Kenneth Arnold (Kenny) Chesney was born in Johnson City, TN on March 26, 1968. He is a country music superstar singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 20 of which climbed to the top of the charts. The Country Music Association honored Chesney with the Entertainer of the Year award in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Other notable awards include the Academy of Country Music’s 1997 New Male Vocalist of the Year, 2002 Top Male Vocalist of the Year, and the Triple Crown Award in 2005. He was awarded his fourth consecutive Entertainer of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music on May 18, 2008.

AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. Check out the concert photo gallery. How many Kenny Chesney concerts have you seen, and how did this one compare? What are some of your favorite Chesney songs?

(Photo …

Continue reading Kenny Chesney Brings The Party To Sold Out Aaron’s Amphitheatre Friday »

Sugarland fans have known for months that the band had a show planned in Atlanta for Oct. 22 – just not the location.

It’s now been revealed that the Atlanta duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush (with opener Sara Bareilles) will play Philips Arena on that date, putting a period on their 59-date tour that began in Texas March 3.

Tickets for the Atlanta show are on sale at 10 a.m. June 3 through all Ticketmaster outlets. Prices TBA.

Keep an eye on www.ticketmaster.com and www.philiparena.com for more ticket info.

Continue reading Sugarland to end tour at Philips Arena »

Big Boi has a new partnership – and a new mini-movie to go with it.

The Atlanta rapper/songwriter/producer has teamed with Crown Royal and as part of the publicity blitz for the Crown Royal Black variety of the Canadian whiskey, Big Boi has been asked to design a velvet bag for the company’s Artist Signature Series.

His limited-edition packaging arrives in June, and to promote the release, director Hudson Dusters followed Big Boi around, capturing him on stage in Los Angeles, cruising around Atlanta and heading into the Jamaican Jerk restaurant to pick up his favorite chicken meal.

Also in the the quickie movie, Big Boi’s Uncle Darnell talks about how important family is to the rapper, who is also seen riding around a motorized cart in a local Kroger and pumping gas.

The 10-minute film can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/2kZehIu2–I (and for those concerned about watching at work, put the headphones on since yes, there is some “language”).

Continue reading Go behind-the-scenes with Big Boi »

I’m sure you’ve heard that the Second Coming is happening this weekend, at least according to this guy.

I neglected to include the event in our list of the weekend’s best bets for entertainment, so this is your heads up that you might want to get all your fun in before 6 p.m. May 21. And if you’re into planning ahead, why not get together a soundtrack for the big return? We have songs for those left behind, songs for those who expect to ascend and a couple that look ahead to the end of the world (that’s coming in October, according to those in the know, so you have a few months to do all those things you’ve been putting off). There are many more soundtrack possibilities, so pitch in below in the comments section with your choices.

Now, on to the Rapturous musical playlist.

“Caught Up in the Rapture” – Anita Baker
Doesn’t everyone love this song? Even if you get left behind, Ms. Baker will soothe your disappointment.

“It’s Now or Never” – Elvis Presley
Because tomorrow …

Continue reading Caught up in the Rapture »

Atlanta's Manchester Orchestra headlines a homecoming gig before heading west on a U.S. tour. The guys are supporting their brand new album, "Simple Math," which hit stores May 10. Photo: Ryan Russell

FRIDAY
Of Montreal
The band’s driving force (and at one-time sole member), Kevin Barnes, keeps getting better, making psychedelically adventurous indie pop that is catchier and more cohesive with every passing year. The band’s most recent album, 2010’s “False Priest” really cranks up Barnes’ Prince infatuation, and that’s a very good thing. Solange Knowles and Janelle Monáe make guest appearances on the album.
8 p.m. May 20. $23. Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 404-843-2825.

FRIDAY
Mogwai
It’s been almost 14 years since this Scottish outfit released “Mogwai Young Team,” one of those albums that inspires rabid devotion among the faithful while remaining largely unknown in the mainstream. It’s an instrumental tour de force that roars like a …

Continue reading Live music picks: May 20-25 »

"The Wind Up Boy," a film from the folks at New Puppet Order, will debut as part of the Center for Puppetry Arts' Xperimental Puppetry Theater this weekend.

FRIDAY
Performing arts: The Center for Puppetry Arts’ Xperimental Puppetry Theater brings together artists of all disciplines to create bold, original experiments in puppetry for adult audiences. 8 p.m. May 20-21; 5 p.m. May 22. Tickets are $12.

Music: Kenny Chesney continues to cement his position as one of country music’s all-time greats, recently scoring his 20th No. 1 hit. Georgia’s own Billy Currington and Chesney’s frequent collaborator Uncle Kracker are also on the bill. 7 p.m. May 20 at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood.

Sports, recreation: May 19 and 20 are the days for qualifying rounds in the MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour at Lake Allatoona and both days are free to the public to watch. Saturday’s final is a ticketed event. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 19; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 20; 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. May 21. …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: May 20-22 »

My Morning Jacket comes to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Aug. 20, with tickets going on sale Friday, May 20. Neko Case opens the show. Photo: Danny Clinch

ON SALE NOW
K Dubb. 9 p.m. July 7. $20-$50. Center Stage. TM.

ON SALE MAY 20
EWO Tour featuring Banky W, Wizkid and Skales. 9 p.m. July 2. Variety Playhouse. $40. TM.
Randy Travis. July 15. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $34.50-$65. TM.
Kid Cudi, Chip Tha Ripper. July 21. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. $39.50. TM.
Starfest with the Goo Goo Dolls, Michelle Branch and Parachute. 7 p.m. Aug. 7. $29-$89. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. TM.
My Morning Jacket, Neko Case. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. $34-$46. TM.
Identity Tour. The first all-electronic music tour. 2 p.m. Aug. 23. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. $35-$100. LN.
Bruce Cockburn. 8 p.m. Sept. 8. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 advance. TM.
Kem. Sept. 9. $29-$89. Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Delta Classic Chastain Series. TM.
Roger Daltrey. …

Continue reading Hot tickets: May 17 »

Hey hey, Monkees fans. Are you out there?

If you’re still infected with Monkees-mania, saw the group during theirheyday or are planning to go to their June 3 show at Chastain, we want to hear from you.

Contact mggray@ajc.com to share your stories.

Continue reading Calling all Monkees fans »

Photo: Kevin Westenberg

Any skeptics wondering how Bon Jovi, a band nearly 30 years into its career, could have posted the highest grossing tour of 2010 got their proof Saturday night.

 As frontman Jon Bon Jovi has noted, a string of musical fads have exploded and dissolved in three decades, yet the Jersey boys once regarded as a disposable hair band continue to add to their 130 million in worldwide album sales and string of sold out arena dates.

 At Philips Arena Saturday, Jon and bandmates Tico Torres and David Bryan, plus Hugh McDonald, the band’s bassist since 1994, and Phil “X” Xenidis, filling in for rehabbing Richie Sambora, proved to nearly 20,000 in the sold-out crowd exactly why Bon Jovi has maintained such a lofty level of success.

 They’re an endlessly entertaining, sweat-dripping, hard-working, people-pleasing rock band. And with Aerosmith, Springsteen and The Rolling Stones sidelined at the moment, no veteran act – aside from perhaps U2 – can touch …

Continue reading Bon Jovi: Sweaty, energetic, people-pleasing rockers »

Raphael Saadiq comes to the Variety Playhouse Wednesday on the heels of a new album called "Stone Rollin." Photo courtesy Press Here Publicity.

TODAY
Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven wedged folk and roots music (and a bit of world music, too) into post-punk long before anyone uttered the term alt-country. When that band called it a day, frontman David Lowery formed Cracker. In 1999, Camper Van Beethoven re-formed and since that time, both bands have remained active, often sharing the bill. This tour concentrates on two albums, “Key Lime Pie” and “Kerosene Hat.” The 1989 album “Key Lime Pie” was the final album of CvB’s original run and “Kerosene Hat” was Cracker’s second album, released in 1992.
8 p.m. May 13. $21. The Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 404-843-2825.

SATURDAY
Fleet Foxes
The pastoral, gorgeous beauty of this Seattle band’s 2008 debut album garnered loads of critical acclaim, but there were a few detractors who …

Continue reading Live music picks: May 13-19 »