http://flagpole.com/users/photos/2012/jun/20/1275/

With AthFest taking over our town this weekend, there will be a nearly endless supply of terrific live music and other such diversions (comedy! food! film!) to help you take your mind off of your soul-crushing dead-end day job and your three whiny, snotty, ungrateful kids (damn it, can't you just have, like, *one minute* of peace and quiet?). Kidding! Your life is awesome and needs no improvement. But just in case it does, and you need *more more more* than just what's on the official schedule, check out the following list of totally fun non-festival musical goings-on this weekend. Eat! Drink! Enjoy your life! It's not *that* bad.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20

GO BAR: Tonight, WUOG and *Ampersand* Magazine present an an evening of music featuring Jeffers Morning, Blue Division, Sleepdance, U*S*A and Go Bar regular DJ Mahogany. Doors are at 8 p.m. and it's free for those over 21 ($3 for 18+). Event organizers promise "Athfest related prizes... Including free compilation CDs and more importantly FREE WRISTBANDS that will get you into all the cool venue exclusive shows."

THURSDAY, JUNE 21

FLICKER THEATRE & BAR: The venue hosts an afterparty for the *Flagpole* Athens Music Awards featuring music from All-City Cannonballers, Pilgrim and Walker Howle. Music starts at 10 p.m. and it's free!

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

CALEDONIA LOUNGE: Friday is the first of two days that the second annual Dirty Athens Day Party takes over this downtown spot during pre-nighttime hours. Friday's lineup is formidable enough and features Matt Hudgins & His Shit-Hot Country Band, Tia Madre, Ruby Kendrick, Golden Brown, Moths, Ginger Envelope and Mitchel Thunderbolt. It's free and runs from 5–8 p.m.

THE NATIONAL: The swanky downtown eatery will host a free afterparty at midnight on Friday featuring moody rockers Quiet Hounds.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

LITTLE KINGS SHUFFLE CLUB: This year's iteration of the Slushfund/BMI Day Party takes place at Little Kings Saturday afternoon from 1:30–6:30 p.m. and features free performances from The Empties, Lera Lynn, Pls Pls, Thayer Sarrano and the aforementioned Quiet Hounds.

CALEDONIA LOUNGE: Day two of the Dirty Athens Day Party is even formidable-er than the first, with scheduled half-hour sets from Bambara, Sunny 100, Ponderosa, Easter Island, Gold Party, Muuy Biien, Casper and the Cookies, Mad Axes, Coco Rico, White Violet, Grass Giraffes, Never, Shaved Christ, Sleep Dance and Koko Beware. It runs from 2–9 p.m. and holy jeez that's a lot of great bands! Bonus: free hot dogs served up by *Flagpole* duder Gordon Lamb while supplies last!

If you know of any other daytime or after-hours events happening this weekend, let us know in the comments! And remember: it gets better.

-Gabe Vodicka