60 days of Chattanooga concert highlights

The best thing about this list is that it could be so much longer. This quick 60-day sampler highlights some great opportunities to catch really great bands making stops in Chattanooga. It's a pretty impressive list of fantastic performers who help make the live music scene so robust. Be sure to follow the links to the venues' websites for their complete listings of upcoming shows, and check here and here for even more.

Seryn
Where: Barking Legs Theater
When: Friday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m.
How much: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Soaring, serene and seamless are a few words used to describe the Denton, Texas quintet who were Paste Magazine's Best of the Fest from last year's South by Southwest Music Festival. All of the band's five members are multi-instrumentalists, often swapping each other's gear during a performance. But they have plenty to choose from, including violin, percussion, bass, trumpet, cello, guitar, drums, banjo, pump organ, accordion, bells and a ukulele. The band is also known for creating Arcade Fire-worthy “majestic swells.” Give them a listen here.

They Might Be Giants
Where: Track 29
When: Sunday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m.
Ages: 14+ (show is not suitable for young children)
How much: $20 in advance, $22 at the door
The New York alt-pop duo is celebrating its 30^th year making music by bringing out new music to their fans on an extensive tour. Founders John Flansburgh and John Linnell seem to be “on a creative roll,” releasing two CDs in 2011, including their 15^th “Join Us,” followed by a compilation of "outtakes and oddities" they call “Album Raises New and Troubling Questions.” Flansburgh recently told Rolling Stone that things are pretty intense on the road, but it sounded like a good thing for audiences. “Every day we’re adding songs and changing songs and doing new stuff. It can be quite intense,” he said in the interview.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Where: Roland Hayes Concert Hall (UTC Fine Arts Center)
When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $22 for adults, $19 for ages 60+, $15 for students
This world-renowned male vocal ensemble from South Africa will perform an evening of a cappella, or isicathamiya music, a style of singing that was introduced to Western ears because of songs like this collaboration with Paul Simon for his "Graceland" CD and this song, co-written with LBM founder Joseph Shabalala and Simon.  The ensemble continues to collaborate with some of the world's best, including Emmylou Harris, Hugh Masekela, Natalie Merchant, the English Chamber Orchestra, Sarah McLachlan, Phoebe Snow and Taj Mahal, among others.

Black Jacket Symphony
Where: Tivoli Theatre
When: Friday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m.
How much: $25-$30 (423-757-5050)
If you caught the BJS a few months ago at the Tivoli doing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," then you know what this night is about. This time, a new group of musicians, who have exquisitely learned every single note of every song from "Zepplin IV," will perform the album start to finish. In case you don't remember, that means “Stairway to Heaven,”.... “Rock and Roll,”... “When the Levee Breaks,”... Yes, that one. The full-stage production also includes a top-notch light and video show and finishes with a performance of the band's greatest hits.

James McMurtry
Where: Rhythm & Brews
When: Saturday, Feb. 18, 9:30 p.m.
How much: $15
Nearly 25 years ago, James McMurtry's father, Larry, the novelist and screenwriter, handed one of his son's demo tapes to John Mellencamp during production of the film "Falling From Grace," with the hopes that Mellencamp might want to record one of his son's songs. Instead, Mellencamp paved the way for McMurtry to record his own songs, producing his major label debut, “Too Long in the Wasteland.” The sardonic and fiercely honest songwriter has a loyal following of critics and fans and is called one of the best protest singers performing today. Even Mellencamp said he “writes like he's lived a lifetime.”

Sam Bush Band
Where: Track 29
When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m.
Ages: 18+ (a $3 charge will be collected at the door from all ticket holders under the age of 21)
How much: $22 in advance, $25 at the door
Fans know this show will not disappoint anyone who has yet to catch the newgrass king's many performances in our city. His intensity on the mandolin is hard to match, but the three-time fiddle champ is also a Grammy Award-winning vocalist. Plus, everyone wants to play with him; just ask some of the greats in country and bluegrass, like Doc Watson, Bela Fleck, Nanci Griffith, Dolly Parton, John Prine, Trisha Yearwood, Neil Diamond, Guy Clark, Linda Ronstadt and Lyle Lovett, to name just a few.

Wanda Jackson
Where: Track 29
When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m.
Ages: 18+ (a $3 charge will be collected at the door from all ticket holders under the age of 21)
How much: $15 in advance, $17 at the door
The rockabilly queen was scheduled to perform last summer in Chattanooga during Nightfall, but the show was cancelled after a last-minute scheduling conflict that came up during her tour with Adele. Here is the chance to check out the sass and fire of the 74-year-old singer who toured with Elvis Presley, recorded her newest album with Jack White (of the White Stripes) and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Tommy Emmanuel
Where: Rhythm & Brews
When: Thursday, March 1, 7 p.m.
How much: $45
If Chet Atkins is one of your biggest fans, you have to be pretty darn good. The Grammy-nominated guitar legend from Australia has a career that now spans 50 years. His unique "finger style" playing uses all 10 fingers, allowing Emmanuel to play melody, rhythm, bass and drum parts as a soloist on one guitar, garnering accolades that recognize him as one of "the world's greatest musicians." The show will be completely seated to create the intimate environment worthy of "an evening of genius," local promoters said.

North Mississippi Allstars
Where: Track 29
When: Saturday, March 3, 9 p.m.
Ages: 18+ (a $3 charge will be collected at the door from all ticket holders under the age of 21)
How much: $16 in advance, $18 at the door
Here is another chance to catch the band that the alt country/roots music authority, No Depression, calls "the greatest rock band on the planet." Co-founder Luther Dickinson is splitting his time playing lead guitar for The Black Crowes and touring with his "other band," the North Mississippi Allstars. Dickinson formed the band in 1996 with his brother Cody, Chris Chew and Duwayne Burnside, son of blues legend R. L. Burnside. The band made their network television debut in 2000 on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and served as the house band for a few months in 2004 on "Last Call with Carson Daly."

Gavin DeGraw
Where: Track 29
When: Wednesday, March 14, 8 p.m.
Ages: 18+ (a $3 charge will be collected at the door from all ticket holders under the age of 21)
How much: $25 in advance, $27 at the door
DeGraw is beginning the new year with some great news. His single "Not Over You" has just hit platinum, selling more than 1 million copies. Known for his melodious blue-eyed soul, this rising star, singer, songwriter and musician has enjoyed continual success since his 2003 debut. That release, "Chariot," sold more than a million copies and included three hit singles: “I Don’t Want to Be,” “Follow Through” and the title-track, “Chariot.” His follow-up, self-titled sophomore release debuted at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart in 2008 and included the hit singles “In Love with a Girl” and “We Belong Together.”

Don Williams
Where: Tivoli Theatre
When: Sunday, March 18, 7 p.m.
How much: $29.50-$49.50 (423-757-5050)
Country music's "gentle giant" had at least one major hit every year between 1974 and 1991, with 56 chart records, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame, which Williams was inducted into last year. Fifty of these reached the country Top Twenty, 45 made the Top Ten and 17 went to No. 1. In 1978, he was CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, and his recording of "Tulsa Time" was ACM Single of the Year. In 1980, readers of London's Country Music People magazine named him Artist of the Decade. It is no wonder he is considered a true American classic.

Stephane Wrembel
Where: Barking Legs Theater
When: Thursday, March 22, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Gypsy jazz comes to Chattanooga by way of French guitarist Stephane Wrembel. The rising star's music was featured in the soundtrack for Woody Allen's Oscar-nominated "Midnight in Paris." In fact, his performance of "Bistro Fada" is the film's recurring musical theme. Wrembel has not only recorded with such acclaimed musicians as David Grisman and Mark O'Conner, he has also enjoyed a headlining performance at Lincoln Center. 

Updated @ 3:47 p.m. on 01/31/12 to fix a misspelling.