When Charlie Starr was growing up, he wanted to play like the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe.

“But none of my friends did,” said Starr, lead singer and guitarist of Blackberry Smoke, an Atlanta-based band. The group will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Bell Auditorium.

Starr’s father loved bluegrass and country music, and Starr wanted to be like his dad when he was growing up. O...