ATLRetro

Monday, January 2

Happy New Year! Joe Gransden presents the first of his twice-monthly Big Band Nights with his 16-piece orchestra and special guest vocal great Taryn Newborne at Café 290 . From 3 PM on, savor tropical sounds and libations, as well as a Polynesian dinner during Mai Tai Monday at Smith’s Olde Bar. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam. To break up the Monday monotony, head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for dinner and a show, as local blues/jazz band Dry White Toast performs at 8 PM.

Tuesday, January 3

Americana-with-dash-of-gypsy-folk performer Tyler Lyle sings about “Charlie Chaplain and Oedipus, lovable alcoholics, blind painters, revolutionaries, dreamers, drifters, pesky preachers and those who are human to the utmost.” Tonight he and southern rocker Joshua Fletcher play Eddie’s Attic. The Stooges Brass Band brings the sweet sounds of New Orleans jazz to Smith’s Olde Bar. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. J.T. Speed plays Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers bring on the blues at Northside Tavern. Catch Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon, featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

Wednesday, January 4

Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. The Hollidays play Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance to ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s hits during Retro in the Metro Wednesdays at Pub 71 in Brookhaven.

Thursday, January 5

Dirty Bourbon River Show rings in the New Year headlining an eclectic show at Five Spot. We’re sold just on this line about them from Rory Callais of OFFBEAT:  “A circus-like barrage of sound serving as entrance music for a magical mystery tour of whiskey-soaked French Quarter back alleys.” The show also features The Hermits of Suburbia (“a unique and deranged take on folk, ska and punk” – oh, my!), Atlanta retrobilly band The Serenaders and steampunk stars The Extraordinary Contraptions. The Lefty Williams Band and The Lindsay Rakers Band put on a special acoustic show for the patrons of Eddie’s Attic. Red Light Cafe holds a special New Year’s Bluegrass Thursday. Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti, featuring Big Mike Geier, play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Friday January 6

Interested in a vintage murder mystery? January’s stop on Mon Cherie presents: Bon Voyage ~World Tour Destination Parties is Murder on the Orient Express at The Shelter. We’re guessing this won’t be your grandmother’s Agatha Christie mystery, though, since the train-ride promises a “fun-filled night of Erotic Asian Performance & Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt” and your fellow passengers/performers include a Who’s Who of Atlanta burlesque/variety including magician Chad Sanborn as Detective Axe (read an ATLRetro feature on Chad here), Stormy Knight, Katarina Laveaux from Birmingham, Fonda Lingue (Kool Kat here), Scarlett Page and more. The train leaves the Station at 9 p.m. sharp but you should be able to afford the first class Calais Coach since tickets are only $5 Guests are encouraged to dress Geisha Fabulous or Vintage Detective Style, and there’s also a Duty-Free Raffle sponsored by: Sacred Heart Tattoo (L5P), Jezebel Blue (featured in our recent Pin-Up Gift Guide), Sugar Dolls (read why they’re the cutest cupcake bakers in town here), Pin Up Head Gear, Rogue Hair Studio and Re-Vamp by Darbella, with additional items from Loyana’s Private Art Collection. Pin Up Photography provided by Bill Wooten. Also. Martinis & IMAX returns to Fernbank Museum of Natural History after a short holiday break, with the Mar-Tans (formerly Wauchope Krew) bringing on a heady blend of New Orleans-style funk, jazz, blues & R&B under the dinosaur bones.

Saturday, January 7

KingSized and the Dames Aflame throw their annual Elvis Royale celebration of the birthday of the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Variety Playhouse. The big band led by Atlanta’s own lounge king Big Mike Geier reworks Elvis Presley standards, but in their own distinctive style, and we hear there’ll even be an appearance by “e.” (the ETA formerly known as “Lil’ E”). Support Marietta’s Earl Smith Strand Theatre’s on its second birthday since it was restored and Earl Smith’s 80 years at A Double Feature, a special black-tie event featuring live stage entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, a birthday toast, and a silent auction to help raise money for the art deco vintage movie palace’s future. Help celebrate dark, down and dirty blues man Rod Hamdallah‘s birthday at his gig tonight at Johnny McCracken’s in Marietta. If you missed our Kool Kat interview with him in September, catch up your reading here.  Joe Gransden brings his smooth classic jazz to the Mansion on Peachtree. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, January 8

Want to work out and have fun at the same time? Hula-hooping may be for you! Hoop Essence, Atlanta’s premiere hula-hooping organization, is offering Hooping 101, a month’s hula-hooping lessons for beginners at Ladies Workout Express (2865 North Druid Hills Road NE) . No experience is required; all you need is a desire to have fun and get fit doing it! Fatback Deluxe bring on the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern.

Ongoing Seasonal

At Fernbank Museum of Natural History, enjoy WINTER WONDERLAND: CELEBRATIONS & TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD, featuring trees and other displays from cultures around the world, through Jan. 8.

Nothing says Retro Christmas than over-the-top light displays and insane amounts of decorations crammed into the smallest possible yard, house or—in the case of Der Biergarten—restaurant. The Luckie-Marietta district German restaurant has pulled out all the stops with nearly 10,000 ornaments, 72 nutcrackers and 26 Christmas trees! Decorations are in place every night through Jan. 8.

Ongoing Theatre 

Cavalia: Odysseo takes the spirit, beauty and creativity of recent European acrobatic spectaculars such as Cirque de Soleil and applies it to horses. Let’s just say this is not your mamma’s  Royal Lippizan Stallions circus show. Big tent at 864 Spring Street. Through Jan. 25.

Ongoing Exhibits

Explore one of America’s most iconic theaters in AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING: HOW THE APOLLO THEATER SHAPED AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT, a special exhibition at the Atlanta History Center . Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater Foundation, the display includes historic and contemporary costumes, playbills, music scores, graphic images and recorded music. Through March 4, 2012.

PICASSO TO WARHOL, a special art exhibition at the High Museum of Art, features over 100 works of art from 14 of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Through Apr. 29, 2012.

If you know of a cool happening coming up soon, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.