ATLRetro

Monday, April 15

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 16

Fabulous ’50s month continues with Alfred Hitchcock’s DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), the only movie the suspense master ever filmed in 3D, in digital 3D, 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 17

A tough Wednesday for live music choices. Atlanta’s own Drivin N Cryin’ have a rare local gig with The Forty-Fives and the Prosecutors at the Star Bar. Meanwhile punk/indie favorite Bob Mould (Husker Du) is at Terminal West. Riot Grrls! Europop Ladies! New Wave Chicks! You’re all welcome on Ladies Night at Mary’s in East Atlanta. Go Really Retro with steampunk favorites, the Extraordinary Contraptions, playing with Black Sheep Ensemble and Ford Theatre Reunion at the Drunken Unicorn. See Alfred Hitchcock’s DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), the only movie the suspense master ever filmed in 3D, in digital 3D, 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 gospel blues to Northside Tavern. The Hollidays bring a little soul to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Joe Gransden.

Thursday, April 18

Ghost Riders Car Club, featuring Kool Kat Spike Fullerton, throws one honkytonkin’ Tax Relief Party at Atlanta’s favorite famous dive strip bar, the Clermont Lounge. 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 Joe Gransden. 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. 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. Smokey’s Farmland Band provides the strumming at Red Light Cafe‘s weekly Bluegrass Thursday.  Tommy Dean Trio honkytonks it down at Big Tex in Decatur.  Alfred Hitchcock’s DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954), the only movie the suspense master ever filmed in 3D, in digital 3D, plays a final night at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern.

Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho-Devilles. Photo courtesy of Hot Rod Walt.

Friday, April 19

The Psycho-Devilles, featuring Kool Kat Hot Rod Walt, bring their sizzling rockabilly sound (and maybe even set a guitar on fire) to celebrate the first anniversary of 120 Tavern and Music Hall in Marietta. The Atlanta Jazz Preservation Society‘s weekend-long 24th annual Atlanta Jazz Party, featuring veteran musicians such as ATLRetro fave, Joe Gransden, kicks off today at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North. The District Attorneys, featuring Kool Kat Drew Beskin, rock The Earl Athens-style with Dead Confederate and Teepee. It’s Salsa Dance Night, featuring Salsambo Dance Studio, under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. Lady T Sings the Blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Head to Northside Tavern for down and dirty blues by Stoney Brooks.

Saturday, April 20

The Denim Demons take on the Sake Tuyas at 5 p.m. and the Rumble Bs play the Blue Ridge French Broads in this month’s Atlanta Rollergirls action at the Yaarab Temple. Take a time capsule back to the early ’80s music scene in Atlanta with the premiere of  TELL IT LIKE IT IS, a documentary about The Nightporters featuring REM’s Peter Buck, Rick Richards and others who were there at where else but the Plaza Theatre. Many of Atlanta’s best blues performers pay tribute to a great musician who left us way too soon during the 5th Annual Memorial Celebration for Sean Costello at Northside Tavern. All-star line-up includes the Cazanovas, Rockoholics, Little G. Weevil, the Georgia Flood, Stephen Duncan, Chicago Rock n Blues Camp and special guests. We posted a three-part tribute to Sean in 2011 and you can read part 1 here. The Psycho-Devilles, featuring Kool Kat Hot Rod Walt, bring their sizzling rockabilly sound (and maybe even set a guitar on fire) to American Tavern in Loganville. The Rainmen honkytonk it up at Big Tex.  The Radio Ramblers bring some hot and heavy blues to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. The Bonaventure Quartet swings into Red Light Cafe. 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.

Sunday, April 21

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires bring some old-school soul to the Masquerade. Gwen Hughes and The Trio jazz up The Family Dog. DBA honkytonk up brunch at Big Tex at noon. Check out some down and dirty Fatback Dekuxe blues at Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack. KRULL (1984) 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.

Frida Kahlo. Photo credit: Nickolas Muray

Ongoing

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.