CALENDAR: Click here and see
Entries for the following listings were written and compiled by Ms. Conception, Doug DeLoach, Hal Horowitz, James Kelly, Kevin C. Madigan, Jill Melancon, Joshua Robinson, Matthew Warhol, and others, as noted below. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and the emergence of subsequent variants, it is advised that you check with the respective venue the day of the show to ensure that the listed event listed is indeed still taking place, and to be advised of the latest updates on any health and safety precautions in effect for the event before heading out. The same is advised before purchasing a ticket or making a reservation. Due to the nature of the ongoing pandemic concern, all information is subject to change.
Sun., Jan. 2
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta — The ASO opens the New Year with Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 and TJ Cole’s To the Universe, plus Poulenc’s Organ Concerto featuring Dr. Jens Korndörfer led by Associate Conductor Jerry Hou. — Doug DeLoach
Ticket prices vary; check the ASO website. First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree St. N.E., 404-892-8461.
Thu.-Wed., Jan. 6-12
ATL Chili Week, Register Now — Do you make a chili that has all the right stuff? Are you selling it to the public? Do you think you can beat out every other chili maker in the city? Register your place of business now for the 2022 Creative Loafing ATL Chili Week competition for the best chili in Atlanta! As the Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association are sponsors, all competing chili bowls must have beef as the primary protein. Sorry, no vegetarian entrees will be accepted. PS — the earlier you sign up, the sooner your restaurant gets included in our social media contest promotions. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Fri., Jan. 7
Bela Fleck & various artists — It’s not in Atlanta and it’s sold out, but it’s on the list because Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart is a phenomenal musical achievement, the best bluegrass album of 2021 and one of the best albums of the year, regardless of genre. Watching a streaming concert from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville showcasing the album represents an extra special opportunity. Joining Fleck onstage will be members of bluegrass royalty, such as Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Myer and Stuart Duncan, alongside a posse of young(er) whippersnappers including Chris Thile, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Bryan Sutton, Justin Moses, Sierra Hull and Mark Schatz. — Doug DeLoach
Livestream tickets $22. 9 p.m. ET. The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee. Tickets include 24-hour replay access. https://bit.ly/RymanLivestream
Fri.-Sat., Jan. 7-22
British Printmakers, The WADDI — The exhibition “littles” is on now at a new Inman Park gallery,The WADDI, until late Jan.. As the title suggests, “littles” features smallish pieces by a slew of mostly British names such as Anne Desmet, a Liverpudlian member of the Royal Academy of Arts who works on wood engravings, linocuts and mixed media collages; Leonie Bradley, a multidisciplinary printmaker; mixed-media specialist Eben Dunn; the “bawdy and brash” Fernando Feijoo; abstract artist Ruth Franklin, who has twice been voted Best Visual Artist by Creative Loafing readers; Eric Goulden (aka musician Wreckless Eric); art historian Amy Jeffs; David Robertson, who works in print, film, sculpture; poet and painter Gary Goodman; cultural curator Kosmo Vinyl; printmaker Chris Pig, and Marek Tobolewski, whose work The Guardian described as having “aesthetic gracefulness” despite its “relentless organic abstractions.” The WADDI is run by Shawn Vinson, a mainstay of the east side art scene who also manages Different Trains Gallery in Decatur. — Kevin C. Madigan
Free. Open Thu.-Sat., 1-5:00 p.m. and by appointment until Sat., Jan. 22, 2022. The WADDI, 26 Waddell St. N.E. differenttrainsgallery.com @TheWaddi
Sat. Jan. 8
Palomino Blond, MOLD!, Chick Wallace, Yankee Roses, 529 Bar — Miami-bred Palomino Blond are having an identity crisis. Their debut album, ontheinside, released on Limited Fanfare, features two distinct styles, both which blow my mind. In one corner, we have lush dream pop with sweet hooks a la Best Coast. Singer Carli Acosta’s voice is full of hurt as she sings of disappointment and depression. In the other corner, you have brutal riffs that generate the mosh pit fantasies of Black Lips and A Place To Bury Strangers, two acts with whom Palomino Blond have shared bills. These songs are also equally full of hurt, but they want to hurt back. Supporting them on this show are fellow Magic City band MOLD! and Atlanta’s own Chick Wallace and Yankee Roses. MOLD! are angry too, but express it with moody synth lines and post-punk vocals. At this show, expect a lot of decibels and even more attitude. — Matthew Warhol
$10-12., 9:00 p.m. 529 Bar, 529 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E. 529atlanta.com @529_EAV
Sat., Jan. 8-Sat., Feb. 5
Through the Lens: Photographic Art from Beginners to Pros, Art-Haus Gallery — An exhibition showing the work of three distinct local photographers is kicking off the 2022 season at Grant Park’s Art-Haus Gallery. “Through the Lens: Photographic Art from Beginners to Pros” features Debbie Young, who says winning a zoo photo contest at age 10 motivated her to take up the art as an adult. Young, who owns the DayC photography company, adds, “I have found ways to show how I see the beauty in the world. I love to travel and catch those little candid moments that you find when you aren’t looking.” Secondly, Alex Simon’s subjects revolve around nature, raw journalism images, portraits of friends and family, and fashion. His inspiration comes from the likes of Brian Duffy, Ansel Adams and Tyler Mitchell. Then there is Sandy Richardson, the most prominent of the trio, whose photographs range from “being static to creatively showing the energy and vibrancy of Atlanta, nature, and musicians playing music, which are subjects I love,” she says. — Kevin C. Madigan
Free. Opening reception Sat., Jan. 8, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Ongoing: Sat., Jan. 8 - Sat., Feb. 5. Open Wednesday - Saturday: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. and by appointment. Monday and Tuesday by appointment only; Wednesday 10-1p.m. and by appointment; Thursday-Fri., Saturday 10-1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.& by appointment; Sunday by appointment only
Art-Haus Gallery & Creative Space, 332 Ormond Street, S.E. 404-771-5540 myart-haus.com @arthausgrantpark
Sun., Jan. 9
Matthew Brown and the St. Luke’s Adult Choir, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church — St. Luke’s Adult Choir and Matthew Brown present a program of Choral Evensong and organ music. Choral Evensong is a 45-minute long Christian church service in which harmonic choral singing, performed at the approximate even point between active day and restful night, is supposed to induce peaceful contemplation among the congregants. Believers and non-believers alike are welcome to appreciate this tradition, which dates back to at least mid-16th century England and the Protestant Reformation. Reverend Winnie Varghese, rector of St. Luke’s, will officiate the service proper, while staff singers of the St. Luke Adult Choir will perform music by Harrison Oxley, Philip Moore and Grayston Ives. Preceding the Choral Evensong, St. Luke’s Director of Music, Matthew Brown, will perform works by Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, Herbert Howells and Maurice Duruflé on the Alston Memorial Organ, a spectacular instrument with more than 5,000 pipes, eighty-five ranks, plus a number of digital stops. — Doug DeLoach
Free. 4:15 p.m. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 435 Peachtree St. N.W.. A reception follows in Budd Hall. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/606494303936969/?ref=newsfeed
Mon., Jan. 10
William Bell and the Total Package, Wilbe Videolab Series — Tap into R&B/Soul legend William Bell’s Videolab Series as he performs the Northern Soul classic, “Happy,” to set the tone for the New Year — and follow him for other musical performances throughout the year.
Like and subscribe on YouTube.com at William Bell.
Wed., Jan. 12
ATL Chili Week, Deadline to enter — Today is the last day to enter your restaurant in Creative Loafing’s ATL Chili Week competition, sponsored by the Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. Go to creativeloafing.com/chili now!
Thu., Jan. 13
Anderson East, Variety Playhouse — Few caught East in 2015 as an opening act at Smith’s Olde Bar before his debut was released, or even headlining Eddie’s Attic shortly thereafter. Six years, three studio and one live album later he has graduated to this larger venue where his expressive blue eyed soul and expansive sound always belonged. — Hal Horowitz
$27.50-57. 8:00 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave N.E., Atlanta, 30307. variety-playhouse.com
Lost Dog St. Band, Terminal West — This “dark folk” trio hails from Nashville but that city’s generally slicker country approach is a million miles away from their tough, dusky, rustic, backwoods sound. They will feature songs from a new release, Glory, where one of the lines is “I kicked down the doors of the Grand Ole Opry,” which says it all. — Hal Horowitz
$20. 8:00 p.m. Terminal West, 887 West Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, 30318. terminalwestatl.com/
Thu., Jan. 13 and Sat., Jan. 15
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Hall — The first concerts of the ASO Delta Classical Series in 2022 are scheduled for Jan. 13 and 15 with guest conductor Kazuki Yamada leading the ASO in the overture to Mozart’s first great choral opera, Idomeneo, Tōru Takemitsu’s Requiem and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. The program also features composer and piano virtuoso Stephen Hough performing Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 4. — Doug DeLoach
Ticket prices vary; check the ASO website. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., 404-733-4900.
Fri. Jan. 14-Sun., Mar.20
The Obama Portraits Tour, The High — The High Museum of Art presents the portraits of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, respectively, as part of “The Obama Portraits Tour,” organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The portraits will be on view in the High’s Stent Family Wing special exhibition galleries.
“We are honored to present these portraits as the exclusive Southeastern venue for the tour and to afford our audiences an intimate experience with the works,” said Rand Suffolk, the High’s Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr., director. “They demonstrate the incredible talents of Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley, two artists the Museum holds in high esteem, and serve as important records of a historic period in our nation’s history.”
“We view the country as our community and believe in the power of portraiture to encourage both empathy and inspiration across audiences,” said Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery. “‘The Obama Portraits Tour’ is an opportunity to meet people where they are, in collaboration with our peer institutions, and offer audiences in different parts of the United States an opportunity to see these portraits firsthand.”
In addition to the portraits, the exhibition features an approximately eight-minute video providing background on the commissioning of the portraits by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and putting them into the context of the national collection of presidential portraits. During the run of the exhibition, the High will present public programs including a conversation with the exhibition co-curator, host student field trips, and offer teachers professional development opportunities presented in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery.
The Portrait Gallery holds the nation’s only complete collection of U.S. presidential portraits that is accessible to the public. It began commissioning presidential portraits in 1994 with George H.W. Bush and commissioned its first portrait of a First Lady in 2006 with Hillary Rodham Clinton.
$8.25 each for the High’s members and $16.50 each for Museum Pass holders and the general public (ages 6 and over), * except as noted below.. Admission is free for ages 5 and under, but reservations are required. The High at the Woodruff Arts Center,1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, 30309. 404-733-4200.
The ticket includes access to the entire Museum. Due to the nature and popularity of the exhibition, tickets are sold for specific time slots. Advance tickets must be purchased through the High’s website. There are no refunds or exchanges for exhibition tickets, and tickets are non-transferable.
During the run of the exhibition, the High will host four free days, when admission is complimentary for all guests. (reservations required). Those dates will include two Second Sundays (Feb. 13 and March 13, 2022), President’s Day (Monday, Feb. 21, 2022) and March 9, 2022. Reservations for these dates will be available in 2022.
*Except for admission during Friday Jazz and HIGH Frequency Friday events, which have a higher ticket price, and on free admission days (see above).
Drive My Car — A grieving actor gradually bonds with his introverted driver in director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s three-hour adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story of the same name. The winner of the Best International Film from the Atlanta Film Critics Circle, it’s one of the most acclaimed films of 2021. — Curt Holman
$13. Opening Fri., Jan. 14. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. https://plazaatlanta.com|plazaatlanta.com
Nordista Freeze, Wieuca — One part Brian Wilson, one part Mac DeMarco, and one part Tom Petty, Nordista Freeze is here for bright vibes and great times. His slacker brand of psych-rock makes me yearn for grandchildren, only so I can soak in their love while kicked-back at the family barbecue. His music feels current and nostalgic at the same time. You could hear Nordista Freeze’s songs in a burnouts van in 1971 or you could hear it in your baby-cousin’s TikTok. On the release of his 2021 album, Big Sky Pipe Dream, the Nashville artists said it was the closest he has ever come to capturing his live sound in recording. A self proclaimed “road warrior” he claims to have over 500 shows since 2016. — Matthew Warhol
$12-15. 8:00p.m., The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E. badearl.com @badearl
Sat. Jan. 15
Ben Rosenblum, Backyard at Jordan’s Ridge — Cancelled.
Smoke Bellow, Immaterial Possession, Go Public!, 529 Bar — An old adage says that travel broadens the mind. For indie-pop duo Smoke Bellow, a move from Baltimore, MD to Melbourne, Australia allowed them to find their true sound. Whether it be the change in perspective from moving to the other side of our blue, spinning marble or more literally immersing themselves in new styles of music, they emerged from the Outback with a fully-formed musical identity, one that draws from post-punk, krautrock, minimalist composition, and West African guitar groups. This odd amalgamation results in what I can only describe as what would happen if DEVO had taken a pilgrimage similar to the one The Beatles did to India in the mid-sixties. Instruments bounce in and out with glee, singing their own little joyous lines. Saxophone, synthesizers, nomadic drums, guitar, and what sounds like some kind of children’s instrument all converge into these sound safaris as vocalist Meredith McHugh whispers or coos or talks to us in her cool tones. It may have took them a trip around the world, but Smoke Bellow discovered something different. And in 2022, you do not hear that everyday. — Matthew Warhol
$12. 9:00 p.m. 529 Bar, 529 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E. 529atlanta.com @529_EAV
Watkins Family Hour, Variety Playhouse — Sean and Sara Watkins disbanded their popular Nickel Creek bluegrass trio to further their careers both solo and in this revolving door collective. As the title to their 2020 Brother Sister album implies, they have stripped down their sound to just a duo. That focuses attention on their sumptuous intertwining voices and often bittersweet fiddle/guitar music. — Hal Horowitz
Watkins Family Hour, Variety Playhouse — Growing up near San Diego, siblings Sara and Sean Watkins played countless concerts at a local pizzeria in Carlsbad with their childhood buddy, Chris Thile. While still in their teens, they began performing as Nickel Creek, which became the darlings of the Americana scene. In 2002, Sara and Sean formed Watkins Family Hour as a vehicle for playing original material, which didn’t quite fit the Nickel Creek mold, and for collaborating with other musicians including Jackson Browne, Fiona Apple, Nikka Costa and Dawes. Their latest album, Brother Sister, showcases the duo as a singularly formidable musical force. — Doug DeLoach
$24-$48. 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Avenue N.E., 404-524-7354. Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/232505435298504/?ref=newsfeed
The DLBR8N Show, Mixdeity MEDIA Studios — Postponed.
Eddie 9V, Eddie’s Attic — “Showcasing songs by Al Green,” reads the subheading on this special show from Atlanta’s up-and-coming young guitar slinger and singer. Say no more. You can’t go wrong with material that strong, and having Brooks lay his soulful vocals into those classics, none of which made it onto his debut Ruf label recording, should be a powerful and frisky experience. Wish the local kid well before he heads off on a tour of Germany, his first stab at European live work. — Hal Horowitz
$14. 9:15 p.m. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur, 30030. eddiesattic.com
Sat., Jan. 15-Mon., May 30
Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites, The Children’s Museum of Atlanta — An exhibit in January that transforms classic stories into three-dimensional plays. “Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites” will convert seven time-honored picture books such as “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” into live-action learning settings that highlight six pre-reading skills: disposition to read, print awareness, letter knowledge, sound awareness, vocabulary, and narrative skills and comprehension. Storyland “provides imaginative, book-based experiences for children up to the age of eight, and models early literacy experiences to parents and other adult caregivers,” a spokesperson said. — Kevin C. Madigan
Various prices and times. Children’s Museum of Atlanta, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. N.W., Atlanta, 30313. childrensmuseumatlanta.org
Sun., Jan. 16
Majid Araim, Tim Crump, No Tomorrow — “Magic Lantern” is the name of an ongoing concert and performance art series organized by multi-instrumentalist and composer Majid Araim. Volume 94 of the series takes place at No Tomorrow, a studio/event space in Underground Atlanta curated by artist, educator, musician and producer Priscilla Smith. The afternoon concert will feature the premiere of two new compositions by Araim. Sharing the “Magic Lantern” spotlight will be saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and veteran of the Atlanta improv scene Tim Crump. — Doug DeLoach
$10 donation. Sun., 4 p.m. No Tomorrow (gallery/studio), 84 Lower Alabama, Underground Atlanta, 404-578-4430.
Mon., Jan. 17
Martin Luther King Jr Day — From Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO, The King Center: “The recent headlines suggesting that the King Family would not be celebrating the King Holiday if voting rights legislation does not pass has led to some confusion about The King Center’s commemoration of the King Holiday. We wish to clarify that The King Center will commemorate the 2022 King Holiday as planned and suggests that others continue to commemorate as well.
“The King Center and I also stand in solidarity with my brother, Martin Luther King III, and his family, in calling our nation’s attention to securing and protecting the most sacred right of our democracy, which is the right to vote. Therefore, if voting rights are still hanging in the balance by the King Holiday on January 17th, 2022, then collectively, we must use our various commemorations and platforms on that day to do what my father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., would have done. Dr. King would speak and act in a way that ensures this nation lives up to its promise of democracy by putting pressure on the United States Senate to bypass the filibuster. Instead of them taking the King Holiday off, they should make it a “Day On” to pass the Voting Rights Act.”
“We fully support and advocate for Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. These are critical pieces of legislation to protect the right to vote that Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Amelia Boynton Robinson, John Lewis, Hosea Williams and many others championed, leading to the historic passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1964.”
“Simultaneously, we recognize that the King Holiday, as intended by our founder and my mother, Coretta Scott King, represents a global acknowledgement of the multi-faceted legacy of Dr. King – beyond voting rights. Beyond any single issue. Beyond the moment.”
“In founding The King Center in 1968 and securing the King Holiday in 1986, Coretta Scott King established a timeless foundation for her husband’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology to live, flourish and ultimately be the pathway to creating the Beloved Community.”
“We look forward to the global commemoration of the King Holiday on January 17th and to moving the world closer to the dream of creating a just, humane, equitable and peaceful world, where civil and human rights are fully honored.”
Wale, The Eastern — Drake, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar are often regarded as the leading rappers of their generation, but there is no debating the critical and commercial success that Wale has maintained as one of their most talented and competitive contemporaries. Last fall, the DMV-bred rapper delivered Folarin II, his seventh studio album and seventh straight top 25 entry on the Billboard 200. In support of the record — which featured guest appearances from artists such as J. Cole, Rick Ross, Maxo Kream, Chris Brown, Jamie Foxx, and Ant Clemons, among others — Wale is embarking on the Under a Blue Moon Tour, a 30-date winter trek throughout North America. The Maybach Music Group (MMG) artist is known for putting on a great show, so show Wale some love when he hits the Eastern for the fifth stop of his tour. — Joshua Robinson
$27.50-$79.50. 9:00 p.m. The Eastern, 777 Memorial Dr S.E. Building C, Atlanta, 30316. easternatl.com @easternatl
ATL Chili Week, Atlanta-area restaurants — And the tasting begins! Go to creativeloafing.com/chili to find out which restaurants are participating, start trying them all, and vote for your favorite chili! A bowl and a side only $10. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Tue., Jan. 18
ATL Chili Week, Atlanta-area restaurants — Day two — and what chili shall you eat today? Dinner only? Or breakfast, lunch and dinner? Why not? Go for it! Go to creativeloafing.com/chili for participating restaurants. A bowl and a side only $10. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Wed., Jan. 19
ATL Chili Week, Atlanta-area restaurants — Hump Day? Meal day! Chow down on the ATL’s best chili, now being served all around town! Get your chili on at creativeloafing.com/chili for participating restaurants. A bowl and a side only $10. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Atsuko Okatsuka, 529 Bar — Okatsuka is heading to the A on her first solo comedy tour where she’s, “really figured this whole life thing out,” even as a self proclaimed adult baby. On top of creating and hosting a hit game show “Let’s Go, Atsuko!”, partial Japanese game show with a dry touch, Adult Swim shows “Soft Focus with Jena Friedman,” and The Eric Andre Show, employ Okatsuka as a writer. Stream Atsuko Okatsuka’s projects “Mom & Pop,” “The Show Nextdoor,” or listen to her first ever comedy album called “But I Control Me,” before catching the live set at 529 in EAV. — Ms. Conception
$20-$22. 8:00 p.m. 529 Bar, 529 Flat Shoals Ave., S.E., Atlanta, 30316
Kevn Kinney, Eddie’s Attic — Mr. Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ is as powerful and unpredictable unplugged and unshackled from his longtime unit (still going strong heading into their fourth decade) as slinging out “Straight to Hell” for the umpteenth time. His unscripted between song patter is almost as riveting as his music and his having the freedom to dig deep into his bulging catalog while playing solo is a tantalizing prospect. — Hal Horowitz
$17. 7:30 p.m. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur, 30030. eddiesattic.com
Thu., Jan. 20
ATL Chili Week, Atlanta-area restaurants — Yes, Thursday’s Child is full of … chili! Even so, you probably haven’t tried them all. Do so now: creativeloafing.com/chili for participating restaurants. A bowl and a side only $10. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Dr. Liz Andrews, Rich Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center — Spelman College Museum of Fine Art’s new executive director, Dr. Liz Andrews, discusses “The Obama Portraits Tour” which she co-curated, along with and the companion exhibition “Black American Portraits” at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where she spent the last five years as the executive administrator in the director’s office. Her dissertation, “Envisioning President Barack Obama,” focused on the role of visual images in the 2008 election of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president. Andrews will discuss the significance of the Obama portraits in the context of presidential portraiture and U.S. visual culture.
7 p.m. Free for Members (registration required); Not-Yet-Members, $20. Rich Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center,1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, 30309. 404-733-4200.
Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Variety Playhouse — It’s unlikely there is a better, more talented country/roots band around. Stuart and his backing trio are the gold standard for combining traditional country with a more contemporary spin as is evident on 2017’s Way Out West’s psychedelic leanings. He is a walking encyclopedia of songs from the genre, so you never know what he’ll pull out of his thick collection of covers and originals. That makes each show a unique experience and no one leaves disappointed. — Hal Horowitz
Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives with Andrea and Mud — Country music has always had “that couple”, from A.P. and Sara Carter, Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, to Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, among others. Standing tall and proud today are Marty Stuart and his wife of 24 years, Connie Smith, currently the only living married couple in the Country Music Hall of Fame. It is an honor well deserved for both of them.
Stuart first saw Smith perform when he was 12 years old, and reportedly told his mother he was going to marry her. Along the way to that goal his musical journey was a winding path, and he learned from the best. He performed with Lester Flatt at the age of 14, was in Johnny Cash’s band (and son in law) for several years, and built a respectable solo career, ranging from traditional bluegrass on his early albums to chart topping duets with Georgia native Travis Tritt.
In 1999, Stuart took control of his destiny and decided to make records that paid homage to his roots and the foundations of country music. “The Pilgrim” was a tour de force, a concept album that didn’t fit in the narrowing scope of mainstream radio, but included contributions by his heroes, Cash, George Jones, and Emmylou Harris. Since then Stuart has set his own musical path, and with the formulation of his Fabulous Superlatives band in 2003, he has created a country music juggernaut. Joined by guitarist Kenny Vaughn, multi-instrumentalist Chris Scruggs, and drummer Harry Stinson, they are pretty much the best band in the business. In concert the members each take a spotlight, and together they explore and celebrate the vast range of musical heritage that came before them. And while their original music is stellar, you are just as likely to hear a Bill Monroe song as a Monkees tune, done perfectly. You will be entertained, and educated. — James Kelly
$39.50-79.50. 8:00 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave N.E., Atlanta, 30307. variety-playhouse.com
Thu.-Sat., Jan. 20-22
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Hall — Guest conductor Gemma New, winner of the 2021 Solti Conducting Prize, and classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić return to Symphony Hall for a program that includes Joby Talbot’s concerto Ink Dark Moon, a piece that pays homage to his Balkan heritage. Also on the program are Rachmaninov’s Vocalise, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 and a work by L.A.-based composer and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra alumna Sarah Gibson. — Doug DeLoach
Ticket prices vary; check the ASO website. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., 404-733-4900.
Thu.-Sun., Jan. 20-23
Buried Alive Film Festival, 7 Stages — The Atlanta-based horror film festival’s 2022 installment includes two feature films: Belgian found-footage chiller Duyster and the U.S. horror comedy What Happens Next Will Scare You. The line-up also includes a lively program of horror shorts, including entries in the Buried Alive Film Fest Sinema Challenge for films 5-8 minutes long. — Curt Holman
Jan. 20-23. 7 Stages, 1105 Euclid Ave. BuriedaliveFilmFest.com
Fri., Jan. 21
ATL Chili Week, Atlanta-area restaurants — And it will soon be the weekend! Time for chili! Take part in the city-wide competition, check out creativeloafing.com/chili for participating restaurants, and make your voice heard! Vote now. A bowl and a side only $10. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Alaska, The Masquerade — It is hard to stand out in a room full of the best drag queens in the country. Everyone is so well put together, perfectly manicured both in appearance and branding. But when Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 walked into Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars season two, it was clear she was the one to beat. And nobody beat her. She was the funniest, the most fashionable, the most iconic. First appearing in the fifth season of Drag Race, Alaska was instantly a fan favorite thanks to her incredible sense of humor. A runner up in that season, she became a supernova in the world of drag after taking home the crown on All Stars season two. A mixture of old Hollywood and Paris Hilton, Alaska parodies the rich and famous while being a star in her own right. She is glamour and white trash wrapped in beautiful, ironic bow. — Matthew Warhol
$25-95. 7:00 p.m. The Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama St. masqueradeatlanta.com The Masquerade
Tinsley Ellis, City Winery — The years 2020 and 2021 have kept Atlanta’s blues-rocking veteran off the road for the longest stretch in his 35-plus years of near non-stop touring. That didn’t stop him from releasing new and old songs on Facebook and other social networks, captured live in his basement, or recording a full new album Devil May Care. It’s out today so you’ll be the first to hear some of those songs in concert plus highlights from decades of albums. — Hal Horowitz
$30-38. 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. City Winery, 650 North Ave. N.E.., Atlanta, 30308. citywinery.com/Atlanta
Sat., Jan. 22
ATL Chili Week, Atlanta-area restaurants — Tonight, Creative Loafing’s ATL Chili Week competition, sponsored by the Georgia Beef Board and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, is done … but you still have a few hours left to try a bowl and cast your vote before the polls close! Go to creativeloafing.com/chili for participating restaurants. A bowl and a side only $10. Keep up with ATL Chili Week 411 on socials @ATLChiliWeek #ATLChiliWeek
Angélique Kidjo, Rialto Center for the Arts — Kidjo takes American pop music, infuses it with the rhythms and vocalizing of her native Africa and creates a world music fusion which is at once exhilarating and invigorating. Releasing tantalizing albums since 1989, this Beninese singer/songwriter/activates captivates the listener with her vocal acrobatics and a sultry syncopated musical bed. While she may be best known to Westerners for her exotic 1998 re-make of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” and her cover of the entire Talking Heads album, Remain In Light, twenty years later, it is with her own compositions that she really soars. Expect a magical evening. — Tony Paris
$59-$120. 8 p.m. Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University, 80 Forsyth Street N.W., Atlanta, 30303. 404-413-9849, rialto.GSU.edu
Regina Carter, Spivey Hall — While Carter has previously performed at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, she brings her quartet to Spivey Hall for the first time. Carter belongs on any list of exceptional jazz violinists along with names like Stuff Smith, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti and Jean Luc-Ponty. A MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship recipient, Carter is an extraordinary creative artist who tours with her own group and as guest soloist with a wide array of performers including Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Barron, Joe Jackson, Billy Joel, Dolly Parton and Special EFX. Her 2020 release, Swing States: Harmony in the Background, features Jon Batiste, John Davera, Alexis Cuadrado, Kabir Saghal and Harvey Mason. — Doug DeLoach
$30-$50. 7:30 p.m. Spivey Hall, 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, 678-466-4200.
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 22-30
The Pirates of Penzance, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center — The Atlanta Opera’s 2021-22 season continues with The Pirates of Penzance. Arthur Sullivan and William Gilbert’s delightful 19th century romp around the plank features a cast of merry cutthroats vying in one way and another for the affections of the female wards of Major-General Stanley. — Doug DeLoach
Tickets $45-$150. Sat., Jan. 22, 8 p.m. Tue., Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 28, 8 p.m. Sun., Jan. 30, 3 p.m. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy., Atlanta, 770-916-2800.
Sun., Jan. 23
Amayo, City Winery — Amayo means “if you don’t go, you never know!” This former frontman for Antibalas’s rhythms are of the Nigerian Spirit Drum from Ifè. Ifè is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Amayo’s Soul FU-Afrobeat music blends Kung Fu, dance, and folklore. As an anointed Orisha “Awo”, one with a goal to remove all obstacles that stand in the way of Spiritual evolution, Amayo sings traditional Nigerian stories that have been passed down in a sacred lineage. The icing on Amayo’s layered cake is performing traditional Chinese Lion Dance as a salutation ritual to begin his stage performances to bring good fortune to the audience.
In house on the City Winery stage will be legendary drummer Jojo Quo, a piano, an Organ, guitars, bass, flute, sax, trumpet, violin, congas, gbedu spirit drum and a shekere. What’s a gbedu spirit drum? Gbedu literally means “big drum” and is a percussion instrument traditionally used in ceremonial Yoruba music in Nigeria. What’s a shekere? It’s another West African percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads or cowries woven into a net covering the gourd. — Ms. Conception
$25-$40. 6:30 p.m. Doors / 8:00 p.m. Start. City Winery Atlanta, Ponce City Market, 650 North Avenue N.E., Atlanta, 30308
Atlanta Musician’s Orchestra, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Depending on the COVID situation, the Atlanta Musician’s Orchestra will hold its next public concert on Sun., Jan. 23, at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Decatur. The program will feature works by Mozart, Vaughn Williams, Handel, Bach and Lucas Richman. — Doug DeLoach
Funded by donations. 2 p.m. First Christian Church, 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur Facebook: Atlantamusiansorch
Jaimoe and a Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, Symphony Hall — Inspired by the album Big Band of Brothers: A Jazz Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, a special touring ensemble featuring Jaimoe (percussionist for the original Allman Brothers Band), Sammy Miller and The Congregation, plus special guests Lamar Williams, Jr. and Drew Smithers, will perform at Atlanta Symphony Hall. Released in 2019 by New West Records to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band’s debut LP, the album features ten jazz interpretations of ABB classics including “Statesboro Blues,” “Hot ‘Lanta,” “Whipping Post” and “Dreams.” — Doug DeLoach
Tickets $39-$185. 8 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., 404-733-4900.
Mon., Jan. 24
Cat Power, The Eastern — Chan Marshall may have left her one-time Cabbagetown residence in the early 90s, but she remains a local favorite; a musician who has graduated to worldwide recognition, but never forgotten her Atlanta roots or connections. She’s riding back into town on her third album of covers where she applies her distinctive dusky, velvety voice to a diverse batch of tunes ranging from Billie Holiday to Iggy Pop and even Jackson Browne, whose “These Days” seems more a nod to Nico’s version than its composer’s. — Hal Horowitz
$20-79. 8:00 p.m. The Eastern, 777 Memorial Dr. S.E.., Atlanta, 30316. easternatl.com
Tue. Jan. 25
Boy Harsher — Boy Harsher are built for a winter tour. In fact, Atlanta in Jan. might be too warm for the cruel frost their music conjures up. Their dark wave synths are bone-chilling. The drums are cold and lifeless in the best way possible. They demand you dance like a skeleton with your eyeholes pointed towards the floor. The haunting vocals of Jae Matthews are somehow both soothing and disturbing. Songs like “LA,” “Pain,” and “Tears,” make me beg for DeLorean to 80s so this music can get the worldwide respect it deserves. Although they may not reach the heights of New Order, I am so glad gothic new wave is hip again. I was getting tired of the dancing to The Cure surrounded by 60-year-old vampires. — Matthew Warhol
$17-20. 8:30 p.m. Terminal West, 887 W. Marietta St. N.W. terminalwestatl.com @terminalwest
Mystery Science Theater 3000 LIVE: The Time Bubble Tour, Coca-Cola Roxy — For the latest iteration of the esteemed movie-riffing franchise, Emily Marsh (co-star the show’s 2022 season) leads a cast of puppeteers and comics for live, rapid-patter mockery of a cheesy movie. For this tour, it’s reportedly 1985’s Making Contact, the first film from Roland Emmerich. “MST3K” is best-known as a TV show, but it can be very funny with a live audience. — Curt Holman
$30-$55. Tue., Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. Coca-Cola Roxy, 800 Battery Ave. cocacolaroxy.com
Tues.-Sun., Jan. 25-30
Tootsie, Fox Theatre — The Broadway musical “Tootsie” is making its way to Atlanta, taking over the Fox Theatre for six days in late Jan. after being twice-delayed. Based on the 1982 hit movie with Dustin Hoffman in the title role, a struggling actor who has burned a few bridges and adopts the identity of a woman in order to get a job. Things get complicated when he finds himself caught between a female friend and lover, an actress he falls for whose father fancies him, and a needy male co-star. Originally, the plot involved a daytime soap opera, but a musical play is the setting for this adaptation. Music and lyrics are by David Yazbek, composer of “The Full Monty,” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” and winner of two Drama Desk awards for “Tootsie” in 2019. It’s recommended for ages 12 and up due to occasional adult utterances. — Kevin C. Madigan
$38-166. Tue., Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 28, 8:00 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 29, 2:00 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 29, 8:00 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 30, 1:00 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E. foxtheatre.org @TheFoxTheatre
Wed., Jan. 26
Judy Collins, City Winery — The 80 year old folk/pop icon has been on a roll lately, touring with old flame Stephen Stills and releasing her first album entirely of originals- — her 29th recording in a five decade and counting career- — next month. This rare club date (two shows, early and late) gets you up close and personal with a legendary figure whose wonderfully warm, vibrant voice still elicits chills. — Hal Horowitz
$60-70. 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. City Winery, 650 North Ave. N.E.., Atlanta, 30308. citywinery.com/Atlanta
Thu., Jan. 27
BEAR1BOSS, Aisle 5 — Since OutKast’s rise in the late 90s, Atlanta has proven to be a hotbed for weird and unprecedented Hip-Hop time and time again, and the city’s underground rap scene is definitely keeping that trend alive several decades later. Perhaps no show this month provides a better survey of Atlanta’s spellbinding new generation than prolific producer Popstar FM’s upcoming show at Aisle 5. The eccentric lineup is stacked with several local favorites, including Bear1Boss, Tony Shhnow, MuddyMya, DivineDevine, Mercury, YellaBandanna, Cashier Fresh, Popstar Benny, and Cleotrvppv. The show follows the release of Benny’s recent album, which boasted guest appearances from experimental Atlanta artists such as Key!, Jelani Imani, and Slayer77, so expect the unexpected when Popstar FM takes over Aisle 5 later this month. — Joshua Robinson
$16. 8:00 p.m. Aisle 5, 1123 Euclid Ave N.E., Atlanta, 30307. aisle5atl.com @aisle5_atl
The Macedonia African Methodist Church Cemetery film, Johns CreekHigh School — A small cemetery in Johns Creek is where a number of slaves and their descendants, all farm workers, are known to be buried. The Macedonia African Methodist Church Cemetery was neglected for decades but is now being restored, with 14 headstones and several footstones already repaired and reset; the Johns Creek Historical Society has embarked on a mission to identify many of those left in unmarked graves. A four-part documentary about the site’s long history and its restoration, funded by a Georgia Humanities grant, has been produced by local students and is being screened to the public. — Kevin C. Madigan
Free. Thu., Jan. 27, 5:00 p.m.; Johns Creek High School, 5575 State Bridge Rd., Johns Creek. johnscreekhistory.org @SLJohnsCreek
Fri., Jan. 28
Railroad Earth, Variety Playhouse — New Jersey isn’t known for its contributions to bluegrass, so saying that state’s Railroad Earth is its finest aggregation in the genre might sound like damning them with faint praise. But over the past two decades, RE expanded into more rock, Celtic, blues, roots pop and even jazz oriented directions, describing themselves as a “souped up string band.” A high profile collaboration with Warren Haynes in 2015 raised their visibility substantially yet it has been over seven years since the band released a full studio album. So look for new music on this tour from an outfit whose music can’t easily be pigeonholed. — Hal Horowitz
$29.50-49.50. 8:00 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave N.E., Atlanta, 30307. variety-playhouse.com
Fri.-Sat., Jan. 28-29
Tentacle Tribe, Marietta Dance Theater — The Montreal-based dance company Tentacle Tribe is bringing its original production of “Ghost” to Atlanta in Jan. in a presentation of Kennesaw State University’s Department of Dance. “This new work combines elements of contemporary dance, street dance, and martial arts in a physical score that echoes the subtle pulse of respiration,” the official blurb says. Tentacle Tribe is a Swedish-Canadian creative alliance between choreographers Elon Höglund and Emmanuelle Lê Phan. The shows take place on campus at the Marietta Dance Theater, the only venue in Georgia constructed explicitly to provide the technical and performance requirements of the art. — Kevin C. Madigan
$15 - 20. Fri., Jan. 28, 8:00 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 29, 8:00 p.m. Marietta Dance Theater, 860 Rossbacher Way, Marietta, 30060 arts.kennesaw.edu @kennesawstate
Sat., Jan. 29
Jeff Crompton and Majid Araim, Plutonian Burrito, No Tomorrow — “Magic Lantern” Vol. 95 presents Plutonian Burrito, an improv duo from Panama City comprising Charles Pagano (percussion, objects and vocal emissions) and Scott Bazar (homemade instruments, animation). Headlining the bill are Jeff Crompton and Majid Araim, kicking off a mini-tour in support of Home Movie, the duo’s recently released album. — Doug DeLoach
$10 donation. 8 p.m. No Tomorrow (gallery/studio), 84 Lower Alabama, Underground Atlanta, 404-578-4430.
GA-20/JD Simo, Vinyl — This rugged double bill is a must for every blues lover. Boston’s GA-20 (the name of a classic guitar amp, no connection with any route in Georgia) works their two guitar, drums, bass-free lineup for maximum intensity. A new Hound Dog Taylor covers set was a surprise hit in the house rocking blues circuit and these guys deliver the goods live. Simo approaches his blues with more psychedelic overtones, but is a mesmerizing guitarist also making waves in the genre. — Hal Horowitz
$15-20. 8:00 p.m. Vinyl, 1374 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, 30309. centerstage-atlanta.com
Courtney Barnett, The Eastern — Call me crazy, but Courtney Barnett might be the Bob Dylan of our generation. She is a mammoth of a songwriter. Her songs are clever, personal stories with deep societal critiques hummed in riddles or shouted in protest signs. Some of my favorite Barnett bars take aim at climate change in her native Australia. See: “The Great Barrier Reef it ain’t so great anymore, it’s been r*ped beyond belief, the dredgers treat it like a whore,” from “Kim’s Caravan” and “More people die on the road than they do in the ocean, maybe we should mull over culling cars instead of sharks,” from “Dead Fox.” On their own, these lines are fantastic but the way Barnett incorporates them while lamenting on her own hopelessness and depression make them genius. She’s not a cultural critique ranting on top of a high horse. She is one of us, sad about dying alone along with our planet. — Matthew Warhol
Courtney Barnett — Courtney Barnett’s musical evolution is easy to hear, live or on record. Having listened to her since her first LP, there is no need for catch-up. Hers’ is a very organic evolution …nothing is forced and her new album Things Take Time, Take Time, although a slight departure from her previous albums, is a snug fit leading to a leaner live approach. And that’s where she will soon be found, on stage where she is relaxed, and smart enough to surround herself with sympathetic musicians who successfully transmit her sound. Her current band features standard bassist Bones Sloane but Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa, who produced TTTTT, is a new edition. As Barnett’s first album with a synthesizer/drum machine, TTTTT’s songs may allow for newer live sounds on stage. As Mozgawa and Barnett alone created TTTTT, having Mozgawa on the road may lend more authenticity to the aforementioned slight departure. Live Barnett can’t miss, she nails the often sought out but rarely attained “tight but loose” style, and to see her live is a joy…she loves what she’s doing … and those out if front love it to. She is a standout in the current class of rock musicians and to see her live is a can’t miss. — Todd Prusin
$31-36. 8:30 p.m. The Eastern, 777 Memorial Dr. S.E. easternatl.com @easternatl
Cho-Liang Lin & Friends with the Emory Chamber Music Society, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts — The 2021-22 Emory Chamber Music Society Emerson Evening Series at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts kicks off the new year with a performance by String Theory with world-renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin & Friends. Named “Instrumentalist of the Year” in 2000 by Musical America Worldwide, Lin will be making his Emory debut, joining the Vega Quartet, violinist Helen Kim, cellist Jesus Castro-Balbi (also making his Emory debut) and others for Mendelssohn’s rousing String Octet (written in 1825 when the composer was 16). The program also includes works by Mozart and Brahms. — Doug DeLoach
Free. 8 p.m. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts: Emerson Concert Hall, 1700 North Decatur Rd., 404-727-5050.
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 29-30
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Hall — Danish conductor and violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider leads the ASO and pianist Saleem Ashkar in a performances of Grieg’s thundering Piano Concerto. The program also features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 6 (Pathétique) and Boulanger’s Of a Spring Morning. — Doug DeLoach
Ticket prices vary; check the ASO website. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., 404-733-4900.
Sun., Jan. 30
Silvana Estrade, City Winery — Mexican vocalist Estrade is only 23 and is being hailed as the new voice of a movement of independent female artists who have characterized Latin Alternative music over the past decade, performing with an international roster.
A multi-instrumentalist, but most often pairs her vocals with the Venezuelan cuatro guitar. A small bodied, warm sounding guitar that seems to melt smoothly into her hands and glide just right with her diverse pipes. Raised by luthiers, on Mexican son jarocho, singing in the choir music, then later schooled in jazz, Estrada aims her sounds towards the heart of her listeners saying, “My music is made of who I am.” More than 600K monthly listeners are enjoying the discovery of Silvana Estrada on Spotify. — Ms. Conception
$22-$32. 6:30 p.m. Doors / 8:00 p.m. start, City Winery Atlanta, Ponce City Market, 650 North Avenue N.E., Atlanta, 30308 CityWineryATL.com
Tue., Feb. 1
Best Coast, Variety Playhouse — If you are in a mid-to-late-twenties indie rock fan, like me, then Best Coast was probably a defining band during your coming-of-age years. You might have rolled your first cross joint—a marijuana cigarette with a smaller marijuana cigarette poked through the center, mimicking the Christian iconography — on the vinyl LP cover of their first album, Crazy For You. Maybe you daydreamed of your crush while belting the lyrics of “Boyfriend” in your 2006 Honda Civic - just me? Regardless, Best Coast soundtracked many of our college days with their hazy, beach tunes about love, weed, and frontwoman Bethany Cosentino’s cat, Snacks. Their cathartic sound still rings true today, albeit with more production value. They have grown like we have grown and now—after the release of their fourth LP, Always Tomorrow — are heading back out the road. — Matthew Warhol
$25-29. 8:00 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E. variety-playhouse.com @varietyplayhouse
D Smoke, The Loft — Fans of Netflix’s televised Hip-Hop competition Rhythm + Flow couldn’t possibly forget about D Smoke, the bilingual Inglewood, California native who impressed celebrity judges Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, and T.I. so much that he was crowned the show’s inaugural winner. Following his breakthrough with Rhythm + Flow, D Smoke has independently released two full length albums — 2020’s Black Habits and 2021’s War & Wonders — and earned himself two Grammy nominations. After pushing back his War & Wonders Tour to 2022, the 36-year-old rapper is now hitting 20 cities across North America with support from Tiffany Gouché, singer-writer, violinist, and D Smoke’s wife Sherie, and Atlanta’s own Domani. All of the artists featured on the bill bring plenty of soul to their performances, and the intimacy of the Loft will undoubtedly make D Smoke’s upcoming show even more spectacular. — Joshua Robinson
$25-$100. 7:00 p.m. The Loft at Center Stage, 1374 W Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta, 30309. centerstage-atlanta.com @centerstageatl
Wed., Feb. 2
Giwayen Mata, Spivey Hall (streaming event) — As part of its 2021-2022 Season Young People’s Concerts, Spivey Hall presents a virtual educational performance by Giwayen Mata, an Atlanta-based, all-female dance, percussion and vocal ensemble led by artistic director Tamra Omiyale Harris. Giwayen Mata celebrates the rich tradition of African drumming and African dance with special emphasis on traditional West African music and instruments including djembe, sangban, kenkeni, dununba drums and sekere. Tickets for the livestream event include live interviews, pre-recorded performances and the opportunity for patrons to engage with the artists. — Doug DeLoach
Tickets $10 per household or $50 per classroom (up to 35 viewers).
MadeinTYO & UnoTheActivist, Heaven at The Masquerade — Last month, former XXL Freshman Madeintyo (pronounced Made in Tokyo) and UnoTheActivist teamed up for the joint 16-track proejct Yokohama, and the intriguing blend of the SoundCloud rap veterans’ respective sounds was more than enough to win listeners over. Madeintyo and UnoTheActivist’s collaboration isn’t over quite yet, however, because starting in Feb., the two Atlanta-bred artists will be hitting the road with support from BigBabyGucci for a month-long tour. TYO and Uno will kick off the Yokohama Tour by performing in front of a hometown crowd at the Masquerade’s largest venue. — Joshua Robinson
$25. 7:00 p.m. The Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama St. #110, Atlanta, 30303. masqueradeatlanta.com
Thu.-Sat., Feb 3-5
SCAD TVFEST — For its 10th year, the Savannah College of Art & Design hosts a festival of television industry professionals. While last year’s event was virtual, this year offers an inperson gathering at Midtown’s IPIC Theater. The program had not been announced at press time, but previous festivals draw actors, directors, writers and producers from some of the Atlanta area’s most prominent TV productions. — Curt Holman
Feb. 3-5. IPIC Theater, 1197 Colony Square. scadtvfest.com
Fri., Feb. 4
Marshall Tucker Band, Symphony Hall — Seems like every band still touring from five decades ago, regardless of the remaining original members, is commemorating that longevity with a 50th anniversary batch of gigs. Notch another for Spartanburg, South Carolina’s Marshall Tucker Band, right behind the Allman Brothers Band as Capricorn’s biggest act at least of the early 70s. Only founding vocalist Doug Gray is aboard, but the MTB has seldom stopped playing over the years and is far more professional and impressive than just a cover group phoning in their hits. Well worth checking out for Southern rock lovers who veer to the more melodic side of the music. — Hal Horowitz
$291-50. 7:30 p.m. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, 30309 aso.org
Hiss Golden Messenger, Terminal West — Ex-Court and Spark frontman M.C. Taylor might have started out as a low -fi solo, acoustic guitar strummer, but he has gradually shifted towards a soulful musician with a full band in tow. His 2021 release Quietly Blowing It was recorded during the pandemic yet features a larger sound that’s part country, part folk, part singer/songwriter musing. It’s one of the finest albums in the genre of the year. — Hal Horowitz
$23.50-27. 8:00 p.m. Terminal West, 887 West Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, 30318. terminalwestatl.com
Sat., Feb. 5
Richard Elliott, Spivey Hall — Organist Richard Elliott will perform a recital on the famed Albert Schweitzer Memorial Organ, a 79-rank, 3-manual, 4,413-pipe instrument. The program will include original compositions, as well as Pictures at an Exhibition, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s late 19th century masterwork. As Principal Tabernacle Organist in Salt Lake City, Elliott accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the choir’s weekly radio and TV broadcasts wielding the organization’s huge 206-rank Æolian-Skinner organ. — Doug DeLoach
$40. 8 p.m. Spivey Hall, 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, 678-466-4200.
Old 97’s, Terminal West — Amazingly the Old 97’s, while never logging anywhere close to star status, have maintained the same four musicians that started cranking out their cow-punk laced power pop rock back in 1994. Nearly 30 years later they haven’t released a bad album yet and their live shows crackle with the energy they had back in the day. But now they have more solid tunes (their 12th album arrived in 2020) to choose from. — Hal Horowitz
$25-30. 8:00 p.m. Terminal West, 887 West Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, 30318. terminalwestatl.com
Sun., Feb. 6
The Atlanta Chamber Players, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church — The Atlanta Chamber Players returns to the acoustically superb confines of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church with a program headlined by Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C major (“Cello Quintet”). The performance will feature Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster David Coucheron, Helen Hwaya Kim, Catherine Lynn, Rainer Eudeikis, and Brad Ritchie. Also on the program are Shostakovich’s Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano and Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes featuring clarinetist Alcides Rodriguez. — Doug DeLoach
General admission, $20 advance/$25 day of; Seniors, $10 in advance/$15 day of; Students & Educators, Free., 3 p.m. Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Rd N.E., 404-266-2373. https://fb.me/e/S1X6I2Bj
Gerald Finley and Julius Drake, Spivey Hall — Fans of classical singing are in for a special evening when touring recitalists Grammy Award–winning Canadian bass-baritone Gerald Finley and pianist Julius Drake present a program of lieder and song cycles by Franz Schubert, Hugo Wolf, Peter Lieberson, Michael Tippett and Cole Porter. At 2 p.m., one hour prior to the concert, Clayton State University music professor Dr. Kurt-Alexander Zeller will present a free open to the public talk about the program. — Doug DeLoach
Tickets $30-$75. 8 p.m. Spivey Hall, 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, 678-466-4200.
John McCutcheon, Eddie’s Attic — Georgia based folkie McCutcheon has been creating albums from the mid-70s and shows no signs of slowing down now that he’s pushing 70. He comes from the Pete Seeger school (even recording a 2018 tribute album to him), playing everything from children’s music, folk, and ragtime to serious, socially conscious material. Along with his guitar playing, he’s a master of the hammered dulcimer, so expect to hear that somewhat obscure instrument during what promises to be a set of warm, intimate sounds on what might be a chilly night. — Hal Horowitz
$28. 6:00 p.m. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur, 30030. eddiesattic.com
Tue., Feb. 8
Cordae, Heaven at Masquerade — In the two-and-a-half years since the release of Cordae’s debut studio album The Lost Boy, the former YBN rapper has been gradually solidifying himself in pop-culture history as an outspoken activist and respected lyricist. The Lost Boy notched the 24-year-old artist nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song at the 2020 Grammys, and although he left the ceremony without a gramophone trophy, Cordae became the people’s champion after being arrested during a peaceful Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville, Kentucky, months later. Considering that he has also been in a highly publicized relationship with renowned professional tennis player Naomi Osaka, Cordae likely has a lot to say on his forthcoming album From a Birds Eye View, which is due out via Atlantic Records on Jan. 14. In support of the record, Cordae will be bringing his From a Birds Eye View Tour to Heaven at Masquerade, giving locals a solid three weeks to memorize all his new lyrics. — Joshua Robinson
$30. 7:00 p.m. Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama St. #110, Atlanta, 30303. masqueradeatlanta.com
Tue.-Wed., Feb. 8-9
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Center Stage — This twice rescheduled two night stand looks like it’s finally locked in. Blues rocking guitar whiz Shepherd tours behind a recent live CD/DVD that proves he’s more than a hot shot fret shredder. His band, which likely still features horns, is top notch and he’s been doing this long enough to know how to deliver a tough, potent and crowd pleasing show. — Hal Horowitz
$45-65. 7:30 p.m. Center Stage, 1374 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, 30309. centerstage-atlanta.como
Wed., Feb. 9
Kacey Musgraves, State Farm Arena — Few expected country singer/songwriter Musgraves to take home an Album of the Year Grammy for 2018’s Golden Hour. That put her into arena headlining status after just two previous major label discs (there were some early obscure self-released titles). She followed it with 2021’s more pop oriented Star-Crossed which chronicled her divorce but didn’t get consideration in the Country category for another Grammy. Regardless, she’s a bona fide star, has earned her status the hard way and has the songs and voice to fill a space as large as this one. — Hal Horowitz
$80-15. 8:00 p.m. State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Dr., Atlanta, 30303. statefarmarena.com
Thu., Feb. 10
Curatorial Conversation: The Obama Portraits with Taína Caragol, Dorothy Moss, and Michael Rooks, via Zoom — Discussion: Dorothy Moss and Taína Caragol from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. — Moss is the acting director of curatorial affairs and the coordinating curator of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative; Caragol is the curator of painting and sculpture and Latinx art and history — in conversation with Michael Rooks, the High’s Wieland Family curator of modern and contemporary art, discussing the process of commissioning the Obama portraits from Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley.
Free for Members (registration required); Not-Yet-Members: $20, via Zoom
Lilly Hiatt, Vinyl — John’s Nashville based daughter has changed direction from her tougher indie rocker stance to a more intimate folk-pop style on her recently released Lately. It’s the warmest and most melodic of her four discs and arguably her finest work. — Hal Horowitz
$12-15. 8:00 p.m. Vinyl, 1374 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, 30309. centerstage-atlanta.com
Sat., Feb. 26
Bingo & Bubbly, Druid Hills Golf Club — This second annual benefit event for the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy features a fabulous brunch games of bingo, mimosas, auction baskets, and opportunities to walk home with a lot of prizes. It is an opportunity for affinity groups, sororities, clubs, organized groups, and more to get together and support the vulnerable children served at GCCA. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
$200 +. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Druid Hills Golf Club, 740 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, 30307. georgiacenterforchildadvocacy.org
SCREEN TIME
Now playing
Licorice Pizza — This amiable, ambitious coming-of-age story from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson is the best film of 2021, but don’t take my word for it. The 28 voting members of the Atlanta Film Critics Circle (which, admittedly, includes me) selected Licorice Pizza as the best film of 2021.
Set in Encino Valley in 1973, the loosely-plotted film traces a complicated relationship – more than a friendship, less than a romance – between two young people. Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman, son of Anderson’s frequent collaborator, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) is a 15 year-old high schooler aging out of a successful career as a child actor, but remaining an entrepreneur comfortable in adult spaces. Alana Kane (Alana Haim of Grammy-winning trio Haim) is 10 years older, underemployed and still looking for her purpose in life. They become partners in unlikely ventures such as a waterbed business, and while they know they can’t be a couple, they seem unable to quit each other.
Licorice Pizza grooves on the nostalgic vibe of the early 1970s without glorifying the era, as Anderson matter-of-factly shows some casual sexism and racism that can be shocking to a 21st century audience. Occasionally, celebrities will come through their lives like wrecking balls, too narcissistic to notice the chaos they cause, particularly in Bradley Cooper’s turn as a high-strung producer.
Licorice Pizza covers similar ground as Anderson’s breakthrough Boogie Nights, but without that film’s violence or condescending humor. Licorice Pizza may or may not be Anderson’s best effort to date, but it’s definitely his most joyous. — Curt Holman
Now playing at area theaters. Rated R.
The Tragedy of Macbeth — This chilly, stylish Shakespeare adaptation marks the possible break up of modern cinema’s greatest brother act. While the Coen Brothers have crafted modern masterpieces like Fargo since the 1980s, Ethan Coen has reportedly stepped back from moviemaking, making Macbeth Joel Coen’s first solo gig.
The brothers have long enjoyed exploring violence, greed and language in small-scale film noir terms, so a black-and-white take on the “vaulting ambition” of the Scottish king isn’t that much of a stretch. Denzel Washington plays the title role in an uncertain, often mournful key that fits the text, but is quieter than you’d expect from his volcanic work in the likes of Fences and Training Day.
Similarly, the supporting actors can seem overly restrained and the environments deliberately artificial looking, making The Tragedy of Macbeth feel more like an intellectual exercise than a crime of passion. Coen’s take really clicks with the performance of Kathryn Hunter, who plays all three witches with intensity and freaky body language of Gollum. And even on his own, Joel Coen remains a compelling cinematic craftsman who clearly delights in turning medieval Scotland into a haunted landscape. — Curt Holman
Now playing at local theaters, debuting on Apple Streaming on Jan. 14. Rated R.
Ongoing
Field Trip Health, Atlanta Clinic — What a time to be alive with the Jan. blues. Why? Bc it’s now legal to receive psychedelic therapy in East Atlanta Village. If depression is part of your story, the new intown clinic offers treatments like medical shroom trips or ketamine drips for quicker solution than a prescription that could take weeks or months.
It’s called psychedelic-assisted therapy, and described as “a modern method of applying ancient, time-tested wisdom that has helped sufferers experience truly transformational effects.” Go to their website or call to book a consultation. Treatments are several hundred dollars, but payment plans are available. Bc being mentally fit is so on fleek in 2022! — Ms. Conception
Weekdays 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Atlanta Clinic, 750 Glenwood Ave., Building 200, Suite 210 Atlanta, 30316. atlanta at fieldtriphealth.com
Activities, MASS Collective — New year, new hobby? Treat yourself to an excursion to MASS Collective that will get your cold-pressed creativity juices flowing. Stained glass is timeless. So are adult activities classes! Skip the paint and sip and hit a stained glass class, woodworking, book binding, or try metal workshop. The stained glass course is $95, which includes everything you need, and you leave with a DIY piece. Take your Mom, make a memory, learn a skill, all while supporting local artists, makers and teachers. Hit the website for course schedule and deets. — Ms. Conception
MASS Collective, 364 Nelson St. S.W., Atlanta, 30313, masscollective.org @masscollective
Classes, Mixdeity — “We believe in people over profit,” the mantra of Grant Park’s newest gathering spot’s, Mixdeity. Located in a 15,000 sqft church built in 1922, locals will recognize it as the former home of a circus aerial arts school since the congregation left in 2009. Newbs can expect weekly classes for Brazilian martial art of capoeria, improv, Jiu-Jitsu, Live Sound: Pro Audio, marketing and strategic writing, guerilla filmmaking, video editing, dance and movement, music writing, and various artist group meet ups.
Folx can do a single event or become a member and then all the activities are free! Memberships support “creatives, entrepreneurs and humanitarians to collaborate and create, empowered and free from outside pressures or money based agendas.” Do you have an idea for a class? Hit Mixdeity up for free teaching space. — Ms. Conception
Mixdeity, 575 Boulevard S.E., Atlanta, 30312. mixdeitv.com
ATL BREWERIES
All entires compiled by Jill Melancon
Sundays
Arches Brewing, (3361 Dogwood Dr., Hapeville) — The Bingo Show. Play bingo with beer and drag queens,1-3 p.m.!
Monday Night Brewing, (670 Trabert Ave., West Midtown) — Watch NFL and College football games through the season, noon-8:00 p.m.
Monday Night Garage, (933 Lee St., West End) — Watch NFL and College football games the season, noon-8:00 p.m. Wear your team’s gear and get a free beer!
Reformation Brewery, (6255 Riverview Rd. Smyrna) — Trivia, 6-8 p.m. — Jill Melancon
Tuesdays
Six Bridges Brewing, (11455 Lakefield Dr., Johns Creek) — Hard Hitting Trivia, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. and food truck night from 4-9 p.m.
Orpheus Brewing, (1440 Dutch Valley Pl., Ansley Park) — Trivia, 7-9 p.m. First, second, and third place all win Orpheus gift cards.
Variant Brewing Company, (66 Norcross St., Roswell) — Trivia Tue., 7-9 p.m. Prizes for first, second, and third place.
Round Trip Brewing, (1279 Seaboard Industrial Blvd, Westside) — Speed Puzzles from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Assemble a 500 piece puzzle as quickly as possible, and you might win a gift card for your next visit!
Wednesdays
Fire Maker Brewing, (975 Chattahoochee Ave., West Midtown) — Trivia, 6:30 p.m.
Ironmonger Brewing, (2129 N.W. Pkwy., Marietta) — Trivia, 7-9 p.m. It’s free to play, and you get $1 off selected pints for your team!
Ironshield Brewing, (457 N Chestnut St., Lawrenceville) — Trivia, 7:15-9:00 p.m.
NoFo Brew Co., (6150 GA-400, Cumming) — Music Bingo, 7-9 p.m.
Second Self Beer Company, (1317 Logan Circle, West Midtown) — Wag-A-Long Wednesdays, from 5-9 p.m. Bring your doggy friend with you and get $1 off your first pint, and $10 pitchers for everyone else!
Reformation Brewery, (105 Elm St. Woodstock) — Trivia, 7-9 p.m.
Tucker Brewing, (2003 S Bibb Dr., Tucker) — Trivia on the first and third Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Sweetwater Brewing, (195 Ottley Dr., Midtown) — Trivia, 7 p.m.
Thursdays
Fire Maker Brewing, (975 Chattahoochee Ave., West Midtown) — Themed trivia, 6:30 p.m.
Ironshield Brewing, (457 N Chestnut St., Lawrenceville) — Game Night, 5-9 p.m.
Slow Pour Brewing Company, (407 N Clayton St., Lawrenceville) — Trivia,7-9 p.m. First, second, and third place teams win Slow Pour gift cards.
Reformation Brewery, (225 Reformation Pkwy., Canton) — Trivia, 7-9 p.m.
Fridays
Six Bridges Brewing, (11455 Lakefield Dr., Johns Creek) — Food truck night, 4-9 p.m.
Saturdays
Monday Night Brewing, (670 Trabert Ave., West Midtown) — Watch NFL and College football games through the season, noon-8:00 p.m.
Monday Night Garage, (933 Lee St., West End) — Watch NFL and College football games through the season, noon-8:00 p.m. Wear your team’s gear and get a free beer!
Six Bridges Brewing, (11455 Lakefield Dr., Johns Creek) — Food truck night, 4-9 p.m.
Social Fox Brewing, (20 Skin Alley, Norcross) is now a proud sponsor of the Atlanta Gladiators and you’ll be able to purchase some of their brews at the Gas South Arena as of November 5! You can also watch all the Gladiators away games in the taproom!