ATLRetro

By Aleck Bennett
Contributing Writer

Monday April 29

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 30

Keep on cruisin’ with Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band at Lakewood Amphitheatre. Go Really Retro as Celtic Woman brings their combination of traditional Irish folk and timeless pop anthems to the historic Fox Theatre. Kennesaw State University College of the Arts brings two worlds of musical theatre together for OPERA MEETS BROADWAY at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre. If MGM’s movie musicals are more your swing, take in the ultimate tribute to these classic films as Northlake Festival Movie Tavern’s kicks off their Musical May series with this week’s retro cinema classic, THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! (1974). Cinefest presents a week-long presentation of Charles Burnett’s incredible Watts-lensed slice-of-life drama, Killer of Sheep (1977). 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, May 1

Immerse yourself in the dark, driving grooves of the Alan Evans Trio as they bring their organ-centric jazz, funk and blues licks to Smith’s Olde Bar. Kevin Kinney’s Sun Tangled Angel Revival pulls influence from a host of classic rock and soul artists to deliver a rousing night of music at Eddie’s Attic. Hit the floor to the best of 1980s goth, death rock, EBM and post-punk at 529’s Goth Danse Party (and expect a Bauhaus-heavy mix this week!). Get a second night of classic MGM musical memories with THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! (1974) 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, May 2

Attention all area goths and post-punk fans: prepare to swing the heartache as the legendary Peter Murphy lands in Atlanta with his Mr. Moonlight Tour, celebrating 35 years of Bauhaus at Terminal West. If you’re interested in burlesque shows, photography, music or performers, check out the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret Society’s May Meetup at Elliot Street Deli & Pub. It’s 80s/90s Video Night with free drinks ’til 10 at The Shelter. Relax with a cocktail as Tongo Hiti’s rockin’ alter egos The Volcanauts pilot your journey to subterranean paradise at the vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s. 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. Culliton, Dean & Hall perform their mix of bluegrass, newgrass and swing at Red Light Cafe‘s weekly Bluegrass Thursday. Catch the final night of MGM musical highlights in THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! (1974) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern.

Friday, May 3

Kick off your weekend ATL Retro style! Monstrosity Championship Wrestling kicks off Cinco de Mayo weekend at Famous Pub accompanied by the ’60s rock sounds of Andrew and The Disapyramids! All this and more for only $10! Read an interview with the Disapyramids’ own Kool Kat, Joshua Longino. Step into the world of Brent Hinds’ mysterious rockabilly-surf-metal-country band Fiend Without a Face along with Atlanta legends Tiger! Tiger! and Dang Dang Dang. If the past two nights of dark bliss with 529 and Peter Murphy haven’t been enough for you, be sure to visit The Shelter for the Nocturnia: Reunion goth celebration. 7 Stages (host theatre of ATLRetro favorite Dracula: The Rock Opera) throws a steampunk-themed Taste for Theatre. Also in the steampunk vein, the Artifice Club and XS Ultra Lounge present Artifice Nights featuring the music of Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands, Fable Cry and Insomniac Folklore. If the blues are what you’re feelin’, you’ve got a full night ahead of you as The Breeze Kings serve up tasty blues licks under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. Meanwhile, The John Sosebee Band plays their special brand of hill country juke joint blues-rock at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. The Blues Barons take the stage at Big Tex. And over at the Northside Tavern, Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck brings the Piedmont blues both Friday and Saturday night.

Saturday, April 27

The Masquerade Music Park and Fourth Ward Park will be hosting the first Shaky Knees Music Festival on May 4 and 5, featuring 28 bands on three stages as well as local food trucks, artisans and vendors. Day One delivers performances from roots-respecting bands ranging from the Southern rock-and-country-influenced sounds of Band of Horses and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James to the wild, fuzz-drenched ‘60s Voodoo psychedelia of Sweden’s GOAT. Meanwhile, Chastain Park brings the classic country stylings of the legendary Willie Nelson and Family. Head out to Duluth’s Sportstime Bar & Grille for a night of neon-flashing ‘80s classics from Denim Arcade (and read an interview with vocalist and all-around Kool Kat, Becky Cornier Finch)! May the Fourth be with you as you celebrate the Bash of the Empire on Star Wars Day at The Shelter 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, May 5

Day two of the Shaky Knees Music Festival at The Masquerade Music Park brings performances from rootsy bands ranging from the Americana/folk-rock of The Lumineers and the Muscle Shoals-influenced country-soul of Drive By Truckers to the garage rock of Heartless Bastards. The Trio jazz up The Family Dog. Check out some classic bottleneck acoustic blues from The Tony Bryant Blues Band at Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack. Celebrate the goddess in every woman with Kool Kat Kitty Love and other performers at her monthly burlesque event Kitty Love’s Sultry Sunday at Red Light Cafe.

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.

Do you have or know of a Retro event we should include in This Week in Retro Atlanta? Be sure to email us at atlretro@gmail.com!