Creative Loafing Atlanta

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Thurs., Jan. 23

Jeremie Albino, Vinyl—Canadian singer/songwriter Albino has been banging around the Americana scene since before his 2019 debut, but without the attention his mix of soul, rock, folk and pop deserves. Black Key main man Dan Auerbach caught wind and not only signed him to his Easy Eye label, but helped shepherd his terrific new release, Our Time In The Sun. It’s a low key gem that finds Albino wrapping his soulful vocals around a dozen orginals (some co-penned with Auerbach) that has finally connected with the larger audience he warrants. Catch him at this small venue now, before he graduates to Jason Isbell levels of popularity. — Hal Horowitz

Presented by Rival Entertainment

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Thurs., Jan. 23

Charlie Starr & Benji Shanks, Buckhead Theater—Whether on yet another international tour with his full-time partners in Blackberry Smoke, or hanging with buddy and fellow BS member Shanks, Charlie Starr brings the heart and guts of the Southern rock and soul that informs everything he’s done. Here in a more informal atmosphere and in front of an adoring hometown crowd, he can dig deeper into covering songs he loves and his own substantial catalog, playing acoustic versions of Smoke material which shows them in a different, more intimate light. He’s one of Atlanta’s most talented and hardest working musicians, and this is the best way to experience him; up close, unplugged and personal. — Hal Horowitz

Creative Loafing is a U.S. city monthly paper and web site serving the Atlanta metropolitan area covering local news, politics, arts, entertainment, food, music and events

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Thurs. Jan. 23

Paul Cauthen, Evan Bartells, Variety Playhouse —Outlaw country singer/songwriter boasts a baritone so low and threatening that he makes Waylon Jennings seems like a choir girl in comparison. Unlike others in his genre though, he features electronic drums bolstering an odd dance-oriented sound that meshes, and often collides, with his slow Southern drawl and sporadic rapping. He’s got a wicked sense of humor too as evidenced by “Sweetheart from the Trailer Park,” a rip-roaring example of what he does best from his new album Black on Black. Cool, unpretentious and just weird enough to attract alternative listeners. Pick up your Country as F**K key-chain at the merch booth. — Hal Horowitz

Paul Cauthen is a true force of nature. His ability to captivate audiences with his soulful sound and larger-than-life personality has become lore amongst those that have witnessed it. Also doesn’t hurt to have a generational set of pipes to top it all off. Hailing from East Texas, Cauthen embodie...

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Thurs., Jan. 23

Nick Shoulders and the Okay Crawdad, Sabine McCalla, Terminal West—Country singer/songwriter Shoulders and his predominantly unplugged backing th*****me reach back to the days of Hank Williams Sr. for their rooty-toot-tootin’ inspiration and forwards to a more punk oriented raw reflection of their retro, rustic-tinged originals. Shoulders injects some yodeling and whistling too, along with the occasional waltz time tune, further reinforcing the connection to the forebearers that have inspired him. Unique and idiosyncratic old-timey music. — Hal Horowitz

All Bad, the latest album from Nick Shoulders, ultimately encapsulates everything that makes Shoulders’ inimitable form of country music so vital: a heady balance of dazzling musicianship and punk defiance, coupled with gritty eccentricity and a generational connection to the roots of the genre. W...

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Thurs., Jan. 23

Kathleen Edwards, City Winery—Canadian singer/songwriter Edwards made a splash in the early-mid 2000s with a quartet of albums that mixed strummy Americana rocking with more introspective material sung in a husky voice that emphasized the nooks and crannies in her melodic tunes. But she disappeared from the scene in 2014 due to personal issues, eventually opening a coffee shop. She returned in 2020 with a full album and has been doling out a few singles since then with her most recent gossamer ballad “Sweetness Follows” arriving last month. All of which provides plenty of classy material which displays her substantial songwriting talents and should make for a wonderful show. —Hal Horowitz

ABOUT City Winery Atlanta presents Kathleen Edwards live on Thursday, January 23rd at 8pm! For decades, Kathleen Edwards has been a cornerstone of North American roots music. Since making her debut with 2002’s Failer, she’s spent the 21st century occupying the grey area between genres, swirling ...

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Wed., Jan. 22

Dan Bern, Eddie’s Attic—His press release calls him a “true Renaissance artist” and for once that overused cliché is accurate. Writer, painter, poet, actor and of course singer/songwriter (his bio says he has written thousands of songs and released dozens of albums), the Iowa born and bred Bern will be supporting his newest release, Starting Over. The impressive set combines his Dylan-esque qualities with a sharp Elvis Costello pop/rock mindset. His dry-witted lyrics will keep you amused all night, including those of “The Bible” with the chorus “No one in the bible was white,” and proceeds from there. — Hal Horowitz

Dan Bern live at Eddie’s Attic! Dan Bern is a captivating live performer with a loyal, multi-generational following. He has written thousands of songs, released dozens of albums, and played shows across North America and Europe–from coffee shops to Carnegie Hall. Bern’s songs have appeared in ...

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Wed., Jan. 22.

Soccer Mommy, L’Rain, Variety Playhouse—Although raised in Nashville, there is no country twang evident in Sophie Allison’s (aka Soccer Mommy) music. Rather, her breathy voice and often dreamy musings epitomize the indie folk/rock singer songwriter style that has made similar artists like Phoebe Bridgers big stars. She’ll be featuring tunes from the recent Evergreen, a lush affair with slick production that pushes her simpler sensibilities closer to the commercial fare she once seemed to disdain. Perhaps the live show will move some gritty songs such as “Salt in Wound” into edgier territory.— Hal Horowitz

Sophie Allison has always written candidly about her life, making Soccer Mommy one of indie rock’s most interesting and beloved artists of the last decade. Allison has used Soccer Mommy’s songs as a vehicle to sort through the thoughts and encounters that inevitably come with the reality of grow...

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Tues. Jan 21.

Blind Pilot, Variety Playhouse—Here’s a bad idea. Release a few albums until finally hitting top 10 status on Billboard, a sure sign you’ve cracked the mainstream, likely what you have been striving for. Then… stop recording. Apparently Blind Pilot singer/songwriter/frontman Israel Nebeker had a serious case of writer’s block. Regardless, he and the band are back after an eight year sabbatical, delivering a new Pilot album that touches all the lush, West Coast, indie pop bases just like the ones before. For those holding their breath, the new In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain sounds as sweet and tuneful as their best stuff. It’s like they never left. — Hal Horowitz

The first Blind Pilot album in eight years, In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain emerged from a period of artistic crisis and the radical transformation of their creative ecosystem. “I went through a few years where I wasn’t able to write—I tried therapy, I read books on writer’s block, I went...

10/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Tues Jan. 21-Wed. Jan 22.

Al DiMeola, City Winery—Last year’s two-night stand at this venue was a meandering, often snoozy, acoustic set that frustrated fans of DiMeola’s fiery electric work. That’s likely to change on these dates. The show is titled “Land of the Midnight Sun,” referencing the jazz-fusion guitarist’s 1976 solo debut which displayed his dazzlingly speedy, staccato fret work and songwriting, filled with loud/soft-fast/slow dynamics that epitomized the best of his Return to Forever work. In other words, this should burn where the previous gigs smoldered. — Hal Horowitz

Al Di Meola, a living legend in the world of guitar, has been at the forefront of contemporary music for over five decades. His innovative blend of complex rhythmic syncopation, lyrical melodies, and sophisticated harmonies has earned him critical acclaim and widespread recognition, including induct...

09/01/2025

CRITIC'S PICK
Sun., Jan. 19

Jamie Barton has sung many of the most beloved roles in the opera repertoire in the world’s most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House in London. That’s about as far as one can get from the family farm nestled in a north Georgia valley outside of Rome where the award-winning mezzo-soprano grew up.

Highly praised for her starring role as Sister Helen Prejean in The Atlanta Opera 2018 production of ‘Dead Man Walking,’ Barton is also recognized for her outspoken public and social media messaging, which focuses on lifting up women, q***r people and other marginalized communities.

At Spivey Hall, where the acoustics are supremely amenable to her magnificently flexible and intensely commanding voice, Barton will be joined by violist Matthew Lipman and pianist Tamar Sanikidze for a program that includes the world premiere of a composition by Emmy Award-winning composer Joel Thompson. – Doug DeLoach

Georgia-born mezzo-soprano and 2022 Grammy® nominee for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album, Jamie Barton returns to Spivey Hall in this program beautifully crafted with stellar artistic collaborators, featuring a world premiere work by Atlanta native, the Emmy Award-winning composer, Joel Thompson, wh...

09/01/2025

🎟 GIVEAWAY 🎟 Miss out on giving the perfect Chanukah gift? Make up for it with tickets to the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival 2025! Tickets include aquarium access, live music, casino games, and more at a fraction of the cost of regular aquarium admission!

Here’s how to enter to win a four pack of tickets:
- Tag your friends in the comments (the more you tag, the better chance you have to win!)
- Follow &
- Share this post to your story for an extra five entries
- Gain even more entries at the link in our bio!

Get your tickets today at the link in ’s bio!

09/01/2025

🎟 GIVEAWAY 🎟 Miss out on giving the perfect Chanukah gift? Make up for it with tickets to the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival 2025! Tickets include aquarium access, live music, casino games, and more at a fraction of the cost of regular aquarium admission!

Here’s how to enter to win a four pack of tickets:
- Tag your friends in the comments (the more you tag, the better chance you have to win!)
- Follow Atlanta Jewish Life Festival & Creative Loafing Atlanta
- Share this post to your story for an extra five entries

Get your tickets today at www.atlantajewishlifefestival.com

09/01/2025

Presented by Maker's Mark 46 whisky and Creative Loafing, ATL Holiday Cocktail Month, is here now through January 6th with delightful cocktail and food pairings available at menu prices at restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels all across the metro area! The cocktail pictured here: the 'Holiday Mintini' is available at The Drafting Table inside Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown, 230 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. Made with Maker's Mark 46 peppermint juice, heavy cream, vanilla cream, vanilla extract, blood orange shrub with a chocolate and crushed peppermint rim, the Holiday Mintini pairs well with The Drafting Table/Hotel Indigo Atlanta Downtown's Strawberry glazed cheesecake with house-made whipped cream topping and a strawberry and powdered sugar garnish! Spread holiday cheer with a friend over cocktails and a great meal!

08/01/2025

Part dog, part man, all hero. From DreamWorks Animation—creators of the beloved blockbuster franchises 'Kung Fu Panda,' 'How to Train Your Dragon,' and 'The Boss Baby'—comes the canine-crime-fighting film adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s New York Times bestselling literary phenomenon: 'Dog Man.'

Get your complimentary an advance screening in Atlanta on Saturday, January 25 at Regal Atlantic Station at 11 AM: https://gofobo.com/DMCL

RSVPs do NOT guarantee seats at the screening.

08/01/2025

🎥 GIVEAWAY 🎥 From the producer of 'The Black Phone' and the director of 'The Invisible Man' comes a terrifying new nightmare. Universal Pictures and Blumhouse present 'Wolf Man,' rated R, only in theaters, January 17.

Save your seats to a FREE prescreening: https://gofobo.com/WMCL

RSVPs do NOT guarantee seats at the screening. The theater is overbooked to ensure capacity and seating is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are encouraged to arrive early. You and your guests must enter the auditorium together.

08/01/2025

CRITIC’S PICK
Jan. 19

In January 2013, Lonnie Holley performed for the first time in Atlanta in a bona fide concert venue at Eddie’s Attic. Twelve years, multiple critically acclaimed albums and a few hundred concerts all over the world later, Holley returns to Eddie’s for an evening of singular, in the moment, improvisational magic.

Also on the bill is Lee Bains, who, like Holley, was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but now resides in Atlanta. Whether performing solo or leading The Glory Fires, Bains delivers steeped-in-the-South music, which mixes genres from rock to gospel and roots to country, to probe the human condition from a distinctly progressive perspective.

Holley and Bains together is a sure-fire formula for generating timely, insightful, soulful conjugation like nothing you've ever experienced. – Doug DeLoach

Lonnie Holley and Lee Bains live at Eddie’s Attic! Lonnie Holley (born 1950; Birmingham, Alabama) Since 1979, Holley has devoted his life to the practice of improvisational creativity. His art and music, born out of struggle, hardship, but perhaps more importantly, out of furious curiosity and bio...

07/01/2025

WABE listeners will be the first to hear ‘Kosmo’s Vinyl of the Week’