Depelsha McGruder, senior vice president of business operations for Centric, and rap star Ludacris, talk to students at Benjamin E. Mays High School.

Ludacris stopped by Benjamin E. Mays High School on Wednesday to talk to a group of students interested in entertainment about how best to forge a career in the industry.

The superstar rapper, also known as Chris Bridges in his non-musical life, was joined by Shanti Das, a longtime music industry executive, Donald Woodard, an Atlanta entertainment lawyer and Depelsha McGruder, senior vice-president of business operations for Centric, which sponsored the event along with the Grammy Foundation.

V-103 personality Ramona DeBreaux moderated the panel. Among the topics discussed were:

– Changes in the music industry: “I used to pick on my elders for using 8-tracks. Now I’m starting to feel that way since my first independent album came out on cassette,” Ludacris said, adding that using the Internet as a marketing tool is …

Continue reading Ludacris visits Mays High School »

American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino headlined the Fox Theatre Thursday night with Eric Benet And Kandi Burruss opening the show.

And while the AJC wasn’t there to review it, AJC photographer Robb Cohen was covering the show with his camera. Click here to view the 16-photo online gallery. What did you think of the show? Which artist put on the best performance?

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

Continue reading Fantasia and Eric Benet Bring Soul Sounds To The Fox Theatre Thursday Night »

Broadway beauty and vocal powerhouse Idina Menzel perrforms with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Friday.

FRIDAY
Idina Menzel
One of Broadway’s brightest stars, Menzel was part of the original cast of “Rent” and won a Tony Award for her performance in “Wicked.” She reached a wider audience with a multi-episode guest spot on “Glee,” playing the leader of a rival vocal group (and, spoiler alert for those a season behind, Rachel’s birth mother). She’ll bring her powerful voice to Symphony Hall for a performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
8 p.m. Nov. 12. $33.50-$88.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000, www.atlantasymphony.org.

FRIDAY
Wolf Parade
Frog Eyes, Swan Lake, Sunset Rubdown are all on Wolf Parade keyboardist and vocalist Spencer Krug’s résumé. Krug and fellow songwriter Dan Boeckner are still stretching the boundaries of pop music, but there’s always a memorable turn of phrase or a ear-tweaking melody …

Continue reading Live music picks: Nov. 12-18 »

Photo credit: Wuz Good

Atlanta rapper B.o.B and teen heartthrob Justin Bieber are among the performers announced for this year’s “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! – Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night.”

And if you were able to get through that massive title and are still reading, we’ll also tell you that Miranda Lambert, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry are penciled in to perform on the Dec. 1 show as well.

This is the third year that the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences has announced some of the nominations for the Grammy Awards with a live TV special, which will air at 10 p.m. on CBS.

The awards themselves will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Feb. 13 on CBS.

Continue reading Justin Bieber, B.o.B. among Grammy concert performers »

Initially slated to take place at the 4,600-capacity Atlanta Civic Center, the show was yanked out of there at the 11th hour in favor of the infinitely smaller Opera in Midtown, which holds just over 1,000 when stuffed to the rafters.

That wasn’t a problem. The venue started out full – though chunks of the crowd were members of the performers’ entourages – but by 10:30  p.m., attendance dwindled significantly.

Can you blame anyone for finally bolting in frustration?

Despite an 8 p.m. ticket – and numerous promises by those attached to the show that it would start on time to accommodate all of the acts supposedly on the bill – it was shortly after 9 p.m. when hometown favorites Arrested Development hit the stage for a spirited version of “Tennessee.”

And then, they were gone.

Ray Lavender

After an …

Continue reading Soul Train “Fusion” concert little more than a typical club night »

The Atlanta Falcons have had plenty of reasons to blare Sevendust’s “Falcons on Top” during their Georgia Dome games this season. Now, the Atlanta rockers have filmed an official video for the song and made the foot-stomper available for download on iTunes and Amazon.

Continue reading Sevendust releases Atlanta Falcons song »

Erykah Badu performs Nov. 9 at Soul Train Awards Pre-Concert. (Larry Roper/Motown)

ON SALE  NOV.  11

Drivin’ n’ Cryin’. 8 p.m., Dec. 26. Tabernacle. $25; $20 in advance. LN

Yonder Mountain String Band. 8 p.m., Feb. 12. Tabernacle. $28; $25 in advance. LN

ON SALE NOV. 12

Imagination Movers’ “In a Big Warehouse.” 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. May 21. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $27; $37. TM

Zoso & Satisfaction, Tributes to Led Zeppelin & The Rolling Stones. 8 p.m., Dec. 8. Variety Playhouse. $17.50; $15 in advance. TM

The Walkmen. 8 p.m., Jan. 13. Variety Playhouse. $18; $16 in advance. TM

UPCOMING SHOWS

Soul Train Awards Pre-Concert with Erykah Badu and Rick Ross. 8 p.m. Nov. 9. OperaAtlanta. $25-$171.85. TM.
Never Shout Never, the Maine, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business, Carter Hulsey. 8 p.m. Nov. 9. Center Stage. $20. TM.
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Os Mutantes. 8 p.m. Nov. 9. Moved to the EARL from Variety Playhouse. $15. TM.
Bayanihan Philippine National …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Nov. 9 »

For the people who say music is going to the dogs, well, now it is.

Local nonprofit Community Arts Live has produced “WAG-A-LOT Presents All Creatures Great and Small,” a 12-song CD of original and classic holiday songs donated by local and regional artists including the Indigo Girls, Kodac Harrison, Francine Reed and Yacht Rock Revue.

Proceeds from the release will benefit the Atlanta Humane Society.

“WAG” will be released Nov. 26 online (www.theholidaytwelve.com) and at area Best Buy locations.

Continue reading Atlanta Humane Society to benefit from holiday CD »

The Tuesday “SoulFusion” Soul Train Awards Pre-Show Concert has been moved from the Atlanta Civic Center to OperaAtlanta (1150B Peachtree St.).

The reason given for the shift in venue was a scheduling conflict with production at the Civic Center.

Tickets are still available for Tuesday’s 8 p.m. show, which features Erykah Badu, Rick Ross, Doug E. Fresh, Arrested Development, Trina and more. Tickets are $25-$171.85. For more information, call 404-874-0428.

Continue reading Soul Train concert moved to Opera Atlanta »

Brian McKnight and Vivica A. Fox star in the Je’Caryous Johnson play, “Cheaper To Keep Her.” Thursday was opening night at the Atlanta Civic Center for the four-night engagement of this poignant comedy examining marital relations. The play was aptly described as a combination of soap opera, sitcom and concert featuring the vocals of Brian McKniight.

And while the AJC wasn’t there to review it, AJC photographer Robb Cohen was covering the show with his camera. Check out the 16-photo online gallery: Vivica Fox, Brian McKnight in ‘Cheaper to Keep Her’   What did you think of the play?

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

Continue reading Cheaper To Keep Her Star Brian McKnight & Vivica Fox At Civic Center »