TDawg Presents brings you the finest in music that heals the soul and brings life to your life. You KNOW that a TDawg show will always be a solid show!
TDawg Presents is thrilled to announce the Holiday Hootenanny 15 lineup! There are still a couple of missing pieces to be filled in due time, but we are going to have ourselves one helluva time! I hope you can be there to celebrate this milestone year. For the 13th consecutive edition, we are proud to donate proceeds to Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. The concert has donated over $90,000 since 2013. Let’s take it over $100K! TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Time: 7 PM Showtime/6 PM Doors
Tickets: General Admission ~ $35 ADV/$50 Door, Reserved $45 ADV/$60 Door. CLICK HERE for online purchase (*fees included in price for online purchases*). To avoid the fees, you can go to the Variety Playhouse box office 2-6 PM M-F and all show nights. Also other Zero Mile venues Terminal West, The Eastern, and Georgia Theater in Athens.
TDawg Presents is excited to bring you the 15th edition of what is a great holiday tradition on the Atlanta music scene, the Holiday Hootenanny! Holiday Hootenanny 15 will take place on Sunday, December 20, 2026 at the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points, its original home beginning in December 2011. The concert moved to Terminal West from 2013-17 before returning to the Variety Playhouse in 2018. For the 13th year, net proceeds from the concert and raffle will directly benefit Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Since 2013, Atlanta Habitat has received over $90,000 from this beautifully organic event. The future is bright to substantially increase that amount! Atlanta Habitat transforms communities by acting as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization through education, innovative development, partnerships and long-term relationships with families. Its vision is an Atlanta where all people have access to quality affordable housing in safe, vibrant neighborhoods with opportunities to thrive. For more information about Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, please visit the Atlanta Habitat website, http://www.atlantahabitat.org.
Holiday Hootenanny 15 will be one for the ages. Celebrating 15 editions of the best holiday season concert on the calendar and raising money for one of the most significant non-profits in Atlanta lays the foundation for what will be some non-stop jaw-dropping music for a great cause.
There’s some great shows coming in September & October in Avondale Estates and Smyrna, including some FREE concerts and a show at The Avon Theater. Hope to see you out at some of these performances!
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WEEKEND WIND DOWN CONCERT SERIES ~ FREE Admission! Town Green, 64 N. Avondale Rd., Avondale Estates, GA) – BYOB, food/beverage also available on site.
September 13 ~ The COT Band, 6-8 PM, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
The C.O.T. Band is a latin band based in the Atlanta area. We play a mix of salsa, merengue, funk, bachata, caribbean rhythms, jazz, rumba, trova cubana and brazilian beats with our own twist.
In 2010 Willie Ziavino formed the C.O.T. Band along with Juan Bonini (Panamá) resulting in the fusion of trova, jazz, caribbean / brazilian rhythms and musical influences from each band member. This world music style blends perfectly with the melting pot that is Atlanta.
The band quickly became very well known in Atlanta’s latin music scenary performing weekly for the last 14 years in the best latin venues in the city.
They have also performed for Coca Cola, High Museum of Art, Georgia State, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Hispanic National Bar Association among others. C.O.T. Band has also been invited to several Southeast music festivals.
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Sunday, September 27 ~ Blue Talk, 6-8 PM (rescheduled from June 7)
STEPHANIE HEATH / SMILING EYES MEDIA
Formed on the campus of Mississippi State University in 2016 by Garrett Caver and Ronnie Bullock, Blue Talk originally went by the now retired name Hood Baby and the Barnacles (a name created on a whim by a random band name generator). Over the course of their college careers the pair would eventually add guitarist Wes Toner in 2017, and drummer Vaughan Brenner the following year.
While based in Mississippi the group found moderate success around the state playing at music festivals like MSU’s Bulldog Bash and the 2018 Missihippi Music and Arts Festival. They also played many of the states more notable venues, taking the stage at Jackson’s Duling Hall and Oxford’s The Lyric. Frequently hitting Oxford, Starkville, and Jackson MS, the band rapidly built a solid following around the Magnolia State playing an original brand of Funk and Neo-soul inspired by the greats of the 1970s.
While gearing up for the release of a debut album and a summer full of music, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped Blue Talk, along with the rest of the world, dead in its tracks. The band had to re-evaluate their priorities and life choices, and after over a year of relative inactivity, the band decided to uproot and move to Atlanta, Georgia in the summer of 2021.
Buddy Red is a genre-bending artist with the creative mind of a time traveler, and the effortless twinkle of a star. As a guitarist, songwriter, and an eye catching personality, he delivers raw, cinematic performances that channel the pain, joy, and power of ‘self realization’. Based in Atlanta, Buddy draws from a wide range of influences, inspired by the psychedelic grandeur of Pink Floyd, the relentless ‘all or nothing’ energy of James Brown, the spiritual freedom of Hendrix, and the soul of traditional Delta blues. Buddy’s take on these historical aspects of ‘Rock n Roll’ create an experience that is both deeply rooted and radically current.
Donna the Buffalo is not just a band, rather one might say that Donna the Buffalo has become a lifestyle for its members and audiences. Since 1989, the roots rockers have played thousands of shows and countless festivals including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Telluride, Austin City Limits Festival, Merle Fest, and Philadelphia Folk Festival.
They’ve opened for The Dead and have toured with Peter Rowan, Del McCoury, Los Lobos, Little Feat, Jim Lauderdale, Rusted Root, and Railroad Earth to name a few. They also toured with Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen to help raise awareness about increased corporate spending in politics.
In 1991, the band started the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, NY. The four-day festival has become an annual destination for over 15,000 music lovers every year and was started as an AIDS benefit. It continues as a benefit for arts and education. To date, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and is now one of three Grassroots Festivals; the Bi-annual Shakori Hills fest in North Carolina and Virginia Key festival in Florida. In 2016 GrassRoots Culture Camp was introduced in Trumansburg, New York as four days of music, art, dance and movement workshops, including nightly dinners and dances.
“Fussin’ n’ Fightin’ is an enchanting, double-couple stringband based in Atlanta, Georgia. Emerging from the foot-stompin’, honky-tonk band Sweet Young Twang, the group features Jessie Almand, Erika Pluhar, Trey Palmer and bluegrass veteran Eddie Kesler of the accomplished Georgia Mountain Stringband.
FnF beautifully blends traditional bluegrass instrumentation with radiant 4-part male and female vocal harmonies around a single mic, while rotating all four members as lead singers. Their shows feature finely-crafted originals along with select covers, all with an energetic, yet heartfelt old-time country feel.”
We’re excited to have these folks opening the evening with their high energy. Certainly setting the stage for an incredible evening of music!
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BLANKET CONCERT SERIES – FREE Admission! 3080 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA ~ BYOB
Blair Crimmins began his current music career in Atlanta, Georgia, with a drive to bring Ragtime and 1920’s style Dixieland Jazz to new audiences. While playing small rock clubs around the Southeast he developed a sound that is at once modern while being deeply rooted in the past. He has toured the U.S and Italy playing festivals and has opened for acts such as Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Old Crow Medicine show. A multiinstrumentalist on guitar, banjo and piano, Crimmins writes songs and arrangements for a classic New Orleans style horn section consisting of trumpet, clarinet and trombone. His debut release “The Musical Stylings Of” became a college radio sensation on WRAS Atlanta making him the most requested band on the air. In 2012 Crimmins showed his musical diversity by writing and recording the full score for the independent short film “Old Man Cabbage”. The following year, Crimmins was the critics pick for Best Song Writer of 2013 in Creative Loafing’s Best of ATL issue. His next album entitled Sing-a-longs! earned him a nomination at The Georgia Music Awards for Best Jazz Artist. After years of relentless touring the country and abroad Blair Crimmins released his 4th album of original ragtime music You Gotta Sell Something (2017), as well as a children’s album All Aboard (2019) and a 5th full length record featuring swinging covers of his favorite artists ranging from Louis Armstrong to David Bowie entitled “Okay Boom!” in 2021.
We’re gearing up for a great summer and early fall. I hope y’all can make it out for these shows. As always, please share and spread the word!
GR8FLDUDE & TDawg Presents are proud to bring you the 19th edition of Jerry Day ATL at its new home, The Avon Theater! After 11 great years at Terminal West, it was time to change course, and we’re super excited to present more musical journeys at the Avon Aug 1, 2, 8, 9 and at various venues around the metro ATL area during the week, filling out the The Days Between.
** All shows are now on sale with Early “Bird Song” discounts for a limited number of tickets! Options for all 4-shows (*VIP-balcony and General Admission – floor) and Weekend floor Passes, along with single show floor General Admission tickets. *VIP is not ADA-compliant as there is no elevator service to the Avon balcony.
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Tickets: $20 GA/Reserved Tables (min 4) $96 – CLICK HERE to purchase
Doors: 6 PM, Showtime: 7 PM
TDawg Presents is excited to bring you the return of The Wilder Flower to the Atlanta area! This extremely talented, young trio of women will wow you with their musical skills & knowledge well beyond their years combined with a modern take on the sound. Steeped in the North Carolina tradition of old-time string music and bluegrass, their harmonies and individual skills are amazing.
The Wilder Flower blends Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, and Old-time influence into something new and fluid. They thrive vocally on three-part harmonies, whether a two-chord old-time ballad, or a modern, minor-filled melody, and instrumentally feature bluegrass banjo tunes, fiddle and clawhammer string-band songs, and everything in between. Their unique sound is centered around original songs and tunes that are thoughtfully arranged and adapted to showcase their tasteful instrumental sensibilities. They flex between genres and writers in each song, but there is something to their collective taste that speaks the same language, though switching dialects.
Donna the Buffalo is not just a band, rather one might say that Donna the Buffalo has become a lifestyle for its members and audiences. Since 1989, the roots rockers have played thousands of shows and countless festivals including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Telluride, Austin City Limits Festival, Merle Fest, and Philadelphia Folk Festival. Original members Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins anchor this iconic band with their revolving door of loyal musicians who can jump in any time. Now in their 35th year as a band, Donna the Buffalo continues to keep that herd rolling along!
They’ve opened for The Dead and have toured with Peter Rowan, Del McCoury, Los Lobos, Little Feat, Jim Lauderdale, Rusted Root, and Railroad Earth to name a few. They also toured with Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen to help raise awareness about increased corporate spending in politics.
“Fussin’ n’ Fightin” is an enchanting, double-couple stringband based in Atlanta, Georgia. Emerging from the foot-stompin’, honky-tonk band Sweet Young Twang, the group features Jessie Almand, Erika Pluhar, Trey Palmer and bluegrass veteran Eddie Kesler of the accomplished Georgia Mountain Stringband.
FnF beautifully blends traditional bluegrass instrumentation with radiant 4-part male and female vocal harmonies around a single mic, while rotating all four members as lead singers. Their shows feature finely-crafted originals along with select covers, all with an energetic, yet heartfelt old-time country feel.”
TDawg Presents, Music On Main Street & Grace Note Foundation are excited to announce the return of Donna the Buffalo to the outdoor stage! Two years ago, they took the stage and wow was it a night to remember. DtB brings blends of roots, folk-rock, reggae, rock, Cajun, zydeco, and folk for a show that is as much a party as it is a concert. History runs deep with TDawg Presents, dating all the way back to Oct 10, 1998 and the 1st Annual Harvest Fest in Fairburn, GA. It’s great to have them back in a wonderful outdoor setting.
Tire Fire Trio brings Appalachian Tire Burning Bluegrass Fusion from the South-East and is a perfect compliment to the rockin’ roots music of DtB!
Proceeds to benefit the Grace Note Foundation, which provides scholarships for band camp and music lessons at MOMS as well as financial aid to musicians in need, primarily for medical purposes.
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Weekend Wind Down Concert Series, City of Avondale Estates Town Green
An electric Thunderclap of burning bluegrass sound, witnessing a Tire Fire performance is like grabbing onto a live wire of musical energy. Featuring fast paced, psychedelic use of acoustic instrumentation alongside Americana and Newgrass songwriting, Tire Fire will take you on a journey from the foothills of the Appalachian’s to the heights of your imagination. When describing Tire Fire, Fans liken the sound to: Billy Strings, Bella Fleck and the Flecktones, Medeski Martin and Wood, String Cheese Incident, Infamous Stringdusters.
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Blanket Concert Series, Smyrna
Saturday, May 31 ~ Yes Ma’am Family Band, 6:30-8:30 PM @ The Reed House(3080 Atlanta Rd SE), FREE!
An epic Georgia music collaboration featuring Diane Durrett, Caroline Aiken, Liz Melendez & Donna Hopkins – connections that span some of the most prolific years in Georgia music history, these veterans of the Peach State music world have shared stages as well as long-time friendships, respect, and mutual admiration.
Now, they are bringing this music family vibe to the Yes, MA’AM Family Band. With harmonies to live for; guitar mastery that runs the full gamut of aching subtlety, acoustic intensity, and soulful electricity; and commanding piano that passionately rouses the senses, YMFB is truly a musical group like no other.
Tickets: Gen Adm $35 ADV / $45 Door, Reserved $45 ADV / $55 Door. Available online through Variety Playhouse and at their Box Office (M-F Noon-6 PM and on show nights)
Things you should know about the 9th Annual Holiday Hootenanny
1. Every Holiday Hootenanny is different yet offers that same insane musical energy that has defined many of us here in the ATL. We continue to embody the spirit of the late Col. Bruce Hampton, who inspired so many of us to “let it ride, let it roll, let it flow!” I find it impossible not to live life with that as a premise at the top of the list. The Bruce banner will be hung!
2. The Johnny Knapp Tribute will be a two-part segment. The first will feature jazz the way that Johnny played it. This is going to be an incredibly special time. That portion will lead into the second half of the set featuring music that Col. Bruce and Johnny loved playing together. Those two gentlemen meant so much to each other and anyone around them or felt the magic created by these two masters of Zambi.
3. Expect the unexpected. For any of y’all who have been to all of the Holiday Hoots, a handful, or if last year was your first one, you know that is trademark. The final jam is going to be one for the books! I’ll leave it at that.
4. Jim Lauderdale will be performing a full set broken down into solo acoustic > bluegrass > full electric with horns. All of the songs featured he co-wrote with the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. This will truly be a remarkable experience to witness.
5. Jeff Sipe and the State Birds featuring Ike Stubblefield, Bryan Lopes, Neal Fountain, Mike Seal, and special guests is about as amazing a way to get the show going. Jeff is one of the finest drummers in the world, and we’re fortunate to have him on board fairly regularly with the Holiday Hootenanny! Check out this fine video of the State Birds minus Ike in an intimate setting. They have a vast knowledge of music so who knows (except for them) what they’re going to do! Soooo much talent.
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Holiday Hootenanny Schedule (subject to change)
6 PM: Doors open
7-7:55 PM: Jeff Sipe & The State Birds feat. Ike Stubblefield, Bryan Lopes, Neal Fountain & Mike Seal and some friends
8:10-9:25 PM: Jim Lauderdale (acoustic, bluegrass & electric), feat. the Zambi Horns and performing music co-written with the late Robert Hunter
9:55-10:55 PM: A Tribute to Johnny Knapp by Jez Graham + quite a few special guests
11:15 PM-12:30 AM: THE JAM feat. Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman, Larry Keel, Steve ‘Big Daddy’ McMurry, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Jason Carter, Jeff Sipe & more!
We are thrilled to welcome Creature Comforts Brewing Co. on board as a sponsor for the 9th Annual Holiday Hootenanny! This Athens, GA based brewery is home to the top selling IPA in Georgia, Tropicalia, and we’ll also be featuring the Classic City Lager. Visit their website to learn more about them!
Tickets: Gen Adm $35 ADV / $45 Door, Reserved $45 ADV / $55 Door. Available Friday, August 30 @ 10 AM online through Variety Playhouse and at their Box Office (M-F Noon-6 PM and on show nights)
Enjoy this fine clip from the 7th Annual Holiday Hootenanny celebrating the late Col. Bruce Hampton. It was Johnny Knapp’s final performance at the Holiday Hoot.
Tickets: Gen Adm $35 ADV / $45 Door, Reserved $45 ADV / $55 Door. Available Friday, August 30 @ 10 AM online through Variety Playhouse and at their Box Office (M-F Noon-6 PM and on show nights)
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We are thrilled to announce a few additions to the Holiday Hootenanny lineup y’all! Our official statesman, multi-Grammy winnerJim Lauderdale, will be joining us once again! His sets have been quite a highlight each of the previous three years, and we’re grateful that he is able to return again for what promises to be another memorable set. Jim is a very successful songwriter in Nashville, having written songs performed by the likes of George Strait, the Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless, and countless others. He also is co-host of the highly successful Buddy & Jim Show on Sirius/XM’s Outlaw Country. We are also pleased to welcome multi-Grammy winner and fiddling master Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band, Travelin’ McCourys) Also, please welcome Acoustic Syndicate’s own Steve “Big Daddy” McMurry as well as Jeff Sipe’s State Birds, featuring bassist extraordinaire Neal Fountain, guitarist Mike Seals (Jerry Douglas Band, Sierra Hull), and saxophonist Bryan Lopes.
Fast , elegant and beautiful, this dynamic quartet take musical flight together as “State Birds” (the name is a nod to Col. Bruce Hampton). With the lineup growing for the 9th Annual Holiday Hootenanny, this set promises to present some surprises for all of us!
The music is mesmerizing and delivered with joy and passion. The near telepathic communication is a result of years of chemistry together. The bands’ roots go back to 1983 in Atlanta. Each of the band members played with Bruce Hampton for a spell and share a unique musical bond. Below is a video captured by good friend Ron Currens at Music On Main Street in 2018, enjoy!
Steve “Big Daddy” McMurry is a founding member, lead vocalist, guitarist & mandolin player of the amazing band, Little King recording artist Acoustic Syndicate. My history with this band goes all the way back to the first HarvestFest on October 10, 1998, and they are “still my favorite band after all these years!” Big Daddy’s friendship and comradery with just about everyone on this lineup only means the family vibe for this year’s Holiday Hoot is going to be felt by everyone in the room. The jams will be plentiful and the music joyous.
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The current lineup: Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman, Jim Lauderdale, Larry Keel, Steve “Big Daddy” McMurry, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Jason Carter, A Tribute Johnny Knapp, Jeff Sipe, The State Birds, Bryan Lopes, Neal Fountain, Mike Seals, Daniel Wytanis, more to come!!!
Stay tuned for the remainder of the lineup for the 9th Annual Holiday Hootenanny to come your way soon! PLEASE spread the good word, and get your tickets now if you know you can go! We’re going to have a nice-sized crowd this year, so dont’ be left out! Zambi!!
Tickets: Gen Adm $35 ADV / $45 Door, Reserved $45 ADV / $55 Door. Available Friday, August 30 @ 10 AM online through Variety Playhouse and at their Box Office (M-F Noon-6 PM and on show nights)
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We are thrilled to bring you a very exciting lineup to the 9th Annual Holiday Hootenanny, which will yet again benefit Atlanta Habitat for Humanity! There will be more to add including some of the finest that Atlanta has to offer, but below is a list of performers up to this point in time:
And that’s just the initial lineup! Stay tuned for more announcements in the upcoming weeks. Meanwhile here’s a gem from the 2nd Annual Holiday Hootenanny in 2012 at the Variety Playhouse that featured Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Sipe, Count M’Butu, Yonrico Scott, Ike Stubblefield, Papa Mali and Wet Willie’s own Jimmy Hall. Enjoy! Spread the good word!
Happy New Year y’all! I hope that everyone has enjoyed a happy holiday season! Having fully recovered from the 8th Annual Holiday Hootenanny as well as taken time for reflection time upon such a wonderful event, it truly warms my heart (and hopefully yours!) to be a part of something unique and special in a time of year that can be difficult for many. We had a strong turnout of 500 for the concert, and I am proud to announce a $6,000 donation to Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, the largest donation yet! Let’s keep it up y’all and next year will easily be more! Thank YOU for caring enough to join us on a very rainy night and provide a filled room for our return to the Variety Playhouse. I felt like we were home again!
Jason Carter, Lyndsay Pruett, John Mailander
Thanks to our primary sponsor, Georgia’s own Spring Mountain Farms Chicken, all the musicians – especially Peter Rowan for flying across the country – and to Linda Brackner, Tamara Botkin, Brenda Stepp, Ben Brackner & John Griffin for their support and love of the Holiday Hoot movement. This show is indeed a labor of love that is so important in these divided times we live in these days. Can’t wait until next year!
The music was, as expected, completely over the top, as everyone brought
Jeff Mosier & Jim Lauderdale
their A-game to a night of jams that had no rehearsals, and it felt like they’d been playing together for years. It boggles the mind how good these musicians really are and how much they enjoy getting together for this annual gathering that I call OUR holiday office party on the big stage 😉 The mini set that started off the night paying tribute to the late, great Vassar Clements set the tone for the evening, featuring a fiddle trifecta that I’m sure had Vassar
Heather Gillis
flashing that smile from up above. Heather Gillis was sensational – gritty, soulful, vocals and some nasty, brilliant guitar play dominated her set. Can’t wait to do more with her in the future! Jim Lauderdale and Peter Rowan delivered exactly what you’d expect and more. You could tell that each of those two living legends were having a blast up on stage with such talented musicians surrounding them, and when Jim invited Peter on stage to sing “Sitting Alone in the Moonlight”, there was an incredible feeling of love and admiration between the two that anyone in the audience could feel. Jeff Mosier led the final set which was only fitting, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. His version of “Black Muddy River” is one of the best out there, and closing out the night with the fiddle anthem “Orange Blossom Special”, led by the incomparable Larry Keel with fiddles on fire, was the only way to go.
On that note, I really want to thank all the musicians who participated this year, it was a special one for certain. Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, Heather Gillis, Larry Keel, Jeff Mosier, Jeff Sipe, Richie Jones, Bobby Miller, Jared Womack, Matthew Williams, Papa J, Bryan Lopes, Daniel Wytanis, Nick DiSebastian, Evan Sarver, Jason Carter, Lyndsay Pruett, John Mailander, Bill Fleming, Mark Henry, Franher Joseph, Kevin Thomas, and Wildman Steve. From top to bottom, what an amazing grouping of musicians to take this show on!
Stay tuned for details around the same time next year, same venue!
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS: General Admission $35 Adv/$45 Day of Show, Reserved $45 Adv/$55 Day of Show (No service fee if purchased at the Variety Playhouse box M-F 12-6 PM or during all shows)
Folks, yet again, we have a wonderful variety of music centric items on the silent auction block! Here is a list of some of the items that will be present: Lock’n Festival: 1 Pair of General Admission passes w/ camping ~ Suwannee Spring Reunion: 1 Pair All-Access passes w/ camping ~ Widespread Panic New Year’s Eve at the Fabulous Fox Theatre: 1 Pair tickets ~ A signed-by-everyone guitar ~ Custom-framed concert photographs ~ Restaurant Gift Certificates ~ Jewelry, and more!
