FRIDAY
Gladys Knight
The native Atlantan has been seen everywhere from Vegas to “Dancing With the Stars” in recent years, but there will be no place like home when the “Empress of Soul” — and fried chicken mogul — heads to Wolf Creek. The seven-time Grammy Award-winning Knight is in the midst of a quick, 10-date tour; we’re just glad the midnight train is headed our way.
With Howard Hewett (former lead singer for Shalamar). 8 p.m. May 3. $45-$85 (tables $125). Wolf Creek Amphitheatre, 3024 Merk Road S.W., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849.
SATURDAY
Willie Nelson & Family
Nelson is a familiar presence in Atlanta — he played the area three times last year and already wandered through the Tabernacle in January. But the demand is there to hear the newly turned 80-year-old tell stories and present his roll call of hits in that distinctive nasal twang. He’s touring behind the new Willie Nelson & Family album, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” a collection of mostly country and pop standards played with his sister Bobbie during their childhood.
With Aaron Lewis. 8 p.m. May 4. $40-$60. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
SUNDAY
Styx, REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent
The Midwest Rock ‘N Roll Express tour returns with an endless stream of ’70s and ’80s hits from three of the giant hitmakers of those decades. In addition to plying fans with “Rockin’ the Paradise,” “Cat Scratch Fever” and “Keep on Loving You,” the bands also will give away a guitar signed by all three acts during a silent raffle at each tour stop. A quarter of the proceeds will benefit local charities, but the other 75 percent goes to a Boston charity to help victims of the recent bombings.
6:40 p.m. May 5. $29-$89.Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000.
Edwin McCain
The South Carolina singer-songwriter always will be associated with his 1990s wedding song favorites “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask for More.” His last album, “Mercy Bound,” his 10th, was released in 2011, but these days McCain pays the bills with relentless touring.
Red Clay Theatre, 3116 Main St., Duluth. 404-478-2749.
MONDAY
Olly Murs
The rising British pop star behind the hits “Heart Skips a Beat” and “Troublemaker” received a huge bump in visibility when he opened for One Direction at Gwinnett Arena last year. Now, he’s making his solo debut in the U.S. and touring small venues before heading back to England this summer as the opener on Robbie Williams’ stadium tour. In a recent interview, Murs said of his live act, “I don’t try to overcomplicate the shows. I’m just putting together a real strong set of my songs and just having fun and having a real family show. I’m not someone who swears or gets naked onstage.” Thousands of women just sighed in disappointment.
9 p.m. May 6. $21 in advance, $24 at the door. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-885-1365.
TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY
Soundgarden
One of the seminal alt rock-grunge bands to burst out of the Seattle scene in the ’90s, Soundgarden distinguished itself with the guttural-voiced emotion projected by singer Chris Cornell. “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman” might be almost 20 years old, but the band isn’t relying on nostalgia. Last year Cornell and Co. released “King Animal,” their first studio album in more than 16 years. It promptly debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard rock album chart.
8 p.m. May 7-8. $59.50. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
