It’s not called Hotlanta for nothing. In the summer, Atlanta heats up, offering a barrage of festivals, events, and concerts.
Every Friday at 6pm, downtown Atlanta comes alive for a live concert at Centennial Olympic Park. Concerts are free or low cost, and continue through and June, July and August. In the past, performers such as India Aire, John Mayer, Uncle Kracker, Maroon 5, Shaggy, and Hootie and the Blowfish have been featured. For more information visit www.onthebricks.com
Also on Friday nights, these concerts rock Stone Mountain Park, located just 15 minutes from Emory. At a price of $7 per vehicle, the price is well worth it for performers like 3 Doors Down, Hoobastank, They Might Be Giants and Whitestripe.
Christened as a music venue for the 1996 Olympics, the Tabernacle soon became Atlanta's favorite place to hear national acts raise their voices. The renovated church holds to no single doctrine, hosting congregations of rockers, rappers and ravers. Its towering 100-foot ceiling accommodates a sloping general-admission floor and two wrapping balconies, offering multiple vantage points and varying acoustics. But what's on stage is only half the show. Every inch of the building shows off whimsical homespun trims, while the performance area's crystal chandelier and grand pipe organ centerpieces are awe-inspiring. Break away from the concert and relax in one of the plush, comfortably nestled lounges. It's the listeners who truly benefit, as they experience an intimacy lost in most venues, often standing 10 feet from their idols. Sold-out performers include Brand New, the Smashing Pumpkins and Ben Folds. Acts whose faithful have outgrown smaller venues are standard performers, as are arena gods seeking to reconnect with fans.
Visit www.tabernacleatl.com for more information
A mile from all the Buckhead boozing sits an intimate outdoor stage, nestled in the trees of Chastain Park. This summertime venue sells tickets for tables by the stage (which seat six), orchestra seats and general admission to the lawn. The musical attractions run toward icons with a little gray in the hair--Wilco, Boston, James Taylor. Socializing and food come first, music second. Table holders bring elaborate candelabras, tablecloths and four-course meals. Lawn dwellers spread out blankets and get comfortable with their picnic baskets and bottles of wine. Sit back and enjoy the scenery and the music.
Visit www.classicchastain.com
If you're looking for a live music venue that regularly showcases multinational indie talent, it's hard to beat the Roxy. The multitude of autographed memorabilia in the lobby and bar attests to the venue's staying power. The intimate 1,200-person, smoke-free black box hall is a great space for seeing large acts or local favorites. Downstairs, an open floor offers standing room, while the balcony (occasionally reserved for VIP) features reclining seats. The Roxy is the last stop on the relatively intimate Atlanta mid-sized circuit. Acts such as Bob Dylan and the Cure have used the venue to reconnect, while artists such as Moby have offered one last pre-arena performance. And the proximity to the Buckhead late night scene means the night doesn't have to end when the show does.
Visit http://www.livenation.com/venue/getVenue/venueId/963/
This downtown jewel hosts the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) and the major concerts of the moment. The $213 million domed venue opened in late 1999. The number of seats varies from 18,000 to 21,000 depending on the event, and the wide range of seating options--from luxury suites to nose bleed sections--increases the chances of getting a ticket in your price range.
Visit www.philipsarena.com
More concert/live music information can be found at: http://www.pollstar.com
Turner Field
This plush, classic stadium made just for baseball sports a giant 30-by-38 foot video screen, Braves museum and kids' entertainment areas. Other amenities include an enormous fireworks-spewing Coke bottle made of baseball paraphernalia and the blessed left-field sprinklers for those steamy summer afternoons. A wide variety of food--from the standby foot-long hot dog to the obscure conewich, a barbecue sandwich in breadcone--is available to break the bank. At 19-by-22 inches, the seats aren't bad for a big-league park. There's no spectacle in Atlanta that equals 49,714 Braves fans chanting while raising and lowering red foam tomahawks in synchronicity. The tour, which starts at the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame and includes the luxury suite, dugout and broadcast booth, provides a less obstructed view of the stadium. (Call 404.614.2311 for hours and prices.)
Visit www.atlantabraves.com
DeKalb Memorial Field
Catch all the action of fast paced professional soccer as the Atlanta Silverbacks play in cozy DeKalb memorial stadium. Get close to the action and cheer on the home team for rowdy play.
Visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com
If you feel the need for speed, quench it at theAtlanta Motor Speedway. The Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.54-mile quad-oval track, is one of the premier motor sports facilities in the country. Hosting a variety of motor events, including two NASCAR races, throughout the summer, the speedway is home to the largest sporting event in the state of Georgia.
Visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
