From grizzled rockers to burgeoning country superstars, Atlanta’s spring concerts should satiate most musical appetites.
Highlighting the season is a trio of legendary female singers you wouldn’t dare call by their first names. So let’s just call them divas…and hope that they don’t mind.
Diana Ross: Weeks after receiving a much-deserved Lifetime Achievement award from the Grammys, Ms. Ross and her legendary mane continue on the "More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour." The show, now on its fifth leg since 2010, includes the usual spectacle of costumes and stage design associated with a Ross production, as well as a run-through of her greatest hits. Considering she has about 30 Top 40 offerings and nearly 90 career singles to choose from, expect a fulfilling evening. 8 p.m. March 1. $45-$100. Fox Theatre, Atlanta.
Aretha Franklin: A year ago, singers performed a tribute to an ailing Aretha Franklin at the Grammys. Then she appeared via video, looking frail and not at all queen-like. Rumors raged that her recent illness was dire – evidenced by her extreme weight loss. But Franklin scoffed at the naysayers, got engaged, broke her engagement, readied her tour bus and hit the road. She's been visible, sadly, these past two weeks, performing tributes to her goddaughter Whitney Houston. Expect the Houston love to continue in some form during Franklin's shows. 8 p.m. March 5. $59.50-$150. Fox Theatre, Atlanta.
Chaka Khan: Also highly visible the past couple of weeks to publicly mourn Houston is Khan. Her Atlanta appearance will benefit WCLK Jazz 91.9-FM as the station celebrates its 38th anniversary. Though she hasn't released an album since 2007's "Funk This," Khan doesn't scrimp in her live shows, which are usually a thorough musical telling of her storied career, both as a solo artist and with Rufus. You can bet that "I'm Every Woman" will receive even greater applause than usual, too. 7:30 p.m. April 4. $53-$98. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Other shows to look forward to this spring:
Radiohead: The British rock band is often described with words such as "dreamy" and "hazy" and "avant-garde." This time, touring on the strength of their eighth studio album, "The King of Limbs," we can simply call them "sold out." 7:30 p.m. March 1. $69 (floor seating is general admission). Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Gretchen Wilson: The self-proclaimed "Redneck Woman" is hitting the road sporadically through the summer, still supporting 2010's "I Got Your Country Right Here." Time for another visit to the studio? 9:30 p.m. March 2. $20-$100. Wild Bill's, Duluth.
Jane's Addiction: Singer Perry Farrell told Rolling Stone that this tour – backing last year's "The Great Escape Artist" album – is inspired by "Boardwalk Empire" and the underground seediness of the show's setting. The band's ever-changing lineup includes Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney. 8:30 p.m. March 13. $43.50 (general admission). The Tabernacle, Atlanta.
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt: There won't be any flash or razzle-dazzle – and that's exactly the way it should be when these veteran folkies pull into town for an acoustic evening of stripped, soulful music. Lovett's new "Release Me" arrives Tuesday, Feb. 28. 8 p.m. March 14. $29-$79. Symphony Hall, Atlanta.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: The official opening night of the tour to promote the new "Wrecking Ball" release (out May 6) is also the first E Street outing sans the departed Big Man, Clarence Clemons. Look for Clemons' nephew Jake Clemons and E Street mainstay Eddie Manion to share the sax parts. 7:30 p.m. March 18. $65-$95. Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Daughtry: Though Chris Daughtry and his band of hitmakers just played Atlanta in December for the Star 94 "Jingle Jam," they're back to continue pumping life into their latest offering, "Break the Spell." 8 p.m. March 27. $30.50-$50.50. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds: The testy former Oasis anchor and primary songwriter is still battling brother Liam – just now they do it in separate bands. This is the first appearance by Noel in Atlanta with his High Flying Birds. 8 p.m. April 6. $36.50-$56.50. The Tabernacle, Atlanta.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: The funk rockers were forced to postpone their original January date after singer Anthony Kiedis required surgery on a crushed bone in his foot. Couldn't he have just stuck a sweat sock on it? 7:30 p.m. April 10. $39.50-$59.50. Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth.
Van Halen: Three of the core four is back – Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang plays the Michael Anthony role on bass – as David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Eddie attempt to tour without imploding. Kool & The Gang opens. Yes, that Kool & The Gang. 8 p.m. April 19. $29.50-$149.50. Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: It's a season of firsts for the durable Petty and the Heartbreakers. The band is playing a handful of U.S. dates as a warm-up to its first European tour in 20 years. And the Georgia stop comes the day after their debut at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. April 29. $35-$125. 7:30 p.m. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.
Nickelback: They're the band that rock purists – and Detroit Lions fans – love to hate. But the Canadian troupers are having the last laugh: They've sold more than 50 million records worldwide since their first hit in 2001. Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days open. 6 p.m. May 2. $46-$81 (floor seating is general admission). Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Eagles: The veterans are back, less than two years since they filled Piedmont Park for the Green Concert. And why not? It's their 40th anniversary. Hey, Mick Jagger, don't you guys have an anniversary to celebrate, too? 8 p.m. May 4. $65-$185. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.
Bonnie Raitt: The fierce redhead's 19th album, "Slipstream," is also her first studio offering in seven years. But those slide guitar licks haven't diminished an iota. Marc "Walking in Memphis" Cohn opens. 7:30 p.m. May 9. $34.50-$89. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Jason Aldean: The Macon native might have been blanked at the Grammys, but he's still enjoying a breakout cycle with "My Kinda Party," selling more than 2 million copies of the disc. Fellow Georgian Luke Bryan is up to bat first. 7:30 p.m. May 19. $29.75-$59.25. A second date, May 18, goes on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta.
Dave Matthews Band: Returning to the road for the first time since 2010 – an eternity for these guys -- DMB comes to Atlanta for the fourth date of a four-month tour. A new album is also in the works for release this year. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. March 9. May 22. $40.50-$75. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta.
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