This week

First Friday Night Concert Series, Dahlonega. 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Fridays of the month, this Friday-October. Emerald Rose, Friday; Remember When Band, June 4; The Georgia Mudcats and Yahoola, July 2; Fools Gold of Dahlonega, Aug. 6; Russo and Noe, Sept. 3 and Kurt Thomas, Oct. 1. Hancock Park, one block off the square, downtown Dahlonega.

Zac Brown Band, Alpharetta. 7 p.m. Saturday, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. $25-$49. Ticketmaster.

Sam Skelton Jazz Allstars, Gainesville. Season finale for the Evenings of Intimate Jazz series from The Arts Council. 8 p.m. Saturday, Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St., Gainesville. $30, $25 each for groups of six or more. 770-534-2787.

Brasstown Big Band, Hiawassee. 3 p.m. Sunday, Anderson Music Hall, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee. $5-$25. 706-896-4191.

The Watkins Family, Lula. 6 p.m. Sunday, Belton Baptist Church, Grove Street, Dahlonega. Donation. 678-617-3609.

Upcoming

Good for the Hood, Athens. Benefit concert featuring Bain Mattox; Wilder Embry and Chris Bennett; and Heather Heyn. 2-5 p.m. May 16, White Tiger Gourmet, 217 Hiawassee Ave., Athens. $7 advance, $10 at the door. 706-206-3055 to reserve a ticket.

The Sautee Nacoochee Community Chorale spring concert, Sautee. 8 p.m. May 14 and 15, 2 p.m. May 16, Sautee Nacoochee Center Theatre, 283 Ga. 255 N., Sautee. $13 SNCA members, $18 nonmembers. 706-878-3300.

Rock in the Spring, Gainesville. Featuring Mid Life Crisis. Benefits Challenged Child and Friends, Inc. 7-11:30 p.m. May 15, Brenau Amphitheater, 500 Washington St., Gainesville. $20 before event; $25 at the door. 770-535-8372, ext. 309 or gail@challengedchild.org.

Southern Voice Tour, Atlanta. Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum and Love & Theft. 7 p.m. May 15, Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta. $30-$69.25. Ticketmaster.   

Daniel Rodriguez, Gainesville. 8 p.m. May 20. The Arts Council's Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St., Gainesville. $25. 770-534-2787.

Bluegrass Festival, Blairsville. Bands including the Raven Welch Band, Roots & Branches, Forgiven, Hwy 76, Parker Brothers, Regrass, Harmony Way and Blue Billy Grit. Dogs must be leashed. Concessions and restrooms available. Bring your own lawn chairs. 5-11 p.m. May 21 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Canal Lake Campground, 1035 Canal Lake Road, Blairsville. $5; children age 11 and younger free. 706-835-9230.

Caroline Aiken and DeDe Vogt, Sautee. 8 p.m. May 22, Sautee Nacoochee Center, 283 Ga. 255 N., Sautee. $15 SNCA members, $20 nonmembers. 706-878-3300.

Star Spangled Salute to American Heroes, Gainesville. The Northwinds Symphonic Band. 7:30 p.m. May 31, First Baptist Church of Gainesville, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free.

Concerts at the Depot, Flowery Branch. Bring a picnic, blankets and chairs. 7-9 p.m. second and fourth Saturdays in June, July and August. James Patrick Morgan, June 12; Grafted by Grace, June 26, Blossom Creek Breeze, July 10; Grafted by Grace, July 24; Jordan Rager, Aug. 14 and Blossom Creek, Aug. 28, Old Train Depot, 5600 Main St., Flowery Branch. Free. 678-698-1387.

Patriotic Picnic Pops concert, Gainesville. Gainesville Symphony Orchestra with Shawn Megorden. 7:30 p.m. July 3, Brenau University Amphitheater, 500 Washington St., Gainesville. $30 adults, $27 seniors, $12 students. Add $50 per table of eight. 770-532-5727.

Georgia Bluesfest 2010, Dahlonega. Guitarist Johnny Winter, James Cotton, Men In Blues, Fat Momma Band, Robert Lee Coleman, Reverb-O-Rockets, Sammy Blue Band and WSNB. Gates open at 9:30 a.m.; music, 11 a.m.; Johnny Winter and James Cotton, 9 p.m. August 21, R-Ranch Rodeo Arena, 65 R Ranch Road, Dahlonega. $40. brian@georgiabluesfest.com.

Ongoing

Blue Sky Concert series, Gainesville. Live music noon Wednesdays through May 26, downtown Gainesville square. Free. 770-297-1141. 

Appalachian Jam, Dahlonega. Acoustic bluegrass and old time string music. Musicians and listeners welcome. 2-5 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 9, Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site, downtown Dahlonega square. 706-864-3513 or 706-864-6133.