Historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta’s oldest public burial ground, has once again teamed up with Atlanta’s oldest brewery for a signature beer crafted with fruit from Oakland’s gardens. Red Brick Brewing Co.’s Berried Skull Persimmon Lager will be available for one day only at Oakland Cemetery’s sixth annual summer music festival, Tunes from the Tombs.
On Saturday, June 18, Tunes from the Tombs attendees can enjoy a cold one created with persimmons harvested from historic Oakland’s gardens. Red Brick Brewmaster Garrett Lockhart used the berry as a complement to Red Brick’s Laughing Skull Craft Lager, creating a refreshing, subtly-flavored cask ale perfect for enjoying a day of music under the sun.
Leading up to a headlining performance from Arrested Development, HeaveN Beatbox, James Hall, Adron, Rod Hamdallah, and Atlanta Funk Society perform on the MailChimp main stage. The stage at North Public Grounds features a lineup of tribute bands, including: The Return (The Beatles); The Dirty Doors (The Doors); The B-53’s (The B-52’s); Fauxgerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival); and The Clermonts, who perform covers of various classic rock and party rock hits from the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. Additionally, Atlanta Taiko Project, Sarah Wilson, the Atlanta Braves Heavy Hitters, and Zardine Glaze perform at various locations throughout the cemetery.
Berried Skull Persimmon Lager is the third signature beer Red Brick Brewing Co. has created specially for Oakland Cemetery. For the cemetery’s Sunday in the Park Victorian street festival held in October 2015, the brewery created Rosemary’s Boneyard Brew using rosemary from Oakland’s grounds and Red Brick’s Casual Session IPA. For 2015’s Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours, Red Brick paired Laughing Skull Amber Ale with rum-soaked chips from the cemetery’s signature oak trees to create Casket Ale.
Red Brick’s Beer Garden at Lion Square features a corn-hole tournament, merchandise giveaways, and live drawings from local artist Jeremy “Jert” Townsend. Adjacent to Red Brick’s Beer Garden is an artist market featuring an Oakland Cemetery pop-up shop as well as works from local artisans including: Criminal Records, Eleventh House Needlework, Green End Designs, Hangover Straps, Mary Boyle Handcrafted Jewelry, Masa Sasaki Ceramics, Methane Studios, MurderCharms, Nostalgia Plaques, R. Land, Skullgarden, The Grimm-Life Collective, and works from Historic Oakland Foundation volunteers.
The festival runs from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with gates opening at noon. All proceeds from Tunes from the Tombs benefit Historic Oakland Foundation, which works to preserve, restore, enhance, and share Oakland Cemetery.
Advance general admission tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children aged 4-12 (plus fees). Tickets at the gate are $30 for adults and $25 for kids aged 4-12. Children 3 and under are free. A special Rock In Peace (RIP) package is available in advance only and includes: access to Tunes from the Tombs hospitality area that includes complimentary food from Republic Social House and Doc Chey’s Noodle House, indoor restrooms, and air conditioning; two drink vouchers for beer, wine, or soft drinks; a Tunes from the Tombs 2016 T-shirt and poster; autographed CD from Arrested Development or frontman Speech; free parking and transportation to stage areas provided by Mezcalito’s Cantina Stage Shuttle; and access to stage-adjacent restrooms.
Tunes from the Tombs is sponsored by MailChimp, Red Brick Brewing Co., Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, Creative Loafing Atlanta, Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House, Doc Chey’s Noodle House, Real Living Capital City, The Republic Social House, The Little Tart Bake Shop, and Mezcalito’s Cocina and Tequila Bar.
Wow! Sounds like FUN!! I want to BE THERE!