Atlanta music highlights for 2012

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Atlanta music highlights for 2012

Atlanta music highlights for 2012

AJC music critic Melissa Ruggieri picks out some of the highlights of the music scene in Atlanta in 2012. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band launched their "Wrecking Ball" tour here.

The band’s show in March marked the launch of its first tour since the death of Springsteen’s literal right-hand man and musical consigliore, Clarence Clemons. With Clemons’ nephew, Jake (above), stepping out with poise and lungs as potent as his uncle’s, Springsteen and the band romped through an emotional opener.

It wasn’t one of his epic four-hour shows – those came later in the tour – but there was something in the air that the audience sensed was special.

E Street Band members Nils Lofgren (left), Springsteen (center) and Steven Van Zandt during the Atlanta show.

E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg keeps time with the Boss.

The CounterPoint Festival was the brainchild of Atlantans Jonathan Fordin and Brett Keber – who brought the Echo Project to town five years ago.

They culled more than 75 top names in the electronic dance music industry (as well as some hip-hop) to convene on 350 acres of sprawling property about 20 miles south of downtown.

Rain forced some postponements and cancellations, but the blissed-out thousands who attended made this their digitized mini-Woodstock.

Skrillex performing at the CounterPoint Music and Art festival on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

When Music Midtown returned in 2011 after a five-year hiatus, music fans rejoiced…quietly. Yes, it was back, but only for a day and with a decidedly non-diverse lineup. Festival organizers listened and this year tacked a second day onto the event.

Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine performs during Day 2 of Music Midtown 2012 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta on Saturday, September 22, 2012.

Ludacris performs at Midtown Music 2012.

Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder performs at Midtown Music 2012.

Girl Talk fans cheer during Day 2 of Music Midtown 2012.

Rebirth of rap: For years, the sounds of the Dirty South have been familiar to rap fans. In December, two of Atlanta’s elite lyrical whizzes, Big Boi (of OutKast fame, above) and T.I. released their first new albums in several years – “Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors” and “Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head,” respectively.

T.I performing in Atlanta.

2012 also made room for the next generation of Atlanta-grown talent. B.o.B.(above) did a duet with Taylor Swift.

2 Chainz scored a No. 1 debut album (and a Grammy nomination).

Lecrae proved that Christian rap is an immensely successful niche as he scored a major breakthrough with his sixth album, “Gravity,” which is also up for a Grammy.

Future’s debut album arrived in the Billboard Top 10.

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AJC music critic Melissa Ruggieri picks out some of the highlights of the music scene in Atlanta in 2012. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band launched their "Wrecking Ball" tour here.

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