The Black Keys "Turn Blue" at Philips Arena on Dec. 11

Dan Auerbach's searing guitar attack.

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney were buddies in Akron, jammed in Carney's basement, threw together some demos after quitting college and dreamt of being stars. Their dream came true. Seven Grammy Awards – so far – is pretty much a testament that the Black Keys are stars, indeed.   

The Nashville-based band played music from the new album, "Turn Blue" at Philips Arena.  Highlights below:

Ethereal St. Vincent Enchanted Philips Arena

Anne Erin "Annie" Clark is better known by her stage name St. Vincent.  She began her music career as a member of The Polyphonic Spree.

Her debut album was Marry Me (2007), followed by Actor (2009) and Strange Mercy (2011). She released a collaborative album with David Byrne in 2012 titled Love This Giant. Her fourth solo album, self-titled St. Vincent, was released in February 2014. In December 2014, St. Vincent was nominated for her first Grammy in the Best Alternative Music category.

St. Vincent  is currently the supporting act for The Black Keys during their tour this fall and winter.  Below are highlights from that show:

 

 

 

 

For information about St. Vincent, visit ilovestvincent.com.

 

 

Candlelight Nights at Atlanta History Center

Looking for something to do with the family on December 18th?  Head over to Atlanta History Center for Candlelight Nights.  It is a fun-filled evening for all ages.  You will step back in time and experience Christmas past with a candle-lit stroll through a crisp wooded trail that transports you to the warm glow of the holidays. Visit the Smith Family Farm, Swan House, and Wood Family Cabin to experience how Southerners celebrated Christmas during the pioneer days, the Civil War era, and the 1930s. Experience holiday traditions of years past with interpreters and special activities. Enjoy food for purchase and visit one of several cash bars for your favorite libation.

This special holiday program is sponsored by Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty; Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. Additional support by Big John’s Christmas Trees; and Alliance Theater. 

 

Admission is $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers; $8 for all children. 

I had the pleasure of attending Candlelight Nights on December 4th. See highlights below:

 

Trimming the tree.

Carollers in the music room at the Swan House Museum.

Inside the Swan House Museum.

A romantic stroll.

Blacksmith at work.

Holiday lights.

Moonlight added a perfect touch.

A candle on the porch is most inviting.

Making ornaments.

She's watching mom place the baking sheet over an open fire.

Adult beverages.

Octave, Atlanta’s favorite female a cappella singing group performs holiday favorites.

Enjoying the tree.

Rudolph!

Brothers.

Sisters.

A mother's love.

Looking for Santa.

 

For more information about Atlanta History Center, visit www.atlantahistorycenter.com.

 

Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker returns to the Fox Theatre Dec. 11 – 28

The Magic of Melissa Etheridge

Celtic Thunder's Symphony Tour at Atlanta Symphony Hall

An Evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Rick Bragg

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits Birmingham

Hello Birmingham!

The Faces of Macy Gray

Atlanta's Variety Playhouse was a recent stop on Macy Gray's The Way tour. The album – Gray’s eighth studio LP – was released on Oct. 7th.  News of the project comes with a driving teaser track entitled “Stoned” and a note from Gray about her personal evolution:

“I wanted to create a record that reflects who I’ve become as a woman, mother and artist,” says Macy Gray. “This album is very personal to me. I want my fans to understand the place where I’m at in life and feel inspired by my music because it’s relatable.”

Her set list wowed the crowd:

Why Didn’t You Call Me
Do Something
Caligula
Bang Bang
Glad You’re Here
Sweet Baby
Moment to Myself
Ghetto Love (Superstition – Stevie Wonder)
Brand New Key (Melanie)
Relating To A Psychopath
First Time
Sexual Revolution
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (Rod Stewart cover)
First Time
Hands
The Way
Me With You
Let You Win
I Try (Everything’s going to be alright)

Encore
Creep (Radiohead)
Stoned
The Letter


She smiles at one of her many fans.

36th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards

The 36th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame awards ceremony was held on Saturday, October 11, 2014 in the Georgia Ballroom at the Georgia World Congress Center.

 Dr. Bobbie Bailey, president of Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc. said, "We are excited to continue recognizing Georgia’s outstanding contributions to the music industry as we have done for 36 years.”  She also stated, “This year’s event promises to be a great success."  I must say, she was correct.

The evening began with a VIP Red Carpet and Governor’s Reception, a seated dinner, followed by the highly-anticipated Georgy™ Awards show. Robin Meade and Monica Pearson were co-emcees.  Multi Grammy^® Award-winning Lady Antebellum received the Performer Award, multi-platinum Collective Soul’s Ed Roland scored the Songwriter Award, legendary blues songstress Francine Reed was given the Pioneer Award, southern rock chart-toppers Wet Willie snagged the Group Award. Multi-talented celebrity funny man Jeff Foxworthy received the Spoken Word Award and music industry game-changer Danny Beard was honored with a Non-performer Award.  Posthumous inductees honored this year were: Sean Costello, Wally Fowler, Eddie Horst, Bobby Byrd and Frank Fenter.

The awards telecast, which was televised live by Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), showcased Georgia’s broad-spectrum of talent in one magical evening.

Kate Pierson (B-52s and 2000 inductee) has a bit of fun with 2014 inductee Danny Beard (DB Records).

2014 Sunday in the Park at Historic Oakland Cemetery

On Sunday, October 5, Historic Oakland Cemetery bustled with art, entertainment and food as it hosted the 35th annual Sunday In the Park, a Victorian street festival.  Attendees strolled among the mausoleums, monuments and gardens while taking in all of the sights, sounds and tastes Oakland Cemetery has to offer.

Victorian costumes graced the grounds.

Broods at Tabernacle Atlanta

Broods are a brother and sister act—Georgia and Caleb Nott—based out of Auckland, New Zealand. Their recently released full-length album "Evergreen" features the brand new single "Mother and Father."

The emotional depth, grace and flexibility of Georgia's voice belie her years, while multi-instrumentalist Caleb's backing vocals adds the perfect touch. I must say, I am impressed with music and love the entire album.

I had the pleasure of hearing Broods live at the Tabernacle on tour with Sam Smith.  A drummer was added for the tour. All I can say is ... WOW!

Georgia Nott woos the audience.

Ryan Boss at Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta

The Fall Folklife Festival at the Atlanta History Center



The Fall Folklife Festival at the Atlanta History Center marries the Southern ways of good food, local brews, friends and family and the joy of making memories. Held each year during the first weekend of autumn, guests spend the day exploring the sprawling 33 acre campus and learning how Southerners prepared for the changing of the seasons in years past. With a cool crisp feeling in the air, attendees experienced and participated in an assortment of activities.

Glory Bell demonstrates cornhusk doll making.

Atlanta Ballet's Wabi Sabi graced Atlanta Botanical Garden on Sept. 18

Atlanta Ballet graced the Botanical Garden on Thursday Sept. 18, for "Cocktails in the Garden." As visitors sipped and strolled the Garden, they were treated to performances by the dancers of the Ballet's Wabi Sabi.

Atlanta Ballet dancer John Welker created Wabi Sabi in 2011 as a small "company within a company," designed to bring dance off the proscenium stage and to provide dancers with the opportunity to choreograph. The group takes its name "Wabi Sabi" from a Japanese aesthetic that finds beauty in the simplicity and transience of the natural world.

When ballet dancers step onto pointe in arabesque, they become a work of ideal geometry. I find that thrilling and I’ve loved it ever since I first saw ballet.  These Wabi Sabi performances were sensual and elegant, yet athletic.  The muscular, physical movement was artistry at its best.

Performances included:

1. Me in Your Fall

Choreography: Bennyroyce Royon 

Me in Your Fall - Kelsey Ebersold.

The Moments In-Between

We always remember the holidays, our graduation day, our wedding day and the birth of a child -- all significant events in life -- but what about the moments in-between? 

Eddie Owen Presents Anne-Marie Perry, Glenn Phillips and Cindy Wilson of The B-52s

Based in Duluth, Georgia, at the Red Clay Music Foundry - a 260-seat listening room that hosts the most talented musicians on the planet - Eddie Owen Presents is the songwriter’s best friend. It is a music venue, music school and a home away from home for performing singer-songwriters and their fans.

On Saturday, Sept.20, Eddie Owen Presents was home to Anne-Marie Perry, Cindy Wilson and The Glenn Phillips Band, along with special guests Joey Huffman and D.A.Sims.  It was a night of stellar music and iconic voices.

Anne-Marie Perry is best known from the band Gild The Lily in the 90s, and sharing the stage with many well-known acts including The Violent Femmes and The Georgia Satellites. After 8 years with green bracelet in the 2000's...she is now touring solo with electric band. Her musical style is a blend of rock, southern rock, and alternative folk.

Cindy Wilson is a founding member of the legendary rock band, the B-52's. The group responsible for such New Wave classics as "Rock Lobster" and “Private Idaho”...followed much later with the hits "Love Shack" and "Roam." Her work with the B-52's has generated two Grammy nominations, an MTV video of the Year award and numerous broadcast appearances worldwide.

Glenn Phillips has made his living as a guitarist and composer and has twelve critically acclaimed albums.  Two of his releases received 4-star reviews in Rolling Stone, including Echoes, a double-CD compilation released on Virgin Records.  He has toured and recorded regularly with his own group and has collaborated with artists and divers as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and Peter Buck of REM.

Nina Opens as Erasure Ignites Atlanta Symphony Hall with the Violet Flame Tour

Andy Bell still knows how to impress the audience.

2014 Harvest at Sharp Mountain Vineyards

Atlanta History Center Presents "Into the Beautiful North" by Luis Alberto Urrea

The Atlanta History Center -  in partnership with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System - presents the Atlanta Metro campaign, The Big Read. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. The Big Read is the largest reading program in American history and a multi-faceted initiative uniting communities across the nation through great literature. This is the Atlanta History Center’s fourth time participating in The Big Read.

IPRA World Championship Rodeo Was Riding High at the Cumming Fairgrounds on Aug. 29-31

The International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) has been providing rodeo excitement for more than 50 years. From big cities to small towns, from major league stadiums to portable arenas, the IPRA is the sport’s second largest professional rodeo association sanctioning nearly 300 rodeos. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is the largest. The IPRA is keeping the spirit of the west alive from coast to coast throughout the United States and Canada.

The rodeo features seven traditional events in which cowboys and cowgirls can compete for points toward an IPRA title and prize money.  The competitive events include bareback, bull and saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, calf and team roping and steer wrestling.

Dave Horton, Cumming Fairgrounds director, said, “It’s always an exciting show.  You've got not only world-class stock, but you also have some world-class cowboys and cowgirls.

The judges watched every move.

50 to 1: A Fundraiser for the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition

 On Wednesday, August 27, 2014 the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition hosted the state premier of 50 to 1 a movie about a great horse, Mine That Bird, an unlikely Derby winner that placed at the Preakness and showed in the Belmont.  After the premier, attendees were treated to a Q&A session with award-winning director Jim Wilson.

The impressive guest list included Olympian and businessman Carl Bouckaert, chairman of the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, along with Dean and Patti Reeves, owners of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Breeders' Cup winner Mucho Macho Man.   Dean is president of the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition.  Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach and the University of Georgia Eventing Team were also in attendance.

The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition is striving to bring the excitement and benefits of horse racing to Georgia.  Studies show that the horse racing industry in Georgia could bring as much as $75 million annually in tax revenues and up to 10, 000 jobs!  Add in the tourism, business opportunities, agriculture growth and potential economic impact in nearly $1 billion dollars and as many as 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Collector's Edition Program.

Atlanta Ballet's Wabi Sabi at High Museum of Art

As a part of the High Museum of Art’s summer piazza installation, “Mi Casa, Your Casa,” Atlanta Ballet’s dancer-driven troupe Wabi Sabi presented  three works by some of the most in-demand, emerging choreographers in the industry. Friday's program  included “Angels’ Share” by choreographer John Heginbotham, “En Route” by Atlanta Ballet company dancer Tara Lee and “Yours is Mine” by choreographer Robert Dekkers with live music by Sonic Generator.



Yoomi Kim is superb in John Heginbotham's "Angels' Share."



 

Tara Lee's "En Route" performed by Nadia Mara and Brandon Nguyen.

Christian Clark in "Yours is Mine." Choreography by Robert Dekkers.

 

Complete photo gallery can be viewed by clicking the link below:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bisforbonnie/sets/72157646714927800/

 

In case you missed it last year, on Sunday, September 7, the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education will host its third annual Healthy Living Day, an all-day healthy living celebration at the Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre in West Midtown Atlanta. Kids and adults can participate in a variety of free activities such as arts & crafts, dance classes, food demonstrations, and healthy living and nutrition seminars. Make sure you check out “Braves Around Town” mobile fan experience, the Atlanta Hawks activity zone, and Cigna's Mobile Learning Lab! There will also be fun door prizes and a healthy living book fair. The festivities will conclude with performances by local dance and arts organizations, including Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi.

 

For more information about Atlanta Ballet and the upcoming season, visit www.atlantaballet.com.