FRIDAY
Sunset Jazz Festival
With Jonathan Butler, Will Downing and Najee. The esteemed George Duke originally was part of this bill until his recent death. But the show will go on with the smooth jazz sounds of perennial pros Downing and Najee and the late addition of Butler. On Saturday, the jazz-soul fiesta continues with Eric Benet, Brian Culbertson, Rachelle Ferrell and Hiroshima.
7 p.m. Aug. 16-17. $25-$89. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
SATURDAY
The Cult
The British hard rockers hit the Tabernacle in June 2012 but are back for a special summer presentation of “Electric,” their third album, released in 1987. They will perform it in full. Though singer Ian Astbury announced in 2009 that the band wouldn’t produce any more studio albums, that proclamation was short-lived. “Choice of Weapon” arrived last year, and the Cult plans a return to the studio after this tour to wrap a release for 2014.
8 p.m. Aug. 17. $26.50. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
Justin Hayward
The Moody Blues have joined the rock band cruise phenomenon with a scheduled outing in April. But if you don’t feel like schlepping to Nassau or Grand Turk Island, you can hear Hayward and a three-piece band roll through “Nights in White Satin” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” sans sea-sickness. He’s also playing selections from his new album, “Spirits of the Western Sky.”
7 p.m. Aug. 17. $57.50. Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
SUNDAY
Josh Groban
Groban might be the perfect musical date. He’s cute, he’s charming, he’s funny, he’s even a little bit dorky (in a completely endearing way). And then he opens his mouth and unleashes that mighty baritone. What more do you want? The pop-classical star is supporting his latest, “All That Echoes.” It’s a great listen, but we highly recommend seeking out the hilarious video of the good-natured Groban singing Kanye West tweets.
8 p.m. Aug 18. $49.50-$79.50. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
Roger Hodgson
The voice of Supertramp brings his Breakfast in America Tour to the U.S. for a mere nine dates, so if you’re a fan of ’70s AOR staples “Take the Long Way Home,” “Dreamer,” “The Logical Song” and “Breakfast in America,” this is a rare chance to hear them from the original source. Hodgson is also releasing a new album, “Classics Live 2.”
8 p.m. Aug. 18. $51.50 ($49.50 for members). Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849.
WEDNESDAY
LP Tour
With Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Soul Asylum, the Wailers and Matthew Sweet. The hook of the show is an attention grabber: “Four great bands playing four great records front to back.” But whether you want to hear the Wailers perform Bob Marley’s “Legend” without, well, Marley; Soul Asylum revisiting “Grave Dancers Union”; Big Head Todd and the Monsters pumping out “Sister Sweetly”; and Matthew Sweet running through 1991’s “Girlfriend” is another story. At least Sweet seems like a lock for MVP.
6:30 p.m. Aug. 21. $25-$49. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
THURSDAY
Bruno Mars
With Fitz & the Tantrums. Mars might be the most complete showman in pop right now. Between his endearingly catchy songs, electrifying stage presence and precise musicianship, Mars is a welcome antidote to the overly processed, formulaic drivel that clogs most Top 40 playlists and the robotic mouthpieces behind them. Recent accounts confirm that he and his nine-piece band are smacking musical homers on this Moonshine Jungle tour; Los Angeles critic Melinda Newman said the show “played out like a really great episode of ‘Soul Train.’”
7:30 p.m. Aug. 22. $40-$94. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
Backstreet Boys
With Jesse McCartney and DJ Pauly D. While the boy band crown is currently being showcased by the young men in One Direction, the Backstreet Boys were no slouches in their day. Hard to believe the pop quintet is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, but Nick Carter, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson are still hanging tough (yes, we know that phrase belongs to a different boy band). Their new album, “In a World Like This” — the first since 2007 with all of the original members — debuted at No. 5 last week, marking the eighth consecutive BSB album to debut in the Top 10.
7 p.m. Aug. 22. $29-$89. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
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