Live music picks
For more music news, interviews and concert reviews, visit the Music Scene blog on AccessAtlanta.com.
FRIDAY
Lady Antebellum
For Lady A members Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, who are University of Georgia alums, an Atlanta show is “pretty much the hometown concert,” Haywood said in a recent interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We grew up driving to (Lakewood) to see concerts — Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band — so it’s really special,” Haywood said. “It’s really cool when people you grew up with can come out and see what you’re doing.” The trio, which also includes Hillary Scott, is fresh from a notable performance at last weekend’s Academy of Country Music awards, where they sang with Stevie Nicks. Get there in time to see current country darling — and ACM winner for album of the year — Kacey Musgraves.
With Kacey Musgraves and Kip Moore. 7 p.m. April 11. $25.25-$50. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
SATURDAY
Karmin
The Boston duo of Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan (grads of Berklee College of Music) broke through in 2012 with their sunny dance-pop hit “Brokenhearted.” Though they’ve also charted with “Hello” and “Acapella,” their first official studio album, “Pulses,” just arrived last month. Opener McKee has had plenty of success on the pop charts as a songwriter for Katy Perry (she’s behind “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls” and “Roar”) and has also penned hits for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson.
With Bonnie McKee. 8:30 p.m. April 12. $17 advance, $21 day of show. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-885-1365.
Earl Klugh’s Night of Guitars
The genial Klugh, whose “Handpicked” album earned him his 13th Grammy nomination earlier this year, is concluding the first year of a three-year collaboration with the Ferst Center. The renowned acoustic jazz guitarist, an Atlanta resident for more than a decade, will perform concerts as well as teach master classes at Georgia Tech and workshops at k-12 partner schools. For his Night of Guitars, Klugh has enlisted Norman Brown and Chuck Loeb, along with student musicians from the Georgia Tech Jazz Ensemble.
Featuring Chuck Loeb and Norman Brown. 8 p.m. April 12. $37-$62. Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Drive, Atlanta. 404-894-9600.
The Charlie Daniels Band
Well-respected as one of country music’s top outlaws, Daniels has become much more than a fiddle-and-twang musician the past couple of decades. Sure, fans love to hear the oft-covered “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (his only No. 1 hit, believe it or not) and “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye.” But the 77-year-old North Carolina native has proved himself equally adept at Christian music (his 1994 album “The Door” won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association) and even children’s songs, demonstrated on 1997’s “By the Light of the Moon.”
With Bonner Black. 7:30 p.m. April 12. $45-$55. Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave., Bremen. 770-537-6455.
SUNDAY
Ethan Bortnick
The 13-year-old piano prodigy — who has made appearances on “The Tonight Show” (the Jay Leno years) and “Oprah” when he was, believe it or not, even younger — has been playing keyboards since age 3 and composing music since he was 5. The kid even made Vegas pay attention with a couple of shows in 2011 at the Las Vegas Hilton, a feat that tagged the then-10-year-old as the youngest Sin City headliner ever. His second PBS special, “Ethan Bortnick Live in Concert: The Power of Music,” debuted in November.
2 p.m. April 13. $36 (reserved seating). Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
“Burlesque: Strip Strip Hooray!” with Dita Von Teese
Von Teese — the onetime Mrs. Marilyn Manson — is a sometimes actress and model. But she’s also credited with keeping the 19th century art of burlesque alive. Her 90-minute show has played most major cities, but is making its Atlanta debut. Expect plenty of giant cocktail glasses, corsets, crystals and appearances from burlesque notables Dirty Martini, Catherine D’list and Lady Nikolska of the Crazy Horse in Paris.
Featuring emcee Murray Hill. 7:30 p.m. April 13. $29.50-$89.50. 18 and older only. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000.
About the Author
Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.
