5 things to do: Paint the Village Pink - June 15 2017

What’s happening in Atlanta today

Decatur Beach Party

Downtown Decatur - South of W. Trinity - Decatur, GA 30030 $10. 5 p.m.

Can’t make it to the beach this year? No problem. The Decatur Beach Party brings the best parts of the beach the sand, boardwalk, et al to you, without the headache of the commute and lugging all the beach supplies to and fro. The event hauls in 60 tons of sand to transform Decatur Square into Sandcastle Central, and there will be live music and dancing on the plaza, along with funnel cakes and summer-y drinks. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser help to fund other free community events.


ATL Collective Relives Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On

Terminal West - 887 W. Marietta St. N.W., Studio C Atlanta, GA 30318 $20-$25. 7 p.m.

In addition to being an enduring force in the history of soul music, Marvin Gaye was a prophet of his times. On his seminal 1971 LP What’s Going On, the R&B legend employed syrupy harmonies and dense orchestration to tell the sufferings of a generation reeling from the Vietnam War and environmental crises that still plague the world today. ATL Collective, a group of Atlanta curators who draft local musicians to cover classic albums, is paying tribute to the revolutionary spirit of that record with a stellar array of Atlanta talent. The lineup features bossa-inspired songstress Adron, Terrence Brown of All Cows Eat Grass, soul singer Cody Matlock and pop songwriter Chinua Hawk.


Aldous Harding, Jock Gang

The Earl - 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E. Atlanta, GA 30316 $10. 9 p.m.

Stateside, at least, New Zealand’s music scene is mostly known for Lorde, a couple of guys named Finn, Flight of the Conchords and a swarm of bittersweet jangle-pop bands. Now, along comes Aldous Harding, a folk singer with mesmerizing presence and songs to match. Her self-titled album, just recently released in America, is a showcase for Harding’s compelling voice, which quivers and quakes against sparse instrumentation and the occasional dramatic embellishment. If you close your eyes and let your mind wander off for a bit, you’ll swear she’s singing wondrous, windswept ghost stories just for you. Harding’s sound is one worth getting lost in.


Paint the Village Pink

East Atlanta Village - Flat Shoals and Glenwood avenues Atlanta, GA 30316 $10. 9 p.m.

Finally, some good news: Planned Parenthood Southeast’s health center is relocating to East Atlanta Village this summer! To welcome this crucial organization to its new digs, the village is holding a celebratory bar crawl, where Atlantans of all stripes can drink to women’s health. The night will begin at Argosy at 9 p.m. before moving on to Midway Pub, Flatiron and Mary’s, in that order (45 minutes per stop). A $10 donation gets you a special shot or beverage at each location, and the first 200 guests will get a free Paint the Village Pink drawstring bag.


Steve Gunn, Lee Ranaldo, Meg Baird

Smith’s Olde Bar - 1578 Piedmont Ave. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30324 $17-$120. 9 p.m.

In the wake of Sonic Youth’s unceremonious dissolution, Lee Ranaldo has made the most of his time blending his legacy of shimmering guitar noise, feedback and avant-garde rock with earnest and refined songwriting. Last Night on Earth, Ranaldo’s 2013 LP with his new group, the Dust, set a high standard for Ranaldo by reaching to a higher level of discovery with his voice amid soaring guitar melodies, solos, textures and nuances. Now sharing stages with the Brooklyn-based singer and guitarist Steve Gunn, Ranaldo is back on the road exploring an even more intimate side of his personality and songwriting.