With apologies to KISS … you want variety? We’ve got variety.
Whether you like sweet country melodies, manufactured-for-radio pop, swampy blues-rock, Celtic harmonies or Barry Manilow, you should find something to pique your interest with this spring’s lineup of shows.
And, of course, spring also means the kickoff of Atlanta’s still-growing plethora of festivals.
While there are too many shows coming up in the next few months to list (check AccessAtlanta.com for updated ticket information every week), here is a sampling of what you can spend your concert-going money on.
Tickets to all shows can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com unless otherwise noted.
Alicia Keys. It's her first tour as a wife and mom, but don't expect Keys to be any less fiery a singer. And no doubt you'll hear some "Empire State of Mind" along with her trademark soul ballads. 7:30 p.m. March 29. $59.50-$125. Philips Arena, Atlanta.
Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and Richard Thompson Electric Trio. Crowell and Harris are celebrating 40-year careers and decades of friendship on this tour (and their recently released "Old Yellow Moon" album). Fans of Thompson will be happy to hear that Harris and Crowell have been making room for him onstage during their encore. 8 p.m. April 4. $33-$167. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.
Third Day with Colton Dixon and Josh Wilson. The Atlanta-based Christian rockers are back on the road to support their 11th studio album, "Miracle." Frontman Mac Powell has a burgeoning solo career, but this outing is strictly about the band. Former "American Idol" contestant Dixon will supply some power pop-rock in the opening slot. 7:30 p.m. April 13. $33-$72. Fox Theatre, Atlanta. Tickets: 1-855-285-9499, www.foxatltix.com.
Taylor Swift with Ed Sheeran. The latest romance rumors have linked T-Swizzle with her opening act, the charming Brit Sheeran. Let's just ignore that possibility and tell you what you can expect from her two shows at Philips: glow sticks, costume changes, walls of video screens and lots of flying contraptions to swoop Swift closer to her devoted fans. 7 p.m. April 18-19. $29.50-$84.50 Philips Arena.
Rihanna with ASAP Rocky. Though laryngitis sidelined her a few weeks ago, Rihanna is reportedly back to form on this massive outing, which will see the "We Found Love" singer on the road through July. Fans of ASAP Rocky might want to check out his recent Rolling Stone profile to understand the New York rapper's love of fashion. 7:30 p.m. April 22. $39.50-$125. Philips Arena.
Black Crowes. They're back! The Atlanta blues-rockers burrowed in the rock star cave in 2010 for an "indefinite hiatus," but announced in December they would embark on a 21-date U.S. tour. The band recently released a cover of Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You." Now, how about a new album? 8 p.m. April 23. Sold out. The Tabernacle, Atlanta.
Widespread Panic. They're also back! Another Georgia mainstay (Athens, to be exact), the band played only a handful of shows in 2012, and most of those were completely acoustic. After branching out the rest of the year with various solo interests, Panic is ready to jam. 7:30 p.m. April 26-27. $47 ($89 for two-day pass). Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.
Alan Jackson. The Georgia native releases his second gospel album, "Precious Memories Volume II," March 26. The collection of traditional hymns comes seven years after his last foray into gospel. But surely he'll break out the country hits on tour as well. 7:30 p.m. April 26. $35.50-$75. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta.
Barry Manilow. Earlier this year, Manilow returned to Broadway for the first time in nearly 25 years and played several weeks of shows. He's now taking "Manilow on Broadway" on the road. Yes, there will be hits. Yes, there will be sweet recollections of his youth in Brooklyn. And, yes, there might even be a song or two from "Harmony," his long-in-the-works musical premiering at the Alliance Theatre in the fall. 7:30 p.m. April 27. $6.99-$126.99. Gwinnett Arena, Duluth.
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band. There is absolutely nothing new about Buffett in concert, and that is exactly the way the Parrotheads want it. They drink, they wear gaudy shirts, they mesh their hands in a prayerful stance on top of their heads during "Fins," and drunkenly sway to "Margaritaville." 8 p.m. April 30. $36-$136. Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood, Atlanta.
Celtic Woman. Though the group's Lisa Kelly recently departed to open a voice academy in Peachtree City (for real!), the quartet of Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Susan McFadden and Máiréad Nesbitt will bring their angelic voices and plucky spirits back to the Fox. 7:30 p.m. April 30. $37-$72. Fox Theatre. Tickets: 1-855-285-9499, www.foxatltix.com.
The Black Keys with the Flaming Lips. The duo of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach might have gotten a little more mainstream exposure than they wanted after their five Grammy wins this year. But the garage rockers have no doubt retained their lo-fi charm. 8 p.m. May 2. $38-$61. Lakewood.
Gladys Knight. The native Atlantan has been seen everywhere from Vegas to "Dancing With the Stars" in recent years, but there will be no place like home when the "Empress of Soul" — and fried chicken mogul — heads to Wolf Creek this spring. Joining Knight will be Howard Hewett, former lead singer for Shalamar. 8 p.m. May 3. $45-$85 (tables $125). Wolf Creek Amphitheatre, Atlanta. Tickets: 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
Shaky Knees Festival. It's the inaugural year for the fest, which promoter Tim Sweetwood said he developed with the hope that people will "get turned on to an artist they might never have heard of but end up loving." Noon May 4-5. $61 (general admission) or $99 (two-day pass). Performers include Band of Horses, Jim James and Gary Clark Jr. on May 4; and the Lumineers, Drive-By Truckers and Dr. Dog on May 5. Historic Fourth Ward Park and the Masquerade Music Park, Atlanta.
Smashing Pumpkins. The band — Billy Corgan, Jeff Schroeder, Mike Byrne and Nicole Fiorentino — released the better-than-expected "Oceania" last fall, and Corgan said a new album is planned for the end of this year. 8 p.m. May 10. $30-$45. Chastain.
Rodriguez. Nothing like going from obscurity to Oscar winner in the span of a couple of years, right? The inspiring tale of long-forgotten Detroit musician Sixto Rodriguez was so beautifully captured in the documentary "Searching for Sugar Man" that even the Academy Awards had to pay attention. 8:30 p.m. May 11. $27.50. Variety Playhouse.
Alabama. Believe it or not, this crew has never played the Fox in its nearly 40-year career. So they decided to visit the Atlanta venue for two nights. Expect to hear many of their 34 No. 1 hits — maybe even "Old Alabama," which they recorded with Brad Paisley in 2011. 8 p.m. May 17-18. $46-$147. Fox Theatre. Tickets: 1-855-285-9499, www.foxatltix.com.
Party in the Park with Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding and Grouplove. This is the second year of the outdoor musical party. Last year's marked the first ticketed concert in Centennial Olympic Park in a decade. 3 p.m. May 18. $35 (or $115 for VIP). Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta. Tickets: 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
Paramore. The Tennessee pop-rockers dealt with some band member shuffling a couple of years ago, but are readying the release of their self-titled fourth-album April 9. 8 p.m. May 21. $36.50. The Tabernacle.
