IMAGINE MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LINEUP FOR 2021 EVENT

After a challenging 2020 that derailed festivals globally, the world is finally ready to dance again. Imagine Festival organizers are excited for the festival's comeback September 17 - 19, 2021, and today are releasing the official 2021 lineup. Tickets go on sale March 23rd at 1.00 pm EST. Earlier this year, the festival also revealed the big news that it would be moving locations to the breathtaking Bouckaert Farm in the City of Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. This new chapter for Imagine allows endless potential for a more immersive experience. Guests will now feel the embrace of Mother Nature while bathing in the forest and enjoying the magic of Imagine Festival.

Loaded with massive B2B sets and record label takeovers, the lineup for 2021 includes Excision; Illenium; Kaskade; Gryffin; Madeon; 3LAU; Adventure Club B2B Riot Ten; Black Tiger Sex Machine, Blunts & Blondes, Carnage B2B Borgore; CharlestheFirst; Clozee; Dabin; Dion Timmer; Ghost Rydr (Ghastly B2B Joyryde); Kasbo; Kayzo B2B Subtronics; Liquid Stranger; Peekaboo; Subtronics (“Wooked on Tronics” set); Shpongle Droid (Simon Posford Live, featuring Android Jones); Virtual Riot B2B Barely Alive. The Disco Inferno stage will feature Fisher with the Catch & Release Takeover and including Lee Foss; Malaa; Shiba San; Walker & Royce; John Summit; Noizu; Sidepiece; SNBRN; VNSSA; Dillon Nathaniel; Deeper Purpose; LP Giobbi; Subrinse, and Westend. The Wakaan Takeover will feature Liquid Stranger; Champagne Drip B2B Luzcid; Shlump; G-Rex; Esseks; Sully; Mize, and a Wakaan Family B2B set. Other artists joining the Imagine lineup: Abelation; Alber-K; Blackgummy; Brondo; Corrupt UK; Devault; Dieselboy; Eddie Gold; Joyce Muniz; Kaivon; Laser Assassins; Leah Culver; Lick, Mersiv; Moore Kismet; No Mana; Of the Trees, and Reaper. Local and regional support, along with much more detail of activities and surprises, will be released along our journey to the gates opening to Imagine. Stay tuned.

Also returning in 2021 is an even bigger Imagine Festival Daytime Pool Party where Kaskade will heat up the decks for fans as part of his second set of the festival.

“The diversity and special B2Bs make this one of the most exciting lineups to date. We are putting together an experience we hope will help relieve some of the pain we have felt over this past year- nature is now our ultimate special guest. I get chills thinking about the moments we will share again,” says Imagine Festival co-founder, Glenn Goodhand.

3-day General Admission passes are available starting at on $35 down. GA passes start at $269 and VIP passes with express entry into the festival, commemorative VIP wristband, exclusive viewing areas, VIP bars, and lounges, and private air-conditioned VIP trailer restrooms start at $399 for a 3-day pass, before fees. 2-pack bundles and camping options are also available. Payment plans are now available all tickets types. Tickets are available online at www.imaginefestival.com. Imagine Music Festival is an 18 and over event.

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How to have a luxurious lunch at Le Bilboquet

The crab and avocado salad from Le Bilboquet in Atlanta © Anna Lanfreschi

Here’s my secret for dining out during a pandemic:

1)     Look for an outside patio table you can reserve in advance.

2)     Go during a less popular time, like on a weeknight or for lunch.

This way, you can still enjoy some of Atlanta’s most popular restaurants without dealing with what feels like a superspreader event.

Case in point: I treated myself to a lovely lunch at Le Bilboquet the other day. It was such a nice little mid-week luxury to dine al fresco at this French restaurant in Buckhead!

I sat on their covered, heated outdoor patio, with tables well-spaced out for social distancing. Since I went for lunch during the week, it wasn’t crowded and I felt safe throughout the dining experience.

The service was impeccable, and the food was exquisite. It wasn’t a cheap or fast lunch, but I wasn’t looking for fast and cheap. I was in the mood for an extended lunch break that felt more extravagant than usual, and it was a great way to break up the monotony of a pandemic weekday. I would highly recommend it if you’re looking to do the same.

Here’s how to recreate this experience:

Reserve an outdoor table

You can select your preferred dining option – outdoor table, bar seating, or main dining room – on a reservation app like OpenTable. If that’s not available, you could always call the restaurant and ask to reserve a table on the patio.

Le Bilboquet is known for its beautiful Parisian-style open-air patio, and during the pandemic, they’ve expanded it and weatherproofed it. There are heaters and firepits for colder days, but do call ahead to make sure the patio is open, especially on days with possible inclement weather.

Do like the French and have wine with lunch

You don’t need my permission to order wine or a cocktail to kick off your lavish lunch – you do you. But I find that indulging in even just one glass of your favorite concoction elevates your lunch experience.

Order the soup du jour

A warm bowl of silky butternut squash soup on a chilly day to start your meal – what could be better!

Butternut squash soup, crab and avocado salad, and duck leg confit from Le Bilboquet © Anna Lanfreschi

Now, for your entrée…

Since you’re at a French restaurant, you can’t go wrong with the duck leg confit. The duck is fall-off-the-bone tender and served over roasted fingerling potatoes, celery root and chestnuts in a thyme jus.

If you’re more of an appetizer-as-entrée person, the crab and avocado salad at Le Bilboquet is a must! Smashed and seasoned avocado is topped with jumbo lump crab meat and julienned vegetables, and each bite is melt-in-your-mouth perfection.

The profiteroles for dessert; Le Bilboquet’s expanded outdoor patio © Anna Lanfreschi

Don’t skip dessert

Le Bilboquet’s dessert menu is a drool worthy list of classic French pastries, and it is truly a challenge to pick just one. But for me, the profiteroles always stand out. You can’t find this dessert at many other restaurants in Atlanta, and it is just so tasty: Chou pastry filled with vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate and almonds. So simple and delicious.

Le Bilboquet is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. It is located in the Shops of Buckhead and validates self-parking in the garage. The restaurant does have a business casual dress code.

Anna Lanfreschi is a digital content creator and strategist based in Atlanta. She posts about food and travel on her blog, AnnaFeasts, and on Instagram @AnnaFeasts. 

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