanta soon. Even from a distance, I could hear the cheers and feel the warmth.

Review by: David Saxum; Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III/Shaky Knees

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Lucy Dacus Commands the Crowd at Shaky Knees 2025