BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
FRIDAY
Boyz II Men
Earlier this summer, the trio of Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris took a break from their Las Vegas residency to perform after an Atlanta Braves game, and now they’re back in a city that has always supported them. The guys still break out the dance moves, but also like to croon their mega-ballads “On Bended Knee” and “End of the Road.” We’ll likely see some more popping and locking from “Poison” openers Bell Biv Devoe, aka Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ron DeVoe.
With Bell Biv Devoe. 8 p.m. Aug. 28. $35.50-$89.50. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000,ticketmaster.com.
Hal Ketchum
The lengthy career of the country singer-guitarist from New York includes 11 albums since 1986 and 17 country hits between 1991 and 2006. His biggest hits, “Small Town Saturday Night,” “Past the Point of Rescue” and “Hearts Are Gonna Roll,” still make appearances in his live performances. But the 62-year-old storyteller also likely will share songs from last year’s folk-jazz-R&B-tinged “I’m the Troubadour” album, his first new release in six years.
8 p.m. Aug. 28. $30-$35. Red Clay Music Foundry, 3116 Main St., Duluth. 404-478-2749, eddieowenpresents.com/tickets.
SATURDAY
Rick Springfield
Last summer was spent touring with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, and this year, Springfield has enlisted the Romantics ("What I Like About You") and Loverboy ("Working for the Weekend" and about a dozen other radio faves) to join him on the road. "It's a good show because there are a lot of hits, and I think that's what people come to those shows to see," Springfield said in a recent interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The man himself — also currently on the big screen with Meryl Streep in "Ricki and the Flash" — always can be counted on for a high-octane romp through singalongs that include "Don't Talk to Strangers," "Human Touch" and the Teflon-coated "Jessie's Girl."
With the Romantics and Loverboy. 7 p.m. Aug. 29. $29.50-$79.50. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Grown Folks Music Festival
The tagline for the event says it will bring people back to “when music was music.” Deniece Williams (“Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” yes, but also several duets with Johnny Mathis and a renowned gospel career), soul singer Glenn Jones, jazz violinist Ken Ford and comedian Buddy Lewis (host of the concert) anchor the eclectic lineup.
7 p.m. Aug. 29. $25-$70. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road, S.W., Mableton. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
SUNDAY
Motley Crue
Yes, last summer’s Verizon Wireless stop on the band’s Final Tour was supposed to be just that — their last appearance in the city name-checked in “Girls, Girls, Girls.” But a strong fan base and an indoor venue that will allow for the setup of Tommy Lee’s elaborate drum solo beckoned, so here they come again. And this will be the last time.
With Alice Cooper. 7 p.m. Aug. 30. $20-$125. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Rob Thomas
The frontman for Matchbox Twenty hasn’t left his day job (“Unless somebody knows something I don’t, we’re still a band,” he said during a recent conference call with reporters), but he is expanding his solo career with the release of his third album, “The Great Unknown.” Thomas wrote the first single, “Trust You,” in Atlanta with OneRepublic’s Ryan Teddar and still relies on a warm-up tape given to him by Atlanta vocal coach “Mama” Jan Smith. This concert is rescheduled from July, when Thomas took some time to tend to his wife, who needed brain surgery. Previously purchased tickets will be honored.
8 p.m. Aug. 30. $35-$170. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
THURSDAY
Angie Aparo
If you haven’t ever heard the gorgeous vocals of Atlanta native Aparo, do yourself a favor and catch him in the intimate atmosphere at Eddie’s. Aparo is best known for writing Faith Hill’s mega-ballad “Cry,” as well as performing and writing with Tim McGraw, Matchbox Twenty and the Zac Brown Band. He’s reportedly working on his sixth album, a sci-fi rock opera.
With Ayala Asherov. 8 p.m. Sept. 3. $15-$20. Eddie's Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 1-877-725-8849, ticketalternative.com.
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