Justin Townes Earle. Photo: Joshua Black Wilkins

FRIDAY
Justin Townes Earle
He’s Steve Earle’s son and was named in honor of Texas songwriting legend Townes Van Zandt. That’s a lot to live up to, but this talented young singer and songwriter just keeps getting better. After a self-released EP in 2007 and a solid debut album in 2008, Earle returned with “Midnight at the Movies.” It’s a stunning display of his songwriting prowess, packed with the grit and glory of hard living, recounted with warmth and wit. It’s what country music would sound like if Nashville hadn’t lost its soul. Earle is opening for the Swell Season.
8 p.m. May 28. $27.50-$40. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000.

FRIDAY
Jason Crabb
The name might not be familiar, but Crabb won a Grammy Award earlier this year. He’s part of Kentucky’s Southern gospel singing Crabb Family and his self-titled solo debut album took home the Grammy for best …

Continue reading Live music picks, May 28-June 3 »

Tickets for the Decatur Beach Party are now on sale. Hyosub Shin, AJC

ON SALE NOW
One Eskimo. 8 p.m. May 26. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12; $10 advance. TA
Late Night Jazz Jam with William Green & Gary Harris. 10 p.m. May 29. Loew’s Hotel Atlanta. $20. TA
Decatur Beach Party featuring The Reputations and Terry Lee and the G.T.’s. 5 p.m. June 18. Old Courthouse Square. $10; $6.50 advance. TA
Here We Go Magic. 9:30 p.m. Aug. 6. The EARL.  $10. TA

Muno needs five for the Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! shows in October.

ON SALE JUNE 18
Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! 2 and 5 p.m. Oct. 23-24. Fox Theatre. $38.35-$134.  TM

CANCELLED
Christina Aguilera with Leona Lewis. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Alo. 8 p.m. May 25. Variety Playhouse. $15. TM.
Butch Walker and the Black Widows. 8 p.m. May 26. Variety Playhouse. $28.50; $26.50 advance. TM.
Please PleaseRock Me. 8 p.m. May 26, June 30 and July 28. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 advance. TA.
Charlie Mars. 8 p.m. May 27.

Continue reading Hot Tickets, May 25 »

Josh Rouse. Photo: Jim Herrington

FRIDAY
Josh Rouse
Singer-songwriter Josh Rouse returns to the U.S. on the heels of a new album, “El Turista.” This talented roots-pop singer’s worthwhile back catalog has incorporated early ’70s soul, country, folk and the flavor of his adopted homeland, Spain. Check out the gorgeous Vincent Moon-shot videos of Rouse busking in Barcelona. The scenery and the music are both sublime.
8:30 p.m. May 21. $20; $17.50 advance. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404-524-7354.

Maysa

FRIDAY
“Drying Nashville’s Tears”
A benefit for Tennessee flood victims brings together a batch of local musician including Junior, Dolan & Cash, the Skylarks, Slim Chance & the Convicts and Buck-O-Five.
9 p.m. May 21. $7 minimum donation requested. Lenny’s Bar, 486 Decatur St. S.E., Atlanta. 404-577-7721.

FRIDAY
Maysa
This soulful Baltimore native has been a member of Stevie Wonder’s backing band, Wonderlove, and was the lead vocalist for the …

Continue reading Live music picks, May 21-27 »

Christina Aguilera will be joined by Leona Lewis at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Aug. 5. Photo: Evan Agostini/Associated Press

ON SALE MAY 18
The Winter Sounds, Taxicab Racers and Milktooth. 9 p.m. June 2. Vinyl. $7; $5 advance. TA

ON SALE MAY 21
Steel Pulse. 8:30 p.m. July 1. Variety Playhouse $27.50; $25 advance. TM
Sleigh Bells, Po Po and Nerve City. 9 p.m. July 10. Vinyl. $12. TA
Scorpions and Ratt. 7:30 p.m. July 14. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. $14-$70. TM.
Cowboy Junkies. 8 p.m. July 24. Variety Playhouse. $37.50; $35 advance. TM
Christina Aguilera with Leona Lewis. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. $23.50-$139.50. LN
Patton Oswalt. 8 p.m. Aug. 21. The Tabernacle. $35; $28.50 advance. LN
Overkill. Time TBD. Nov. 15. Masquerade. $20.

The Jonas Brothers return to Atlanta a little older and a little wiser, Oct. 14 at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood. Luis Alvarez/Associated Press

ON SALE MAY 22
Alice In Chains, Deftones and …

Continue reading Hot Tickets, May 18 »

Tim McGraw and his Southern Voice Tour rolled into the sold out Aaron’s Amphitheatre Saturday night. Lady Antebellum and Love and Theft opened the show. And while we weren’t there to cover it, AJC’s Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. Check out the online gallery Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice concert. In the meantime, tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Tim McGraw shows?”

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

Continue reading Tim McGraw & Lady Antebellum Sell Out Aaron’s Amphitheatre »

Steve Wynn. Photo: Guy Kokken

FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3
One of the founders of Los Angeles band the Dream Syndicate revisits his former band’s two finest moments with these shows. Wynn and his band will play “Medicine Show” tonight and “The Days of Wine and Roses” on Saturday. The Dream Syndicate were part of the neo-psychedelic underground of the mid-’80s in L.A., but the band owed a bigger musical debt to the gritty experimentalism of the Velvet Underground than the V.U.’s psychedelic contemporaries.
9:30 p.m. May 14-15. $15. 529, 529 Flat Shoals Ave, Atlanta. 404-228-6769.

FRIDAY
Little Feat
The laid-back yet funky California group Little Feat still conjures magic from a mix of musical genres, from New Orleans boogie-woogie to bluegrass-tinged country, and a back catalog rich in the songs of the late, great Lowell George. “Dixie Chicken” and “Willin’” are timeless classics that still thrill  more than 35 years after they first …

Continue reading Live music picks, May 14-19 »

The Variety Playhouse hosted an evening of iconic blues, folk and Americana Wednesday night as legends David Bromberg and Jorma Kaukonen displayed their vast vocal and guitar skills for a large crowd in Little Five Points. Kaukonen, a member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame, was a founding member of the Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, and has nurtured an acclaimed solo career over the past four decades. Multi-instrumentalist David Bromberg displayed his quirky, humorous songwriting skills, and the unique ability to play rhythm and lead guitar at the same time. In 2008, he was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Traditional Folk Album. The posed photo in this blog are, from left, tour manager Phil Jacobs, Jorma, David, mandolin player Barry Mitterhof, and Variety Playhouse manager Brad Syna.

AJC’s Robb Cohen was there with his camera. If you were at the show, tell us about what you saw and heard. 

(Photo Credit: Robb Cohen/ www.robbsphotos.com)  For other …

Continue reading David Bromberg & Jorma Kaukonen Jam At Variety Playhouse »

When petite British singer Corrine Bailey Rae stepped onto the stage Tuesday night at CenterStage, she looked more like a young, shy American Idol contestant than the lyrical and vocal force she would prove she is by night’s end.

Dressed in a purple Alexander McQueen jumpsuit and a mass of locks that almost hid her tiny face, Rae started the night out with “Are You Here,” a tune from her album, “The Sea,” released earlier this year. From there, she went through the fun and peppy, vintage sounding “Paris Nights” also from “The Sea,” to the brooding ballad “Till it Happens to You” from her self-titled debut.

With her arms reaching out to the sold-out crowd most of the night, she seemed to take the audience in with her lovely and perfectly pitched voice, comforting them one moment with “Love is on Its Way” and teasing the next with the sexy, sensual grooves in “Closer.” 

Into the sixth week of her North American tour, Rae knows how to put on a show, …

Continue reading Corrine Bailey Rae at Center Stage »

Acclaimed British R&B singer Corinne Bailey Rae entertained a sold out crowd Tuesday night at Midtown Atlanta’s Center Stage Theatre. The concert was part of the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s 31 Days of Jazz series. Also on the bill was Australian performer Daniel Merriweather, who was joined onstage for one song by rapper Wale (pictured).

Read the AJC’s concert review here and comment on the show.

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

Continue reading Corinne Bailey Rae Sells Out Center Stage As Part Of Jazz Festival Series »

Lady Gaga will play Gwinnett Arena on April 18, 2011. That's right, tickets are going on sale this weekend for a concert date that is 11 months in the future. Talk about planning ahead. Photo: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

ON SALE MAY 14
Rooney, the Young Veins. 9 p.m. July 10. The Loft. $15. TA.
Joan Armatrading. 8 p.m. July 22. Variety Playhouse. $40. TM.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. 8:30 p.m. July 23. Variety Playhouse. $17.50; $15 advance. TM.
Seu Jorge. 8 p.m. July 25. Variety Playhouse. $30; $25 advance. TM.
Michael Franti & Spearhead. 8 p.m. Aug. 26. The Tabernacle. $25. LN.
Natalie Merchant. 8 p.m. Aug. 27. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $28.50-$44. TM.
Xavier Rudd and Izintaba. 8 p.m. Aug. 31. Variety Playhouse. $22.50; $20 advance. TM.
The Black Crowes. 8 p.m. Nov. 19-20. The Tabernacle. $52.50. LN.
Lady Gaga. 8 p.m. April 18, 2011. Gwinnett Arena. $52.50-$178. LN.

Michael Lynche will be among the "American Idol" finalists who will perform at Gwinnett …

Continue reading Hot tickets, May 11 »