Isley Brothers, Fantasia to perform at Albany Civic Center

ALBANY — They’re the kind of names in the entertainment business that stop people in their tracks: Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Maroon 5, Kenny Chesney, Foo Fighters, Sam Smith, Merle Haggard, Eric Church, Leon Russell, Willie Nelson.

And they’re just a few of the names that will be appearing on marquees from Atlanta to Tallahassee in 2015, offering Southwest Georgia fans opportunities to experience the artists live and in person.

An inordinate number of the top shows are coming to venues in Georgia’s capital city, appearing at Atlanta’s Philips Arena, Variety Playhouse, Tabernacle, Masquerade and other well-known establishments. But the fun won’t be limited to the South’s entertainment capital. Some of the big-name performers lining up shows for the new year will be making stops in Tallahassee, Columbus, Macon and, yes, even Albany.

“I think the people in our region will see that we’re going to make a concerted effort to use our entertainment venues more,” Albany Recreation and Parks Director Joel Holmes, who also serves as director of the Albany Civic Center, the Albany Auditorium and the Veterans Park Amphitheatre, said.

“We’re looking at bringing more local shows to the auditorium and the amphitheater, but we’d like to see more shows at the Civic Center as well.

“I think a lot of the latter will depend on the City Commission’s reaction to our plan to bring a concert series here.”

Threeforty Creative Group principals Justin Andrews and Evan Barber have approached city officials with a request to help fund a concert series over the course of the next year. The promoters hope city officials will pitch in $30,000 each for a series of three shows that would bring some bigger-name country artists to the venue.

Interim City Manager Tom Berry said he’s in favor of OKing city funding for one of the shows as a test to see if there is an audience for an extended series, but he indicated he’s not ready yet to ask city commissioners to go on the hook for all three shows.

“I think we could structure an agreement that would be low-risk for the city,” Berry said. “We could use $30,000 to help make a show possible, then make payback of that funding first priority. We could also make sure any agreement gave us the opportunity to share in the profit if there is any.

“If we have that type situation, I’m in favor of using city funding to help bring a concert series to the Civic Center. It’s a quality-of-life issue. But ultimately, it’s a decision that the City Commission must make.”

While Holmes is pushing for city leaders to help get plans for a concert series off the ground, he said his plans to try and bring larger events to the Civic Center will not live or die with the series.

“Their decision is going to give me an idea of how to proceed,” he said. “But we’ve got a creative staff in our department, and we’re going to work to find ways to bring events here. The Civic Center was one of the biggest concert venues in the state before, and it can be again. We’re reaching out to promoters now, trying to find ways to bring some of the big shows back to our community.”

Promoter/businessman Gilbert Udoto is one person who has not been shy about booking shows at the Civic Center. Three concerts he put on last year brought more than 12,000 patrons to the venue, and Udoto is set to get a jump on 2015 by bringing a big-name pairing to Southwest Georgia.

On March 14, Udoto has booked R&B greats the Isley Brothers and modern R&B chanteuse Fantasia for a Saturday-night extravaganza that could be huge. Fantasia appeared with R&B great Anthony Hamilton on March 15 last year, a bill that drew slightly less than 7,000 paying customers to the Civic Center.

Udoto was unavailable for comment about the 2015 concert, but tickets for the show are scheduled to go on sale Jan. 12.

Worldwide favorites Celtic Woman have a pair of regional shows scheduled early in the new year as well, playing April 11 at Columbus’ Bill Heard Theatre and April 26 at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee. Southern rock superstar Gregg Allman, who just ended the 40-year career of the legendary Allman Brothers Band he and brother Duane co-founded, will perform solo at the Macon City Auditorium Jan. 9.

Allman will also play at the Live Oak, Fla., Wanee Music festival April 16-18. The Allman Brothers served as hosts of that festival over the past 10 years.

While those shows offer an impressive handful of events for music lovers in the region, others who don’t mind a three-hour trip to Georgia’s capital city can see a veritable who’s who of top recording acts in 2015. Dozens of artists are scheduled to play various venues in Atlanta, including:

— Sam Smith, Jan. 9 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre

— Don Williams, Jan. 11, Atlanta Symphony Hall

— Seether/Papa Roach, Jan. 11, Tabernacle

— Martina McBride, Jan. 16, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

— Billy Idol, Jan. 22, Tabernacle

— Merle Haggard, Jan. 23, Atlanta Symphony Hall

— Machine Head, Jan. 25, Masquerade

— Leon Russell, Jan. 27, Kings Plow Arts Center

— Less Than Jake/Real Big Fish, Feb. 2, Masquerade

— Chris Brown/Trey Songz, Feb. 3, Philips Arena

— Kongos, Feb. 5, Center Stage Theatre

— Jerry Seinfeld, Feb. 6, Fox Theatre

— Cold War Kids, Feb. 7, Buckhead Theatre

— Lotus, Feb. 7, Tabernacle

— Shovels & Rope, Feb. 12, Buckhead Theatre

— Jessie J, Feb. 12, Center Stage Theatre

— Guster, Feb. 13, Tabernacle

— Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Feb. 13, Variety Playhouse

— Harry Connick Jr., Feb. 16, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

— Dark Star Orchestra, Feb. 18, Variety Playhouse

— Maroon 5, Feb. 19, Philips Arena

— Willie Nelson, Feb. 27, Tabernacle

— Corey Smith, Feb. 28, Tabernacle

— Billy Joel, Feb. 28, Philips Arena

— Fleetwood Mac, March 25, Philips Arena

— Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice, June 13, Georgia Dome

— Foo Fighters, Oct. 4, Centennial Olympic Park

— Taylor Swift, Oct. 24, Georgia Dome

Georgia favorites Widespread Panic have been selected to replace the Allmans as headliners of the Wanee Festival, a favorite of Southwest Georgia music fans, and other performers scheduled for the three-day festival include Gov’t Mule, Earth, Wind & Fire, Cheap Trick, Robert Randolph, Rich Robinson and dozens more.

The city of Ocilla is hosting a celebration honoring native son Dave Prater Feb. 6. The tiny city will unveil a historic road sign in honor of Prater, who was one-half of the legendary soul group Sam and Dave. Events during the celebration, which is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m., include live music, a talent show, karaoke and other events.

Holmes points out that while he and his staff have only begun in their efforts to bring entertainment events to the Civic Center, a number of showcases are already planned at the venue for 2015. Some of those include:

— Weddings of Georgia Expo, Jan. 18

— King Day Celebration, 5:30 p.m., Jan. 19

— Empty Bowls fundraiser (to benefit Albany Area Arts Council and SOWEGA Council on Aging), 11 a.m., Jan. 21

— Family Reunion Fest, featuring gospel music performances, 3 p.m., Feb. 14

— Disney Junior Live: Pirates and Princess Adventure, 1 p.m., March 21

“While we’re looking to bring more events like these to the Civic Center, we want to encourage area citizens to bring their local events to the amphitheater and auditorium,” Holmes said. “We are going to be as flexible as possible with costs, help as much as we can, because we’re interested in bringing events here for the community. We want as much going on as we can get.”

For information about scheduling events or tickets for scheduled events, call the Civic Center at (229) 430-5200 or (229) 430-4297. Holmes is available at the Recreation and Parks offices at (229) 430-5222.