When Michael W. Smith got the call from his manager that Dallas, Minneapolis and Atlanta were interested in a joint Christmas show with Smith and his longtime friend and musical partner Amy Grant, it was “a no-brainer.”
“We have so much history together,” Smith said of Grant, whom he’s worked with since playing keyboards and co-writing songs on her 1982 album, “Age to Age.”
In the early ’90s, the two titans of contemporary Christian music began performing Christmas shows to benefit the Nashville Symphony, and, said Smith while chatting on the red carpet at the CMA Awards earlier this month, “We were having so much fun that we kept doing it.”
At the Atlanta show, at the Fox Theatre on Dec. 15, the pair will be backed by the Georgia Symphony Orchestra.
Smith wasn’t certain about the setup, but knows that the duo will sing plenty of songs together from their respective Christmas albums (three for Grant, four for Smith, including his recently released “The Spirit of Christmas,” which features collaborations with Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Bono and Grant, among others).
“I know I want to stay onstage the whole night. I’ll probably wind up playing a lot, and if Amy is singing, I’ll just sit on a stool and watch,” he said.
Grant, meanwhile, is a seasoned holiday touring vet.
She and husband Vince Gill frequently tour together between Thanksgiving and Christmas — they’ll mostly stick to a series of shows in Nashville this year — and Grant also plays solo, as she’ll do between her three dates with Smith.
“The upside of traveling (during the holidays) is that you get to see beautiful decorations in every city,” Grant said in a recent interview. “You wish you could drag your entire family on the bus with you.”
Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant Christmas
7:30 p.m. Dec. 15. $52.20-$269.85. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, www.foxtheatre.org.
Here is a look at some other holiday show offerings pulling into town the next few weeks. All tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com unless otherwise indicated.
Dave Koz and Friends
The smooth jazz saxophonist has become such a holiday mainstay that he’s earned the nickname Santa Koz. You know, it kinda works! This year, Koz’s “friends” are renowned R&B-jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler, ’80s soft rock god Christopher Cross (wouldn’t you love to hear “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” with a Christmas spin?) and Brazilian singer Maysa.
8 p.m. Dec. 3. $26-$86. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta.
The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Rocks! Extravaganza
Back in the ’80s, when the Stray Cats were burning up MTV with videos for “Rock This Town” and “Stray Cat Strut,” it seemed highly unlikely that two-plus decades later, frontman Setzer would be nationally revered for his annual Christmas outing. His 18-piece orchestra will come out swinging to Setzer’s reimagined holiday tunes, just daring you to stay seated.
With the Record Company. 8 p.m. Dec. 5. $35-$75. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Anthony Hamilton
Following the October release of his first-ever Christmas album, “Home for the Holidays,” the R&B smoothie just embarked on a 17-city tour to support the album. He’ll perform some of his secular hits during the show, but will mostly focus on his holiday songs, which include the originals “Spend Christmas With You” and “Coming Home.”
8 p.m. Dec. 6. $50-$125. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, www.foxtheatre.org.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
TSO fans are rabid and most will attend the show annually even if they know what to expect. But this year, TSO founder Paul O’Neill decided it was time for the live debut of “The Christmas Attic.” But don’t fret, TSO aficionados. The second half of the always-spectacular show will spotlight fan faves such as “Wizards in Winter” and “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24.”
7:30 p.m. Dec. 10. $43-$72. The Arena at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 1-888-929-7849, www.gwinnettcenter.com.
A Peter White Christmas
It’s not as if acoustic jazz guitarist White needs any accompaniment on stage, but his annual Christmas jaunt will again find him paired with pals Rick Braun and Mindi Abair, whose trumpet and saxophone playing, respectively, is a holiday treat in itself.
8 p.m. Dec. 11. $40. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta.
Lisa Kelly’s Celtic Christmas
After the success of her springtime concert at the Fred, it seemed a no-brainer that the lovely Kelly, formerly of Celtic Woman, would return. She’ll meld her Irish roots with traditional Christmas songs at the show, which will also feature fellow former Celtic Woman Chloe Agnew and Paul Byrom, formerly of Celtic Thunder. Scott Porter and Aaron Tolson, former stars of Riverdance, will add some tap dance magic, and the students of the Lisa Kelly Voice Academy and Kelly Porter Dance Academy will perform as well, accompanied by a five-piece band.
4 p.m. Dec. 13. $35-$65. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
Trace Adkins
Frankly, if Adkins stood on stage and read “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” it would be worth the ticket price. But instead, he’ll use that chest-rattling voice to bring “The King’s Gift,” his Christmas album released last year, to life. His family-friendly show includes humorous and historical narration as well as Celtic carols that he performs with his 12-piece “Sarepta Symphony.” Scottish singer Alyth McCormack is also part of the production.
8 p.m. Dec. 17. $39.50-$99.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta.
Star 94 Jingle Jam
Last year’s Jam went a bit retro and spotlighted the Backstreet Boys and the Goo Goo Dolls. This year’s lineup teeters between sorta-veterans (believe it or not, the Script is now in its 13th year as a band and released its fourth album, “No Sound Without Silence,” in September) and newer kids, with classical crossover Lindsey Stirling (you’ve likely heard her “Shatter Me” with rock singer Lzzy Hale) and Echosmith (those “Cool Kids” who are bringing back moody ’80s synth-pop) on the bill.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 18. $35-$75. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Power 96.1 Jingle Ball
While not nearly as wow-inducing as past years or as impressive as the lineups in other major markets (Meghan Trainor, Charli XCX, Five Seconds of Summer and Pharrell seem to be mainstays in most cities), this year’s event, downsized from Philips Arena to the Gwinnett Center, will spotlight Top 40 presences Calvin Harris, Fall Out Boy and Jessie J. Atlanta rapper T.I. is, somewhat oddly, also part of the lineup, as well as “Birthday Sex” R&B star Jeremih.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. $45-$85. The Arena at Gwinnett Center. www.gwinnettcenter.com.
New Year’s Eve
Affordable Old School Music Fest
The Isley Brothers, Morris Day, Mint Condition, Jeffrey Osborne and Dru Hill will inspire enough booty-shaking to rattle the rafters. Comedian Griff will participate in the show, which aims to “promote social consciousness, positive entertainment and personal fulfillment.”
8 p.m. $29-$129. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta.
Billy Dean
The country journeyman will perform during an evening of family-friendly events. Stick around after the show for the dessert and coffee bar, a dance party with classic songs from the ’60s-‘80s and a viewing of Atlanta’s Peach Drop on a big screen.
8 p.m. $35-$40. Mill Town Music Hall, 1031 Alabama Ave., Bremen. 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
Umphrey’s McGee
The beloved jam band is rounding out 2014 with a five-night residency at the Tabernacle. They’ll be there Dec. 30-Jan. 3, so plan accordingly if you can’t make the New Year’s Eve gig.
8 p.m. $70. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.
Gregg Allman
With the Allman Brothers now a treasured memory, it’s advised to catch Allman solo whenever possible.
9 p.m. $35.50-$149.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall.
Additional holiday concerts:
The Very Merry Christmas Tour. With Newsong, Jamie Grace and Sanctus Real. Proceeds benefit Must Ministries. 6 p.m. Nov. 30. $15-$50. Piedmont Church, 570 Piedmont Road, Marietta. 770-422-2566, www.itickets.com.
David Benoit. Performing classic Vince Guaraldi Christmas tunes. 8 p.m. Dec. 5. $37-$62 ($31.45-$52.70 for subscribers). Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech, 349 Ferst Drive, Atlanta. 404-894-9601, www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu.
Blind Boys of Alabama. With Francine Reed. 8 p.m. Dec. 6. $25-$65. Atlanta Symphony Hall.
The 6th Annual Merry Y’all Tide Celebration featuring the Whiskey Gentry. With the Dappled Grays and Seven Handle Circus. 8 p.m. Dec. 6. $17.50. Variety Playhouse.
The Yacht Rock Revue Holiday Special. Performing holiday classics in YRR style. 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13. $20 (advance) and $25 (day of show). Variety Playhouse.
Joy, An Irish Christmas. With Ricky Skaggs, Keith and Kristyn Getty and their band of Irish and bluegrass virtuosos. 7 p.m. Dec. 19. $20-$55. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Jeffrey Butzer and T.T. Mahony. Performing Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20. $12. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
John Berry. His 18th annual Christmas tour. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20. $30-$35 in advance; prices increase $5 after 5 p.m. day of show. Mill Town Music Hall, www.ticketalternative.com.
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