Acoustic Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady were often overshadowed in the Jefferson Airplane by the front-line triumvirate of Grace Slick, Marty Balin and Paul Kantner. But they were every bit as important to the band's distinctive sound. The guitarist and bassist cooked up their bluesy, expansive side project in 1970 while the Airplane was still flying. After the steely voice of Grace Slick, the best thing about Jefferson Airplane was the marriage of blues, folk and psychedelia in Kaukonen's stinging guitar. The man is one of the most under-appreciated guitar geniuses of the '60s.
8:30 p.m. July 13. $30; $27.50 in advance. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-7354, www.variety-playhouse.com.
Miranda Lambert
The sparkling Lambert is one of country music's brightest talents, a critical favorite who finally broke big in 2009 with "White Liar" (a No. 2 country hit) and "The House That Built Me" (her first No. 1), both from her third album, "Revolution." She scored her third No. 1 this year with "Over You" from her latest album, "Four the Record." With Lee Brice and Thomas Rhett.
7 p.m. July 13. $34.75-$44.75; $25 lawn. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-443-5090, www.livenation.com.
Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers
Like the Carpenters, Campbell often was dismissed in his day as a lightweight. But "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" burn with the same yearning as critically rehabilitated Carpenters classics like "Goodbye to Love" and "Superstar." He sold boatloads of records, with four Top 10 hits, and his status as a session guitarist has never been questioned. Sadly, the 76-year-old musician has diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and he's dubbed this his "Goodbye Tour." He's opening the show for Rogers, a pioneer in blurring the lines between country and pop who has demonstrated remarkable staying power. Rogers will be releasing his autobiography, "Luck or Something Like It," in October.
8 p.m. July 14. $29-$75; $25 lawn. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta. 404- 733-4900, classicchastain.com.
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Stephen Stills, David Crosby and Graham Nash left Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds and the Hollies, respectively, and came together to set the standard for rock harmony vocals with the classic 1969 self-titled debut album that included the strikingly beautiful "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes."
8 p.m. July 14. $29-$99. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 404-733-5010, www.vzwamp.com.
Refused
7 p.m. July 15. $29 in advance. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-577-8178, www.masq.com.
Surfer Blood
This Florida quartet emerged from the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon in New York as one of the most buzzed about unsigned acts in the country. The buzz kept getting louder with the band's debut album, "Astro Coast," which led to the band being signed by Warner Brothers. The cleaner production on the "Tarot Classics" EP, released in late 2011, hints at Surfer Blood's bigger budget. It doesn't rock as hard as "Astro Coast," but it's every bit as memorable and catchy.
8 p.m. July 16. $12 in advance. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-577-8178, www.masq.com.
Maze with Frankie Beverly, Patti LaBelle, The O'Jays
Maze with Frankie Beverly is a perennial favorite in Atlanta. Beverly has been the master of seductive crooning for as long as many young neo-soulsters have been alive. If you haven't heard stone soul classics such as "Joy & Pain" and "Lady of Magic," you're missing some great music. LaBelle is a genuine living legend, possessing a voice with the power to singe the first few rows of concertgoers. There have been many syllable-stretching, note-bending wannabes in recent years, but Ms. LaBelle has always done it with far more style and chutzpah than all these Patti-come-latelys. The O'Jays were one of the most successful R&B groups of the '70s with unforgettable hits such as "Back Stabbers" and "Love Train," most written and produced by legendary Philly soul maestros Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Tank are also on the bill.
7 p.m. July 19. $55.75-$125.75. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta. 404-233-2227, www.chastainseries.com.
