Fall is Pride season in Georgia: Black Gay Pride just took place over Labor Day Weekend, Atlanta Pride is slated for Oct. 8-9, and in between are Savannah Pride, South Georgia Pride and Athens Pride.
But while many of these celebrations include musical acts, you don’t have to wait for an official festival to find your Pride-ful tunes this season.
From out LGBT performers to allies who have performed at Pride festivals here and around the country, the fall is filled with concerts to get queer hands clapping and bodies dancing.
As usual, lesbian singer-songwriters lead the list. Sept. 20 will be a tough choice for acoustic music fans as Atlanta’s own Doria Roberts plays a CD release party at Decatur CD, while Melissa Ferrick brings her stirring new album, “Still Right Here,” to nearby Eddie’s Attic. Also look for lesbian-inclusive “alternagrass” band Roxie Watson at the Five Spot on Sept. 23, one of several local shows for the band this season.
October’s set list is just a strong. Beloved hometown lesbian duo (and former Atlanta Pride performers) Indigo Girls release their new album “Beauty Queen Sister” Oct. 4; they perform Oct. 1 in Atlanta for Party at Ponce and Oct. 6 in Athens.
The Atlanta Pride Festival features a long list of performers Oct. 8-9, including headliners Deborah Cox and Ari Gold. Other highlights for October include blues diva Candye Kane at Sister Louisa’s (Oct. 3), lesbian icon k.d. lang at Variety Playhouse (Oct. 5), outspoken ally Cyndi Lauper at Cobb Energy Center (Oct. 12), crooner Adele at the Fox (Oct. 16) and Marsha Ambrosius — who just performed at Black Gay Pride — at Center Stage Theatre (Oct. 23).
November includes The Sounds, led by out front-woman Maja Ivarsson, at Masquerade on Nov. 7. Disappear Fear comes to Eddie’s Attic Nov. 20, as queer singer-songwriter Sonia is joined by her sister Cindy, who performed with the band in its earlier years. Renowned gay saxophonist Dave Koz plays Cobb Energy Centre Nov. 25.
December brings queer-inclusive band Girlyman to Eddie’s Attic (Dec. 9) and rapper Wale, who played Washington D.C.’s Black Gay Pride last year, to The Tabernacle on Dec. 12.
September
Sept. 16: Colbie Caillat @ ATL Botanical Garden
Sept. 18: DeKalb Rape Crisis Center Benefit @ Eddie’s Attic
Sept. 20: Doria Roberts CD release @ Decatur CD
Sept. 20: Melissa Ferrick and Ria Mae @ Eddie’s Attic
Sept. 20: Modern English @ Smith’s Olde Bar
Sept. 21: Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Sept. 23: Roxie Watson @ The Five Spot
Sept. 23: Sara Hickman, Erick Baker and Phoebe Hunt @ Eddie’s Attic
Sept. 24: Music Midtown @ Piedmont Park
October
Oct. 1: Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins and Francine Reed @ Party on Ponce
Oct. 1: Michelle Malone @ Eddie’s Attic
Oct. 1-2: Taylor Swift @ Philips Arena
Oct. 2: Chris Brown with Kelly Rowland @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Oct. 3: Candye Kane @ Sister Louisa’s Church
Oct. 5: k.d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang @ Variety Playhouse
Oct. 6: Indigo Girls @ Classic Center in Athens
Oct. 6: Mates of State @ the Drunken Unicorn
Oct. 8-9: Atlanta Pride
Oct. 9: Hannah Thomas Band and Danielle Howle @ Eddie’s Attic
Oct. 12: Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Oct. 13: The Belle Brigade @ Masquerade
Oct. 14: Duran Duran @ Chastain Park
Oct. 15: Little Big Town @ Buckhead Theatre
Oct. 16: Adele @ Fox Theatre
Oct. 20: Sonia Leigh @ Variety Playhouse
Oct. 22: Sugarland @ Philips Arena
Oct. 23: Marsha Ambrosius @ Center Stage Theatre
November
Nov. 7: The Sounds @ Masquerade
Nov. 14: Shelby Lynne @ Eddie’s Attic
Nov. 15: Michelle Shocked @ Eddie’s Attic
Nov. 20: Disappear Fear @ Eddie’s Attic
Nov. 20: Lykke Li @ Buckhead Theatre
Nov. 25: Dave Koz and Friends @ Cobb Energy Centre
Nov. 25: Tony Bennett @ Fox Theatre
Nov. 26: Shawn Mullins @ Variety Playhouse
Nov. 29: Tori Amos @ Cobb Energy Centre
December
Dec. 3: Roxie Watson @ Eddie’s Attic
Dec. 9: Girlyman and Coyote Grace @ Eddie’s Attic
Dec. 12: Wale @ The Tabernacle
Top photo: Duran Duran (publicity photo)