MUSIC PICKS

FRIDAY John McCutcheon

The Wisconsin native has been revered in folkmusic circles since the mid-‘70s, and he hasn’t lost his desire to craft songs that are motived by politics and social issues. Last year he released “Ghost Light,” his 39th studio album, on which he plays hammered dulcimer, guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer and fiddle. mates – Jeffrey “The Houseman” Clemens and Jimmy “Jazz” Prescott – began touring and recording. Their funky blend of blues, rock, hip-hop and jazz have kept them indefinable since their 1994 self-titled debut album. Though they gained a college radio following with “Cold Beverage” and “Baby’s Got Sauce,” the band has always been more about their live shows than the charts.

With Ron Artis II and The Truth. 8:30 p.m. Feb. 9. $24-$39. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. 1-877-987-6487, ticketfly.com.

MONDAY Estelle

In 2009, the British soul/hip-hop/dance singer won a Grammy for her collaboration with Kanye West, the sumptuous “American Boy.” She captured the U.S. R&B charts a few more times over the years with “Thank You” and “Conqueror” (featuring Jussie Smollet), and in September landed in the Top 5 of Billboard’s reggae album chart with her current release, “Lovers Rock,” the backdrop for this “Experience Lovers Rock Live” tour.

There will be much crooning and swooning when the two suave R&B stars team for the Valentine’s Day pairing they’ve dubbed “Lovers and Friends.” Babyface has written and produced more than two dozen No. 1 R&B hits in his career, and New Jack Swing king Sweat has a string of hits dating to the late-‘80s as well. For more music news, concert reviews and interviews, visit The Atlanta Music Scene at AJC.com.

RYON HORNE/RHORNE@AJC.COM Singer-songwriter Babyface, who produced the recent “Bobby Brown Story” on BET, returns to the stage for a Valentine’s Day show with Keith Sweat.