The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
MUSIC PICKS
FRIDAY Blind Boys of Alabama
Spending part of the holiday season with the Blind Boys of Alabama is always special, and this year, the group with the mesmerizing harmonies will perform selections from its soulful albums “Talkin’ Christmas!” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” A Blind Boys of Alabama show is certain to include a few gospel staples and soul classics from throughout their 75-year career.
8 p.m. Dec. 9. $34-$44. Ferst Center for the Arts, 350 Ferst Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404894-9600, http://arts.gatech.edu/.
SATURDAY V-103 Winterfest
Last year, V-103 started the Winterfest tradition for its 40th anniversary with a sold-out show that included Keith Sweat, Silk and 112. This year, an all-star hiphop R&B lineup featuring Lil Wayne, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, The-Dream, Young Thug and D J Luke Nasty will keep the beats pumping. The station suggests there will be some surprise guests as well.
8 p.m. Dec. 10. $33-$103. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
MONDAY Keith and Kristyn Getty
The husband-wife team renowned for writing modern hymns and carols (“In Christ Alone”) return for their fifth annual Irish Christmas tour. The Gettys will be joined by a band of instrumentalists, who fuse Celtic, bluegrass, Americana and classical music as well as cultural dance and choral sounds of Christmas.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. $28.50$88.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, www.foxtheatre.org.
WEDNESDAY Trans-Siberian Orchestra
About half of this year’s show will spotlight “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” a 1999 TV movie that featured TSO music and was initially revived for last year’s mega tour. In a recent interview, TSO founder Paul O’Neill said that fan mail prompted him to reconsider revisiting the material. “We exist for the fans,” he said.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14. $47.50$77. Infinite Energy Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 1-888-929-7849, www.infiniteenergycenter.com.
The Jesus and Mary Chain
It’s been an exciting few years for fans of the Scottish alt-rock band. Since reuniting in 2007 (they disbanded in 1999), the group, which made a bit of noise on the U.S. modern rock charts in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with “Blues From a Gun” and “Head On,” has remained fairly active. “The Complete Vinyl Collection” was released in 2013 to celebrate its 30th anniversary, and last month, band manager Alan McGee reported that the Jesus and Mary Chain was working on its first new album since 1998.
8 p.m. Dec. 14. $32. Heaven at Masquerade, Kenny’s Alley at Underground Atlanta, 75 MLK Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
THURSDAY Shawn Colvin
Though she’ll never escape “Sunny Came Home” — and hey, now that it isn’t played on the radio every 32 seconds, we can all appreciate its cleverness — Colvin will always straddle the line between underground folkie and adult contemporary radio presence. She and outlaw country star Steve Earle released a duets album earlier this year, called, fittingly, “Colvin and Earle.” Last year’s stellar “Uncovered” album found her spinning her own versions of songs by Springsteen, Gerry Rafferty and Paul Simon — and chances are you’ll hear a few of them live.
With Lauren Shera. 8 p.m. Dec. 15. $40-$55. City Winery, 650 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-946-3791, www.citywinery.com.
For more music news, concert reviews and interviews, visit The Music Scene blog at AJC.com.