.

All About Tonight w/ Blake Shelton!

2012-02-01T12:34:00.001-05:00

Friday night was a busy one here at The Arena with reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton, in the house for a sold-out show. For those of you who are big fans of Blake, you knew this was probably going to be one big party! However, with this being only his second show since his father passed, I wasn't sure how difficult getting back on stage would be for him. Well never fear, our Marketing team got the opportunity to greet him before the show, and I knew at that moment he was ready to give all of the fans in the crowd an awesome show...and that he did!

I've seen a lot of concerts (part of the territory when you work at a concert venue), and even a lot of really great concerts, but not many have the crowd and energy of the Well Lit & Amplified tour. From the first notes of "Footloose," to the last notes of his current smash "God Gave Me You," the crowd sang along to every word and didn't bother with sitting down.

Photo courtesy of Raven Nichols

One thing that really struck me was how engaging Blake was with the crowd. Many artists will talk and interact a little bit, but Blake seemed to get a big kick out of telling stories about everything from drinking, to his hit TV-show The Voice, to, well, drinking!

Speaking of The Voice, I would have never expected a Christina Aguilera impersonation from one of country music's golden boys, but he not only gave a spot on rendition of the pop queen, he threw in a little medley of his other Voice co-stars hit songs "Moves Like Jagger," and "Forget You." I have since learned Blake is going to be teaming up with Cee Lo Green for a song. Now THAT should be interesting!

Even though Blake has had a slew of hits since "Austin," that song is still my personal favorite. I really enjoyed the acoustic part of the show where he included this song, and hearing the entire crowd drown out Blake's voice singing along.

I also have to take a moment to congratulate Blake. Not only did he deliver an awesome, sold-out show here at The Arena, his single "God Gave Me You" earned Platinum status, while his "Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton" and "Red River Blue" albums reached Gold certification. Industry and label members presented these awards to him in a surprise ceremony at our show. Way to go, Blake!!

Our Marketing team greets Blake & his promotion staff.

Photo courtesy of Raven Nichols

And, of course, we can't leave out his opening acts - Dia Frampton (from The Voice) and Justin Moore who did an excellent job of getting an already fun crowd riled up for Blake's performance.

Photo courtesy of Raven Nichols

Robb D. Cohen/ www.RobbsPhotos.com

Alright, Blake Shelton fans, I want to hear from you - what did you think about the show last Friday??

Happy (belated) New Year!

2012-01-19T11:31:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to what is shaping up to be a fantastic 2012 here at The Arena at Gwinnett Center! We've got some great shows coming up, and you do not want to miss out (trust me!). Just check out this sneak preview of what's coming:

Blake Shelton - Well Lit and Amplified Tour
ft. Justin Moore & Dia Frampton
January 27th - BUY TICKETS

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey present Fully Charged
February 23rd-26th
Group discounts available for groups of 10+
BUY TICKETS

The Original Harlem Globetrotters
March 18th
Group discounts available for groups of 10+
BUY TICKETS

SEC Women's Gymnastics Championships
March 23rd-25th

Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove
March 28th-April 1st
Group discounts available for groups of 10+
BUY TICKETS

NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships
April 20th-22nd
Ticket information available soon!
Group discounts available for groups of 10+

Lady Antebellum
ft. Darius Rucker
June 22nd - BUY TICKETS

Also, please note - if you bought tickets to the sold-out Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, it has been rescheduled. The lead singer suffered a foot injury, and the original January 30th date has now been moved to April 10th. Tickets will still be valid, and refunds are available through your point of purchase.

See? I told you we have lots of awesome things going on around here, so there are no excuses for not coming out to see us at least once! Not to mention, we've got some more great things in the works, so stay tuned.

A Fan Celebrates 20 Years of Reba

2011-11-14T11:38:00.050-05:00

by Joey Webster

Guest Blogger

Let me start this review by jumping back a few years: picture this, November 11, 1995 - Florence, South Carolina. An 11-year-old boy is on his way to see his first Reba McEntire concert with his parents at the Florence Civic Center, having been a fan since 1991. Now, let's jump to November 12, 2011, almost 16 years to the day, and 20 years after becoming a fan of Reba, this same boy - now 27, gets in the car for the 5-hour trip to Atlanta, GA to see what will be his 15th Reba concert.

I have been to Atlanta three times before to see Reba, in 2004 and 2007 at Chastain Park Ampitheatre, and in 2005 at Philips Arena with Brad Paisley. This was my first experience attending a show at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, and it instantly became a favorite.

I will get to the show review in a moment, but I must give major props and applause to this arena. I loved the location, quietly tucked away back in the woods, far enough away from the busy Atlanta interstates. We arrived early and took advantage of the chance to walk around the arena and look it over. It was a beautiful place and we hadn't even entered the building yet.

The doors opened between 6:15 and 6:30, which is when the website said it would. We went in and headed to our seats. The inside of the arena was just as nice as the outside. I was lucky enough to have floor seating about twelve rows back. I have been on the floor and shows before, and the first thing I noticed was that these chairs had cushions on them. I've been other places where it was just metal chairs, so the nice cushions were a great plus.

The show started on time right at 7:30 with Eden's Edge taking the stage. I was not familiar with this group, however I was very impressed with them and I think in the coming years, country music will be glad to have them on their side. Eden's Edge seemed to transform into Steel Magnolia right before our eyes. Steel Magnolia is a country duo headed by Meghan Linsey. She was wonderful and full of energy. About three songs in, she performed a great semi-rock version of Patsy Clines classing "Walking After Midnight." She then introduced special guest, James Otto, to the stage. The two had a great time performing "In Color," a song James co-wrote with Jamey Johnson. The two final songs were "Just got Started Loving You," and "Keep On Lovin' You."

With a quick change of set, next up was The Band Perry. Still high off their win as Best New Artist at the CMA's earlier in the week, they were ready to rock - and they did. The family trio, consisting of brothers Reid and Neil, and sister Kimberly, played through many of the hit songs from their debut album, including: "Hip to My Heart," "You Lie," "All Your Life," and CMA Single and Song of the Year, "If I Die Young." I would gladly pay to see this group in concert again. They are here to stay.

Finally the stage was set for The Queen of Country: REBA. Like I said, this being my 15th concert, I knew Reba was going to put on a show, not the big theatrical show like she did back in the 90s with 14 costume changes, fireworks, etc., but still I knew I was in for yet another treat.

Opening the show with "All The Woman I Am," the arena burst into cheers, screams and applause as the Oklahoma native appeared behind a see-through curtain in black pants, boots and a sleeveless blue glitter top
:It's so good to be back in Atlanta again," she said as she plowed through the hits: "Strange," "The Fear of Being Alone," her current single, "Somebody's Chelsea," and "Is There Life Out There." Being in Georgia, the place went wild when the intro for "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" began. Reba has great command of the stage and it's hard to take your eyes off of her. She told stores and laughed as she sang hit after hit. With 25 number one songs, 30+ albums, and over 35 years in the business - how do you pick what hits to play in a show? Reba did not disappoint us long time fans throwing in several medley's of her 80s and 90s hits: "Somebody," "Till You Love Me," "You Lie," "And Still," and a personal favorite, 1986's Grammy winning "Whoever's In New England." A second medley consisted of many of her up-tempo number one hits including: "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter," "Walk On," "I'd Rather Ride Around With You," and her first number one record from 1982, "Can't Even Get The Blues." Earlier this year, Reba's father suffered a stroke and was in a coma for several weeks. Luckily, he is doing much better. "Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers about Daddy," Reba said as she performed "The Greatest Man I Never Knew" while pictures of her family played on the big screen behind her.

Kimberly Perry returned to the stage and joined Reba for her hit duet, "Does He Love You." "Consider Me Gone," "Because of You," and "Take it Back/Why Haven't I Heard from You" medley and "I'm a Survivor" rounded out the end of the show. Roaring into her latest number one hit, "Turn on the Radio," the show ended to thunderous applause. "Thank you so much, I love ya," Reba said as she left the sage. However, for us long time fan who have been around for years, we know - the show is NEVER over until "Fancy" is sung.

The video screen lit up with the beginning dialogue of the 1991 video of the song. Reba returned in a leathery type knee length red dress and red heels. The sound in the arena was deafening. I'm sure it's hard to keep the song fresh and new having performing it at every concert since its release in 1991. However, when she sings the lyrics "you know I might have been born just plain white trash, but fancy was my name," not only do you believe her, but you kind of want to be her.

The song ended and the curtain fell on my 15th concert. At 56, Reba still sounds amazing and has more energy onstage than most of the younger generation we see today. This year, Reba was inducted into the highest honor in country music - The Country Music Hall of Fame. I see no sign of Reba slowing down anytime soon. As I walked out of the arena, two employees at different areas said "Thanks for coming out - drive safe," and "thank you for coming." I've never had that happen before. I would gladly trek back to the Gwinnett Center for another show, being one of the best arenas I have EVER been to. Maybe one day I'll return for my 20th, or even 30th, Reba concert.

Country Music's Biggest Night

2011-11-10T17:27:00.000-05:00

Last night was a big night for country's finest at the CMA Awards in Nashville, TN. There were so many great performances, funny jokes and interesting outfits it's hard to know where to start with my re-cap. Since I am not a fashion blogger, and this is a blog for an entertainment venue, not InStyle - I should probably leave Natasha Bedingfield and LeAnn Rimes' fashion choices alone and focus on the music :).

Mostly, I was really excited to watch the show because we have so many CMA winners and legends coming through the Arena between now and February, that this show was a nice sneak peek at what to expect in the coming months!

If you didn't catch the show, The Band Perry pretty much stole the spotlight the entire night. In their first time at the CMA Awards as nominees, the band took home three awards including Single and Song of the Year as well as New Artist of the Year, and gave a killer performance. What an amazing night for them! They will be playing here Saturday night with Reba, who presented the award for Entertainer of the Year and is also a 4-time winner of the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award. We do have limited tickets still available - click here. I am getting more and more excited about this show as Saturday gets closer!

Our boy Blake Shelton also had a big night taking home the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award. And with his wife Miranda Lambert's win for Female Vocalist of the Year, it seems Tim & Faith have been ousted as the reigning King and Queen of country music.

It wouldn't be a country music awards show if some artists didn't bring in their friends from other genres to lend a helping hand. Grace Potter, Matt Nathanson, Natasha Bedingfield and Lionel Ritchie all made performances on the show.

Even though the night focused on a lot of newcomers, country veteran Martina McBride gave a touching performance amid a sea of cell phone lights doing exactly what she does best - bringing songs with a message to life. The 4-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner showed once again that she can mesmerize an audience simply by singing a song that resonates with so many people.

In their fourth year as hosts, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood left no tabloid favorites untouched making jokes about everyone from Hank Williams Jr. and Eddie Murphy to Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber - with a little help from Little Jimmy Dickens.

Overall I thought this was one of the better CMA awards shows in recent memory. It made me even more excited when I saw all of these artists who will be performing at our Arena soon:

November 12th - Reba w/ The Band Perry
December 13th - Matt Nathanson (as part of Star 94's Jingle Jam)
January 27th - Blake Shelton
February 10th -George Strait and Martina McBride

Foo Fighters Rock Gwinnett!

2011-11-09T17:40:00.000-05:00

We had an awesome time with the Foo Fighters and a SOLD OUT crowd on Monday night! Thanks to everyone who came out, and a special thank you to our Guest Blogger - Matt Martin.

Foo Fighters Guest Blog

by: Matt Martin

We live in a generation where rock n roll is becoming second tier. It may not be dead, but rock is on musical life support. Today’s music is ruled by pre-teens and young adults that prefer a good looking solo act who can’t play instruments or write their own songs to bands like Cage the Elephant, The Black Keys, or Foo Fighters. It really says something about an artist or band that spends minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years working on an album that truly means something to them and that shares an intimate lesson with their fans. Real artists can make people listen to their songs endlessly because of a deep connection in the lyrics that saves people. The Foo Fighters are a rare breed who write and record albums themselves in a garage studio. Dave Grohl said they do this to make their live performances sound just like the album. I have never seen a band who gives the crowd everything they could want like the Foo Fighters. Dave will start a song in the middle of the stage, then once you look away just for a moment; he’s on the other side of the arena. Dave is the main man in the band and everybody knows it, but Dave takes time out of his shows to give much deserved credit to the band and let them share the spotlight. My favorite song was played in the way I hoped it would be – reminiscent of Coldplay’s “Fix You,” – “My Hero” is a great song that is perfect for a crowd to sing along with the band. It was a fantastic show with a lot of great energy from both the band and the crowd. The Foo Fighters definitely know how to put on a show and I hope they come back really soon! As the band left I thought to myself, there goes my hero, watch him as he goes.

Ant in Atlanta

2011-10-19T11:12:00.000-04:00

Recently, I got the opportunity to spend the day with this guy:

Who is he, might you ask? You can probably tell pretty easily that he is a Harlem Globetrotter, who is clearly very good at performing tricks that make the team so well-known. His name is Ant Atkinson and he was the first-pick in the Globetrotters very first draft in 2007.

Ant came to spend some time visiting local elementary schools in the metro-Atlanta area presenting the Globetrotters' C.H.E.E.R program. This program teaches children about Cooperation, Healthy mind & body, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Responsibility.

The kids at each school we visited LOVED Ant and told me that this was the coolest day they've ever had at school. My favorite quote of the day came from a little boy who said "oh my goodness it's LeBron James!" Oh, the things kids say.

I love that the Globetrotters feel the importance of getting out into the community to encourage young people. I think we might have even come across a few future Globies on our adventure around Atlanta! Some of those kids were pretty good at learning the tricks Ant taught them! Me on the other hand, not so much. I don't think I'll be joining TNT Maddox (the only female Globetrotter) anytime soon.

Tickets for the Harlem Globetrotters are on-sale NOW. They will be here March 18th and I know Ant (and the rest of the team) would love to see all of you there! Click HERE for tickets. Got a group to bring? Call 770.813.7533 for group discounts. This is a great outing to bring kids to, and is just as enjoyable for adults as well!

October, Already?

2011-10-07T11:32:00.000-04:00

Is anyone else having a hard time believing it's already October? What a beautiful week we've been having here in Gwinnett!

It's been a busy week too as we've had the Catalyst Conference on campus with us. They will be finishing up their sessions today before two big events tomorrow - Dance with the Stars Atlanta, benefiting the American Cancer Society, and Vicente Fernandez will be performing at The Arena!

I always feel once October hits, so does the start of the "holiday season" and all of the fun chaos that surrounds this time of year. Be sure you are a part of our Facebook community, following us on Twitter and a part of our Insider club so you don't miss any of the action. We have LOTS of exciting stuff to announce this month and I don't want you to miss out!

Not only do we have lots of fun announcements to make, we have plenty of things for you to come out and do this month! Don't miss Enrique Iglesias w/ Pitbull & Prince Royce on October 20th and our Gwinnett Gladiators hockey team will kick off their season October 21st.

Happy October!!

Backstage w/ SYTYCD!

2011-09-20T16:51:00.000-04:00

Well friends, the dancers from Season 8 of So You Think You Can Dance have taken over The Arena and are ready to blow you away in their show here tonight!

I got to sit down with them earlier this afternoon for an interview and let me tell you, they are extremely nice and a ton of fun!! They promised fans one, well really two, things tonight - a good time and lots of sweat (there are over 50 numbers in the show!).

The Season 8 dancers of So You Think You Can Dance in a pre-show interview at

The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

For Mitchell and winner, Melanie, tonight is a particularly special stop because they both will be performing in front of their hometown crowd. In fact, the group paid a visit to Melanie's house in Marietta when they got into town last night! Wondering what that's like? Well I asked both Mitchell and Melanie their thoughts on being back home in Georgia:

Melanie: I will be more nervous tonight because I will know the crowd. My dance teachers will be there and they're proud, but they will point out mistakes!

Mitchell: Yea, these are people who know your dancing skills and are excited for you, but are also used to pushing you to be your best. We want to make Georgia proud and we want everyone here to be proud of what we are doing.

Since this is only the 3rd stop on the tour, the group is just getting adjusted to life on the road, but they LOVE (and I mean, LOVE) the busses - especially the "magical buttons." One thing that isn't so great? Missing family. That was a unanimous, and very understandable, answer.

Our contest winner, Johnny Phelps, wanted to ask the group how their lives would be different if they didn't have dance and if they would still be the same person they are today. They all agreed that dance is their life and they couldn't imagine their lives without it. Mitchell went on to further answer the question by saying that he would probably be on a reality TV show (this would definitely be a successful option for you, Mitchell!).

I was curious to know what else this group might be interested in doing in the future...it comes as no surprise that most of it centers around dance and/or the entertainment industry:

Clarice - modeling/film

Ricky - tour w/ Cirque du Soleil

Nick - move to L.A. (he would play football if he couldn't pick dance)

Sasha & Mitchell - choreographer

Caitlynn - get into film/Disney channel

And Melanie is of course...DANCE!

So what else did our Georgia girl have to say?

How did she cope with often being dubbed as "the favorite" throughout the season?

Melanie: I tried to put that out of my head and take each week as it's own. I didn't need pressure from anyone else.

She also narrowed down her favorite performances from the season:

1. First performance

2. Duet w/ Sasha the "powerhouse" (using Melanie's term)

3. Total Eclipse w/ Neal

I know I am really looking forward to seeing this personable and talented bunch take the stage tonight! Who knows, maybe I will even pick up a few new moves. If you don't have tickets, we still have limited seats available, so get yours already (time is ticking!). You can get them here at the Arena box office.

So You Think You Can Win??

2011-09-14T17:27:00.000-04:00

The Fox hit So You Think You Can Dance will be bringing the 2011 tour HERE next Tuesday, September 20th and guess what...we have a chance for you to WIN two tickets to the show!

The show will feature the Top 10 finalists from Season 10 including two fellow Georgians - winner Melanie Moore as well as Mitchell Kelly. Sounds like Georgia is a pretty talented place!

How do you enter? Simple. Click on the link below which will direct you to our website. I will have the opportunity to interview some of the contestants before the show on Tuesday and I want to hear what questions YOU want answered. To enter the contest, you will submit an interview question in the entry form on our website (link below) to have an opportunity to win the two tickets. A Gwinnett Center employee will determine the best/most unique question as the ticket giveaway winner on Friday, September 16th. Be sure to get your entries in by 5:00pm EST on 9/16/11 to qualify!

Good luck my friends!!

ENTER HERE!!

Dragons, Lions and Amazing Acrobats

2011-09-08T11:33:00.000-04:00

If you've checked out our Facebook or Twitter pages, you've probably noticed the rave reviews Cirque du Soleil's Dralion received from fans who came out to see the show last weekend. I must say that I can't help but agree with everyone - this show was awesome!

Preparing for the show's arrival, I had read (and even written!) a lot about Dralion and what to expect from the show. Even though I'd never seen a Cirque production before, I thought I was ready for what I was about to see. However, I was blown away by the amazing stunts these performers can execute.

Like many, I was left wondering how in the world someone could balance solely on one hand while managing to move the body in ways I did not even know were possible. I'm not even sure I could balance on one hand at all, let alone for an entire act - and trying those moves would definitely be out of the question! And those trampoline jumpers? I would have for sure went flying off the trampoline and broken a bone...or several. One of the Cirque staff told me that many of the jumpers in the trampoline act were actually once part of an Olympic trampoline jumping team. No wonder they could fly through the air and land on those tiny little blocks like magic. I loved the energy and awe-inspiring moments that brought to the show.

Out of all the amazing acts, if there was one Dralion stunt I could choose to learn, it would be the aerial hoop act that was performed so seamelessly by the Air character. Twirling in midair through all of those hoops and ribbons, the aerial acrobats were incredible. I guess years and years of practice has taken away any fear they have about sailing through air, because I know I would be terrified trying to learn that trick - no matter how fun it appears.

Aside from the incredible performers that were a part of Dralion, I can't leave out the equally amazing costumes. As I mentioned before, these costumes take a lot of effort to design and maintain and the show travels with an entire wardrobe department just to keep these performers looking sharp. I can now see why they need those wardrobe experts. The costumes were vibrant, elaborate and just flat out amazing!

Between the acrobats and costumes, it's hard to imagine there was another part of the show that could top the list as my favorite - but four hilarious clowns managed to do the trick. They would pop out during various parts of the show providing the audience with quite the comedy routine. Props to the clowns as I know I was not the only audience member laughing at their witty performance!

I think the show definitely achieved its goal of celebrating culture and combining the elements of the east and the west (which I know you smarties already knew since you read the last blog post!). Thanks to the crew and performers for a job well done and a big thanks to all of YOU who came out to spend your Labor Day weekend with us!

It's an eventful fall here and we've got some great stuff coming, so check out our events page and come out to see us:

Upcoming Events

Inside Cirque du Soleil: Dralion (+ FREE Tickets!)

2011-08-26T09:57:00.000-04:00

Cirque du Soleil is bringing Dralion here to The Arena at Gwinnett Center in less than a week and I want to take a moment to bring you behind the scenes of the show and introduce you to the stars! What's even better? At the end of the blog, you will have the opportunity to win two tickets to one of the shows! Pay close attention so you can answer the trivia question and win our ticket giveaway.

So, I know some of you might be wondering what exactly a Dralion actually is and what things you need to know about the show - well, here are the basics:

The show premiered in 1999 and has been seen by over 7 million people worldwide
This is the first time it has moved from the usual big top location to arenas
How did they get the name? The name comes from two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West
There are four main elements in the show that take on human form and are each represented by a certain color: air (blue), water (green), fire (red) and earth (ochre)
The show features 50 international acrobats, gymnasts, musicians and singers

Meet the Characters:

Remember how I mentioned that the four main natural elements come to life in human form? Well Azala is the goddess of Air and her job is the guardian of the sun and immortality. You will find her floating through space in many shades of blue.

Gaya is the goddess of Earth and possesses human warmth (represented by fire) and the cool, fresh vitality of life (represented by water). You can recognize her through her ochre, or earthlike colored, attire.

The goddess of Water is represented by the color green and is called Oceane. She is the queen of movement and through the art of dance can control the movement of the oceans.

The character you've seen in our Facebook profile picture is Yao, the guide to the fiery demons (represented by red). As you might suspect, he controls the rhythm of the show and symbolizes both good and evil.

If you noticed, those costumes are incredibly elaborate. Can you imagine being in the wardrobe department? The team includes 4 permanent touring staff and 3 local wardrobe employees in each city. Talk about a big job! Over 16,000 feet of fabric was used to create the costumes and the fabrics come from regions all over the world. The costume designers spent over three months to create the original costumes and are continuosly creating new ones.

Ok, ok...now for the moment you've really been waiting for. How do you win those tickets? Easy. Read the trivia question below and leave a comment on this blog post, a comment on our Facebook status about the contest (http://ow.ly/6dyfk), or tag us @GwinnettArena on Twitter with the answer. Every name will be entered into a random drawing on Tuesday, August 30th.

Question: Where does the name "Dralion" come from?

All entries MUST be submitted by Tuesday, August 30th at 12:00 noon EST to be entered into the drawing. Only one entry per person.

Good luck!!

Keith Urban "Gets Closer"

2011-08-08T15:22:00.000-04:00

If Keith Urban’s two-night stop here at The Arena at Gwinnett Center last Thursday and Friday didn’t impress you, then I’m not exactly sure what will. Whether it was his superb guitar skills or his down-to-earth attitude, this show was delivered in top-notch fashion. When he titled his tour “Get Closer,” he definitely wasn’t kidding! As Keith took the stage singing “Put You in a Song,” fans got their first clue that they were about to experience something a little different than your typical concert. The stage setup was unlike any other I’ve seen, including tracking resembling a roller coaster ride at Six Flags and a stage with a rounded edge and a ramp descending down into the crowd – no barriers separating Keith from the thousands of you that packed the venue to see him sing his massive catalogue of hits. But he took it even further by making his way out into the screaming crowd not once, but twice, giving all fans an up-close and personal view of his cover-worthy face and even giving away his guitar to one lucky fan! In case that wasn’t enough fan interaction, later on in the show he decided to turn The Arena at Gwinnett Center into a karaoke party, inviting three fans up on stage to battle it out in a little friendly competition for a chance to sing “Kiss a Girl” with the Aussie himself. This proved to be a highly entertaining (and my personal favorite) part of the show.

As an observer, I was impressed how genuine and personable Keith appeared. Another one of my favorite parts of the show happened Thursday night with Steve and Rhonda from North Carolina. Clever Steve made a bet with his wife Rhonda that if he could get her a kiss from Keith Urban he would be allowed to get a new banjo. Keith made dreams come true for both by inviting them onstage for a kiss and a picture – well actually, no kisses for Steve, just Rhonda (sorry, Steve…you only cared about the banjo anyways, right?).

It was very apparent that his genuine attitude, Aussie accent, killer guitar skills and easy-on-the-eyes appearance have earned him many adoring fans. The crowd couldn’t have had a better time, singing every word of every song at the top of their lungs and dancing the night away to the spectacular light show that accompanied each song of his two-plus hour set.

Whether this was your first experience seeing Keith Urban live, like me, or you are a die-hard fan who has seen him many times, I don’t know if there is any way you could have left disappointed. Keith Urban delivered two energetic, give-it-all-he’s-got, fan-centered performances solidified by his sweat-drenched hair and piles of confetti raining down from the ceiling after his final number. Thanks for the rocking performances, Keith!

Getting To Know Paul McDonald of American Idol

2011-07-26T16:49:00.000-04:00

Paul, so you went to Auburn… What did you think of the national championship?

Man it was awesome!! I was actually doing all this American Idol stuff and I was the only one backstage watching the game. Everyone kept coming up to me asking who I was cheering for and what I was doing. To be honest I had to beg for them to put the game on for me in the green room. They wanted me to stay focused for my song, but I had to watch the game!

If you could tour with any two artists who would they be?

That is a great question. Um, there are so many people to choose from. I love Mumford and Sons and Ray Lamontagne. I would really be happy touring with anyone who is one of the higher level shows at Bonnaroo or Coachella music festival.

When Katy Perry was here she said that she would rather have Chick-fil-A than In-N-Out Burger on the road. What is the one thing you would like to have on the tour?

Oh man, Chick-fil-A everyday would be awesome! We really don’t ever get to eat there on the road, but they just put the first one right down the road from my apartment in L.A. I would love to have that as much as I could! There chicken biscuits are awesome!

Getting To Know Lauren Alaina of American Idol

2011-07-26T16:22:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite thing about touring?

It would definitely be being able to tour and pump up crowds across the country. I love to have my audience dance and jump up and down while I perform. I will let them know I want them to get up as soon as I get on stage.

What are the two things that that you have to have while you are touring?

My mom!!! My mom and sweet tea! There are not a lot of places that we tour that don’t have sweet tea so I have to make it myself while I am on tour.

If you could tour with any two artists who would they be?

I would absolutely love to tour with Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. That would be incredible!

Who has been the most exciting celebrity that you have met? I see that Justin Bieber follows you on Twitter.

I know, I saw that two or three days ago and I thought how sweet is that [Lauren pumps her fist]. I have met a lot of great people since I have been on American idol. One of my favorites has probably been Keith Urban. He came up to me, knew my name right away and I was blow away.

What song are you most excited about singing tonight?

I would have to say my Carrie Underwood cover. I love singing her songs.

We know you and Scotty are really close, are you and the rest of the idols the same way?
Yes we are all really close. To be honest that guy over there [Points at Paul McDonald] are really close. I think of him like another big brother and love his Fiancé.

You seem to me very down to earth, I have seen interviews where you have said “Everything happens for a reason.” Is this your approach on life or is this something you have been taught by your family.

Well, it is something that I have been raised with. Everyone asks me about coming into second place on Idol, but God has a reason for that. I just go out and trust in God because he has a plan. My family has been very supportive throughout this and has taught me some great qualities.

Here is a question from one of our Facebook Fans (Tiffany Braswell)- “Have you become more confident that you are a great singer now that you are on the road? I can’t wait for the show!”

I started becoming very confident in myself around the top 4 on the show. At first I started to read some of the negative things that I shouldn’t have and as a teenager you don’t want to hear all that kind of stuff. I am very confident now and I am just being myself.

Here is a question from another Facebook Fan (Karen Pirkle)- “Where do you see yourself on down the road?”

I have a cd coming out in mid September-October ish… somewhere during then. Hopefully my CD will do really well and I can tour with Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood!!

American Idol Live

2011-07-25T12:13:00.000-04:00

In a little over twenty-four hours The Arena at Gwinnett Center will be moving and grooving to the voices of our favorite contestants of season 10 American Idol. The concert will take place at 7:00pm and will showcase our favorite jazz, rock and roll, R&B, and country covers that made this season one of the best American Idol has ever had. The sold out arena is already setting up for what should be one of the best concerts of the summer.

We expect to see Scotty McCreery and our own Georgia native Lauren Alaina give a goose bump duet, rock out with James Durbin, and see unforgettable performances by Casey, Haley, Jacob, Naima, Paul, Pia, Stefano, and Thia that we saw during season 10. This past season Georgia has seen the highs and lows of the contests, but have not experienced a live performance like this. Now everyone has their chance and those who do will get hear great new song mixes including Katy Perry (Sold out Gwinnett Arena in June) and Usher (Atlanta’s very own).

Check back after the show to see our blog of everything that happened.

Maná

2011-07-11T12:25:00.000-04:00

Maná

Maná, a Latin rock band played our Arena last night. Weeks before the band played I did some research on Google to find out as much as I could about Maná. In this business it helps to know as much as you can about the shows that are performing at your arenas and I learned a lot about them. First off, I had no idea that Maná had won over 4 Latin Grammy Awards and over 4 MTV Music Video Awards. After reading that one sentence I knew that we were going to be in for a treat.

The first thing that pops into my head when I think about seeing a live show is how good or bad the band or artist might sound. I have been to many concerts who have not sounded well and we have all heard the errors and misfortunes on TV. Maná front man Fher Olvera was nothing short of incredible! Even though I cannot understand spanish, I could not help but relate to the rythem or tone of the songs Maná played. I quickly found myself nodding my head as Sergio Vallín ripped on his gutiar. I was loacted in the pit for the first threee songs and could feel the excitement and rush Maná gives to their fans. I will have to point out that Maná may have some of the most loyal and dedicated fans that I have seen.

Gwinnett Arena News

I wanted to take this time to point out some awesome shows that will be coming up at the Arena. Enrique and Pitbull will be performing October 20th- this should be a fantastic show! We have just announced two new shows that will be coming in November. We will have the Foo Fighters on November 7th and Reba with The Band Perry on November 12th. Go to our website at www.gwinnettcenter.com to check out all the information!

Josh Groban

2011-06-20T09:10:00.000-04:00

By: Melissa Morris (melissaal05)

I have been a Josh Groban fan for years, a fan club member for 7 years and this was my first JG concert experience. And, I have to say, he certainly lived up to all my expectations and beyond.

At first, I was devastated because I thought the concert would have to be cancelled due to his illness. I said God, you let me get the front row seats that I prayed so hard for, please don’t take them away from me. I prayed, A LOT! And, I was so thankful that he recovered & the concert went on as scheduled. If not, I would have been sitting in a dark corner, listening to his cd’s and crying for days, literally!

From the moment Josh took the stage, he blew my mind. Yes, I’ve listened to his cd’s for years, but hearing him sing live, that was a whole new experience. From the singing to the piano playing to the drums, I am just so amazed by all his God given talents.

He is such a kind & caring person. He is always wanting to do the best for his fans & he certainly did that with the fan interaction. From taking questions to singing Happy Birthday to a 17 year old (how lucky can you get), to the very lucky fans who got to sit on the stage while he sang a couple songs. We were just truly blessed by his presence.

When he sang his final song, his “signature song”, YOU RAISE ME UP, I had tears in my eyes. Not just because it is such a moving song, but, because we had to say goodbye. I certainly did not want the night to end.

He is and always will be my favorite performer. Not only because of his talents, but because he is such a kind soul. And, I love his smile! I am so glad I got to share my experience with my daughter. Thank you Josh for making MY dream come true. Hopefully next time I will actually get to meet you. Now that would be a wonderful blessing!

Since the Duluth concert, I have now decided to attend the concert in Charleston, SC with another Grobanite that I met in Duluth. Making new friends because of Josh. I cannot wait for my next concert! Stay safe!

This picture was sent in by our Guest Blogger from the

Josh Groban Concert

Katy Perry

2011-06-13T11:26:00.000-04:00

I am not sure where to begin with the Katy Perry Blog so before I start I wanted to let everyone know that Katy Perry had one of the best performances and set deigns that I have seen in a long time. If you like shows that keep the fans involved and you want to see a display of fireworks, foam, and lasers then this is the show for you!

Just hours before the show Katy Perry put on her twitter account “I AM SO EXCITED FOR TONIGHT I MIGHT ESPPPPPPLOAAAAD #ATLANTDREAMS.” From then on I knew this concert was going to be one of a kind and I quickly thought about what things may be in store since we were the first show on her North American tour. I was out taking pictures of Katy’s fans hours before the show started and the one thing I noticed was how incredibly excited every fan was to see Katy perform. It’s you the fans who drive these shows and make a magical experience for everyone at the arena.

The crowd roared and girls screamed when Katy took the stage in her white dress flowing with moving peppermint candies as she broke into one of her hit song Teenage Dream. Katy, an energetic superstar whose costumes fit the tour, cd, and songs perfectly did not let her fans down when she broke into I Kissed A Girl, Hot n Cold, and E.T. The music terrific, but that was not the highlight of my evening. The highlight of my evening was during one of her breaks when she started talking to the audience. She asked if she could be our Georgia peach for the night and then stated something I was not expecting. “If I had the choice of an In-N-Out burger over the Chick-fil-A, I would not do it. I would pick the Chick-fil-A.” Katy then pointed on how great their Polynesian sauce is.

Another high point of my night was getting to see Katy interact with some of her biggest fans. I was down stairs of the arena for Katys meet and greet and was blow away by her beauty and her loyalty to her fans. She was not only interested in her fans, but more than willing to sign an autograph or take a picture and for that I commend Katy Perry.

Please check out some of our fan photos at www.facebook.com/gwinnettcenter or www.gwinnettcenter.com/photogallery

Professional Bull Riding

2011-05-17T12:28:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone!

My name is Greg and I am the marketing intern at the Gwinnett Arena. I have never written a blog, but I am extremely excited to start this summer. Gwinnett Arena has some great shows coming up this summer and I cannot wait to let everyone know how they were.

My very first show at the Gwinnett Arena was Professional Bull Riding. At first I was not sure what to think, but after being in the arena for Friday and Saturday’s show I cannot explain how great a PBR event is. The interaction that PBR has with the patrons is unbelievable and how can anyone pass up the opportunity to watch pro bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco ride a 1,500-pound bull called Deja Blu?

If you have never been to a PBR show then take it from me… Go to one! The introduction is incredible and you will not find a more welcoming bunch of riders and entertainers anywhere in the world. Saturday started off with a bang when PBR flashes fire and pyrotechnics while welcoming the riders to the ring, the next thing you know the crowd screams when Ochocinco walks through the arena.

During the show you can’t help but wonder how these riders can last 8 seconds on a bull. We have all heard the horror stories of what can happen within 1 second on a bull and luckily no one was seriously injured. The one thing that really separates PBR from other events is the riders. These riders show true passion and love for their jobs, how many people would be willing to ride a 2,000 pound bull every weekend? Another part of PBR that people don’t typically ask about are the ranchers who move the bulls from their cages to the chutes. When I spoke with a PBR representative, she described them as “bull-whisperers.” She stated that “sometimes they do not even have to touch the bulls, it’s almost like they are talking to them.”

The best part of the event was obviously watching Chad Ochocinco ride Deja Blu. Many people who have not seen the event missed Ochocinco get on the bull for the first time which in turn caused the bull buck at him. He instantly stood up and what looked like he was rethinking his decision. However, Ochocinco proceeded with the challenge and lasted 1.5 seconds. I personally believed the risk was greater than the reward, but there is a reason behind Ochocinco’s madness and I for one would like to know more about it and him.

Get Ready, Gwinnett!

2011-01-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

This weekend, The Revolve Tour returns to The Gwinnett Center for Dream On. There are still a few seats left, and trust me, you DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Revolve is a one-of-a-kind inspirational weekend for 6th to 12th grade girls that combines award-winning bands, dramas, and speakers with real, relevant messages.

But Revolve is much more than just a fun time for girls. Since it began, more than 35,000 girls have indicated they made first-time decisions for Christ at a Revolve Tour event. More than 16,000 children have been sponsored through World Vision as a result of The Revolve Tour. This year’s event, Dream On, will feature speakers Chad Eastham, Jenna Lucado Bishop, Kathryn McCormick, Jamie-Grace Harper, and Courtney Clark Cleveland; compelling dramas; and be highlighted by musical artists Hawk Nelson, Britt Nicole, and Group 1 Crew. Not only is The Revolve Tour a great event but they also have wonderful resources for you and the girls in your life. You can find more information The Revolve Tour blog and also find books and other products, designed specifically for reaching the teenage girls in your ministry, here.

For more information, please call 877.9.REVOLVE (877.973.8653) or visit http://www.revolvetour.com/.

Ethan Bortnick and Ben Folds

2010-12-28T11:39:00.000-05:00

Straight from the stage of "The Sing Off," Ben Folds hangs out with Ethan Bortnick before performing a benifit show in Nashville, Tennessee.

Check out a little of what the audiance was graced with when Ethan Bortnick and Ben Folds hit the stage together!

4 Times the FUN!

2010-12-11T12:11:00.000-05:00

Game-changing 4-pointer will make its mark at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 12

The Harlem Globetrotters, who have contributed more innovations to the game of basketball than any other team in history, have implemented the first-ever 4-point shot as part of all of its games on the team’s 2011 “4 Times the Fun” North American tour, the team’s record 85^th season of touring.

From the alley-oop to the slam dunk to the behind-the-back pass, the Globetrotters have long brought innovations to basketball that are now staples of the game, and the 4-point shot is sure to change the game of basketball going forward.

Check out the video!

This game-changing innovation will be on display when the Globetrotters take on the Washington Generals at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 12!

Every Globetrotters game will now feature two designated 4-point shooting spots on each side of midcourt, each located 35 feet from the basket (the spots are 12 feet beyond the NBA’s official 3-point line). The 4-point option is expected to further open up the playing floor for the Globetrotters as well as their opponents, the Generals, and is expected to generate even more high-scoring action and competitive play.

Crazy. Insane. Dedicated. by guest blogger Holly

2010-11-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Those are some of the words that were being thrown out at me and my partner in crime, Dayna, for driving all the way from Canada and Ohio for her 30^th and my 47^th Jason Aldean show. We may be all of those things, but one thing is for certain: Aldean’s show keeps getting better and better each and every time I see him, and he’s the ONLY artist I would travel that far for.

We started our day by heading over to the venue, the lovely Gwinnett Center, at around 12 in the afternoon, where the waiting began. We had pit seats, which was completely general admission, so we wanted to make sure that we got a good spot. During our 6 ½ hour wait in line, we met some new friends and met up with a few awesome girls we have already had the pleasure of meeting at previous shows. Including Dayna and myself, there were girls from Canada, Ohio, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky and New Mexico all there to see Jason! Oddly enough, we didn’t meet anybody from Georgia! Ha!

The Gwinnett Center staff was extremely helpful the entire night by telling us where to go to stand in line, how to get to the pit, and how the paperless ticketing worked. I have been to many venues to see Jason, and this was one of the most helpful staff I have ever encountered!

Once inside, the final show of Jason’s “Wide Open Tour” began! Thompson Square kicked things off with a five-song set, including their current top-40 single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?” I felt as though they did an excellent job getting the crowd ready for Luke and Jason, even throwing in the name of one of Jason’s songs into their song, “One of Those Days.”

Next up was Luke Bryan! He is quite the performer! Not only does he have an amazing voice and great songs, but he keeps the audience entertained throughout his entire set. He loves to crack jokes, and his booty shaking keeps the ladies’ attention easily. On this particular night, Luke even threw in a brand new song that will be on his new album, out in a couple of months. It was a song by the name of “You Don’t Know Jack” and it brought the audience to tears. The acoustic element of it really added some additional emphasis as well. He ended his set with his first single, “All My Friends Say,” which had a little bit of Metallica thrown in there as well. The whole audience was head banging and really enjoying themselves.

Finally, it was time for the main act! Jason entered the stage behind a white curtain, which showed only his shadow when the lights hit it. The crowd immediately erupted into screams when the curtain dropped and his Top 5 single, “Crazy Town” began rocking the entire venue. From there on out, it was non-stop energy and excitement. Jason played a 17-song set, including hits such as “Amarillo Sky,” “Hicktown,” and a crowd favorite, “She’s Country.” Luke even joined Jason on stage to sing Jason’s current single, “My Kinda Party,” and Jason’s favorite Luke song, “We Rode in Trucks.” Also in the set-list was two songs off of the new album called “Tattoos on This Town” and “Dirt Road Anthem.” The crowd responded incredibly well to the both of them.

As I have said earlier, I have seen Jason numerous times and his energy level at this particular show was off of the radar! He gave the crowd their money’s worth and then some. I think this show just proved what an excellent entertainer Jason is.

I am so sad to see the Wide Open Tour come to an end, but there was no place I would have rather seen it wrap up than in Jason’s home state of Georgia! I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us fans on his 2011 “My Kinda Party Tour!”

Show Us Your Hick-Town Finalists

2010-11-10T14:11:00.000-05:00

Below are the finalists for two tickets to see Jason Aldean on his last stop on the Wide Open 2010 Tour! Please comment below to help decide the winner!

The finalists below submitted their entries via Facebook at Twitter. A finalist will be chosen on November 16, 2010.

Entry #1

A hick town usually has only one stop light, if any, and has cow and horse pastures everywhere. The people who live in hick towns usually drive trucks or large SUV's, and can occasionally be seen driving their golf cart, four wheeler or tractor down the road. Most hick towns have, if you are lucky, two convenience stores, a liquor store, and one main road going in and out. Hoboken, Ga. meets all the criteria of being a "Hick town". Living in a hick town means that there are no shopping malls, clubs, or fancy restaurants. People who live in Hoboken have to be a little more creative and "down home" for entertainment. Small town life equals entertainment that is all about spending time with family and friends and just having a good time. You may see people out hunting, fishing, riding four wheelers, mud bogging or cheering at the local football games. You might just see us at home hanging out around a fire in the back yard, drinking a beer, laughing and talking with friends, and sometimes if we are lucky, teaching our city friends how to "snipe hunt".

We are just people who want to raise our kids in a safe environment where everyone knows everyone else and you don't have to worry about locking your doors. We just love living in Hoboken, the "biggest hick town in Georgia."

Entry #2

While kayaking on the Broad River last summer, these local gentlemen invited us to shore for a cold beverage and bite to eat. They were grilling hot dogs, had a keg on ice and were jammin’ to Jason Aldean!

Entry #3

Having nothing better to do on a cold winter day in Northeast Georgia, I decided to try out knee-boarding down behind a Kubota Tractor down an iced and snowy dirt road.No one was seriously harmed in the making of this video.

Carrie Underwood - Guest Blogger Taylor

2010-10-29T13:47:00.000-04:00

Gaggles of females (and their loyal boyfriends, husbands and fathers) of all ages trudged through the rain Wednesday night to see an “American Idol,” Carrie Underwood. I was no exception this group, as my mom and I had a girls’ night out to see one of our favorite singers live. Before the show even began, it was great to see all of Underwood’s fashionable followers, dressed to the nines in their cutest dresses, Western boots and Cowboy hats. Once Underwood hit the stage, I knew we were all in for a treat.

Carrie opened the show with the first hit single off Play On, “Cowboy Casanova.” In her first of multiple costumes, Carrie was cute as a button, donning a girly tux complete with a coattail and bowtie. From then on, the concert was non-stop action.

Towards the middle of the concert, Carrie came onstage with a gold metallic top and black leather pants, ready to rock my favorite song of hers, “Undo It.” The lighting and the graphics all looked the same as her hit music video to the same song. Carrie’s voice was pitch-perfect and she certainly brought the crowd to their feet. The amazing thing about Carrie’s albums (and concerts) is that she is able to sing sassy songs like “Undo It,” and then transition into her sweeter, more sentimental songs. That’s exactly what she did last night, following up “Undo It,” with her very first single “Jesus Take The Wheel.” The adrenaline was clearly pumping throughout the audience, and we all felt Carrie’s emotional connection to that song. It’s incredibly impressive that after five years, Carrie is still able to connect to that song on such a personal level.

Other highlights include Carrie playing the piano to “Mama’s Song,” while pictures of Carrie’s life flashed across the screen behind her, closing with a picture of Carrie with her new husband, Mike Fischer. Carrie closed out the concert with “Songs Like This,” where she injected lines from Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” leaving the audience on a musical high.

Show Us Your Hick-Town

2010-10-12T12:54:00.000-04:00

In celebration of being the last stop on Jason Aldean’s Wide Open Tour 2010, the Arena at Gwinnett Center wants to find the biggest “Hick-Town” in Georgia! From now until November 8, The Arena at Gwinnett Center will be accepting submissions showing why your town is the ultimate Hick-Town. These entries will be in the running for the “Biggest Hick-Town” honor and will receive two tickets to the Jason Aldean Wide Open Tour 2010.

Submissions can be made in video or photo form accompanied by a short description to rmobley@gwinnettcenter.com. Four finalists will be chosen and posted to the Arena at Gwinnett Center Blog, www.arenaatgwinnettcenter.blogspot.com, on November 8 and a winner will be chosen from the final four.

So You Think You Can Dance - Guest Blogger Cameron

2010-10-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

       Hi, I’m 10-year-old Cameron and I am a guest blogger. I went to So You Think You Can Dance on Monday, September 27, 2010 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. I loved the show! This is the second time I’ve gone to S.Y.T.Y.C.D.
       The show was so out-going and spectacular! I must say, I really loved My Chick Bad by Lauren and Russell. Another one was How It Ends, choreographed by Travis Wall, was originally danced by Kent and Neil but danced by Kent and Robert on tour. When Kent pushed Robert down on stage I heard a loud bang. I hope Robert didn’t get hurt!
       The most hilarious routine was Robert and Dominic’s hip-hop clown routine. So funny, they must have put a lot of work into it! My favorite All-Star is Dominic! His character is outstanding! The best contestant on the show for me has to be Billy. He is so cool and a great dancer. My role model on the show is Lauren. She works hard but still has fun.
       Another thing I did was I waited outside for autographs after the show. All the All-Stars and contestants signed my program. My friend got picked up by Russell, Billy, and Robert because she was short and couldn’t see. Lucky girl!!! I can’t wait to see next year’s S.Y.T.Y.C.D.

Men Love it Too!

2010-09-10T12:58:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been to a show you that you would see again? What about seeing the same show 3 or 4 times? The show must be awesome to go back so many times!

Well, Menopause the Musical is a show that some audience members are seeing for their 10th to 15th time!

Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The all-female cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges. Talk about a great story line!

With a following like this - you know it has to be a great show!

Check out www.gwinnettcenter.com for more information. Groups of 10+ receive a discount!

Starting 2010 Off Right

2010-01-06T14:22:00.000-05:00

With the start of 2010 comes 3 sold out shows at the Arena. Muse, Eric Clapton and Michael Bublé will all be performing to a literally packed house in Gwinnett.

After kicking off the New Year with Asian and Australian legs, Muse will return to the States along with indie outfit Silversun Pickups for a Feb. 27 show in Duluth, GA. Muse revealed "The Resistance," the outfit's fifth studio effort, in September. The 11-track set topped album charts in 13 countries, including the UK and Australia, though in the US it landed at No. 3 on The Billboard 200.

"The show will be bombastic, cinematic and at the same time a very intimate experience," Buble stated in a press release. "I can't wait to get back out on the road and of course--to see my fans. I've missed them." Bublé’s new CD “Crazy Love” entered Billboard Top 200 Chart at #1 and remained there for two consecutive weeks. Critics and fans agree that this is his best album to date.

After polishing off a four-city, mid-February stint with Beck, Clapton will set out on the solo run starting Feb. 25. Clapton's latest album, 2006's "The Road to Escondido," pairs him with his hero J.J. Cale, who penned two songs that define Clapton's solo career, "Cocaine" and "After Midnight."

These incredible performers are starting off 2010 with a bang, and so is the Arena at Gwinnett Center!

Holiday Gifts are Here

2009-12-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

The Gwinnett Arena has everyone on your list covered! Great shows are coming and are perfect presents for family and friends.

Hezekiah Walker and Yolanda Adams will be performing an outstanding gospel show on January 30 benefiting The Gift for Life Foundation. This show is sure to be the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season.

Muse is also rolling through Gwinnett after the new year. On February 27, Muse will hit the stage but tickets will be available starting December 12 at 10am.

One of the most legendary musicians of this century, Eric Clapton is coming to the Arena March 9, 2010. Joining Clapton is the incredible Roger Daltrey.

The Harlem Globetrotters are back and are the perfect gift for every athlete on your list. With tickets starting at $26, Globetrotters is always a crowd favorite!

The talented Michael Buble will perform March 14 for an evening or sultry sounds and melodic jazz. Buble has been called one of the most likable performers on earth, making this concert the perfect gift for anyone, especially those that are hard to please.

Martina McBride's Shine All Night tour has been rescheduled for May 1 but has added incredible line-up additions! Blake Shelton and Bill Gentry will make this show one to remember!

Told you we had you covered!

Can't wait to get tickets, sign up to be a Gwinnett Insider to get the pre-sale information before anyone else!

PBR!

2009-10-30T12:07:00.000-04:00

We are super excited to announce the 2009 Challenger Tour Championships presented by Dickies, one of the most desired event titles in the PBR, will now kick off the elite 2010 Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) season...

On November 20-22, 2009, the BFTS tour will make its first stop of the season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta, Ga., combining two premier events into one marquis stop. Fans will have the opportunity to see the world’s best riders competing for $500,000 in prize money—PBR’s 2nd largest payout—and will be witness to one of the most intense, action-packed bull riding that the PBR will put on all year with more cowboys, more bulls, and more rides and wrecks than a true fan could ever ask for!

Bull riding action will get underway on Friday, November 20 at 8 p.m., Saturday, November 21 at 7:50 p.m., and on Sunday, November 22 at 2 p.m. $500,000 will be up for grabs as top PBR superstars from around the world will compete against the toughest bovine athletes that the PBR has to offer.

Jingle Jam

2009-10-16T13:01:00.001-04:00

We are excited to announce that Star 94's Jingle Jam will be coming to the Arena December 14, 2009. Always a fan favorite, this year's line up includes The Fray, Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis, Cobra Starship, Owl City...and introducing Justin Bieber!

You don't want to miss the concert everyone will be talking about! Tickets start at only $27!

STAR WARS: In Concert

2009-09-25T12:24:00.000-04:00

Star Wars™: In Concert is a unique multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores. As part of its worldwide tour, it will play November 3 at 7:30pm at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Tickets go on sale September 25 at 10pm at the Arena box office and Ticketmaster.com.

Narrated live by Anthony Daniels (the actor who portrayed C-3PO in all six films), the production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen – one of the largest ever put on tour. The live music and film elements are synchronized in order to create a full multi-media, one-of-kind Star Wars experience.

This event has been crafted to present Star Wars from many points of view; for the first time, the full dramatic sweep of Williams’ iconic scores can be heard performed live in one evening.

Accompanying the concert is an exclusive exhibit of Star Wars costumes, props, artifacts, production artwork and specially created behind-the-scenes videos from the Lucasfilm Archives. Many of these pieces are leaving Skywalker Ranch for the first time.

For more information about the show check out StarWarsinConcert.com

Dinosaurs!

2009-09-16T11:56:00.000-04:00

Walking with Dinosaurs the Arena Spectacular is almost here! Still not sure what to think? Check out the show's description below. Want tickets? Check out Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at only $24.50... There is not a bad seat in the house!!

Dinosaurs once again roam the earth in a spectacular theatrical arena show, Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular, based on the award-winning BBC Television Series. Walking with Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular is now on tour in North America and will perform 8 performances at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth.

Ten species are represented from the entire 200 million year reign of the dinosaurs. The show includes the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the terror of the ancient terrain, as well as the Plateosaurus and Liliensternus from the Triassic period, the Stegosaurus and Allosaurus from the Jurassic period and Torosaurus and Utahraptor from the awesome Cretaceous. The largest of them, the Brachiosaurus is 36 feet tall, and 56 feet from nose to tail. It took a team of 50 – including engineers, fabricators, skin makers, artists and painters, and animatronic experts – a year to build the original production.

The show depicts the dinosaurs’ evolution, complete with the climatic and tectonic changes that took place, which led to the demise of many species. With almost cinematic realism, Walking with Dinosaurs has scenes of the interactions between dinosaurs, and the audience sees how carnivorous dinosaurs evolved to walk on two legs, and how the herbivores fended off their more agile predators.

The history of the world is played out with the splitting of the earth’s continents, and the transition from the arid desert of the Triassic period is given over to the lush green prairies and forces of the later Jurassic. Oceans form, volcanoes erupt, a forest catches fire -- all leading to the impact of the massive comet, which struck the earth, and forced the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Taylor Swift

2009-09-02T13:17:00.001-04:00

So there is a log of hype about the Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler and Gloriana show coming to the Arena Sept. 3, and why shouldn't there be? Her self-titled debut album went triple-platinum and her second album, FEARLESS, is not doing too shabby.

The Fearless Tour will roll into down with lots of pre-concert events. There will be Taylor Activities sponsored by Verizion Wireless as well radio stations and a pre-concert merchandise stand flanking the outside of the Gwinnett Arena.

Come out before the show and take a look at all of the different activities! Even if you don't have tickets, there will be plenty of Taylor Swift entertainment on the outside!

He's Back!

2009-08-19T16:01:00.000-04:00

Have you ever seen a Baby T Rex roaming around town? Well this weekend you can! Baby T will be making special appearances around Gwinnett this weekend, Aug. 21 and 22.

Friday, Aug. 21 Baby T will stomp over to the new BrandSmart next to the Mall of Georgia for a special 5pm appearance. There will also be dino games and crafts from 4-6pm. Bring the family and check out the new store while stepping back in time.

Saturday, Aug. 22 is an action-packed day for the Baby T. He will be making 2 special appearances during the day. He will be roaring into the Swannee Branch of the Gwinnett Public Library at 11am for dinosaur stories and a special appearance for the dino-mite guests! Also Saturday, Baby T will attend a prehistoric Dinosaur Birthday Bash at Fernbank Museum. From 10am-2pm, fly, crawl or lumber down to help celebrate the world's largest dinosaurs with a day of fun-filled, dinosaur-themed activities. Baby T will make a special appearance at 2:30pm.

Baby T will not be back before the show! Make sure you come out and grab some discounted tickets for Walking With Dinosaurs rolling into the Gwinnett Arena Sept. 23-27! Hope to see you back in time!

Join the Club!

2009-07-16T13:15:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been so excited about a show only to discover the show has sold out in 3 minutes? Hate having to buy tickets from scalpers selling them for double face value? What if I told you the Gwinnett Arena is doing something to help you get the perfect seat for the perfect concert, before the tickets even go on sale...

Club Seats! Join the Club and receive tickets to the hottest shows of the year, before they even go on sale. For only $300 per seat/per year, you will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public.

How cool? And convenient.

KSM, David Archuleta and Demi Lovato Concert

2009-07-01T10:36:00.000-04:00

The Gwinnett Arena had an opportunity to showcase two amazing performers, David Archuletta and Demi Lovato! KSM was also on site to give a short taste of what they do best... Perform! Fans had a wonderful time and were on hand in swarms for meet-and-greets with the performers. For the Gwinnett audience, June 29 will be a date that the fans of Demi Lovato and David Archuleta will always remember.

The fans were a large part of the success of the show. Both performers, David and Demi, were very interactive with the audience. Sing backs, conversations and the ever famous cell phone-in-the-air moment were the highlights of the performances. The fans also did a lot of dancing in their seats. Posters and shirts flanked the Arena and Demi actually gave a shout-out to all of the fans who went through the trouble of making their own concert memorabilia.

All three performers were very grateful to the audience for their support in putting on an awesome show. It is hard to believe that in Gwinnett, Georgia there can be such a broad base of fans that are super grateful for their opportunity to see these amazing performers.

Thank you so much to David Archuleta and Demi Lovato for performing a high caliber show with tons of fan interactions!