The third and final day of Shaky Knees Music Festival at Piedmont Park in Atlanta saw the high temperatures and eclectic lineups from the previous two days continue.

Sunday’s 20-act roster included three-time Shaky Knees participants Murder By Death, who are on their farewell tour; ‘80s new-wave stalwarts Devo, decked out in their signature Lego-style hats; and 4 Non Blondes, who proved they’re way more than their biggest hit, “What’s Up?”

In case you missed it, here are eight highlights from Shaky Knees Day 3.

Franz Ferdinand jumped around in 90 degree heat and played their indie-rock hits Sunday, the final day of the Shaky Knees festival. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Franz Ferdinand

Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand’s hourlong performance was filled with distorted guitar riffs (some performed by lead singer Alex Kapranos behind his head), playful keyboard melodies and groovy bass lines on “Bar Lonely,” “No You Girls,” “Take Me Out” and “This Fire.”

The quintet, who released their sixth album, “The Human Fear,” in January, treated the audience to album cuts “Night or Day,” “Audacious” and “Hooked,” the latter featuring an appearance from British hip-hop artist Masterpeace. On “Do You Want To,” Kapranos paid respect to Diane Martel, who directed the song’s music video and died Thursday.

Throughout the set, the audience engaged in fist pumps and sing-alongs and at one point even dropped to the ground at Kapranos’ request as they were singing.

“Atlanta, you sound good,” he told them, expressing his appreciation. — Christopher A. Daniel

New wave legends Devo took the Peachtree Street stage and played classics like "Whip It" to adoring fans. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Devo

Have we talked enough about the heat? By Sunday afternoon, Piedmont Park felt it, with no shade and lots of dust. But that didn’t stop Devo from delivering one of the weekend’s most fun and eccentric sets.

A mic issue at the start was fixed quickly, and from there the Akron, Ohio, band leaned into the quirks that made them legends. Their set moved through classics, with Whip It sending the crowd into full nostalgia mode. Vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh threw the video’s iconic, Lego-style red dome hats into the audience, and the band’s blend of satire, sci-fi theatrics and punk edge showed why they remain singular, even five decades on. — Avery Newmark

New wave legends Devo took threw into the crowd replicas of their iconic hats from the "Whip It" video. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

‘Weird Al’ Yankovic

“Weird Al” Yankovic brought humor and musical nostalgia to the Piedmont Stage during his hourlong set.

The Grammy-winning funnyman’s career spans four decades, spoofing chart-topping pop singles like Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Eat It”) and Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (“Like a Surgeon”). He first stepped onstage dressed like Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain for his “Smells Like Teen Spirit” parody “Smells Like Nirvana,” then he and his band channeled electronic group Devo, who played earlier in the evening, with yellow rubber suits and red geometric-shaped hats for “Dare to Be Stupid.”

Yankovic performed his hip-hop parodies “It’s All About the Pentiums,” (spoofing Diddy’s “All About the Benjamins”) “White and Nerdy” (parodying Chamillionaire’s “Ridin”) and “Amish Paradise” (a tribute to Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”) while poking good-natured fun at Miley Cyrus with “Party in the CIA” and Red Hot Chili Peppers on “Bedrock Anthem.”

Paying tribute to soul singer James Brown at one point with a teal-colored cape draped on his back, Yankovic his set with “The Saga Begins,” his take on Don McClean’s “American Pie” using characters from “Star Wars.” — Christopher A. Daniel

British Indie Rockers Wet Leg drew a huge crowd Sunday evening. Lead singer Rhian Teasdale has become a standout star over the past year. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Wet Leg

What started as an Isle of Wight duo is today the five-piece band Wet Leg. The group has skyrocketed in popularity since their self-titled debut won the 2023 Grammy for Best Alternative Album, and their Shaky performance showed why.

Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers and the rest of the band opened with “Catch These Fists, off their latest album, “Moisturizer,” and led the audience through a scream-along that rattled the park. — Avery Newmark

Alabama Shakes, led by Brittany Howard, cruised through their smooth roots rock hits Sunday.(Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes’ lead singer Brittany Howard told the audience at Peachtree Stage she wanted to bring some good energy to the set, and she delivered.

Howard and her bandmates ripped into a syrupy, Delta-inspired mix of Southern rock, blues, soul and psychedelic funk that allowed her to sing equal parts operatic and raspy.

Howard, who wore a vest with an anti-ICE sentiment on the back, entertained the crowd with “Future People,” “Hang Loose,” “Guess Who,” “Dunes,” “Don’t Wanna Fight” and “Another Life,” a song released this year. — Christopher A. Daniel

Lucy Dacus

Lucy Dacus closed the evening on the Ponce stage with a set that felt both intimate and historic. The Richmond, Virginia, songwriter built her reputation on brutally honest storytelling, both as a solo artist and as one-third of the supergroup Boygenius.

Between songs, she sipped tea to cheers, and one of the night’s defining moments came when Dacus officiated an onstage wedding during “Best Guess,” her latest single. Congratulations to the two fans, Casey and Madison; there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. — Avery Newmark

Indie rockers Vampire Weekend played a set full of hits for the crowd Sunday evening. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Vampire Weekend

New York City-based Vampire Weekend blended an eclectic mix of reggae, rock and acoustic pop accompanied by fluorescent, strobe lighting design, eerie keyboard melodies and solos from violinist Isabel Hagen.

Vampire Weekend, who released their fifth album, “Only God Was Above Us,” last year, breezed through a setlist that included “Capricorn,” “Mansard Roof,” “Unbelievers” and “Diane Young.” — Christopher A. Daniel

Headliners Blink 182 closed out 2025's Shaky Knees with a two-hour onslaught of hits. (Ryan Fleisher for the AJC)

Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

Blink-182

Blink-182 closed Shaky Knees weekend with the same nonchalant candor that made them a successful rock band.

The trio, featuring bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker, came onstage like the starting lineup of a pro sports team. They settled into a cadence of loud (and speedy) guitar riffs and drum loops that took the audience back to the California-based band’s garage and skater rock roots.

Famous for making music videos in the nude and spoofing “Total Request Live”-era pop acts, Blink-182 turned up the amps and pyrotechnics for “The Rock Show,” “First Date,” “Josie,” “Anthem, Part Two,” “All The Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again” and other songs. — Christopher A. Daniel

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Credit: Ryan Fleisher

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