Some leftover adrenaline will likely fuel the Zac Brown Band when it hits the Philips Arena stage New Year’s Eve.

Photo: C.Taylor Crothers

The group is fresh off the highlight of last night’s sold-out gig at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (home of the nine Garth Brooks sellouts earlier this month), where it was joined by fellow Georgian Alan Jackson on the duet, “As She’s Walking Away.”

CMT.com reports that Jackson surprised Brown with a 1966 white Cadillac El Dorado before the show — a country boy’s way of saying thank you for being invited to sing on what is now a No. 1 hit.

A handful of tickets remain for Friday’s Philips show.

Info at www.ticketmaster.com

Check out our interview with ZBB guitarist Coy Bowles:

http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-music/zac-brown-band-on-791185.html

Continue reading Zac Brown sells out Nashville; gets visit from Alan Jackson »

The Constellations, chroniclers of Atlanta's after-hours nightlife scene, are the perfect companions for New Year's Eve. They'll play at Smith's Olde Bar Dec. 31. Photo: Jennifer Tzar

FRIDAY
The Constellations
This is what Atlanta sounds like, if you put all of our city’s musical ingredients into a big funky blender. It’s soulful, trippy, hook-filled and, as the band’s debut album puts it, “Southern Gothic.” Not only does it sound like Atlanta, the album takes listeners on a vicarious tour of the city’s after-hours night life.
8 p.m. Dec. 31. $25. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Road, Atlanta. 404-875-1522.

FRIDAY
Billy Joe Royal
This Valdosta-born, Marietta-raised vocalist scored a Top 10 hit back in 1965 with “Down in the Boondocks,” a tune written by another Atlantan, Joe South. He also had three more Top 40 entries during the ’60s, two of those also penned by South. Back in 2007, he played a benefit to help restore and re-open the Strand Theatre in Marietta, a venue …

Continue reading Live music picks: Dec. 31-Jan. 1 »

Soulful Louisiana musician Marc Broussard headlines Center Stage on April 12. Tickets go on sale Jan. 6.

ON SALE NOW
Matt White, Brendan James. 8:30 p.m. March 4. Vinyl. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Lissie. 9 p.m. Feb. 5. The Loft. $15. TA.

SOLD OUT
Lauryn Hill. 9 p.m. Jan. 14. Center Stage. $67.50. TM.

ON SALE DEC. 31
The Church. 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Variety Playhouse. $27.50-$30. TM.

ON SALE JAN. 1
Glassjaw. 8 p.m. Feb. 17. Center Stage. $24; $21 in advance. TM.

ON SALE JAN. 6
Marc Broussard. 9 p.m. March 12. Center Stage. $25. TM.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Col. Bruce Hampton & The Quark Alliance. 8 p.m. Dec. 29. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 advance. TA.
North Mississippi Allstars. 8 p.m. Dec. 29. Variety Playhouse. $20. TM.
Vonnegutt. 8 p.m. Dec. 30.Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12; $10 in advance TA.
Perpetual Groove. 8:30 p.m. Dec. 30: $25;$22.50 advance (under 21); $22.50; $20 advance (over 21). 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31: $30; $27.50 advance (under 21); $27.50; $25 advance (over 21). …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Dec. 28 »

Tito Jackson

Tito Jackson will headline the 22nd Annual Peach Drop New Year’s Eve Celebration at Underground Atlanta. The free event kicks off at 11 a.m. Dec. 31 with family activities and continues through 4 a.m. Jan. 1.

Jackson and his band are expected to perform Jackson 5 classics and two songs from Jackson’s upcoming solo debut beginning at 11:15 p.m. New Year’s Eve.

Family matriarch Katherine Jackson and other members of the family will be in attendance.

Music begins at 6 p.m. with Douglas Cameron, followed by Generation Now! (7 p.m.); Journey tribute band Separate Ways (8 p.m.); and UltraDrive (9:30 p.m.).

For more information: www.peachdrop.com or 404-523-2311.

Continue reading Tito Jackson will perform at NYE Peach Drop »

Sixteen year-old Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber wowed a sellout Philips Arena crowd Thursday night, December 23, as he ended his “My World 2.0 Tour” on its 86th performance. Opening acts were Sean Kingston, Jasmine V and Mindless Behavior. This was Bieber’s third appearance in Atlanta in the last year.

Justin Bieber was born on March 1, 1994, in London, Ontario and was raised in Stratford, Ontario by his mother, Pattie Mallette. As he grew, Bieber taught himself to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet. He was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who happened to come across Bieber’s videos on YouTube and later became his manager. Braun arranged for him to meet with Usher in Atlanta, and Bieber was soon signed to a joint venture between Braun and Usher, and then to a recording contract with Island Records.

AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the show with his camera. Check out the 20-photo online gallery:  Justin Bieber at Philips Arena. What did you think of the …

Continue reading Justin Bieber Wraps Up His Worldwide Tour At Sold Out Philips Arena Thursday Night »

Justin Bieber isn’t the type to tout his charity efforts, preferring instead to do his good deeds – like visiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Wednesday –quietly.

But, with a little prodding from Q100’s morning show man Bert Weiss, the hair-i-licious heartthrob talked to the media for a few minutes this afternoon at Philips Arena (where he performs tonight) about “Stuff Bieber’s Bus,” an effort organized by Q100.

The idea, said Weiss, is to have a present for every kid at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Christmas morning. To accomplish that goal, Weiss wisely reached out to, “the most powerful teen in the industry” to help make it happen.

At the press conference, the slender Bieber, sporting gold Nike high-tops and baggy black leather pants, said he looks at the precedent set by Michael Jackson and “my big brother, Usher,” for inspiration about giving back to the community.

‘I have such a big platform. It would be silly not to do something with it,” Bieber, 16, …

Continue reading Justin Bieber looking for toy donations in Atlanta »

Kandi Burruss will sign copies of her new CD at Target in Buckhead 5-7 p.m. Dec. 23. Photo courtesy Tremedia

The most musical of the “Real Housewives,” singer-songwriter-producer Kandi Burruss, released her latest CD, “Kandi Koated,” last week. To promote the album, she’s  making an appearance at the Target at 2539 Piedmont Road (at Sidney Marcus Boulevard) today. Burruss will be signing copies of the CD 5-7 p.m. Dec. 23.
Atlanta producers Jazze Pha and Bryan-Michael Cox are among those who contributed to the album. Sample some of the tracks from the album and check out a TV spot at Burruss’ website

.

Continue reading Kandi Burruss of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” today at Target »

Keri Hilson and Kelly Rowland. Courtesy Kee Images

There was Keri Hilson, stunning in a black ensemble as she inquired about a coat check.

Toni Braxton, her hair long, her blue dress slinky and sleeveless, jokingly asking if she could borrow glasses from any audience member who, like she, is far-sighted.

And, finally, the man of the evening, Devyne Stephens, standing in front of a full band in a white tux with gold bow tie, vigorously conducting them as they performed Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Carol of the Bells.”

That was the scene inside Buckhead Theatre Wednesday night, as Stephens’ star-blanketed annual Christmas gala, themed as a “Winter Wonderland,” unfolded.

This year’s event honored Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds – who also took the stage to sing a rousing gospel-flavored “Silent Night” – and Tyler Perry for his accomplishments with Tyler Perry Studios.

But the bigger focus was on Stephens’ contributions to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding and his own …

Continue reading Devyne Stephens’ Christmas gala brings out Babyface, Akon, Toni Braxton »

The ever-elusive Lauryn Hill is embarking on a small tour that brings her to Atlanta in January.

The former Fugees frontwoman will perform at Center Stage at 9 p.m. Jan. 14. Tickets, on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 23, will set you back $76.50 (with Ticketmaster fees).

Hill played a handful of international festivals this year, and on this tour, will perform with a full band. She’s expected to revisit her hits from her groundbreaking “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” release as well as other well-known tunes.

The 17-date tour launches Dec. 27 in New York and wraps Feb. 4 in Montclair, N.J.

For ticket information, visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.centerstage-atlanta.com.

Continue reading Lauryn Hill emerges…will play Atlanta in January »

Zac Brown and his band will ring in the New Year at Philips Arena with a gig Dec. 31. Photo: Robb D. Cohen / www.robbsphotos.com

ON SALE DEC. 22
Freq Nasty, Marty Party, Opiuo. 9 p.m. March 5. Masquerade. $15. TM.

ON SALE DEC. 24
Big Sam’s Funky Nation. 8 p.m. Jan. 16. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Project/Object featuring Ike Willis. 8 p.m. Feb. 12. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15 in advance. TA.
Hamell on Trial. 8 p.m. March 4. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Soul Rebels Brass Band. 8 p.m. April 8. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
William Fitzsimmons. 8 p.m. April 14. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15 in advance. TA.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Justin Bieber. 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Philips Arena. $39.50-$66. TM.
Whynatte Presents B.o.B at Smith’s: The Homecoming. 8 p.m. Dec. 24. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $25 in advance. TA.
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’. 8 p.m. Dec. 26. Tabernacle. $25; $20 in advance. LN.
10 Miles Blue. 8 p.m. …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Dec. 22 »