Callanwolde Fine Arts Center opens its 2026 Spring Concert Series this Friday with the first of four outdoor nights at the historic estate in the heart of Atlanta. Sixteen artists — about half from Atlanta, all from the Southeast — will perform across four concerts running March 27 through May 8. The series spans blues, soul, Americana, jazz and classic pop in one of the city’s most distinctive outdoor settings.
Callanwolde kicks off spring with four nights of live music
The 2026 Spring Concert Series opens with Piper & the Hard Times and Rod Hamdallah performing in Callanwolde’s outdoor amphitheater. Three more nights follow: KIN the Band on April 10, Little Hopes on April 24, and True Blossom with Slow Parade closing the series on May 8.
Executive Director Andrew Keenan said the series has roots in the pandemic, when performers had few places to play. “There was so much demand, and we had such a unique venue,” he said.
This year, Keenan gave Operations Director Adam Faust significant input on the lineup, with an intentional lean toward newer voices. “[Adam’s] got his finger on the pulse of up-and-coming bands in the Atlanta area,” Keenan said.
Faust said his curation was also a deliberate investment in the local creative economy. He hopes the 2026 series serves as much of an introduction for first-time visitors as a refresh for returning patrons. “Atlanta is a city full of creatives,” he said, “and there are folks that are deserving of a stage and a new audience.”
The setting is part of the experience
Callanwolde’s hillside amphitheater gives every seat a clear view of the stage, and the estate’s formal gardens frame each night. Keenan describes the atmosphere as intimate and unhurried.
“Some nights, there’ll be a barred owl you hear hooting in the background,” he said. “It’s just kind of a magical experience.”
Guests are encouraged to bring their own food and drink. Lawn seating is available for general admission, while VIP table seating closer to the stage offers a more structured setup. Keenan noted that regulars have refined their setups considerably over the years. One loyal couple arrives with a crockpot.
General admission parking is available across the street at 999 Briarcliff, with paid parking at Callanwolde available for those who want to arrive closer to the stage.
For those new to the property, Keenan wants the welcome mat to be obvious. “Callanwolde is a super welcoming place for anybody,” he said. “That’s our motto and our values around here.”
Four nights, one for every occasion
Faust described the series as a progression — high energy at the start, something sweeter by the end. Asked to recommend a first date night, he pointed to opening night without hesitation.
“If your first date goes well, there’s still time to ride that energy and go somewhere else in the city and then come back in two weeks,” he said.
Keenan added his own endorsement. He said he knows a couple who went on their first date at a Callanwolde concert and are now married — and have already bought tickets to Little Hopes.
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is a nonprofit organization that offers classes and workshops for all ages in visual, literary, and performing arts, along with gallery exhibits, outreach programs, and community events throughout the year. Keenan and Faust both noted that tickets purchased for the series support that broader mission.