Harpist Kelly Stewart is among the performers at this year's Celtic Christmas Concert. Photo: Clark Hill

FRIDAY
Atlanta Celtic Christmas Concert
The 17th annual edition of this holiday favorite portrays Christmas traditions of the Celtic lands in music, dance, poetry, song and stories. Among the performers at this year’s concert are Grammy winner banjo virtuoso Alison Brown, the first woman ever to win the Bluegrass Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award, multi-instrumentalist Joe Craven, harpist Kelly Stewart, Irish composer and pianist J.J. Sheridan and sibling duo R.I.S.E. R.I.S.E. is Leah and Chloe Smith, native Atlantans raised on Southern mountain tunes by their fiddling mother, Jan. As always, Irish tenor James Flannery serves as director and host.
8 p.m. Dec. 11-12; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13. $20-$25; students $10. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emory University, 1700 N. Decatur Road N.E., Atlanta. 404- 727-5050.

FRIDAY
Gretchen Wilson
It was just a …

Continue reading Live music picks, Dec. 11-17 »

LN = Live Nation, 1-877-598-8698, www.livenation.com
TM = Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com
TA = Ticketalternative, 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com

The Black Eyed Peas will perform at Philips Arena on Feb. 4. Credit: Jason DeCrow / Associated Press

ON SALE DEC. 9
Emmure. 6 p.m. Feb. 18. Masquerade. $14 advance. TM.

ON SALE DEC. 11
East Ponce Soul Faction. 8 p.m. Jan. 13. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 advance. TA.
Conscious Artist Party. 8 p.m. Jan. 16. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 advance. TA.
Gaelic Storm and Carbon Leaf. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17. Variety Playhouse. $17.50. TM.
Five Finger Death Punch. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31. Masquerade. $20 advance. TM.
Tim Brantley. 8 p.m. Feb. 4. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12 advance. TA.
The Residents. 8:30 p.m. Feb. 5. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 advance. TM.
An Evening With Furthur: Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, featuring Jeff Chimenti, John Kadlecik, Jay Lane and Joe Russo. 7 p.m. Feb. 8. The …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Dec. 8 »

The Whigs (from left): Julian Dorio, Parker Gispert and Tim Deaux

FRIDAY
The Whigs
Crafting crunchy modern rock that transcends most of its contemporaries with hook-filled and memorable songs, Athens’ Whigs prove that you don’t need gimmicks to make great records. There’s nothing fancy about this trio’s solid, straight-ahead indie rock, but it works like a charm. The band has just announced the upcoming release of its third album, “In the Dark,” scheduled for March 2. The guys are also offering two new songs as free downloads at the band’s official site.
8:30 p.m. Dec. 4.$15. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404- 524-7354.

FRIDAY
Josh Joplin
One-time Atlanta resident and current New Yorker Joplin makes catchy, heart-tugging music that always seems to fall just below the radar. He’s an engaging performer and always a popular draw whenever he returns to town.
6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 4. $20. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404- …

Continue reading Live music picks, Dec. 4-8 »

Wednesday night, Midtown’s intimate Center Stage Theatre hosted Chris Brown and opening act New Boyz on the Chris Brown Appreciation Tour. And while we weren’t there to cover it, Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. See his concert photos here. And if you attended the concert, tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Chris Brown shows? How do you feel about the entertainer’s recent problems and relationship with Rihanna?

(Photo Credit: Robb Cohen/ www.robbsphotos.com)  For other concert photography linked to Access Atlanta, please visit for Atlanta Concert Photography Galleries. by Atlanta Photographer Robb Cohen www.RobbsPhotos.com

Continue reading R&B Star Chris Brown Sells Out Center Stage Theatre »

Nickelback will perform at Philips Arena on April 21. Credit: Roadrunner

LN = Live Nation, 1-877-598-8698, www.livenation.com
TM = Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com
TA = Ticketalternative, 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com

ON SALE DEC. 2
107.9 Jingle Bash. 8 p.m. Dec. 26. Philips Arena. $24-$139. TM.

Alice in Chains will perform at the Tabernacle on Feb. 25. Credit: www.aliceinchains.com

ON SALE DEC. 4
Gypsy Sol. 8 p.m. Jan. 15. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 advance. TA.
CD Release — The Internationals. 8 p.m. Jan. 20. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 advance. TA.
The Expendables. 6 p.m. Feb. 4. Masquerade. $15 advance. TM.
Friday Night Boys. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Masquerade. $10 advance. TM.
Alice in Chains. 8 p.m. Feb. 25. The Tabernacle. $40. LN.
George Strait and Reba McEntire. 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Philips Arena. $83.50-$93.50. TM.
Michael Bublé. 8 p.m. March 14. Gwinnett Arena. $49.50-$89.50. TM.
Benjy Davis Project. 8 p.m. March 17.

Continue reading Hot tickets, Dec. 1 »

Cartel. Photo: Ray Lego

FRIDAY
Cartel
You might remember this Atlanta band as the pop-punk quintet that recorded an album in a glass-encased studio sponsored by MTV and Dr. Pepper. The band’s third album, “Cycles,” has been a long time coming and it’s the first for Wind-Up Records (home of Evanescence, Seether, Finger Eleven and Creed), the band’s third label. The group’s first album, 2005’s “Chroma,” was released by the Militia Group. Sony/BMG affiliate Epic Records then signed the band for the self-titled follow-up (that’s the one they recorded in the glass bubble).
7 p.m. Nov. 27. $16.50. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. 404- 577-8178, www.masq.com.

FRIDAY
Corey Smith
Jefferson native and UGA grad Smith melds country, rock and blues and plays to packed houses across the Southeast. He gets the Bulldog faithful going with “Every Dawg” and keeps the spring-break spirit alive for the post-grad crowd with “If I Could Do It Again.”
8 p.m. Nov. 27. $25. …

Continue reading Live music picks, Nov. 27-Dec. 3 »

George Strait and Reba McEntire will perform at Philips Arena on Feb. 25. Credit: Tony Baker

LN = Live Nation, 1-877-598-8698, www.livenation.com
TM = Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com
TA = Ticketalternative, 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com

ON SALE NOV. 25
Kreator. 7 p.m. March 31. Masquerade. $16.50 advance. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 27
Betty Rebel. 8 p.m. Jan. 7. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 advance. TA.
Larry McCray. 8 p.m. Feb. 10. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 advance. TA.

ON SALE DEC. 1
Fringe Atlanta. 7 p.m. March 13. Redeemer. $10-$15; $7.50-$12.50 advance. TA.

ON SALE DEC. 4
George Strait and Reba McEntire. 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Philips Arena. $83.50-$93.50. TM.
Michael Bublé. 8 p.m. March 14. Gwinnett Arena. $49.50-$89.50. TM.

Michael Bublé will perform at Gwinnett Arena on March 14. Credit: Reprise Records

UPCOMING SHOWS
Skinny Puppy. 8 p.m. Nov. 24. The Loft. $27; $25 advance. TA.
Switchfoot. 8 p.m. Nov. 24. Center Stage. $25. …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Nov. 24 »

Continue reading AMA winner Aventura to perform in Gwinnett Wednesday »

Keith Urban, wife Nicole Kidman

Atlanta − and Georgia − were well represented at the 2009 American Music Awards (red carpet photos …  show photos).

• Former Atlanta resident Whitney Houston, who was honored with the International Star Award, delivered a vocally strong ballad. With lines like “I crashed down, I stumbled, I did not crumble,” she kept the vocals in a safe range but was still powerful.

• Country singer Jason Aldean presented award for Country Duo/Group. Noms included fellow Atlanta/Georgia ties Sugarland and Zac Brown Band (both lost to Rascal Flatts)

• Aldean was also nominated for Country male artist, which was presented by Zac Brown Band, but he lost out to Keith Urban.

• Atlanta R&B singer Keri Hilson lost the Soul/R&B female award to Beyonce.

R&B singer Ne-Yo

• Atlanta rapper T.I. faced off against Eminem and Jay-Z for Rapper/Hip-hop male (Jay-Z took it).

• Atlanta singer Ne-Yo introduced Rihanna, whose “comeback” performance (where did she go?) …

Continue reading AMAs 2009: Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Keri Hilson »

Friday night, the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points hosted Camera Obscura and Papercuts. And while we weren’t there to cover it, Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. Click here for a full gallery of the show. In the meantime, tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Camera Obscura shows?

(Photo Credit: Robb Cohen/ www.robbsphotos.com)  For other concert photography linked to Access Atlanta, please visit for Atlanta Concert Photography Galleries. by Atlanta Photographer Robb Cohen www.RobbsPhotos.com

Continue reading Scotland’s Indie Popsters Camera Obscura at Variety Playhouse »