ATLRetro

Monday, June 18

Joe Gransden and his smokin’ 16-piece orchestra swing the bimonthly Big Band Night at Cafe 290 the first and third Mondey of every month. From 3 p.m. 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. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for BBQ and Dry White Toast.

Tuesday, June 19

Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Burning Time rock the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance the night away at Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

Wednesday, June 20

The BoDeans rock The Variety Playhouse. Cowabunga! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze (1991) gets a big screen resurrection at 9:30 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. J.P. Blues brings on the blues at 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 June 21

Texas country music singer Robert Earl Keen and The White Buffalo play Variety. Eat, drink and play a classic game with an adult spin every Thursday night as Mon Cherie presents Mad Lib-Ations, Atlanta’s newest Retro weekly pastime, starting at 7 p.m. at the Corner Tavern in Little 5 Points. The fun-filled night includes games and prizes from some of the city’s most fun Retro retailers, Psychobilly Freakout and punk faves spun by DJ Rev. Andy and a raffle. Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. Also on Thursdays in June , enjoy the live Jubilee Jazz Series, featuring Sal Gentille tonight, at Tower Stage in Vinings Jubilee.  The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Buttermilk Revival jams at Red Light Café’s weekly Bluegrass Thursday.

Friday, June 22

Yacht Rock Revue brings back ’70s soft rock at Park Tavern. Webb Wilder bring his unique cowbilly sound to the intimate venue of Shorty’s Pizza in Tucker. The Breeze Kings bring on both classic and contemporary blues at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX.

Saturday, June 23

Norah Jones jazzes up the Fox Theatre. Often compared to Sigur Ros, indie-chamber rock band England in 1819 comes to The Five Spot with “beautiful haunting melodies, sized up and spread out in the post-rock vein, with atmosphere and thoughtfulness building to massive ending-anthems.” A bunch of great and groovy Atlanta grassroots visual artists, including recent Shop Around profilee Jolene Wheeler of Dingogirl’s Den are the stars of Art Box Party at dooGallery. The Atlanta INTOWN newspaper-sponsored event also features poets FOCUS and Collin Kelley, food trucks, DJ Jade Lemons and other surprises. The Big Bang Ball, billed as a modern dustbowl carnival, explodes at the Goat Farm. The first annual celebration of the artists and companies that BANG! Arts Management & Promotion has worked with includes performances by such ATLRetro favorite performers as neo-ragtime musicians extraordinaire Blair Crimmins & the Hookers, Lera Lynn, Villain Family, Adron, Cute Boots and burlesque aerialist Sadie Hawkins. Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper rock Lakewood. Lola & the Blues Ladies light up Northside Tavern. All-female Elvis tribute band Pelvis Breastlies play the Star Bar with The Cherry Bomb, Pink Pompeii and Echoes of Belham. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, June 24

For decades, pit bulls were considered the all American dog! Carni-Bull Vintage Fundraiser for Atlanta Bully Rescue is a huge, FUN, vintage themed family-friendly event at Taj-Ma-Hound with carnival games, vintage cars, a Pin Up Contest, vendors, costume contests, and adoptable dogs. Cowabunga! Grab the kids and head to a matinee encore at 3 p.m. of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze (1991) at the Plaza Theatre. Or sing-a-long to THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965) at 2 p.m. in The Fox Theatre’s Coca-Cola Summer Film Series. Snake Legs bring on the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern. Virginia Plane plays dunch at 1 p.m. at The Earl.

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