Review and Photos by Max Stewart

Kevin Scott’s All-Star Holiday Revival returned to the renowned Variety Playhouse on Thursday, December 18 for one of our favorite events of the year. Marking a decade of one of the city’s most festive and eclectic musical traditions, bandleader Kevin Scott (Gov’t Mule, John McLaughlin, and Jimmy Herring) brought together a rotating cast of top-tier musicians for a night where groove, surprise, and celebration collided. What began years ago as a spirited annual blowout has grown into a beloved concert experience that combines deep musical chops with joyful improvisation and a generous holiday spirit. 

True to that tradition, this year’s event featured an expansive ensemble of artists pulled from across the worlds of rock, funk, blues, jazz, and beyond. On the bill were dynamic players like the virtuosic Marcus King and the quickly-rising bluesman Eddie 9V and Lamont Landers, alongside fan favorites and standout contributors including Charlie Starr and Benji Shanks (Blackberry Smoke), Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy, The Fearless Flyers), Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic), and Kevn Kinney (Drivin N Cryin).

Anchoring this extraordinary roster are a host of versatile instrumentalists and vocalists whose collective credits span a wide catalog of acclaimed acts. The list includes Jelly Joseph (Galactic), The Greyhounds, Emil Werstler (Dååth), Rick Lollar (Jimmy Herring, King Baby), Mark Raudabaugh (Sierra Hull, Donna the Buffalo), Ryan Scott, Rhett Huffman (American Aquarium), Jordan Shalhoup, Danny Wytanis (Ghost Note), Mark Rivers (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Art Edmaiston (Gregg Allman, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Little Feat), Marc Franklin (Aretha Franklin, BB King, Justin Timberlake), Rafael Pereira, Amanda Joy, Tiffany White, and Spencer Pope.

Some of our many highlights of this year’s event included:

• Tribute to Brent Hinds featuring Thin Lizzy tunes “Wild One” and “Emerald.” Musicians including Charlie Starr, Kevin Scott, Duane Trucks, Kevn Kinney, Matthew Hughes (of Banker Handcrafted Guitars) blew our minds while honoring the late Mastodon guitarist (who actually performed at the event in 2024), a huge fan of Thin Lizzy.
• Reunion of King Baby: The ATL group featured Kevin Scott on bass, Rick Lollar on guitar and Mark Raudabaugh on drums. Born out of the Atlanta scene 10+ years ago (remember Eliot Street Pub?), seeing this band (sans Matthew Slocum who was unfortunately under the weather) perform tunes like “King Junior” live was a perfect way to start the night.
• Guitarist’s Delight:
  • Ryan Scott’s impassioned and unique guitar acumen was truly a sight to see. Scott is unlike most guitarists and has a captivating and energetic style that shines brightly on tunes like “Everything’s Gonna be Fine.”
  • Marcus King continues to be the king, as cheers erupted when he took the stage for “Wildflowers & Wine.” The sounds he continues to find on the instrument are truly awe-inspiring, especially when coupled with his voice (which sounds like it has 100 years of history behind it).
  • Mark Letteri’s rock n roll journey through Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne with Emil Westler. The rock was in full force for this year’s event and the renditions of “Panama” and “No More Tears” sent our hair flying back.
• The Greyhounds in ATL: Seeing keyboardist Anthony Farrell and guitarist Andrew Trube of The Greyhounds alongside Scott and Trucks was a real treat and a perfect example of why this event remains one of a kind. It was clear that Scott was loving it as he continued to declare The Greyhounds his favorite band.
• We are in Good Hands with the Newcomers:
  • Atlanta bluesman Eddie 9V showing why he continues to ascend in the world of contemporary blues on tunes like “Cry Like a River.”
  • Lamont Landers rounding us out while leading vocal duties on “This Christmas” after a superb mid-set rendition of “Black Hole Sun”. This Alabama singer / guitarist is on the rise and for great reason, we cannot wait to continue to see him on the road in years to come.
• New Orleans’ Jelly Joseph on “Killing in the Name Of.” Nothing quite like Rage Against the Machine to get you in the holiday spirit!

Much like the 2024 and 2022 events, the 2025 show blurred genre boundaries in the best way, combining classic soul, blues, funk, rock, and even some seasonal standards reimagined through the collective creativity of an all-star ensemble.

The beauty of this show is it revolves around fantastic musical collaboration and fellowship of artists from Atlanta and beyond. And the event raised $20,000+ for the Georgia Music Foundation (supporting programs of music education, preservation and outreach while fostering an appreciation for the state’s rich music heritage), Backline (connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources), and Vermin Sanctuary (“wildlife rehabilitation center dedicated to the rescue, care, and release of injured and orphaned native wildlife—especially the overlooked, the misunderstood, and the misfit”).

Now that’s the holiday spirit!