History center lineup dives into Southern sounds

After a decade of giving us “Nothin’ but the Blues,” the Atlanta History Center is nowhere near finished.

Starting Thursday, the History Center has developed an “after-hours” set (though music starts at 7:30 p.m.) where “four corners of Southern music —- soul, Southern rock, jazz fusion and (even more) blues” —- will be explored.

We’ve quickly distilled the artists scheduled for the new “Southern Music: Shaken & Stirred” series:

> “Whiskey Women” —- as the first edition of this three-month-long series is titled —- is headlined by longtime blues-rocker (and Eddie’s Attic alum) Michelle Malone. Husband and wife twosome Blue Mother Tupelo —- aka Micol and Ricky Davis —- keep the roots music going with what it describes on its MySpace page as a sound comparable to “mountain, delta, swamp, river, sunshine and rain.” Rome, Ga., songwriting duo Little Country Giants pulls out the pedal steel, upright bass and Americana first. (March 5-6)

> Apparently Albany acts can jam-rock, too. Ancient Harmony is expected to affirm as much when it wraps up “Mixed & Fused.” Omega Love is up before them, dispensing synthesizer soul, dance and jazz. And polyrhythmic East Coast Dirt of Asheville, N.C., opens (April 2-3).

> “Straight Up Blues” benefits from “Nothin’ but the Blues” veteran Francine Reed taking —- and surely electrifying —- the mike last. Her frequent accompaniment Java Monkey joins her in whatever jazz, blues or soul mood she’s in. And fellow Atlanta performers Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck and Nick Edelstein start it off (May 7-8).

> Grammy nominee Anthony David caps the final installment with “Soul Stirrin’ Sounds.” India Arie’s longtime background singer is sure to visit their work together (“Words”), as well as offer solo favorites on the local scene (“GA Peach”). Fellow guitarists John West and Kyshona Armstrong round out the “Southern Music” finale (June 4-5).

IF YOU GO

Southern Music: Shaken & Stirred. Starting Thursday-Friday at the Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road. Doors open at 6 p.m. Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday concerts are $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Friday concerts are $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Reservations (404-814-4150) are recommended. For more information, go to www.atlantahistorycenter.com.