WED/18
DAVID GUETTA Famous for his "Fuck me, I'm famous" club parties and mix records, this Parisian DJ has been known as the first to spin house records in France. His latest endeavor finds him on the production end of a star-studded album, teaming up with Akon, Will.i.am, Estelle, Kid Cudi, Ne-Yo, and Kelly Rowland, among others. Despite the crossover appeal, dude's first love still resides behind the decks. $40-$75. 9 p.m. Opera. 404-874-0428. www.operaatlanta.com. — Alejandro Leal
LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND With a soft Texas drawl and a way with sound, Lovett has entertained the masses for years with his unique approach to music — play what you like, and they will follow. Always splendid, always satisfying. $55-$64. 8 p.m. Tabernacle. 404-659-9022. www.livenation.com. — James Kelly
THURS/19
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA World premiere of “Blues Symphony” by Wynton Marsalis, plus jazz-influenced works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Ravel. Featured soloists: pianist Olli Mustonen, clarinetist Laura Ardan. Repeats FRI/20, SUN/22. $25-$80. 8 p.m. Symphony Hall. 404-733-4900. www.atlantasymphony.org. — Mark Gresham
HEAVY TRASH Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray’s dark, voodoo vision of Americana combines cracked country, raw rockabilly and Cramps-styled psychotic influences into a stanky stew best experienced live, where all the unhinged qualities are encouraged to detonate. It’s even more unpredictable and, um, explosive than Spencer’s Blues Explosion. $10-$12. 8:30 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — Hal Horowitz
FRI/20
CECYLIA ARZEWSKI Former concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and recipient of the 2009 Hambidge distinguished artist award, violinist Arzewski performs unaccompanied works by J.S. Bach. (She was an award winner in the 1978 International Bach Competition.) Free. Noon. Michael C. Carlos Museum. 404-727-5050. www.arts.emory.edu. — MG
ROBERT EARL KEEN, SONS OF BILL Another Texas legend hits town tonight, with witty songs, dark and funny stories, and lots of road miles of experience. Keen has the routine down pat, and the frat boys love him. Newcomers the Sons of Bill open. $20. 9 p.m. Wild Bill's. 678-473-1000. www.wildbillsatlanta.com. — JK
STOMP & STAMMER ANNIVERSARY PARTY Stomp & Stammer magazine celebrates 13 years of toiling in the trenches of Atlanta's music scene while offering up biting commentary, news, essays and right-wing — oops, sorry — libertarian movie reviews. To celebrate, local acts Judi Chicago, Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics, the Barreracudas and Whale Fall perform. Free. 8 p.m. Star Bar. 404-681-9018. www.starbaratlanta.com. — Chad Radford
SUBDUDES This veteran New Orleans collective’s predominantly acoustic mix of swamp rock, singer/songwriter pop and rugged folk is infused with just enough Big Easy juice to provide a vibrant vibe, despite the subdued inferences of its name. The band tours behind a poignant new album; a song cycle told from the standpoint of a deceased soldier circa the turn of the century. $20. 8 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH
VAN HUNT A couple of times a year, former Atlantan Van Hunt likes to return to his old digs to little fanfare. It's the one thing to expect from the funky eccentric with a penchant for doing the unexpected. The show should be a treat, featuring material from his rarities album Use In Case of Emergency, which he self-released earlier this year after being unceremoniously dropped from Blue Note in ’08. $20. 10 p.m. Andrew's Upstairs. 404-467-1600. www.eastandrews.com. — Rondey Carmichael
SAT/21
4TH WARD AFRO-KLEZMER ORCHESTRA, CAPIBARA Atlanta's 4WAKO celebrates the release party for its debut CD, East Atlanta Passover Stomp. The nine-piece jazz ensemble wields a fiery concoction of Klezmer melodies that skitter over various Afro rhythms and arrangements. Local rockers Capibara open. $5-$7. 9 p.m. Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. 404-874-5756. www.myspace.com/highlandinnloungeatlanta. — CR
ATLANTA BASS WARS The fourth installment in this series features a diverse lineup of some of Atlanta’s most adventurous DJs doing battle for low-end supremacy. From drum-n-bass to electro to hip-hop, genre lines are eschewed as Random Rabbit, Edo, Quad Control and others focus on the booty-shaking bass lines. Free. 10 p.m. Blue Frog Cantina. 404-658-6108. — JW
BRASIL GUITAR DUO Classical guitarists João Luiz and Douglas Lora have performed together since their teens in São Paolo. Not only classical, their repertoire also draws influences from the traditional sounds of Brazil: samba, maxixe, choro and baião. $35. 8:15 p.m. Spivey Hall. 678-466-4200. www.spiveyhall.org. — MG
J. TILLMAN, PEARLY GATE MUSIC, THE MEEKS FAMILY Fleet Foxes drummer Tillman plays a set of sometimes brash, though mostly brittle folkish and ethereal numbers from his sixth solo outing, Year in the Kingdom. Seattle's Pearly Gate Music and Atlanta act the Meeks Family also perform. $12. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CR
SKA IS DEAD TOUR It's true, ska music has been dead for a good long while now. Somehow, the Toasters, Mustard Plug, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Deal's Gone Bad, Fatter Than Albert, Taj Motel Trio, the Independents and 50:50 Shot didn't get that memo. So come skank it up with the hangers-on who have become the last bastions of ska. $15. 6:30 p.m. Masquerade. 404-577-8178. masq.com. — CR
WEBB WILDER Frequent visitor Wilder returns supporting a new album that continues to hone his country-rock/garage-surf influences by including songs made famous by Roky Erickson, Percy Sledge, the Animals, the Flamin’ Groovies and others, along with a handful of originals. He’s been at this for two decades and knows how to knock out an energetic live show that’ll make you wonder why his studio sets are so comparatively tame. $15-$18. 6 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH
SUN/22
CHUBBY CHECKER Never has one song simultaneously built and broken a sinle career like "The Twist" has to Chubby Checker's. Next year will mark the 50th since his version of the song, originally released by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, started the all-American dance frenzy. And you thought Soulja Boy was a pioneer? $50. 7 p.m. The Alamo. 770-683-2526. www.thealamonewnan.com. — RC
EILEN JEWELL, SARAH BORGES The ladies are gonna show y'all how to twang tonight. Jewell is a songcrafter whose gentle demeanor underscores her sharp lyrics. Borges is a country rocker, with a ton of energy and a slew of great songs. $10-$50. 7:30 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. — JK
