Free tickets to Shawn Mendes Friday at Center Stage

We looked at each other with a combination of curiosity and annoyance that there was an extra horde of people crowding an already choked area. But I still had to ask what was going on.

"Who are you guys waiting to see?” I asked a mom and a group of girls.

Before she could respond, the girls squealed in unison, “SHAWN MENDES!”, which prompted the pack around them to chime in with additional hearing-destroying sounds.

Ah, yes. Shawn Mendes. The Canadian cutie pie who will open for Taylor Swift on her fall tour and release his first full-length album, “Handwritten,” on April 14. The 16-year-old behind the pop hits “Life of the Party” and “Something Big.”

THAT Shawn Mendes.

He is also, you might have heard, playing a series of headlining shows, including Friday at Center Stage.

Like most of his tour dates, the concert is sold out. But guess what? My pals at Universal-Republic Records have provided me with a free pair of tickets to give away for the Atlanta date, which starts at 8 p.m. with Jacquie Lee opening.

There are no prerequisites to enter, but if you use  Facebook and/or  Twitter , I would greatly appreciate a follow.

Then, just zip me an email at mruggieri@ajc.com by noon Thursday, April 9. Feel free to tell me why you love Shawn.

Please "Shawn Mendes tickets" in the subject field. If you put anything else there, I won't see it when I sort the emails and you will have zero chance of winning. Please enter only once per email address.

I will randomly select a winner and post the name on this blog entry once I’ve received confirmation. If you are the winner, I will contact you directly.

The winner’s tickets will be available at will call the night of the show.

Good luck!