ATL UNTRAPPED: September sounds
The summer is almost over, but this month’s concert calendar is still bringing the heat
In contrast to the dry and sluggish months that kicked off this year, the summer of 2023 has been soundtracked by plenty of compelling local hip-hop projects, from Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse, Michael Aristotle’s DEKALB, and Smv’s For the Sake of Nostalgia to newer releases like Key!’s Marquis and Ben Reilly’s Not Your Hero 4 Hire. Now, all that excitement is finally carrying over into all of our favorite live music venues. Thanks to Beyoncé’s larger than life three-day stint in Atlanta last month, the city is officially in the midst of a thrilling late summer and early fall run of concerts and festivals. In addition to this month’s obvious live music spectacle that is Music Midtown, here are all of the key concerts for you to check out this September.
Sun., Sep. 10
Hannah Jadagu, Miloe, Purgatory — There is going to be a lot of star power in Atlanta in the coming weeks, but there’s perhaps no better place to start off tan with Hannah Jadagu’s show at the Masquerade. The 21-year-old rising artist is a pop-sensible protégé who first started making noise with her 2021 EP What Is Going On?, an ambitious five-track offering recorded exclusively on Jadagu’s iPhone 7. Two years later, and she’s an NYU student who released her debut album, Aperture, earlier this summer. Now, she is preparing for a 20-date U.S. tour. When she stops in Atlanta, Hanna Jadagu will be performing in Purgatory — a.k.a the Masquerade’s most intimate and most underrated venue — with support from Congo-born artist Miloe. Grab your tickets now and get ready for a night filled with great, seductive pop. — Joshua Robinson
$. 7:00 p.m. Purgatory at the Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama Street #110, Atlanta, GA 30303. masqueradeatlanta.com The Masquerade
Thurs., Sep. 14
Marsofyouth, DavidtheTragic, Kalenbree and more, Drunken Unicorn — You probably don’t need an excuse to go to MJQ this month, but Marsofyouth and DavidtheTragic are giving you one nonetheless. Together, the two artists are throwing the Saturation Show, a stacked assemblage of local artists, at the Drunken Unicorn. In addition to Mars and David, alternative R&B and hip-hop acts such as Kalenbree, Ren Haze, and Kapwani will be taking the stage, and Cleotrvppv and Mercury will also be handling the sounds for the night. After fees, tickets are still less than $15, so don’t sleep on this chance to engage with some of the city’s most compelling rising talent. — Joshua Robinson
$10. 8:00 p.m. MJQ Concourse, 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. mjqofficial.site @thedrunkenunicornatl
Tues., Sep. 19
Victoria Monét, Buckhead Theatre — Yes, the Atlanta stop of Victoria Monét’s headlining Jaguar Tour — just like the other 20 dates — has been sold out for several weeks, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying to see her when she takes over Buckhead Theatre Sept. 9. The Atlanta-born singer-songwriter wowed listeners earlier this summer with the release of her Chalie Boy-sampling single “On My Mama” and its accompanying Show Stoppas-inspired music video, and she also just dropped her long-awaited debut album, Jaguar II. No pun intended, this is Victoria Monét’s moment, so if you can afford the slight resell price hike, then you should definitely grab tickets and support the R&B songstress at her homecoming show later this month. — Joshua Robinson
$154-$335. 8:00 p.m. Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. thebuckheadtheatre.com @buckheadtheatre
Sat., Sep. 23
Trippie Redd, Lakewood Amphitheatre — No summer in Atlanta is complete until you’ve gone to an outdoor concert at Lakewood Amphitheatre, so if you have not yet crossed that off your to-do list, then Trippie Redd’s show is the perfect one for you to go to. The 24-year-old artist is fresh off the release of his latest album, A Love Letter To You 5, and to support the record, he has embarked on the 24-date Take Me Away Tour. Like any of the best Lakewood concerts, Trippie Redd’s show boasts an intriguing — and most certainly deep — selection of supporting acts, including influential 2010s rapper Lucki and rising acts such as Jean Dawson, D. Savage, EKKSTACY, and K Suave. Whether you grab pit, lawn, or seated tickets, you’re bound to have a memorable end-of-the-summer concert experience. — Joshua Robinson
$45-$85+. 7:30 p.m. Lakewood Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Way SW, Atlanta, GA 30315. livenation.com/venue/KovZpZAEkeFA/lakewood-amphitheatre-events @lakewoodamp
Sun., Sep. 24
Little Simz, Heaven — Ever since she unleashed her outstanding fourth studio album I Might Be Introvert in 2021, Little Simz has been one of my favorite rappers, and eight months after the release of her impressive fifth album NO THANK YOU, the British rapper is coming to Atlanta for a highly anticipated show at the Masquerade. Given the magnitude of her recent successes, it’s only right that the “I Love You, I Hate You” artist is laying claim to Heaven when her No Thank You Tour finally arrives in Atlanta later this month. Get your tickets sooner than later. — Joshua Robinson
$35. 7:00 p.m. Heaven at the Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama Street #110, Atlanta, GA 30303. masqueradeatlanta.com The Masquerade
Mon., Sep. 25
Drake & 21 Savage, State Farm Arena — When Drake announced his first North American tour in five years, the Canadian hip-hop juggernaut already had three albums — and four projects in total, if you count the 2020 mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes — worth of material that had never been performed live. Somehow, Atlanta became one of the lucky stops toward the end of the tour because Drake has been gearing up to once again treat fans with his eighth solo studio album, titled For All The Dogs. Despite the mild stress of potentially having to learn the lyrics to yet another full-length effort in a matter of days, damn-near nothing can subside fans’ excitement for Drake’s fast-approaching two-night stint at State Farm Arena. The OVO head honcho has teamed up with 21 Savage for the 56-date It’s All A Blur Tour, so concert attendees can definitely expect the Her Loss collaborators to show out for Savage’s homecoming show. — Joshua Robinson
$331-$500+. 8:00 p.m. State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. statefarmarena.com @statefarmarena
Tues., Sep. 26
Drake & 21 Savage, State Farm Arena — The “Rich Flex” collaborators are running it back for a second night of their lauded It’s All A Blur Tour, so if you can’t make it out to the Monday show, you should definitely attend the encore concert on Tuesday. As any true showman would, Drake tends to switch things up whenever he performs consecutive shows in the same city, so expect some special surprises for the final Atlanta tour date. — Joshua Robinson
$300-$500+. 8:00 p.m. State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. statefarmarena.com @statefarmarena
Fri., Sep. 29
Pastor Troy, Center Stage — On August 11, we all celebrated hip-hop’s 50th birthday, but true rap heads know that the celebration of this beloved culture is neverending. This month, we’re shifting the focus of our festivities from Sedgwick Avenue, New York, to Savannah, Georgia, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Pastor Troy’s breakout album, We Ready I Declare War. To commeorate such a major career milestone, the Southern hip-hop veteran is inviting fans to Center Stage for an epic anniversary and retirement show. Just like OutKast, Jermaine Dupri, T.I., Kilo Ali, Future, Young Thug, and a plethora of other Georgia rap legends, Pastor Troy is cemented in the pantheon of Atlanta rap, so don’t forget to purchase your tickets while blasting “No Mo Play In GA” at maximum volume. It’s time to give the Pastor Dizastah his flowers. — Joshua Robinson
$50-$100+. 8:00 p.m. Center Stage Theater, 1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. centerstage-atlanta.com @centerstageatl
Sun., Oct. 1
KenTheMan, Vinyl — After gaining viral notoriety with her For da 304’s EP — think back to those childish grade school calculator hijinks — during the pandemic, Houston’s own KenTheMan grinded it out until she was named a XXL Freshman in 2022. Over a year later, she’s still going as hard as ever. Earlier this summer, KenTheMan signed a deal with RocNation, and shortly thereafter, she returned to her roots with the release of her eight-track EP, Back to 304’n. To support the project, the “Not My N*gga” femcee is hitting 12 cities for her first-ever headlining tour, so tap in with KenTheMan when her Back to 304’n Tour arrives in Atlanta on Sunday, October 1. — Joshua Robinson
$25-$75+. 8:00 p.m. Center Stage Theater, 1374 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. centerstage-atlanta.com @centerstageatl