BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
FRIDAY
Butch Walker
The Georgia native has never shied away from digging deep while remaining accessible, whether on his own songs or the trove he’s written for other artists, including Pink and Keith Urban. But “Afraid of Ghosts,” written after the death of his beloved father, finds Walker exploring mortality. Ryan Adams produced the album, which features guest shots from Johnny Depp and Bob Mould.
8 p.m. May 15. $25.50-$59.50. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
Funk Fest
Ready to raise the roof and get the funk out? Well, you’ll also have an opportunity to groove to some R&B and soul since this year’s two-day event features R. Kelly and Erykah Badu in respective headlining slots. Joining Kelly on the first night are Uncle Luke, Fresh Kid Ice and Brother Marquis for the 2 Live Crew Reunion, along with Total and Demetria McKinney. Prior to Badu’s performance Saturday, Doug E. Fresh, Floetry, Rakim and 8Ball & MJG will take the stage.
8 p.m. May 15 and 5 p.m. May 16. Sold out. Wolf Creek Amphitheatre, 3024 Merk Road S.W., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, ticketalternative.com.
SATURDAY
Shaky Boots
With an inaugural lineup boasting Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley, the Band Perry, Kristian Bush, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Sara Evans and nearly two dozen other acts, it's safe to say that Georgia finally has a worthy country music festival. Promoter Tim Sweetwood, also the creator of last weekend's successful indie-rock fest, Shaky Knees, said he saw a gap in the market and decided to produce a sister festival. "We're in Georgia and in the South and we didn't have a country festival?" Sweetwood said in a recent interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It's like, c'mon, the South goes hand in hand with country."
Noon-11 p.m. May 16-17. $95 (single-day general admission); $185 (two-day general admission); $350 (single-day VIP); $499 (two-day advance VIP). KSU Sports and Entertainment Park, 3000 George W. Busbee Parkway, Kennesaw. 1-800-745-3000, shakyboots.com.
Lisa Kelly
The former member of Celtic Woman brings her dulcet pipes and a series of guests — including former group mate Chloe Agnew, singer Emmett Cahill and renowned Celtic and American dance soloists Aaron Tolson and Scott Porter — to her latest show in the city she calls home. Kelly and a five-piece band will present Irish classics along with pop and classical standards under the command of musical director Cheryl Rogers. Students from the Lisa Kelly Voice Academy and Kelly Porter Dance Academy also will perform.
8 p.m. May 16. $35-$50. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 877-725-8849, ticketalternative.com.
WEDNESDAY
Todd Rundgren
Which is more impressive — Rundgren’s career as a producer (Grand Funk Railroad, Meat Loaf, XTC), his success as a songwriter (“Hello, It’s Me,” “I Saw the Light”) or his regular stints as a multi-instrumentalist on Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band tours? You can marvel at his musical gifts during this tour to support his new album, “Global,” which arrived last month.
8 p.m. May 20. $26-$31. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
THURSDAY
Darius Rucker
At this point, it’s probably safe to say, Hootie who? Rucker’s graceful transition from frat-rocker to country devotee continued with the March release of “Southern Style.” It’s the fourth country album from the molasses-voiced singer and another indication of his dedication to the genre. The title track was recently released to radio — following the success of the album’s first single, “Homegrown Honey” — and Rucker is sure to pepper his live show with those newer tracks, along with the No. 1 hits “Wagon Wheel,” “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” and “Come Back Song.”
With Brett Eldredge, Brothers Osborne and A Thousand Horses. 7 p.m. May 21. $24.50-$69.50. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
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