ATLRetro

Monday, April 22

Snarky Puppy, a Dallas and New York-based collective, bring their unique fusion  of jazz, funk and world music to The Earl  for a two-night run starting tonight.  The Basement gets all shook up by The King Khan & BBQ Show with special guests The Delusionaires. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam featuring blues and southern soul singer, Lola Gulley. Enjoy BBQ and Dry White Toast at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Tuesday, April 23

The Black Crowes rock The Tabernacle. English symphonic rock band Renaissance rose from the ashes of the seminal UK rock group The Yardbirds; catch their blend of classical and rock at Variety Playhouse. If you find yourself in the mood for a little Broadway, come to SISTER ACT, based on the ‘90s cult film starring Whoopi Goldberg, which opens tonight and runs all through Sunday at the Fox Theatre. The Emory University Big Band jazzes up the university’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Fabulous ’50s month continues with John Wayne in Howard Hawk‘s RIO BRAVO (1959), this week’s retro cinema classic at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab your horn and head over to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m., or you can blues it down with Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers at Northside Tavern. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for some old school R & B, rock ‘n roll and blues with JT Speed.

Wednesday, April 24

Don’t save it for later; see quintessential ’80s pop ska band The English Beat at The Loft. LA Times Buzz Band, 8MM is like the glamorous, neo-noir love-child of David Lynch, Portishead and Aimee Mann, and they’re bringing their unique sound to the Shelter. Enjoy the ethereal gothic sounds of The Ghosts Project, featuring Paul Mercer and Davis Petterson of The Changelings, at Drunken Unicorn. Get a second night of the Duke, John Wayne in Howard Hawk‘s RIO BRAVO (1959) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern. Old enough to feel Retro? It’s Ladies Night at Johnny’s Hideaway which plays hits from Sinatra to Madonna for a generally mature crowd. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck brings the Piedmont blues to Northside Tavern. The Hollidays bring a little soul to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Thursday, April 25

Comrade Blue, who count the Beatles, Replacements and Pixies among their influences, play Vinyl tonight with The Pollies. Every Thursday in April is an Oakhurst Jazz Night when you can picnic on the lawn in front of The Solarium while listening to live free jazz music from some of the best artists in the Southeast. This week it’s ATLRetro favorite Bonaventure Quartet. All concerts begin at 7 pm and end at 9 pm and are free and open to the public. The rain location is inside The Solarium. It’s 80s/90s Video Night with free drinks ’til 10 at The Shelter. Relax with a cocktail while listening to Tongo Hiti playing Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, at vintage tiki bar, Trader Vic’s, every Thursday night. Go to Northside Tavern to hear the classic 50s Chicago-style blues of The Breeze Kings. Get on over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack to hear the honkytonkin’ blues of Chickenshack. The Fiddleheads come down from Dahlonega to provide the strumming at Red Light Cafe‘s weekly Bluegrass Thursday.  Tommy Dean Trio honkytonks it down at Big Tex in Decatur. Howard Hawk‘s RIO BRAVO (1959), starring John Wayne, plays a final night at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern.

Friday, April 26

The Inman Park Festival kicks off today with a Tour of Homes Preview, providing a sneak peek behind the doors of homes in the Victorian neighborhood, from noon to 4 p.m.  The Queers and The Dwarves make it a classic punk rock night at the Star Bar. Celebrate ’70s light rock with The Yacht Rock Revue Spring Spectacular at Variety Playhouse. Read an ATLRetro interview with Yacht Rock Revue here.  Abby Wren and What It Is serve up some good old soulful southern-fried funk under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. Beverly T. “Guitar” Watson plays the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck brings the Piedmont blues to Northside Tavern both Friday and Saturday night.

Tongo Hiti.

Saturday, April 27

The Inman Park Festival shows why it’s Atlanta’s most creative street festival from a bodacious artist and vendors market  to a one-of-a-kind parade that redefines quirky at 2 p.m. The Tour of Homes continues and plenty of live music, too, with today’s Retro highlights including Polynesian fusion/swing band Tongo Hiti at 4:15 p.m., the Western honkytonk charms of Cowboy Envy at 4:45 p.m., jam-meister and beloved Atlanta musician Col Bruce Hampton & Friends at 5:30 p.m. Suicidal Tendencies are still thrashing and make it a punk night at The Masquerade. The Psycho-Devilles, featuring Kool Kat Hot Rod Walt, bring their sizzling rockabilly sound (and maybe even set a guitar on fire) to Dixie Tavern in Marietta. They’ll even be filming a “Sizzle Reel” during this show to pitch for a new reality TV show called KUSTOM CULTURE ATLANTA, including a Pinup Girl contest. Bring your vintage cars and bikes. Cigar Store Indians swing into Smith’s Olde Bar. Seventies mellow master Barry Manilow waxes melodic at the Gwinnett Arena. Ralph Roddenberry makes it a righteous roots/Americana night at Big Tex.  J.P. Blues bring some hot and heavy blues to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. The Basement throws a rock and soul dance party. As usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours of the night

Dick Dale.

The Inman Park Festival serves up a final day of fun, including Atlanta new wave dynamos, the Swimming Pool Q’s at 3:30 p.m. and hot blues mama Sandra Hall at 6 p.m. Feeling in the mood for 20s ragtime? Dick Dale, the King of the Surf Guitar, shakes up The Earl with El Capitain and the Band with No Name. If you missed ATLRetro’s exclusive interview with this music legend and ultimate survivor, catch up here. Blair Crimmins and the Hookers resurrects ’20s ragtime at Park Tavern as this week’s band in the free Unplugged in the Park series. Catch up with our Kool Kat interview with Blair here. Blues great Francine Reed and The Trio jazz up The Family Dog. Check out some down and dirty Fatback Deluxe blues at Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack. FLESH GORDON is back from one more night at Plaza Theatre getting the Cineprov! treatment – probably the best way to see it. Read our Retro Review here.

Ongoing

Go back to the early 1900s with RAGTIME, based on the bestselling E.L. Doctorow novel and performed by Atlanta Lyric Theatre, through April 28 at the art deco Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta.

Frida Kahlo. Photo credit: Nickolas Muray

Make a date with FRIDA AND DIEGO: PASSION, POLITICS AND PAINTING, a blockbuster special exhibition showcasing the works of one of art’s most famous couples, at The High Museum of Art through May 12.

EXTREME MAMMALS from sabertooth tiger skulls and wooly mammoth fur to contemporary creatures such as the duck-billed platypus invade Fernbank Museum of Natural History through August 18.

Learn about  a different side to the third American president and Constitution author in the Really Retro special exhibition Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: How the Word is Passed Down at the Atlanta History Center through July 7.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night is Retro Cinema at Movie Tavern. Check out classic movies on the big screen weekly at 7:30 p.m.