BY HOWARD POUSNER
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell's Saturday concert at Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, inaugurates its nearly 2,200-capacity Ivester Amphitheater, an attractive outdoor facility amid the recently opened 168-acre woodland garden.
More intimate than most metro Atlanta amphitheaters (including Alpharetta's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park with 7,000 seats and a 5,000-capacity lawn), it would seem to have potential to attract music lovers out of the city, especially from northern arc communities.
The first season is a bit of a trial balloon, with just three concerts planned for the general admission facility that features wide, grassy terraces descending toward the stage that afford plenty of room for fans to spread out blankets or set up low-backed lawn chairs.
After the opening show, remaining concerts feature soul veterans the Temptations on July 11 and Scotty McCreery, the country-singing “American Idol” winner, on July 17. All three will start at 8 p.m., with gates opening at 7 p.m.
But the Atlanta Botanical Garden is treating the three Gainesville shows and its seven Atlanta shows (kicking off June 20 with country singer Josh Turner) as part of the same SunTrust Concerts in the Garden series. The combined 10 concerts represent the largest number it has presented over 13 seasons.
Atlanta ABG members receive discounts to the Gainesville shows just as Gainesville-area members do for the Atlanta ones.
The Gainesville garden is located at 1911 Sweetbay Drive, but all parking is off-site at the intersection of Cleveland Highway and Limestone Parkway. Shuttles begin at 6:15 p.m. for platinum ticket holders, 6:30 p.m. for general admission ticket holders.
Outside food, beverages and coolers will not be permitted on the shuttles or in the garden. Beer, wine, soft drinks, bottled water and a limited food menu will be available for purchase.
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