SPRING CONCERTS
Springsteen, Buffett, Sugarland among big names playing in Atlanta
Dave Matthews, Jennifer Hudson, George Jones will also wow fans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Everywhere you turn this spring, there seems to be a major musical act performing in Atlanta.
And who better to start with than our own country superstar duo Sugarland — who began this week with an Academy of Country Music Award win on Sunday, and kick off their nationwide tour on April 10 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
“In a way, this will kind of be like the victory lap,” Kristian Bush said with a laugh; (noting that he and Jennifer Nettles have been on the road promoting their current CD “Love On The Inside” since it was released in July of last year). “The ‘Thank-you-so-much’ tour. The ‘Yes-we’re still-on-the-road’ tour. The ‘thank-you-for-continuing-to support-our-album-so-we-can-tour’ tour.”
Sugarland’s current single “It Happens” is its 10th top 10 hit on the country charts, and its recent ACM win for best vocal duo broke Brooks & Dunn’s eight-year winning streak.
“I’m just excited and excited some more,” adds Nettles, who also won a “Milestones” award at the ACMs. “I mean, we’ve had such a great break [from the road]. So restorative. And now I’m ready to get back out there in front of our wonderful fan base.”
And there’s even more country to spare that night with Macon’s Jason Aldean. Before his show at Wild Bill’s, he’ll sing the National Anthem at the Atlanta Braves home opening game.
Meanwhile over at the Rialto Center For The Arts, one of the first names in contemporary jazz and gospel — Take 6 — will help WCLK-FM (Jazz 91.9) celebrate 35 years on the air with a concert tonight.
“For us, being a part of the community, we’re real sensitive to jazz,” said Cedric Dent, whose sextet is supporting new CD “The Standard.” “Jazz is America’s classical music.
Then, next week the women take over in a major way.
Oscar and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson — whose first tour ever (with R&B singer Robin Thicke) will be making a two-night stand at the Fox Theatre Tuesday and Thursday. In between the Hudson and Thicke dates, the pop decibels will go up a bit.
On Wednesday, Katy “I Kissed A Girl” Perry and Lily “It’s Not Me, It’s You” Allen both play sold-out shows at Center Stage and the Variety Playhouse, respectively. On Thursday, Jimmy Buffett is sure to lure a capacity crowd over to “Margaritaville” for some wind-swept, tropical rock.
Eleven days later, things hit legendary levels — again, on the same night
In downtown Atlanta, weighing in at 36 years and counting as a recording artist, it’s beloved heartland rocker Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band April 26 at Philips Arena.
And in Little Five Points, weighing in at over five decades of funk, it’s that genre’s pioneer, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at the Variety Playhouse.
Accomplished jam-rockers The Dave Matthews Band welcome their legions of fans April 28-29 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. And country returns to cap the month in iconic fashion with George Jones April 30 at the Fox Theatre.
