The Sunday Paper Staff Blog

Six years after its last album, the alternative rock band FILTER, known for its unsettling 1993 anthem “Hey Man, Nice Shot” and the Top 15 1999 hit “Take A Picture,” returns with “Anthems for the Damned,” a focused howl of frustration at the current state of the world. The band—led by frontman and mainstay Richard Patrick—performs Tuesday, May 20 at Heaven at the Masquerade. Ours also appears. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com.

Despite hailing from Canada instead of the U.K., THE KIDS IN THE HALL emerged as the spiritual heirs of the Monty Python troupe, thanks to a penchant for bizarre left turns and its all-male cast dressing in drag to portray female characters. Their celebrated sketch comedy show of the same name in the late ’80s and early ’90s delighted and bemused comedy fans with sketches as head-shakingly surreal as they were laugh-out-loud funny, and launched successful post-Kids careers for the troupe, most notably Dave Foley (“NewsRadio”) and Mark McKinney (“Saturday Night Live”). Will recurring characters like the Chicken Lady, gay socialite Buddy Cole and Mr. Tyzik (aka the Headcrusher) make an appearance during this tour stop? Well, there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there? 8 p.m. Saturday, May 24 at the Cobb Energy Centre. 404-249-6400. www.cobbenergycentre.com.

Now that she’s spilled the beans about her relationship with a married Congressman, BARBARA WALTERS is likely to talk about it again. If not, you should still hear plenty of intimate details from her life—and if that’s not enough, you can buy her new memoir, “Audition.” The pioneering broadcast journalist and woman responsible for “The View” takes the stage at 7 p.m. Monday, May 19, at Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free. 404-370-8450, ext. 2225. www.georgiacenterforthebook.org.

You think you’ve led an interesting life? Well, maybe so, but AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS has got you beat. The author of the memoirs “Dry” and “Running with Scissors” reads from his newest true-life tale, “Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father,” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18 at the Alliance Stage of the Woodruff Arts Center. Tickets for the event are free and can be picked up at Outwrite Books or obtained from the store’s Web site. 
404-607-0082. www.outwritebooks.com.

MUCH BETTER THAN A FLEA CIRCUS: Sure, you can stay at home with Rover this weekend, but wouldn’t you both rather check out STAR 94’S PETAPALOOZA? The pet-friendly festival takes place from noon to 9 p.m. today at Town Center Park in Suwanee, with dog agility and frisbee shows and an appearance from Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald of Animal Planet’s “Emergency Vets.” And yes, pets are welcome at this free event. For more information, visit www.star94.com.

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON: And spring just happens to be the time for home tours and festivals. Explore another intown neighborhood during the KIRKWOOD SPRING FLING AND TOUR OF HOMES. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today only at Bessie Branham Park, while homes are open for the tour from noon to 6 p.m. May 17 and 18. The fest is free; tour tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. www.kirkwoodfling.com.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? By which we mean, have you ever been to the SOCO MUSIC EXPERIENCE? The annual summer music festival, brought to you by the folks at Southern Comfort, returns to Atlanta today with headliners Against Me! accompanied by the Supersuckers, Ghostland Observatory, Ryan Shaw and Bang Camaro. There’s also food, drinks, vendors and something called the Soco & Lime Dome, all at Centennial Olympic Park. The event is free, but you’ve gotta be 21 or older to get in. For more information, visit www.southerncomfort.com/scmxatl.

If you’re a fan of modern country music, it doesn’t get any better than the lineup at the 11th annual COUNTRY FAIR at Lakewood Amphitheatre. The two-day extravaganza, sponsored by local radio station Kicks the Big 101.5 (WKHX-FM), offers some of the smartest acts in today’s country scene tonight as Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley take the main stage; Saturday features Clay Walker, Pat Green and Georgia’s own Travis Tritt. For bands playing pre-concert shows on the Honky Tonk stage and other information, visit www.wkhx.com.

During the Civil War, the Georgia prison camp Andersonville was one of the worst places to be. That makes it a great setting for drama, as GENE HACKMAN AND DANIEL LENIHAN will attest. The authors discuss their new novel “Escape from Andersonville” tonight at the Atlanta History Center. Though he’s in Atlanta to talk about the book, Hackman could be willing to answer at least one or two questions about his acting career. The event starts with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the discussion at 7 p.m. Admission is $35 and includes the event, entry into the center’s exhibit “Turning Point: The American Civil War” and a copy of the book. Reservations are required. 770-578-3502. www.gwtw.org.

Looking for something a little different? While you’ve been going about your daily lives, a group of creative underground puppeteers has been hard at work putting together this year’s installment of XPERIMENTAL PUPPETRY THEATRE. The for-adults-only production includes a new interpretation of a Japanese folk tale, a story about a gorilla discovering fire and five puppet films, among other offerings. Performances begin at 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday, May 17 and at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 18 at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Tickets are $12 and include admission to the center’s puppet museum. 404-873-3391. www.puppet.org.

As the author of more than two dozen mystery thrillers, 18 of them featuring his hero Lucas Davenport, JOHN SANDFORD knows a little something about keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Catch him in person at 7 p.m. tonight discussing his latest, “Phantom Prey, ” at Barnes & Noble Buckhead. 404-261-7747. www.barnesandnoble.com.

DANCING ON TAP: The world’s most famous Irish dance sensation is back, as RIVERDANCE makes the rounds for what’s being billed as its farewell tour. See the show once last time at the Fox Theatre tonight through Sunday, May 18. Ticket prices range from $25 to $62. 404-817-8700. www.foxtheatre.org.

A SWELL EVENING: Probably still basking in the afterglow of their Academy Award for Best Original Song back in February, THE SWELL SEASON (aka musicians Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová) perform tonight at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Rent their utterly charming movie “Once” beforehand to acquaint yourself with some of your new favorite songs. 404-249-6400. www.cobbenergycentre.com.