Paul McCartney returns to Atlanta after nearly five years

Macca last visited the city in August 2009, when he performed at Piedmont Park for the then-annual Green Concert. It's been almost nine years since he graced the Philips Arena stage — September 2005.

The seemingly tireless singer-bassist-songwriter-icon announced a handful of other new dates as part of his “Out There” tour, including June 22 in Jacksonville, Fla., and June 25 in Nashville, Tenn.

McCartney’s concerts typically thrill fans with about three hours of music from his mind-boggling catalog of Beatles and Wings songs, as well as solo material. Last year, McCartney released his 16th studio album, the delightful “New.” Since it is his first release of all, well, new material since 2007’s “Memory Almost Full,” expect to hear a sampling of tunes from the album.

During the tour, McCartney, 71, will be joined by his ace band of a decade-plus: Paul “Wix” Wickens on keyboards, Rusty Anderson on guitar, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums and Brian Ray on bass and guitar.

This has been a visible year for McCartney and his fellow surviving Beatle, Ringo Starr. February marked the 50th anniversary of the band's landmark appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," an event that became the catalyst for Beatlemania. Also in February, the Grammys held a salute to the band, which included contemporary artists such as Imagine Dragons and Katy Perry performing Beatles classics.

But the highlight, of course, was when Starr slid behind his drum kit and McCartney wielded his trusty Hofner bass.