BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene
This spring concert season will see the return of U2 for the first time in nearly a decade, the veterans of Alabama positioned to break their own sales record at the Fox Theatre, and the Foo Fighters christening Georgia State Stadium with its first splash of rock ‘n’ roll.
Here is a look at 25 of the numerous shows heading to Atlanta in the next few months — indoors and out, from stadiums to clubs.
To keep up with the ever-growing inventory, make sure to check out Live Music Picks and Hot Tix every week in Go Guide and the Music Scene blog for complete listings of updated concert information.
Credit: Getty Images
Credit: Getty Images
Unless otherwise noted, tickets to all shows can be purchased at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Alabama. In 2013, the legendary country trio that covered the airwaves starting in the '70s with "I Wanna Come Over" set a record with a pair of consecutive sellouts at the Fox Theatre. The shows — Alabama's first-ever at the Fox — brought in more than 8,500 fans, making it the highest-grossing run by a country artist in the venue's history. Expect them to break their own record with this three-night stint. With the Charlie Daniels Band. 7:30 p.m. April 13-14 and 6 p.m. April 15. $36-$146.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org.
Lorde. Even though she wasn't granted the performance spotlight at the Grammys, the New Zealander — still only a mere 21 — is filling arena worldwide on her "Melodrama" outing. Make sure to catch Atlanta's Killer Mike (with partner El-P) during Run the Jewels' opening set. With Mitski. 7 p.m. April 14. $39.50-$99.50. Infinite Energy Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-626-2464, infiniteenergycenter.com.
Bon Jovi. Slightly more than a year after packing the same venue, the durable soon-to-be-Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Famers return with their arsenal of melodic pop-rock anthems. Although the band re-released its current album, "This House Is Not for Sale," with a couple of new tunes, fans will still want to hear "It's My Life" and "Livin' on a Prayer" — and Bon Jovi always complies. 7:30 p.m. April 20. $29.50-$549.50. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta.
Pink. She's still flying through the air with the greatest of ease — all while belting out "Get the Party Started" and "So What" — and garnering high critical praise for her showmanship during this "Beautiful Trauma" world tour. Her last Atlanta performances — in 2013 — were among the best of that year. With Kid Cut Up. 8 p.m. April 21. $47.45-$207.45. Philips Arena.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Foo Fighters. The rockers' "Concrete & Gold" tour brings them to Georgia State Stadium — the first concert to be held at the venue since its transformation from Turner Field. The band stormed through Atlanta in 2015 with a show at Centennial Olympic Park. With the Struts. 7 p.m. April 28. $29-$94. Georgia State Stadium, 755 Hank Aaron Drive SE, Atlanta.
The Darkness. Reunited since 2011, the British glam revivalists will bring their spandex and the octave spanning vocals of Justin Hawkins to town for their "Tour De Prance." As long as "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "One Way Ticket" are on the set list, count us in. With Diarrhea Planet. 8 p.m. April 28. $25-$30. Terminal West, 887 W. Marietta St. NW, Atlanta. 404-876-5566, terminalwestatl.com.
Todd Rundgren. Mr. "Bang the Drum All Day" is reuniting his mid-'70s band Utopia for their first North American tour in 32 years. Along with the versatile Rundgren, Kasim Sulton, Willie Wilcox and Ralph Schuckett will also be on stage. 7 p.m. April 28. $39-$89. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, livenation.com.
Beck. In October, the wiry singer released his 13th studio album, "Colors," a record four years in the making. Beck's return to Atlanta is decidedly more intimate — his last time here (in 2016), he played a headlining set at Music Midtown. With Twin Shadow. 8 p.m. April 30-May 1. $89.50. Tabernacle.
Rick Astley. In February 2017, the affable Brit behind the ever-viral "Never Gonna Give You Up" and (far better) "Together Forever" and "Cry for Help" played Atlanta for the first time ever. Apparently, it went well. 8 p.m. May 1. $39. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta.
Suzanne Vega. The velvet-voiced pop-folk singer will revisit the two biggest releases of her career on their respective 30th ("Solitude Standing") and 25th ("99.9F") anniversaries. So yes, that means you'll hear the entire albums that brought us "Luka," "Tom's Diner" and "Blood Makes Noise." 8 p.m. May 2. $36-$46. City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Ave., Ponce City Market, Atlanta. 404-946-3791, citywinery.com/atlanta/.
Joe Bonamassa. It's being called "The Guitar Event of the Year!" and, exclamation point notwithstanding, that's not hyperbole. The blues guitarist/singer (who famously opened for B.B. King when he was 12 years old) is a true ax-slinging virtuoso. 8 p.m. May 4-5. $79-$179. Fox Theatre.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Alice in Chains. Fans can expect the follow-up to 2013's "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" soon, as the Seattle alt-metal-rockers have promised. Until then, revel in "No Excuses" and "Check My Brain" live with singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and singer/guitarist William DuVall. 8 p.m. May 10. $52.50. Coca-Cola Roxy, 800 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta.
Justin Timberlake. His fifth album, "Man of the Woods," didn't have the desired effect of establishing the boy-bander-turned-credible-soul-man as the Chris Stapleton of pop. But live is where Timberlake still thrives, and he's breaking out the "SexyBack" and "Rock Your Body" to keep fans bopping. With the Shadowboxers. 7:30 p.m. May 11. $43.50-$254. Infinite Energy Arena.
Anita Baker. When the soul sensation announced earlier this year that she would embark on a final tour, she almost broke the Internet. At least Atlanta fans have two opportunities to hear her croon "Sweet Love" and "Just Because" one more time. 8 p.m. May 11 and 7 p.m. May 13. $54-$196.50. Fox Theatre.
Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul. Hey, the guy has to do something while his boss is taking over Broadway for the rest of the year. Little Steven Van Zandt (aka Bruce Springsteen's guitar consigliere) is donating tour proceeds to the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation's TeachRock initiative; each tour stop will host a free TeachRock professional development workshop, with attendees given a free ticket to that night's show. Details at teachrock.org/tour/. 8 p.m. May 16. $40-$45. Center Stage.
Willie Nelson & Family with Alison Krauss. It will be a night of grit and glass when these contrasting singers take the stage. Nelson unveils a new album, "Last Man Standing," on April 27. Krauss, who played Chastain last fall with David Gray, released her most recent solo album, "Windy City," last year. 7:30 p.m. May 20. $30-$125. Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta.
The Championship Tour with Kendrick Lamar. Recently coroneted with a quartet of Grammy Awards, Lamar is rounding up the Top Dawg Entertainment roster — SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Sir and Lance Skiiiwalker — for a collaborative tour. Chances are fans will get to see him perform for more than the eight minutes he played the last time he visited Atlanta. 7:30 p.m. May 25. $55-$365. Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta.
Kenny Chesney. The fun-and-sun-loving country superstar has been a steady stadium performer, especially in Atlanta, where he frequently played the Georgia Dome (his last appearance there was in 2015 with Eric Church). He'll make his Mercedes-Benz debut and hope that the sound issues that plagued fellow country-man Garth Brooks last fall have been rectified. With Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion and Brandon Lay. 5 p.m. May 26. $35-$225. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 1414 Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, Atlanta.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
U2. Believe it or not, it's been nearly a decade since the Irish superstars played Atlanta. They will return for an intimate stop on their "Experience + Innocence" tour, which is promoting the worthy "Songs of Experience," which bowed in December. 8 p.m. May 28. $45-$329. Infinite Energy Arena.
John Fogerty and ZZ Top. In a statement announcing the tour, Fogerty said, "ZZ Top is one of my favorite bands, and Billy F Gibbons is one of my all-time favorite guitarists. Riffs, blues and bayous … bucket list!" ZZ Top, meanwhile, is one of the longest-running bands with its original lineup of Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard. 7 p.m. June 6. On sale at 10 a.m. April 13. $55-$95. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive NW, Atlanta.
Robert Plant and the Sensational Shape Shifters. Following a first touring leg to strong reviews, which praised Plant's capacity for reinvention, the indefatigable Led Zeppelin legend will kick off round two in Atlanta. Plant is supporting his new album, "Carry Fire." With Elle King. 8 p.m. June 8. On sale at 10 a.m. April 13. $49.25-$69.25. Chastain.
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Royal Blood. Following the success of their breakout hits, "Figure It Out" and "I Only Lie When I Love You," the lauded British duo with the big garage rock sound spent time opening for Queens of the Stone Age and playing the festival circuit. Now, they're ready to command a show alone. 8 p.m. June 8. $29-$32. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. 1-877-987-6487, ticketfly.com.
Big Boi. He might very well be the busiest man in hip-hop, with acting gigs (catch him in the upcoming "Superfly" remake and on BET's "The Quad"), recording and producing and working on a cartoon series. But he'll always have time for his first love — music — including this third leg of the "Daddy Fat Saxxx" tour. 8 p.m. June 8. $25-$50. Tabernacle.
Credit: Robb Cohen
Credit: Robb Cohen
Harry Styles. If you were one of the many who couldn't score Harry Styles tickets for his intimate show at the Coca-Cola Roxy last fall, well, good luck getting a ticket to his arena show, too. Maybe Styles' excellent self-titled debut didn't wow at the Grammys as expected, but he's still poised to be the Justin Timberlake of One Direction. With Kacey Musgraves. 8 p.m. June 11. $39.50-$99.50. Infinite Energy Arena.
Styx. Last summer, the band already stocked with a trove of hits ("Renegade," "Too Much Time on My Hands," "Mr. Roboto") released its first new studio album in 14 years, the sonically lush "The Mission." Nope, they aren't done yet. With Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Tesla. 6 p.m. June 16. $25-$99. Verizon Amphitheatre.
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