Atlanta Music Guide

Big Trouble In Little 5 Points Celebrates Mayor of Ponce's Birthday @ Star Bar, August 20

This month's Big Trouble in Little 5 Points is going to play host to a ton of music from some familiar faces in new packages.

Barreracudas will be headlining, and those who have been following the Atlanta music scene for a while will instantly recognize members of The Hiss. Needless to say, this is a project everyone should (and will) be checking out.

Supporting Barreracudas will be Richard Sherfey & All God's Children, an Athens supergroup made up of (among others) some of the lovely fellas from Modern Skirts.

Also supporting will be The Black Labs, who will be playing their debut show on this night. One half of the duo was part of The Pendletons (one of the best, most fun bands to come out of Athens in the past few years, but sadly broke up) and had worked with The Whigs.

As always, the gig is at Star Bar on the third Thursday of the month (August 20) and is FREE!

Y-O-U Fan Appreciation Party PleaseRock the Yacht, June 30 @ Diesel Restaurant and Bar

One of Atlanta's finest, and definitely most hard-working bands, Y-O-U is putting together a fan appreciation party, to take place at Diesel Restaurant and Bar in Virginia-Highlands on June 30. The event is open to all but you must RSVP first by emailing

rsvp@sashayevents.com.

The event will feature new recordings from the band's upcoming record, produced by the awesome Ben H. Allen (Gnarls Barkley) as well as live music and comedy from Y-O-U's sandal-rock alias 3 Dog Stevens. There will also be free food and drink from Diesel itself and the Atlanta Brewing Company. Oh and everyone is entered to for a chance to win a "Annual Cruise Pass," which gets you into every Yacht Rock show this year. Other giveaways come from Paste Magazine and yours truly, Ticket Alternative (yup, TICKETS!).

So RSVP soon and we'll see you there!

Hollis Gillespie to Sell Laughs for Charity at The Punchline Comedy Club

Local writer, commentator, columnist and all-round cool chick Hollis Gillespie is putting her wit to good use and will be hosting a night of comedy at The Punchline Comedy Club in Sandy Springs on May 6 to raise money to benefit The Juvenile Justice Fund. The fund runs Angela's House, ("the only facility dedicated to offering care and rehabilitation to prostituted children in the state - it has just six beds!" says Gillespie in an email) and to The Dear John Campaign.

Gillespie chose to host the event, called "Hollis Gillespie's Shocking Real Life; a Night of Impropriety to Fight Child Trafficking in Georgia" (more information here), because she had "learned that Georgia is the leading location for child trafficking in the country, so I have organized a benefit to help fight this deplorable distinction." She adds, "No, I am not changing careers, but I am aiming a spotlight on a real problem we're facing in Georgia, seeing as how Atlanta is America's 'top destination' for child trafficking and sexual exploitation."

Comedian Jamie Bendall will be hosting the event, and TT Mahony and the Standard 8 will be musical guests. You can buy your $30 here (every penny of that money goes to the charities described above).

Please pass this information on to anyone and everyone - this will be an amazing event for a great cause!