This club is among the most famous indie rock venues on the East Coast. The club opened on Halloween 1978, with a band called Strictly American, featuring Curtis Crowe, founder of the club and future member of the band Pylon. Call the number listed or see its website for a schedule of upcoming shows.
Follies is a strip club and bar located off of Buford Highway. The busiest nights are Friday and Saturday when it offers drink specials all night. There is ample parking in the front and in back of the building as well as valet parking.
While others of its kind have come and gone, Cafe 290 has become a regular stomping ground for fans of live jazz. Trumpeter Joe Gransden and his big band draw a standing-room crowd on the first and third Mondays of the month. Weekends bring Atlanta's top sax players, trumpeters, drummers and keyboardists, many of which perform with national artists. On Sunday, the most popular night, saxophonist Gary Harris leads an all-star jam session with open mic performances. A sports bar, wallpapered with snapshot photos from years past, is adjacent to the jazz club. But perhaps Cafe 290's biggest assets are its longtime bartenders. If you go, look for Maurice and Amanda at the jazz bar, and Jazz or Tommy on the sports side.
The Earl (short for East Atlanta Restaurant and Lounge) is Atlanta's premier post-punk rock venue. As one of the hubs of the local indie music scene, The Earl hosts up-and-coming and established bands nightly. The restaurant menu features an array of burgers, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. The bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails. All live shows are 21 and over, and some charge a cover while others are free: check The Earl's website for updates.
The interior at Swinging Richards, which bills itself as "America's gay male strip club," is like a Hollywood set that is trying to reproduce a Las Vegas sin palace that is trying to evoke someplace in ancient Rome. Large and decorative columns foster part of that effect, and a unique wall-mounted sculpture (which cannot be described here) engenders the rest. None of which matters a bit to the patrons of this large and rambling establishment. During one visit, although mostly men surrounded the runway where performers (clad, semiclad and otherwise) strutted, in one corner a bachelorette party appeared to be getting into the swing of things. Visitors to the nightclub should note that patrons may not wear either short skirts or short-shorts on the premises.
Marlene's is one of Austell's hidden treasures. Located just minutes from Highway I-20 near Maxham Road, this sports bar has been servicing the community since 2003. Patrons are blown away by the unique, graffiti-painted exterior.
This facility, which has plenty of parking, has live music and a DJ on-site, six nights a week. Patrons can participate in Ladies Night and Karaoke. There is also a designated pool table area, dance floor and several televisions. Patrons can enjoy a full bar and dance the night away until the wee hours of the morning at this local spot.
