Atlanta’s A1A Band will kick off the 2012 River Town Days festival with a blast of tropical fun next Friday night.

Since 1992, A1A has been internationally recognized as the “Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show” and the only band sanctioned by Jimmy Buffett himself. The band brings to life a highly energetic, colorful, family friendly concert experience that brings in the fresh ocean breezes of tropical flavor that is akin to being at Jimmy’s show, said Chaz McDonald, the band’s business manager and one of its guitarists.

The River Town Days concert kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 11. The opening act will be the local band Evergreen, which plays a variety of popular favorites. A fireworks show will take place at the Boat Basin following the concert.

Jeff Pike, singer and originator of A1A, has appeared in the music video for Buffett’s song “Fruitcakes” and shared the stage with Mr. Buffett, as well as performed with Coral Reefers (Jimmy’s backing band).

The A1A Band will be featured in the major motion picture “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” starring Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz and Dennis Quaid. The band performed two songs for the movie and its soundtrack. The movie, which was shot in the Atlanta area, will be released to theaters nationwide on May 19.

A1A has appeared all over the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica and Japan spreading beach fun wherever they go. Over the years, A1A has opened for such acts as: Zac Brown, Peter Noone, Johnny Rivers, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Mickey Dolenz and (of course) Jimmy Buffett.

In June 2011 A1A released their latest CD, “The Road to Paradise.” This disc features seven original songs, plus one smoking version of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff”, all recorded live at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in November of 2010.

McDonald said Buffett fans can, of course, look forward to hearing their favorites, such as “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Margaritaville,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “A Pirate Looks at 40” and more, McDonald said. The A1A Band also plays some of Buffett’s lesser-known Caribbean-styled songs, such as “Lage Nom Ai” and “Island Song.” The band also mixes in island favorites such as “Hot, Hot, Hot” by Buster Poindexter and original songs like “Hey Margarita” and “App for That.”

“The Road to Paradise” can be previewed and purchased on iTunes, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, and at all A1A shows.