FRIDAY
Last Summer on Earth with Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five and Guster
Since last summer turned out not to be the "last summer on Earth" for Barenaked Ladies, the quirky Canadian pop band decided to go on a second spin with the tour. This is also BNL's 25th anniversary year — and their extensive catalog includes hits "One Week," "Pinch Me" and "It's All Been Done." Joining BNL are longtime alt-rocker friends Guster and the cerebral piano-pop outfit Ben Folds Five, who made a triumphant return to Atlanta last fall.
7 p.m. July 26, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000.
SATURDAY
Keith Urban
With Little Big Town and Justin Lynch. One of the nicest guys in music, Urban will unleash his bubbly country rock — and some killer guitar licks — from his repertoire and upcoming album, “Fuse.” The tour launched last week and, along with the requisite parade of hits, also features Urban presenting some songs acoustically and trading his guitar for piano. Those hanging out in the back of the amphitheater should expect to catch a close glimpse of the handsome Australian at some point, too.
7 p.m. July 27. $26.50-$71. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000.
SUNDAY
Weird Al Yankovic
The prince of the parody song — and New York Times best-selling author (for his children’s book “When I Grow Up”) — is now three decades into a career that has brought us such timeless gems as “My Bologna” and “Eat It.” As proof that clever wordplay and the presence of the accordion will never go out of style, Yankovic enjoyed a career resurgence in the mid-2000s with “White & Nerdy” and in 2011 lyrically jabbed Lady Gaga with “Perform This Way” (a takeoff on “Born This Way”).
8 p.m. July 28. $27.50-$59.50. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-733-5000.
WEDNESDAY
Train, the Script, Gavin DeGraw
Some might call this triple bill exceedingly bland, but if you’re a fan of harmless Hot Adult Contemporary songs, it might be considered a bonanza. Although most of Train’s numerous hits — from “Meet Virginia” to “Soul Sister” to “Save Me San Francisco” — coast on a similar format, keep in mind that frontman Pat Monahan is a powerhouse singer. Don’t believe us? Check YouTube for any of his Led Zeppelin covers. And between Ireland’s the Script (“Breakeven,” “For the First Time,” “Hall of Fame”) and former “Dancing With the Stars” contestant DeGraw (“I Don’t Want to Be,” “Not Over You”), plan to hear plenty of soaring piano-pop.
7 p.m. July 31. $20-$75. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
Plain White T’s
The Chicago pop-rockers achieved hit status in the late 2000s with the simple, catchy, acoustic-based tunes “Hey There, Delilah” and “1, 2, 3, 4” and are back with another breezy toe-tapper, “Should’ve Gone to Bed.” It’s the title track from their EP of the same name, released in April.
8 p.m., July 31. $20. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849.
Pentatonix
The a cappella quintet, which harmonizes, beat-boxes and remixes hit songs, got its big break by winning vocal competition show "The Sing-Off" and became something of a social media sensation with their "Evolution of Music" YouTube video. The group brings new twists to songs such as Imagine Dragon's "Radioactive" and "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Scott Hoying, the group's lead tenor, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Pentatonix has picked up quite a following in Atlanta. (The group recently played with Quincy Jones at the Fox Theatre.) "The crowds (in Atlanta) are always so energetic. There seems to be a real interest in a cappella music," Hoying said.
8 p.m. July 31. $25. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
THURSDAY
Ludacris
Atlanta’s homegrown rapper is participating in the Bud Light Music First celebration. The event, dubbed 50/50/1, is scheduled to have a concert in every state. While Luda is performing here, shows starring such acts as Dr. Dog, Flogging Molly and Colt Ford will take place elsewhere. Ludacris is promising that his new album, “Ludaversal,” will be out soon.
8 p.m. Aug. 1. $38.50 (21 and older only). The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
About the Author
