Ready to make a joyful noise? A couple of upcoming shows feature awesome performers for great causes. First, the Indigo Girls will play at the Evening of Hope Appreciation Banquet benefiting Right to Hike, a non-profit formed after the violent 2008 death of hiker Meredith Emerson. The organization supports causes that were close to Emerson's heart, including hiking safety. The event is from 6 to 11 p.m. April 9 at the Gwinnett Center's Thomas "Tommy" Hughes Grand Ballroom. Jerry Willis, Carol Terry and Robert Sutherland will be honored during the banquet. Tickets are $75 each. See www.righttohikeinc.com for information. Next, Christian rappers Lecrae and Sho Baraka will do their thing at 7 p.m. April 16 at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross. Concert proceeds will benefit the Atlanta Mission, which serves homeless men, women and children in Atlanta. "I live in this city and see it as a personal responsibility to seek the welfare of it," Lecrae said. "Here is a chance to see the difference we can make in our own city, in the lives of real people." The concert is being organized by the Atlanta Mission's Junior Board, which consists of students from The Lovett School, Westminster Schools, Atlanta Girls' School, Wesleyan School and Greater Atlanta Christian School. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. See atlantamission.org/concert.
Atlanta: The Hollywood of the South, Dollywood of the East
Speaking of joyful noises, the movie by that name was filming in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday. This is the film about two gals, played by Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah, who team up to save a gospel choir that has hit a rough patch. We're especially looking forward to the musical numbers in "Joyful Noise," which have been filmed at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center and the Frederick Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City.
Buzz in our ear
Positive economic news is always welcome, and certainly when it involves charity. So we're happy to tell you that the recent "I Have a Voice" gala held at the Ritz Carlton Atlanta raised $170,000 for Gigi's Playhouse, a Down Syndrome therapeutic center opening in Midtown this summer. The haul exceeded organizers' goal by more than $20,000. "It's great to know that people in our community care about children with Down Syndrome and want to do something to help," said event chair Adrienne Mulligan.
Celebrity birthdays
Guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 70. Singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly is 68. Singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful is 67. Percussionist Harold Brown of War is 65. Actor Patrick Duffy is 62. Actor Kurt Russell is 60. Country singer Susie Allanson is 59. Actress Lesley-Anne Down is 57. Country singer Paul Overstreet is 56. Actor Gary Sinise is 56. Actor Christian Clemenson ("CSI: Miami") is 53. Actress Vicki Lewis is 51. Actor Rob Lowe is 47. Singer Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins is 44. Bassist Van Conner of Screaming Trees is 44. Actor Mathew St. Patrick ("Six Feet Under") is 43. Actor Yanic Truesdale ("Gilmore Girls") is 42. Bassist Melissa Auf der Maur (Smashing Pumpkins, Hole) is 39. Drummer Caroline Corr of The Corrs is 38. Actress Marisa Coughlan is 37. Rapper Swifty of D12 is 34.
Contributing: news services
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