FRIDAY
Merle Haggard
At 77, the grizzled country outlaw can boast a resume with 38 No. 1 hits, a couple of dozen awards (including the Crystal Milestone Award from the Academy of Country Music last year) and a loyal following that will never tire of hearing “Okie From Muskogee” and “Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star.” Good thing, since he’s still playing them.
8 p.m. Jan. 23. $45.50-$85.50. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY
Live at the Fillmore — The Definitive Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band
Since 2008, the Philly-based tribute band has grown to achieve much respect from the ABB faithful, many of whom consider Live at the Fillmore to be to the Allmans what Dark Star Orchestra is to the Grateful Dead — a band dedicated to performing exact replications of classic songs. The seven-piece Live at the Fillmore often features live reminders of ABB shows from Bill Graham’s Fillmore East Auditorium in New York City in March and June of 1971.
8 p.m. Jan. 24. $15 (advance) and $17.50 (day of show). Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
Jonathan Byrd & the Pickup Cowboys
Byrd’s resume reads like a fictional character created for a movie: North Carolina flatpicker, Gulf War veteran, preacher’s son, sometimes plays with Athens band Dromedary, award-winning Americana songwriter whose tunes have been covered by Tim O’Brien, Red Molly, Jack Lawrence and others. It’s an impressive history. Last year, Byrd released “You Can’t Outrun the Radio,” a collection of songs inspired by an impromptu late-night song session in 2009 in Montreal. The road warrior is already booked solid through the summer.
With Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart. 8 p.m. Jan. 24. $15. Red Clay Music Foundry, 3116 Main St., Duluth. 404-478-2749, www.eddieowenpresents.com/tickets/.
MONDAY
Leon Russell
The legendary Russell, 72, has played with everyone from Badfinger to Eric Clapton to Willie Nelson to Elton John. His songs have been turned into hits from musicians as diverse as the Carpenters (“This Masquerade”), Bette Midler and Cher (“Superstar”) and Donny Hathaway, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles and countless others (“A Song for You”). The snowy-maned pianist released “Life Journey” last year, on which he covered Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” and other songs with an assist from big band and Dixieland jazz bands.
With Dave Griffin. 8 p.m. Jan. 26-27. $30 Jan. 26; Jan. 27 is sold out. Terminal West, 887 W. Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-876-5566, www.terminalwestatl.com.
TUESDAY
Paul McDonald
While he’s known in the tabloids for his marriage to and subsequent divorce from actress/singer Nikki Reed as well as his Top 10 finish on the 2011 season of “American Idol,” there is much more to the Alabama native with the Colgate grin. McDonald, who has also wedged in acting stints on “Parenthood” and in a Hanson video, has been songwriting and touring for more than a decade with Hightide Blues, the Grand Magnolias and Reed. Last summer, the exes released the album “I’m Not Falling,” and in October, McDonald dropped his solo single, “Bright Lights,” from his upcoming Kickstarter-funded release.
With Mark Miller. 8 p.m. Jan. 27. $10 (advance general admission), $14 (day of show general admission) and $50 (reserved table for four). Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
