BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene
FRIDAY
Lizz Wright
The jazz-gospel native of small-town Georgia (Hahira, if you're curious) has the distinction of being the last artist Prince saw live before his untimely death in 2016 . And there's good reason he was checking out the molten-voiced singer. Last week, Wright released her sixth album, "Grace," which is well worth your time.
With Leeda “Lyric” Jones. 8 p.m. Sept. 22. $41.Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. 1-877-987-6487, ticketfly.com.
The Temptations and The Four Tops
It’s a night guaranteed to be stuffed with soulful classics with this double bill of two Motown giants. Otis Williams, 75, is the only original member representing for The Temptations (joining him are Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Larry Braggs and Willie Greene Jr.), while Abdul “Duke” Fakir, 81, fills that role for The Four Tops (the other three Tops are Ronnie McNeir, Lawrence Payton Jr. and Harold Bonhart). Regardless, the suits, the synchronized choreography and the hits – more than 60 between them – will be on full display.
8 p.m. Sept. 22. $42-$85. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY
Adam Ant
The New Wave glam rocker still looks like his '80s swashbuckling self and on this "Anthems – The Singles" tour, expect to hear everything from "Goody Two Shoes" to "Stand and Deliver" to "Wonderful." Ant also will sprinkle in some B-sides and rarities for the die-hard fans.
With Glam Skanks. 8 p.m. Sept. 23. Sold out. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. 1-877-987-6487, ticketfly.com.
Kicks 101.5 Country Fair with Darius Rucker
Rucker will continue his successful career as a country artist with the release of his fifth studio album, “When Was the Last Time,” on Oct. 20. Since turning from pop to country in 2008, Rucker has scored eight No. 1 country singles, including the recent “If I Told You.” At this point, more fans probably know him for his country songs than for his tenure with Hootie & The Blowfish.
With Randy Houser. 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23. $29-$99. Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
SUNDAY
Luis Fonsi
This summer, the 39-year-old Puerto Rican singer became a household name thanks to the stars aligning for his ubiquitous “Despacito,” currently the most viewed video on YouTube (3.6 billion views). And yes, the remix with Justin Bieber has something to do with that. Some might think that Fonsi is a newcomer or a one-hit wonder, but that would be patently false. The singer has been a force on the Latin charts since the late-’90s and has amassed several No. 1 hits, including “Imaginame Sin Ti” (in 2000) and “Aquí Estoy Yo” (in 2008). It might have taken a pop collaboration to break him into the mainstream, but Fonsi has been commanding his native genre for years.
7:30 p.m. Sept. 24. $49.50-$65.50. Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre, 800 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, livenation.com.
Tesla
As part of the band's summer tour with Def Leppard and Poison, which played Lakewood Amphitheatre in May, the California rockers only had time for a handful of hits ("That's The Way It Is," their cover of Five Man Electrical Band's "Signs" among them). But given the stage for a full set, singer Jeff Keith and the band will have time for a dozen-plus songs spanning their four decades in the music industry.
With Weapons Of Anew and Voices Of Extreme. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24. $29.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
WEDNESDAY
Indigo Girls
There is an enduring quality to so much of the catalog created by Atlanta's Emily Saliers and Amy Ray – from "Power of Two" to "Kid Fears" to "Galileo" to, of course, "Closer to Fine." By adding the musical backing of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the girls are giving already-lush songs an added layer of resonance.
7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Sold out. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
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