Sometimes the most meaningful events have the humblest beginnings. Mental Awakening started in 2019 when Michael Robertson and friends needed a way to honor Cole Hagood, who had died by suicide. Since Cole loved concerts, they threw a backyard show with friends playing music and cooking up tons of crawfish (thanks to Robertson's Alabama roots).
Now it's grown into a two-day festival at Westside Motor Lounge, running March 27-28. The event combines live music with local art and what organizers call 'community spirit,' all focused on supporting mental health and suicide prevention. It's exactly the kind of grassroots event that gives Atlanta's music scene its character.
Westside Motor Lounge is a perfect venue for this kind of thing. The space has that intimate, community feel that lets an event like Mental Awakening maintain its original spirit even as it's grown. Plus, the Westside location puts it right in the heart of one of Atlanta's most creative neighborhoods, where this kind of authentic, purpose-driven event really resonates.