By Kris Youmans, Special to The Paper
Holidays in Coweta County are exciting and our Live Music Calendar is sprinkled with special events filling in the spaces of an already popular music scene! The best live music can be found literally everywhere your ears can take you – from the sounds of an acoustic guitar on a sunny winter afternoon patio at RPM’s to Pickin’ On The Square ‘round the courthouse- from the stage at The Alamo to a concert hall at The Nixon Centre. Here’s wishing you a memorable Holiday & New Year & here’s your guide to upcoming shows featuring our local musicians & touring acts in Coweta County.
THE ALAMO
Dec. 15, 9:30 p.m.  Bottle Of Smoke  These guys are pretty much celebrating continuously from St. Pats Day to New Years! Always a good time with this Celtic folk band.
Dec. 16, 9:30 p.m.  Departure/Journey Tribute Band “after seven years together, Departure has become the most respected Journey tribute band in the nation”

Dec. 22, 9:30 p.m.  Monkey Foot  A popular high energy Rock band from Montgomery, Alabama.
Dec. 23, 8 p.m. SWEETBAY’S Christmas Eve-Eve Party.
SWEETBAY’S music is often described as “soulful, guitar driven indie rock with a colorful electronic twist”. Lance Mapp, James Tiernan & Zach Deloach always give a dynamic performance – that along with clever songwriting & their combined musicianship make them one of my personal favorites and one of the best up & coming acts in Georgia! Joining them will be Mobley, & Erok Scott Patterson.  Mobley’s home is Austin Texas – he’s composed dozens of pieces for stage and TV and has toured extensively.
If you know Erok you know his performances are always fun. He’s a one-man party of musical genre-blending magic to be sure!
*Sundays at The Alamo 4 p.m. Sunday Soul Sessions This Open Mic is hosted by one of the most genuine singer/songwriters you’ll have the pleasure to hear- Tyler Wallace. Everything is there ready for you to sign up, plug in and play to Alamo’s appreciative audience.  thealamonewnan.com
THE CELLAR at The Firestone
Dec. 12 & 19th, 7-10 p.m.  The HOT TODDIES – Michelle Malone, Doug Kees & Robby Handley performing holiday hits & sing-a-alongs. This cool, yule trio is “the hottest sleigh ride in town!”
Dec. 14, 6-9 p.m. Matt Lyons
15, 9 p.m. 2 Broke Kings
16, 2-5 p.m.  Capo 3 / 9 p.m. Thompson Lyon
21, 6:30-9 p.m. River Bottom Blues Band
22, 9 p.m. Jacob Stiefel w/ Special Guest Paul Jackson from Blackberry Smoke
23,  2-5 p.m. John Lorenze / 9 p.m. The Employee
29,  9 p.m. The 4 T’s
30,  2-5 p.m. Matt Lyons
Dec. 30, 8-11 p.m. Doug Kees & Moonshine will be Rockin’ & Rollin’ on New Year’s  Eve-Eve!
Dec. 31, 9 p.m.  New Year’s Eve- 2 Broke Kings:  Ross Childress past member of Collective Soul is half of the duo performing as 2 Broke Kings along with Stephen Wines.
www.thecellarnewnan.com
Jan. 6, 9 p.m.  Moses Moe from Mother’s Finest
*Every Wednesday JAZZ w/ Neal Waulchope & Toni Byrd 7-10 p.m.
Toni is a versatile vocalist, world class recording artist, songwriter, & a winner in the 2014 Black Women In Jazz Awards.
BRICKHOUSE
Dec. 30, 9 p.m. Hudson Road ”music with attitude”
Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve , Hors d’oeuvres 7 p.m., Buffet 8:30 p.m. & starting at 10 p.m. Hudson Road will rock you into 2018!
Jan. 12 & Jan. 13, 10 p.m.  The Tom Dixon Band
https://m.facebook.com/BrickhouseNewnan/ call 770-683-2790
Tom Dixon was named “Country Act of the Year” in the 2013 New England Music Awards and “2011 Entertainer of the Year” from the New England Country Music Organization. (Tom is a successful songwriter as well as obviously a powerful performer opening for artists like Zac Brown, Lady Antebellum, Eric Church, etc, I recommend attending one of his January shows here in Newnan at The Brickhouse)
RPM
Dec. 23, 8 p.m. Daniel Toole
Daniel plays with sincerity & character – we always enjoy his acoustic performance
Wednesdays 8 p.m. , Open Mic hosted by one of Newnan’s favorite singer songwriters Blaire Morgan
*Pickin on the Patio 2 p.m. every Sat & Sun, 8pm on Sat nights
www.rpmnewnan.com
HALF SHELL
Dec. 14, 6-8:30 p.m.  WALKER FAMILY bluegrass & traditional country
Dec. 28, 6-8:30 p.m.   LEROGIE
90’s alt rock cover tunes along with originals which are a melting pot of rock, pop, blues, & jazz
*Live Music every Thursday – call 770-502-9911
CORNER TAVERN
Dec. 9, 9p.m. Balanz-Zupern Ova
( Latin Rock/Pop Band)
https://www.facebook.com/newnancornertavern/
LEAF & BEAN
Dec. 22, 7 p.m. Holiday sing-a-long John & Lalla McGee :
John was recently a winner in the The Walnut Valley Folk Festival in Winfield, Kansas.
VINYLYTE RECORDS/BROWN’S GUITAR MILL
Newnan Unplugged! Jan. 13, 7-9 p.m.
Newnan Unplugged is a mini-concert with a lineup of some of the best local & regional songwriters ‘up close & personal’ in a listening room environment. Stage shows featuring talented local musicians will appear regularly on the Vinylyte/Brown’s Guitar Mill Stage!  www.vinylyterecords.com
PICKIN’ ON THE SQUARE
Jan 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Whether you play an instrument or just want to gather round, you can join in for a nearly 10-year tradition of making music on the square. Everyone welcome!
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Kris Youmans is originally from Savannah, Ga. where she was part of the River Street music scene early in her career & is greatly influenced by music in the southern culture. She has lived in Newnan for over 12 years & is the host of Newnan Unplugged, a monthly songwriter concert . She also fronts the Kris Youmans Band & won the Georgia Country Awards Traditional Artist of 2016 . Kris’ interests are focused on the local music scene , organizing music fundraisers for local non-profits , her Band , her three grown children, & Hank the Dog.