The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A sizzling summer of shows
Twenty-five concerts coming to various venues.
From the timeless catalog of a legendary Beatle to the eardrum-shattering stadium rawk of Metallica to the loping rap of 2 Chainz, the Atlanta summer concert season has tentacles touching every genre.
Here is a look at a smattering of the shows coming to town the next few months — 25, to be exact.
To keep up with the ever-growing inventory, make sure to check out Live Music Picks and Hot Tix every week in Go Guide and the Music Scene blog for complete listings of updated concert information.
Tickets to all concerts can be purchased at www.ticketmaster. com or by calling 1-800-745-3000 unless otherwise noted.
Luke Bryan. The smiley Leesburg native will spend a good chunk of the next five months on the road with his “Huntin,’ Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day Tour.” Expect tight jeans, baseball caps and a lot of country girls “shaking it” in the crowd. With Brett Eldredge and Lauren Alaina. 7 p.m. June 16-17. $51$76.75. Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta.
T.I. Once you get past the family drama, you might remember that the Atlanta rapper released a visceral album, “Us or Else: Letter to the System,” in December. Tip opted to close his tour in his hometown with his Grand Hustle label mates, but don’t be surprised if other Atlanta rap pals hit the stage as well. 8 p.m. June 18. $45.50. Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre, 800 Battery Ave. SE, Atlanta. Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie. The Fleetwood Mac mainstays are going their own way for a joint album and tour, for which Atlanta is the kickoff date. Their album, simply titled
“Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie,” arrived last week. With the Wallflowers. 7:30 p.m. June 21. $25-$95. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive NW, Atlanta.
John Mellencamp. After a lengthy, successful run with his “Plain Spoken” tour, which played the Fox Theatre in 2015, Mellencamp has recruited a couple of old friends to join him on this “Sad Clowns & Hillbillies” run. During a recent interview with Howard Stern, Mellencamp expressed apprehension at predominantly playing outdoor venues for the first time in ages. Good luck, buddy. With Emmylou Harris and Carlene Carter. 7:30 p.m. June 27. $55.50-$245. Chastain.
Vans Warped Tour. The 23rd installment of the Vans Warped Tour presented by Journeys is a raucous mashup of legacy acts and up-and-comers. Leading the lineup are Sick of It All, CKY, GWAR, the Adolescents, Strung Out, T.S.O.L., Hatebreed, Emmure, Anti-Flag and the Ataris. Some of the contemporary acts include American Authors, Andy Black, Beartooth and Dance Gavin Dance. The event takes place in the parking lot and the main stage and is completely general admission. 11 a.m. June 29. $42.50$52.50. Lakewood Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta.
Brantley Gilbert. It’s already a good summer for the Jefferson native (and still-resident). Country-rocker Gilbert and his wife, Amber, recently announced the impending arrival of their first child. Just another reason for fans to hoist a beer. With Tyler Farr and Luke Combs. 7 p.m. July 8. $29.75-$54.75. Verizon.
Metallica. Earlier this year, drummer Lars Ulrich expressed anticipation about returning to the stage. “We haven’t done a full U.S. tour in about eight years. We’re so looking forward to getting
back out there,” he said at Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party. Metallica released its 10th studio album, “Hardwired … to Self-Destruct,” in November. With Avenged Sevenfold and Volbeat. 6 p.m. July 9. $55.50-$155.50. SunTrust Park, 755 Battery Ave., Atlanta. Paul McCartney. If you’re still vacillating about seeing the legend in concert, a few things to consider: He will soon turn 75. He rarely plays venues this small, but a confluence of events will bring him to Duluth. He’s still churning out nearly 40-song sets. Convinced yet? 8 p.m. July 13. $59$254. Infinite Energy Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770626-2464, www.infiniteenergycenter.com.
Sturgill Simpson. The country-roots singer-songwriter broke through in a major way this year, especially when his 2016 album, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” earned a coveted album of the year Grammy nomination. He lost (to Adele), but did score a gramophone for best country album. With Adia Victoria. 8 p.m. July 14. $40.20-$107.40. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 1-855285-8499, www.foxtheatre.org.
Roger Waters. If you caught Waters’ expansive “The Wall” spectacle during its two-year run earlier this decade, you know he’s political. If you haven’t seen Waters live and plan to attend his new “Us + Them” spectacle, guess what? He’s still political. 8 p.m. July 16. $55-$199.50. Infinite Energy Arena. Kendrick Lamar. The incisive rapper will kick off “The Damn. Tour” a few days before arriving in Duluth. It’s his first live trek
since 2015’s intimate “Kunta’s Groove Sessions” shows, which played the Tabernacle. With Travis Scott and D.R.A.M. 7:30 p.m. July 17. $39.50-$99.50. Infinite Energy Arena. Hans Zimmer. Talk about an opportunity. The legendary composer isn’t exactly known for touring, and his summer outing will hit only 18 cities. The first part of the show will focus on Zimmer’s classic scores for “Gladiator,” “The Lion King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” while the second features reimagined versions of music from “The Dark Knight Trilogy” and “Inception,” among others. 8 p.m. July 18. $25-$125. Verizon. Idina Menzel. The powerhouse singer last played Atlanta almost exactly two years ago, with a captivating show at Chastain. The star of “Wicked” and “Rent,” who taught us how to “Let It Go,” released her fifth solo studio album, “Idina,” last fall. 8 p.m. July 22. $46.50-$151.50. Fox Theatre.
Retro Futura. It’s a synthfiesta on this ‘80s-centric tour that stars Howard Jones, Men Without Hats, the English Beat, Katrina and the Waves and Modern English. If you can’t name at least 10 hits among these bands, maybe this isn’t the show for you. Everyone else – time to break out the lace gloves and fedoras? 7 p.m. July 28. $29.50-$99.50. Chastain.
2 Chainz. Atlanta’s ubiquitous good-time rapper will perform at the BET Experience Weekend in Los Angeles, but the real kickoff of his 35-date “Pretty Girls Like Trap Music” tour — named after his new album — will take place in his hometown. He will be joined by the Trap Choir. 8 p.m. Aug. 1. $41.50. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. BET Presents Celebration
of Gospel. The event has existed, but this is the firstever TV event to accompany it. The show will be hosted by comedian/actor Jonathan Slocumb and feature performances from Donnie McClurkin, LeAndria Johnson, Travis Greene, Tina Campbell, Jonathan McReynolds, Canton Jones, Cassandra Robinson and many others. 8 p.m. Aug. 4. $46.50-$86.50. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. Richard Marx and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. It isn’t too difficult to envision some of the hit master’s smash ballads — “Right Here Waiting,” “Hold on to the Nights,” “Now and Forever” — reimagined with an orchestral bent. Can’t wait to hear their take on “Don’t Mean Nothin’.” 8 p.m. Aug. 5. $50-$100. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com.
Blondie/Garbage. Armed with an awesome tour name — “Rage and Rapture” — and two amazing frontwomen in Debbie Harry and Shirley Manson, so expect plenty of fierceness. Blondie released its 11th studio album, “Pollinator,” in May, while Garbage dropped “Strange Little Birds” last summer. With Deap Vally. 7 p.m. Aug. 6. $25$195. Chastain.
Mary J. Blige. A few months after her joint tour with Maxwell, Blige is exerting her muscle with the headlining “Strength of a Woman” summer run in support of her recent album of the same name. With Lalah Hathaway. 8 p.m. Aug. 8. $56-$126. Wolf Creek Amphitheatre, 3025 Merk Road SW, Atlanta. Stephen Stills and Judy Collins. The inspiration for the Crosby, Stills & Nash classic, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” is recording an album as a duo with her former paramour, the prolific Stills. The pair will share a stage together for the first time and perform together and separately. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9. $29.50-$59.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta.
Leslie Odom Jr. The charismatic Tony-winning star of Broadway’s “Hamilton” (as Aaron Burr, sir) re-released his self-titled debut album in 2016, adding classics such as “Autumn Leaves,” “Brazil” and the fitting capper, “The Party’s Over.” 8 p.m. Aug. 12. $56$86. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. 1-877987-6487, www.ticketfly.com. Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey. After a tour postponement due to Richie requiring knee surgery, the “All the Hits” excursion with pop diva Carey will resume in July. With Tauren Wells. 7 p.m. Aug. 13. $39.95-$500. Infinite Energy Arena. The Fixx. Most “classic hits” radio stations are, er, fixated on the London band’s 1983 MTV staple, “One Thing Leads to Another.” But the quintet — still the original members — had plenty of other hits, such as “Saved by Zero,” “Stand or Fall” and “Are We Ourselves?,” that they’re bound to play. 8 p.m. Aug. 17. $34-$42. City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Ave., Ponce City Market, Atlanta. 404-946-3791, www.citywinery.com/atlanta/.
Ed Sheeran. The ginger Brit seems like such an affable guy, you can only cheer his success. His “÷” album has spawned “Shape of You” — his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and the arguably stronger “Castle on the Hill,” which entered the charts at No. 6. That feat crowned him as the first artist to have two singles make simultaneous Top 10 debuts in the 58-year history of the Hot 100 chart. With James Blunt. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25-26. $39.50-$99.50. Infinite Energy Arena.
Buddy Guy. The Louisiana blues man will turn 81 in July, but he’s still incredibly active. He released “Born to Play Guitar” in 2015, and the following year picked up a best blues album Grammy for his efforts. 8 p.m. Aug. 25. $47.50 ($45.50 for members). Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-876-5859, www. atlantabg.org.