KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —The first Marble Springs Storytelling Festival will take place from 9:45 a.m.-9 p.m. April 10 at Marble Springs State Historic Site. The festival will include stories, demonstrators, games, food and arts and crafts.

The event will be hosted by the Governor John Sevier Memorial Association and co-sponsored by the Smoky Mountain Storytellers in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Festival. Professional storytellers will present various types of stories, including humor, history, Great Smoky Mountains tales, folklore and more.
 
For more information, please contact Marble Springs by calling (865) 573-5508 or e-mailing marblesprings@hotmail.com.

 

[caption id="attachment_11795" align="alignnone" width="262" caption="Janice Brooks-Headrick will be sharing her unique brand of storytelling (including some ghost stories) at the upcoming Marble Springs Storytelling Festival April 10. Submitted photo."][/caption]

KNOXVILLE - The Whigs and Royal Bangs will perform Thursday, February 4, 8 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre. Tickets are $14.50 sdvance/$16.50 doors, plus applicable service fees, available at all Tickets Unlimited outlets, the Tennessee Theatre box office, by phone at 865-656-4444, or online at http://www.knoxbijou.com.

The Whigs will release their new album, IN THE DARK, on March 2, on ATO
Records. IN THE DARK is an explosive collection of intense and tuneful songs
that have been developed through years of non-stop touring and two
critically acclaimed albums, Give Em All A Big Fat Lip and Mission Control.
Both an accessible album and one that captures the band's on-stage passion,
IN THE DARK reveals another layer in the band's songwriting and highlights
what fans and critics have fallen in love with, including Jon Pareles of The
New York Times who praised the band for their "two-chord guitar and drums
furor worthy of The Who."

The Athens, Georgia-based three piece is offering two new songs for free
download at www.thewhigs.com/music/in-the-dark-single.
www.thewhigs.com
www.myspace.com/thewhigs
twitter.com/thewhigs
facebook.com/thewhigs

ROYAL BANGS are five electric gents from Knoxville. Home to a prolific but
unsung underground music community, it is a city that keeps its secrets, but
over the past few years ROYAL BANGS have become a hard secret to keep.

Under ROYAL BANGS and various other guises, frontman Ryan Schaefer, drummer
Chris Rusk, and guitarist Sam Stratton have been making music together since
their high school days. In 2006, they unleashed their home-recorded and
self-released breakthrough album We Breed Champions. The record's potent
noise-pop wormed its way into hearts throughout the Southeast, eventually
finding its way to Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), who reissued We Breed
Champions on his own Audio Eagle Records in May 2008.

In the meantime, ROYAL BANGS went on hiatus as Schaefer spent a year in
France, soaking up Euro dance music and entitlement culture as inspiration
for the early stages of a follow-up.  After Schaefer¹s return to the States,
the band, with new additions Henry Gibson and Brandon Biondo, used the
promotion of their brand-new, two-year-old record as an opportunity to
refine their live performance.  The result was an incessant touring
schedule, including stops at Bonnaroo, SXSW, and a series of shows opening
for The Black Keys in the fall of 2008.

In 2009, on the eve of City Slang's well-received European release of We
Breed Champions, ROYAL BANGS released their long-awaited sophomore album.
Let It Beep finds the band's sound looking more than ever in two seemingly
conflicting directions: an increased emphasis on the electronic ‹ from
spastic, syrup-thick synths to dancy drum programming ‹ coupled with earnest
echoes of fervid '70s rock legends like Springsteen and Thin Lizzy.  But the
core of their sound, rooted in the indie rock renaissance and Schaefer's
hook-heavy arrangements, embraces both tendencies without allowing them to
diverge, resulting in an album that might be described as both challenging
and accessible if not for the phrase "pure goddamn fun."

SEVIERVILLE - The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce will present the first ever Rose Glen Literary Festival at Walters State Community College Sevier County Campus on Saturday February 27 from 9am-4pm.

The day-long event will feature lectures book signings and a special luncheon with local authors and those who have written books about Sevier County.
 
The highlighted book topics range from CSI style murder mysteries to historic texts and cook books to children’s books.
 
 “We plan to hold this festival annually as an opportunity for local residents to become acquainted with writers in their own community,” says Sevierville Chamber of Commerce special projects facilitator and event organizer Carroll McMahan. “We invite all local writers who are interested in participating to contact us and hope that this first event will bring additional writers forward for future literary events.”
 
Confirmed writers for the inaugural event include Dr. Bruce Wheeler (a retired UT professor & local history writer), Arthur McDade, Robert Allen (retired FBI Agent and author of Perry Camp Murders), Steve Watson, Greg Johnson (Sanctuary), Jack Hodge (a local poet), Lin Stepp (The Foster Girl), Beulah Carr (Civil War History of Sevier County), Lyn Bales (a naturalist at Ijams Nature Center and author of The Natural History of the Tennessee Valley), Eric Ball (Recipes from Blue Mountain Mist Country Inn), Laura West, Mary Phillips-Marsang (author of the children’s book Booger), Don Williams, Veta King (History of Pigeon Forge), John B. Waters, Jr. (author of Down Bound and The History of Sevier County), Dwight McCarter (Mayday, Mayday), Bonita Hammond, Jarrett Hallcox (a UT professor who now occupies the position formerly held by Dr. Bass and author of Behind the Yellow Lines) and Ersa Ray Smith (author of Flying Bullets, the story of her father, Ray Nolan).
 
All of the authors presented at the Rose Glen Literary Festival have either written books about Sevier County or are from Sevier County.
 
There is an $18 charge for attending the soup and gourmet sandwich luncheon with the keynote speaker and tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. There is no fee to attend the other workshops during the day. To reserve your tickets, call Carroll McMahan at (865) 453-6411.

KNOXVILLE - The January 27, 2010 Tennessee Shines show will feature Tommy Emmanuel & Frank Vignola, Blue Highway, The Boxcars featuring Adam Steffey, and Robinella. Tennessee Shines is hosted by Jim Lauderdale with Dave Nichols and the Tennessee Shines Band. Wednesday, January 27, 7 p.m. at the  Bijou Theatre. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 day of show, plus applicable service fees, available now at the Tennessee Theatre box office, by phone at 865-656-4444, or online at http://store.tennesseetheatre.com/.

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia's most respected
musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans
almost five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest
musicians throughout the world. Tommy's unique style is akin to playing
guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all 10 fingers. Emmanuel teamed
up with another of the world's most highly sought after acoustic guitarists,
Frank Vignola, for the 2009 release, Vignola is a master of every genre,
from fusion and commercial pop-jazz to hard bop, post-bop, swing, rock, and
blues. Cited by jazz guitar legend Les Paul as one of the top five
guitarists of all time, Vignola has toured and recorded with the diverse
likes of Bucky Pizzarelli, Les Paul, Lionel Hampton, Donald Fagen, Queen
Latifah, Ringo Starr, Madonna, Dave Grisman, and Mark O'Connor.

At the 15-year mark, Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed
and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. The band's eight
exceptional albums and compelling live performances give proof to the band¹s
stellar reviews, Grammy nominations, and numerous awards.  Jason Burleson
(banjo, guitar, mandolin), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle,
vocals), Tim Stafford (guitar, vocals), and Wayne Taylor (bass, vocals) are
masters of their respective roles. Together, they are five gifted artists
selflessly merging their talents into a seamlessly brilliant group sound.

The Boxcars is the hottest new supergroup on the bluegrass scene, featuring
East Tennessee native Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, John Bowman, Harold Nixon
and Keith Garrett. With collective stints with Alison Krauss & Union Station
(Steffey, Bowman), J.D. Crowe & The New South (Stewart, Bowman, Nixon), Blue
Moon Rising (Garrett and Nixon), The Isaacs (Bowman) and most recently The
Dan Tyminski Band (Steffey and Stewart), this quintet starts out with an
impressive rap sheet.  They¹ll perform songs from Steffey¹s new CD, One More
For the Road, as well as songs that anticipate the release of The Boxcars¹
debut CD this year.

After performing with Rob Ickes in July 2009, East Tennessee's beloved
singer-songwriter Robinella returns to Tennessee Shines with her new band
and songs from her first CD in five years. Fly Away, Bird features her
characteristically stunning voice and songs that are honest, melancholy and
vibrant.

KNOXVILLE - UT Downtown Gallery presents: The 10th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition
January 15 - February 20, 2010.

First Friday Reception February 5, 5:00 - 9:00pm.

The 10th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition continues a tradition begun by the University of Hawaii Department of Art.  By invitation only, this exhibition is comprised of 81 sculptures by artists from 14 countries and includes "Meta Physical #4" by Knoxville artist Richard Jolley.

The small format of the works in the exhibition, with the subsequent ease and economy of handling, provides exposure to a broad spectrum of contemporary sculpture. These triennial exhibitions were initiated as an attempt to incorporate a variety of multicultural traditions and a range of sculptural ideas, styles, and materials.

As geographical borders are fractured and the global context dominates, the identity of the individual often becomes hybrid. Whether defined by the artist's ethnicity or the location of production, all art is increasingly integrated into the fabric of contemporary society. Although the act of affirming cultural identity becomes more complex, these sculptures demonstrate the imaginative spirit and endless creativity of the individual artist.

UT DOWNTOWN GALLERY
106 S. Gay Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-673-0802

Gallery Hours: Wed - Fri 11-6 Sat 10-3
Free Parking, Jackson Avenue Lot & Market Square Garage

GATLINBURG, TN - Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is offering 2010 Adult Community Classes. Session I: January 12-February 11, 2010 and Session II: February 23-March 25, 2010. Registration is now OPEN. Call 865-436-5860 to enroll.

Class Schedule: Classes meet Tuesday & Thursday evenings 6:30-9:00 pm.
Classes are open to those 18 and older.

Open Studio: Registered students also have access to their class studio on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. during Session One and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. for Session Two. At least two students must be working in the studio at the same time.

Materials: All classes will require special materials, most of which are available in Arrowmont’s Artist Outfitters Store. A materials list will be provided to all students with their registration confirmation. Students are responsible for the cost of all personal materials for the class. Some shared materials will be provided and the cost is included in the class fee following each class description.

A limited number of scholarships based on financial need are available for adult and
children’s classes. If you are interested, please submit a letter explaining why you are requesting a scholarship with your registration. Please see the registration form for more information.

Session I: January 12-February 11, 2010

Fused Glass | CM10GLS-Jan12 | with Kitty Alcott
Rings & Things | CM10JWL-Jan12 | with Victoria Altepeter
Exploration of Woodturning | CM10WDT-Jan12 | with Erik Arensbak
Basic Ceramic Mould Making | CM10CLH-Jan12 | with Thaddeus Erdahl
Photographing Your Artwork | CM10PTO-Jan12 | with Jill Greene
Potter’s Wheel | CM10CLY-Jan12 | with Martina Lantin
Sculpting with Metal | CM10MTL-Jan12 | with Virginia McKinney
Build a Feather Weight Canoe | CM10WDW-Jan12 | with Kent Perdue
Basic Drawing & Painting Techniques | CM10DRW-Jan12 | with Andrea Wilson

Session II: February 23-March 25, 2010

Fused Glass - Intermediate | CM10GLS-Feb23 | with Kitty Alcott
Metalwork Surface Techniques | CM10MTL-Feb23 | with Victoria Altepeter
Contemporary Ceramic Face Jars | CM10CLH-Feb23 | with Thaddeus Erdahl
Intro to Photography | CM10PTO-Feb23 | with Jill Greene
Tricks of the Ceramic Trade | CM10CLY-Feb23 | with Martina Lantin
Tables, Tables, Tables | CM10WDW-Feb23 | with Kent Perdue
Woodturning - Intermediate | CM10WDT-Feb23 | with Randy Ogle

For more information or to download a registration form, visit www.Arrowmont.org

SEVIER COUNTY, TN - Arthritis affects 1.5 million Tennesseans and is the leading cause of disability in the United States. It is a chronic disease that targets the joints of the body. Common symptoms include joint pain, aching, stiffness and swelling. Though arthritis tends to be debilitating, it can be effectively managed through a variety of methods. There is growing evidence that low-impact, slow motion exercise is an essential tool in relieving arthritic pain and fatigue. On January 21, the University of Tennessee Extension in Sevier County will be offering an Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi Program. The 7 session program is designed for people with arthritis to reduce pain and stiffness, help maintain or improve mobility, muscle strength, memory, and balance. Individuals of all ages and mobility levels can benefit from the low impact course. Classes will be held every Thursday, beginning January 21, and ending February 25th, with one additional class on Tuesday, February 23. Each class will be from 6:00 to 7:00 and be held at the UT Extension Office near the Fairgrounds. The cost of the 7 sessions is $40.00. The Harvard Medical School referred to Tai Chi as “medication in motion” because of its overall health benefits. For more information or to sign up for the program, please contact Linda Hyder, Sevier County UT Extension at 453-3695 or lhyder@utk.edu. Registration is needed by January 15th.

PIGEON FORGE - Wilderness Wildlife Week, Pigeon Forge’s annual tribute to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is scheduled for Jan. 9-16, 2010. The eight-day extravaganza of seminars, workshops, photography classes, hikes and excursions relate to the park and other outdoor topics. This is Wilderness Wildlife Week’s 20th year.

More than 150 experts—nature photographers, biologists, raptor rehabilitators, social historians and just plain folks who grew up in the Smokies—donate their time to present daily programs and a range of outdoor activities. There are more than 200 programs and activities.
 
Program topics vary daily, and admission is free to all activities. Topics include bears in the Smokies, the elk reintroduction project, the Smokies’ logging history, fire towers in the Smokies, close-up photography, trout fishing, fly-casting and birding by ear. Several programs are designed especially for children.
 
Almost 60 hikes and excursions into the national park complement the indoor programs. In 2009, more than 1,000 hikers from 18 states logged a cumulative 4,656 miles.
 
“The week is extremely flexible. You can attend one lecture or take one hike, or you can participate day after day,” said Leon Downey of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “It’s a great way to introduce people to the outdoors.”
 
Wilderness Wildlife Week began 19 years ago as a half-day program on a January Saturday.  January hasn’t been the same since then in Pigeon Forge. The Southeast Tourism Society has chosen it 10 times as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast.
 
Wilderness Wildlife Week information, including a full list of programs and hikes, is available in the “events” section of MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-WINTERFEST.

KNOXVILLE - Knoxville poet and playwright Laura Still will be exploring two recent literary endeavors at the Thursday, January 7 meeting of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild.  Still will be reading from her collection of poetry, Guardians.  The author will also be relating her journey with the book – how it had come about, its theme, design and the process of editing it.  The remainder of Still’s Guild appearance will be centered on her latest project, Acts of the Apostles, a teaching manual for children’s drama workshops. 

The meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Laurel Theater, at the corner of Laurel Avenue and 16th Street (in Fort Sanders).  A $1 donation is requested at the door.  The building is handicapped accessible. 

Laura Still’s Guardians was released this past fall by Celtic Cat Publishing.  A work decidedly personal and spiritual in tone, it has proved inspiring, garnering high praise from noted local writers.  Marianne Worthington: “Laura Still’s debut collection of poems shimmers like a painting; her word canvas is color-driven with themes of light and shadow that contour a sense of wonder and mystery.”  Marilyn Kallet:

“Generous, accessible, and unaffected, these poems are like little phoenixes ….  Each one of them celebrates the spirit’s victory—art’s victory—over loss and sorrow.  Each object, moment, and event is wrapped tenderly in the lyrical weave of redemptive song.”  Don Williams: “This is a beautiful gathering of poems.  They lift the heart and eyes to numinous windows lit with voice, spirit, grace.”

While working on Guardians, Laura Still embarked upon Acts of the Apostles, which has just been published by Stony River Media.  The book features 25 one-act plays for children, all written by Still and based on Bible stories and themes.  Complementing this assemblage are various instructional offerings for those who lead theatrical groups for young people.  These informative elements encompass the setting up of a drama room, the making of costumes, props and stage sets, and an array of teaching tips. 

Laura Still’s involvement with children and the theater has been both passionate and longstanding.  A mother of two, Still has taught Sunday school for 18 years and she has been a drama workshop leader for the Church Street United Methodist Church the past seven-and-one-half years.  Apart from her church, Still has served as a stage manager for the Tennessee Stage Company.

Still’s creativity and commitment to the arts have been expressed in a rich and varied manner, extending well beyond the footlights.  She is a member of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild, having served as its treasurer, a workshop instructor, and a judge of its Young Writers’ Poetry Prize.  Her poems have been published in numerous Guild anthologies; she has been a frequent contributor to the literary journal New Millennium Writings; and her first feature article, “An Angel Above Us,” appeared in the 2009 holiday issue of Cityview magazine.

Guardians and Acts of the Apostles cap what has been an especially productive year for the multi-talented Laura Still.  During her January Guild appearance, she’ll be covering issues related to each of these volumes: voice, criticism, time management, work habits, and the value of a deadline; it is her hope these topics will generate questions and discussion from listeners.  Those in attendance will most certainly be illuminated by Still’s literary discourse – and moved by her personal readings.

If you only have it in your budget to see one Christmas show this year, check out the extraordinary singer/songwriter/entertainer James Rogers at the Smith Family Theater in Pigeon Forge on December 23, 2009. Rogers was performing in Chattanooga (his old stompin’ grounds), so SevierCountyNews.com caught up with him by telephone to chat a bit before his Christmas performance. (Note: This is a dinner theater, and the meal is served at 5 p.m. For ticket information, call 865-429-8100.) 

 

KNOXVILLE - Sister Hazel will perform on Thursday, March 25, 8 p.m. at the historic Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. Tickets are $21.50, plus applicable service fees, available beginning Friday, December 18, at 10 a.m. at all Tickets Unlimited outlets, the Tennessee Theatre box office, by phone at 865-656-4444, or online at
http://www.knoxbijou.com.

It should come as no surprise that one of rock's most democratic bands would
come up with a most democratic album. For Release, their seventh disc of
original material, Sister Hazel (vocalist/guitarist Ken Block,
guitarist/vocalist Drew Copeland, lead guitarist Ryan Newell, bassist Jett
Beres and drummer Mark Trojanowski) decided to have each band member
contribute a couple of his own songs for which he would then guide his
vision through the recording process.

Last fall, the members of the Gainesville-bred group brought in their songs
to their favorite Gainesville rehearsal space where they played through the
material. They traveled to Nashville to demo the tunes, and then Newell
worked on the tracks at his home studios with his band mates dropping in.
Block and Copeland recorded their vocals at a Gainesville Best Western that
Block humorously suggests may change the room's name to the Sister Hazel
Presidential Suite.

Release proves to be a wonderful showcase for the group's five talented
songwriters. Wanting to, in Beres' words, "stretch the boundaries of what
Sister Hazel is," the disc is their most diverse effort. It features the
familiar Sister Hazel Southern-style rock sound but comes at it with a
decidedly fresh, invigorating style.

Each member ended up with at least two of his own tunes among the disc's 12
tracks, with Copeland and Newell both nabbing three cuts. Long-time fans
might be surprised to learn Block, who has been the band's primary
songwriter, wound up with only two tunes. He actually dropped one of his
songs to focus on a Copeland cut, "I Believe In You." Copeland, in the
band's all-for-one spirit, let Block captain this track. As Block notes,
"Everyone got their own fingerprints all over the record. The ownership that
we always felt on other records went to a different level on this one."

Block also points out how everyone brings something a little different to
the songwriting table. "Mark's songs [like the orchestral "Better Way"] tend
to come in at one end of the spectrum where they're a little heavy and
layered a lot more, and Drew, on the other end, really likes to use a lot of
space and a lot of intimacy with the vocals," which you can hear in his
uplifting, Eagles-ish piano ballad "One Life" (one of the two songs where
Copeland handled lead vocals).

Offering a vibrant variety of Sister Hazel's songs, Release kicks off with
Newell's title track, a country-flavored rocker that not only features his
banjo playing but also his cello debut. This song along with his "Take A
Bow" resulted from a songwriters' retreat where he wound up collaborating
with folks like Pat McGee, Emerson Hart and Michael Daly. Block's two tracks
("Walls & Cannonballs" and "See Me Beautiful") hold down the disc's center
and exemplify the disc's diversity, with the former being a rousing rocker
about a troubled relationship and the latter a quieter, inspiring song.
Beres' "Ghost In The Crowd" closes the album with an exclamation point. This
anthemic arena rocker, which features some of Newell's nimblest guitar work,
was a consensus pick to conclude the disc. Beres states the dramatic music
feeds upon the lyric's powerful content. "We had a lot personal stuff going
on," he adds. "'Ghost In The Crowd' was my interpretation of life that was
happening within the band."

Over the last few years, the band has experienced birth, death and divorce,
and this disc represents, as Trojanowski notes, "a total snapshot of where
we are." Copeland reveals, "Everybody has had personal tragedies. We have
had inner turmoil [but] we always had similar goals." Block believes, "It
all made us closer. We've all been able to lean on each other and our
friendship has gotten deeper and deeper."

Block started playing with Copeland around Gainesville in the early '90s.
They added Beres on bass and then guitarist Newell and drummer Trojanowski.
The band struck gold with their chart-topping hit, "All For You." Over the
years, the band has sold over 2 million albums and had six top 30 singles;
they earned a platinum disc with 1997's Somewhere More Familiar and a gold
with 2000's Fortress. "We're getting to live a dream," Copeland proclaims.
"As kids, we grew up thinking, 'Man, one day I am going to be a rock star!'
and man, we are getting to do that. And we don't take that for granted."

One way Sister Hazel has continued going strong over the years is their
unique relationship with their fans, the most ardent of whom are called
Hazelnuts. Since 2001, the group has hosted Rock Boat, the world's largest
floating music festival. Earlier this year, they held their fourth annual
Hazelnut Hang, a three-day weekend of music, meals and mingling. In August,
Sister Hazel will again do their Operation Swan Dive benefit outside of
Boston, where they'll perform while people skydive to raise money for the
band's pediatric cancer charity Lyrics for Life. The band also is
organizing, in September, the first ever Lyrics for Life Day, where they are
encouraging people to create their own fundraisers for the charity.

Release signifies a special achievement for the band, something that they
couldn't have done earlier in their career. "All five of us have really
grown as writers," asserts Copeland, while Newell observes, "We allowed each
other to bring our strengths to the table." "The album," according to Beres,
"was the opportunity to say, 'I have a vision for these songs and I'm going
to see it through,' [and] the other four saying, 'I trust that you are able
to do that and will facilitate you in any way I can.'" Trojanowski believes
that this premise worked because Sister Hazel has "a true sense of a band,
not just one person fronting the band and everyone else being treated
differently." "Right now, we're on a tear," proclaims Block, "and we hope to
keep things really rolling."

Congrats to Karen Houck of Gatlinburg who won our two tix to see DWB for NYE. 

A self-confessed former drug addict and homeless guy turned rock-n-roll evangelist, Davis Mitchell of Knoxville's funk/rock/R&B band Dishwater Blonde is the same no matter where you see him. If he's on stage at "Sundown in the City" in Market Square opening for Arrested Development or playing the jam-packed streets of Ribfest in Gatlinburg or having coffee at the KnoxLife church that meets at Remedy Coffee House, what you see is what you get. Dishwater Blonde is playing New Year's Eve at the Square Room as a benefit for Knox Area Rescue Ministries. Mitchell told SevierCountyNews.com that his motivation to make the show a benefit concert is because "you can only keep what you give away" and because he himself spent time at KARM during his darkest days.   

                             

SCN: I heard you’ve had some personnel changes in Dishwater Blonde lately; Cozmo Holloway left. Are you sad? I know you guys are close friends.

 

DM: A little sad yeah but leaving us to go and play with the Dirty Guv’nahs is a great opportunity for him and we are excited and happy for him. Things change and evolve, you know? Our current line-up is: Gerald Ware-Drums; Robby Mathis-Bass; Scottie Hoaglan-Guitar; Nakia Davis-Vox; Jason Thompson-Sax; Davis Mitchell-Guitar/Vox.

 

SCN: To quote your blog, “They are in dWb for a season and then they move on to something new but they are ALWAYS family.”

 

DM: That’s it. And just so you know, we will have my good friend Scotty Hoaglan playing second guitar for us at the New Year’s Eve show at the Square Room.

 

SCN: He’s replacing Coz?

 

DM: That’s not how we planned it since we didn’t hold auditions or anything, but that’s how it is working out.  I’ve known Scotty for years. We met at Rick’s Music. I remember seeing him for the first time…long hair, lots of tattoos, a purple goatee…

 

SCN: What made you decide to do this show as a benefit? I’m sure you could use the money since you’re about to be a new Dad. When is the baby due?

 

DM: March 17.

 

SCN: Name picked out?

 

DM: Bowie…so far that’s what we have decided on.

 

SCN: Great name!

 

DM: That's the name Angie and I have picked out for now...it could change. Well, the reason we have decided to make it a benefit is because you can only keep what you give away. And as you know, I was once a resident there at KARM, from November 2002 to April 2003. In fact, next year KARM will celebrate their 50^th anniversary. Michael Underwood of Tantrum Video did a film about it, and I was one of three former residents they interviewed for it, people whose lives have been restored by the love of Jesus Christ.

 

SCN: I have heard others say that with you, it’s pretty much what you see is what you get. You are down-to-earth and genuine, whether you are sitting at the bar at Barley’s or playing at the KnoxLife church at Remedy Coffee house. Same guy. Same love. No pretense.

 

DM: I wouldn’t know how to be any other way. I was not raised in the church at all and don’t know all the buzz words and church terminology. In the beginning, when (KnoxLife Pastor) Sean (Alsobrooks) asked me if I was interested in leading worship for KnoxLife Church, I told him I didn’t know what that meant, “to lead worship.” He told me he didn’t know either but we that we could figure it out together. I’ve been doing that now since October of last year.

 

SCN: I saw on your new website that Dishwater Blonde now has three CDs and two DVDs. What are the DVDs of?

 

DM: One is Live at Barley’s Taproom in Knoxville and the other is an unplugged thing we did at World Grotto.

 

SCN: What can we expect at the New Year’s Eve show?

 

DM: Something from each album plus a preview of new material and our classic New Year’s Eve covers. It will be a lot of fun and all the proceeds go to benefit KARM, so tell everybody to come on out and join us!

 GET YOUR TICKETS AT: www.thesquareroom.com

The Knoxville Choral Society will hold auditions for all voice parts on Thursday, January 7 from 6 until 9 p.m.  No prepared piece is required.  Auditions include assessments of vocal quality, sight-reading and tonal memory.  To schedule an audition, please e-mail membership@knoxvillechoralsociety.org or call (865) 579-6292.
 
For more information about the Knoxville Choral Society visit our Website at www.knoxvillechoralsociety.org

KNOXVILLE - The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present its National Juried Exhibition of 2009, a new exhibition featuring selected artwork from 46 artists in Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and North Carolina.  The National Juried Exhibition was developed in 2006 to provide a forum for local artists to compete on a national scale and display their highest quality work.  The selected art features both traditional and non-traditional work and will be exhibited at the Emporium Center from December 14, 2009 - January 29, 2010.  A public reception will take place on Friday, January 8, from 5:00-9:00 PM with a brief awards ceremony at 6:00 PM.

The following works will be shown:
+ Bryna Bobick, Memphis, TN - “Worry Bag”, Mixed media
+ Amanda Brazier, Chattanooga, TN - “Cradle", Acrylic & twine
+ Laura Chenicek, Nashville, TN - “The Development", Acrylic on canvas with slide latch; text on paper mounted inside
+ Lil Clinard, Loudon, TN - “Bangkok Bathers”, Watercolor
+ Bill Cook, Jr., Knoxville, TN - “Perched”, Georgia Marble
+ Bobbie Crews, Knoxville, TN - “Hassie”, Watercolor on Paper
+ Marjorie Foster, Stone Mountain, GA - "Chamber of Commerce, Madison, GA”, Oil
+ Holly Freeman, Knoxville, TN - “Gravel Road - Cades Cove”, Digital Print
+ Katie Gamble, Maryville, TN - “4620: Last Call”, Oil on linen
+ R. L. Gibson, Gatlinburg, TN - “Sally . Sue . Sara”, Xerography on Wood  thexerographist@rlgibson.com
+ Michael Giles, Knoxville, TN - “Untitled (Fail)”, Oil on canvas
+ Carl Gombert, Maryville, TN - “Veteran”, Rubber stamp monotype
+ Joyce Gralak, Knoxville, TN - “Half Full”, Wax, found objects, photocopies, oil paint on plywood
+ Valerie Gruner, Atlanta, GA - "Heaven's Door”, Photography
+ Jason Hargrove, Murray, KY - "Rainin' Blood”, Acrylic
+ Kelly Hider, Knoxville, TN - “The Calm Before”, Oil and mixed media on canvas
+ Kari Weaver Hopkins, Burnsville, NC - "Basket”, Stoneware
+ Audrey Jaccard, Lenoir City, TN - “Chalk it Up to My Anger”, Porcelain
+ Rowan James, Ten Mile, TN - “Manual”, Digital
+ J. Austin Jennings, Dayton, OH - "Nothing Gold”, Collage and Acrylic on Canvas
+ Randy Jennings, Kettering, OH - "Snow Fence", Black and White Photography, Holga camera
+ Dawn Kunkel, Knoxville, TN - “Shield 3: Gift of Rivers”, Mixed Media
+ Victoria Lenne, Knoxville, TN - “Just a Drop in the H2O”, Watercolor
+ Darla Diann Lewis-Bishop, Maryville, TN - “A Soul Warms; Colored Words”, Watercolor and Pastel
+ Wes Loukota, Knoxville, TN - “Small Pedestal Platter”, Wood - spalted maple
+ Jenny L. Mastin, Valdese, NC - "Luna”, Ceramic, oxide stain, slips, underglazes, metal
+ Roy McCullough, Knoxville, TN - “Paradise Revisited”, Oil
+ Kate McCullough, Knoxville, TN - “Harley Lights”, Watercolor
+ Barb McDevitt, Knoxville, TN - “Birdseye View”, Pastel
+ Barry McManus, Louisville, TN, "Burning Afternoon”, Photography
+ Michael Murphy, Morristown, TN - “Bel Aire”, Film photography
+ Joe Parrott, Knoxville, TN - “Sunrise at Krutch Park”, Oil/canvas
+ JoAnn Parsley, Knoxville, TN - “Peoplescape 4”, Oil
+ Landon Phipps, Maryville, TN - “Rusty”, Photography
+ Elizabeth A. Porter, Knoxville, TN - “Untitled”, Pen on Bristol board
+ Richard Pratt, Knoxville, TN - “Trees and Posts III: Ombra Mai Fu”, Acrylic on canvas
+ Marion Randolph, Oak Ridge, TN - “Spalted Maple Bowl”, Wood
+ George Rothery, Knoxville, TN - “Marina Taxi”, Acrylic
+ Victor Schmidt, Nashville, TN - “Curbside Piece”, Hand-forged steel
+ Erika Smith, Knoxville, TN - “Time”, Mixed media
+ Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Knoxville, TN - “Binge & Purge: Donuts Behaving Badly”, Oil on Linen
+ Marilyn Avery Turner, Knoxville, TN - “Across the Great Divide”, Monoprint / chine cole
+ Stephanie Untz, Knoxville, TN - “He Just Left”, Mixed Media
+ Linda Waterhouse, Maryville, TN - “At the Stream”, Photography
+ Richard Whitehead, Knoxville, TN - “Present Does Not Return”, Charcoal
+ Steve Zigler, Knoxville, TN - “Tremont Metamorphosis”, Photograph on canvas
 
Visit this Web site to view the above works: www.knoxalliance.com/album/juried_2009.html

The juror, Jeffrey Morton is an accomplished painter specializing in various interpretations of the landscape over the last twenty years. Influential to his work are 17th century Japanese folding screens, American modernist and abstract painters, and the earth artists of the later part of the 20th century. His work has been exhibited regionally and nationally, including exhibits at the University of Tennessee Downtown Gallery, the Harrison Center for the Arts, Indianapolis, and at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. Educated at Yale University and Temple University, Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, Morton has served as a professor of art at Covenant College for ten years. He recently served as curator for the show "Accessing the Artist's Brain: Drawing as Metaphor" at Chattanooga's Association of Visual Arts. Jeffrey Morton is a resident of Signal Mountain, Tennessee.
 
The reception on Friday, January 8, 2010 from 5:00-9:00 PM, is free and open to the public, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served.  The National Juried Exhibition of 2009 is on display December 14, 2009 - January 29, 2010 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, downtown Knoxville.  Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Saturday, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM.  Please note that the Emporium will be closed at 12:00 PM on December 24 and will reopen Monday, January 4, 2010.  For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit our Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

*Featured image: “Sally . Sue . Sara” (Xerography on Wood) by R. L. Gibson.
 
About the Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions.  The Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission.  www.arts.state.tn.us

Sevierville, TN, December 1, 2009 – More than just a tradeshow, the 22nd Annual Smoky Mountain Home Show is a market lifeline.  Attendees need it to find ideas and sources that can help them improve and maximize their home investment through this difficult economy.  For builders and retailers, it's the time to make the connections now that will prepare them to capitalize as the economy turns around.

Why any home products and/or services company should participate in the Smoky Mountain Home Show:

• Thousands of people will come right past each booth – all of them already interested in the home construction and improvement business and looking for ideas, answers, and a professional to see their ideas to completion.
• A company can reach a year's worth of customers in 3 days!
• Exhibitors are part of an ideal sales environment where consumers can feel, touch, compare and BUY products and services.

Show Details

Open to the Public  February 5 - 7, 2010

Location   Sevierville Events Center at Bridgemont, Sevierville, TN

SCHBA Show Preview  Friday, February 5   11:30am - 2:00pm

Exhibit Hours  Friday, February 5   2:00pm - 8:00pm

            Saturday, February 6   8:00am - 6:00pm

            Sunday, February 7   11:00am - 5:00pm

Attendance  4 - 5,000 anticipated

Exhibiting Companies  160+ anticipated

Product Categories  50+

Exhibit Space Fee  SCHBA Members: $500  -  Non-Members: $750

            Some discounts available – call for more info 
 
 

A business can maximize their Return on Investment by taking advantage of all the unique opportunities being presented to 2010 Smoky Mountain Home Show Exhibitors. 

Each Exhibitor Receives:

• 10 x 10 booth with 6' table, chairs and identification sign.
• Free event tickets to distribute to customers, plus the option to buy even more at a discount below public price.
• Poster to hang and coupons to hand out at their place of business.
• Discounts on Home Show Program advertising, as well as in partnered media outlets.
• Option to book time on the Home Show Stage, to enable sales/education presentations to the public.
• Listing on the Smoky Mountain Home Show web site and in the Home Show Program.
• Exclusive options to participate in additional promotional events.

Visit www.smokymountainhomeshow.com for more information, rates, and sign-up details!  

Contact Christine for more information at 865-323-7540 or e-mail at    coordinator@smokymountainhomeshow.com 
 

Knoxville -  Lexus of Knoxville Legendary Performances will feature The Moody Blues on Tuesday, March 16, 8 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. Tickets are $80, plus applicable service fees, available beginning Friday, December 4, at 10 a.m. at all Tickets Unlimited outlets, the Tennessee Theatre box office, by phone at 865-656-4444, or online at
http://www.tennesseetheatre.com.

In an endless sea of rock and pop formats, The Moody Blues have
distinguished themselves through four decades as that shimmering jewel
vindicating rock music as a substantial artistic contribution to Western
culture. Since the '60s, as a part of the historic original British invasion
of Supergroups, The Moody Blues have lit up the hearts and minds of millions
of rock fans with inspiring anthems like ³Nights in White Satin,² ³Tuesday
Afternoon² and ³I¹m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),² that express
universal themes of love, compassion and peace.  The band¹s unique style of
music consistently finds airplay on radio stations globally and continues to
illuminate concert arenas around the world.  From being immortalized on The
Simpsons to having their music featured in movies, television and in such
national advertisement campaigns as this year¹s TV ad for VISA featuring
³Tuesday Afternoon,² The Moody Blues are embedded in not only music history
but in pop culture.

Since they first hit the rock scene with the release of their monumental
1967 album DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED, The Moody Blues have continued to produce
music that bridges the gap between classical and pop-rock genres without
ever wavering in their integrity and commitment.  Featuring the altruistic
inflections of guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward, bassist/vocalist John
Lodge and drummer Graeme Edge, The Moody Blues¹ sound has held its ground
with exquisite harmonies over and over again, in a genre of music that is
ever changing.  Since their formation in England, The Moody Blues have
created music time and time again that offers rock music a depth that is
unprecedented and inspiring.

The Moody Blues have sold in excess of 70 million albums worldwide and have
been awarded an astonishing 14 platinum and gold discs.  Their incredible
roster of hits include: ³Nights In White Satin,² ³Ride My See Saw,² ³The
Story In Your Eyes,² ³Isn¹t Life Strange,² ³Question,² ³I¹m Just A Singer
(In A Rock And Roll Band),² ³Your Wildest Dreams,² and ³I Know You¹re Out
There Somewhere,² to name a few.  The Moody Blues¹ No. 1, Top 5, Top 10, Top
20, Top 40, Multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles, have
generated sold-old tours on a consistent basis over the course of several
decades, making them one of the top-grossing album and touring bands in
existence.

Throughout the group¹s indelible history, they have been embraced by every
major music journal around the world.  ³The sound of The Moody Blues can
only be described as sublime,² says Music Connection.  ³While most rock
bands waved banners of anger, protest and confusion, the Moodies always
offered rock fans another option with eloquent songs that have called for
reverence, compassion and insight.²

Throughout the '60s and '70s, the group released a string of concept albums
including IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD, ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM, TO OUR
CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, A QUESTION OF BALANCE, EVERY GOOD BOY
DESERVES FAVOUR and SEVENTH SOJOURN, which can be listened to from beginning
to end like turning the pages of a novel telling the story of our lives.
The albums garnered the band respect and acclaim that would place them in
that unusual distinctive category as pioneers of concept-rock with a
message.

In 1979, the band released OCTAVE, and stepped away from the concept theme
by exploring new musical elements which spawned two hits ³Driftwood² and
³Steppin¹ In A Slide Zone.²  In the 80¹s, while punk rock, power-pop and new
wave were dominating the charts, The Moodies showed their resilience against
the changing tides of trends and released the album LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER.
The album went straight to the top and landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200,
with two hit singles: ³Gemini Dream² and ³The Voice.²  The Moody Blues then
released THE PRESENT in 1983 with the hits ³Blue World² and ³Sitting At The
Wheel²; followed by another album that would win over a new generation of
young fans in the mid-late 80's entitled THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE, which gave
birth to the hit song ³Your Wildest Dreams²-- one of their biggest selling
singles of their career to date.  The next two albums continued their
momentum with the hit single, ³I Know You're Out There Somewhere² from SUR
LA MER, the counterpart to ³Your Wildest Dreams² and 1991's ³Say It With
Love² from KEYS OF THE KINGDOM.

The 90¹s marked yet another phase of the band¹s illustrious career.  The
Moody Blues had reached a milestone in 1992 ­­ their 25th anniversary of the
release of DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED.  With this concept in mind, the band
performed live in concert with a symphony orchestra.  The event was filmed
at the Red Rocks concert venue in Denver, Colorado, for a PBS special, home
video and album. The response from the broadcast was so phenomenal, the band
took the symphony concerts on the road and sold out everywhere.

During this time period, The Moodies released their Gold-selling boxed set
collection entitled TIME TRAVELLER, a greatest hits package in 1997 entitled
THE BEST OF THE MOODY BLUES, and a double-CD ANTHOLOGY album.  The group
welcomed the new Millennium with the release of the appropriately titled
STRANGE TIMES, which was their first studio album in eight years, charting
yet again in the Top 100 on Billboard. Recorded in Genoa, Italy, the band
took on the role of ³producers² of the album, another first for the The
Moodies.

The band then released a second PBS special and live album in 2001 entitled
Hall Of Fame:  Recorded Live At The Royal Albert Hall; and The Moody Blues:
Live At The Royal Albert Hall, respectively. The performance re-visited the
excitement of their live performances with a symphony orchestra, recorded
and filmed in England's famed Royal Albert Hall.  The live concert,
available on video, marked the first live Moody Blues performance released
on DVD.

Also in 2001, the Moody Blues were featured in the highest grossing giant
screen production of the year in the IMAX film entitled JOURNEY INTO AMAZING
CAVES.  Featuring two new Moody Blues songs, ³We Can Fly² and ³Water²; and
their classics ³Nights in White Satin² and ³Ride My Seesaw,² the film was
awarded IMAX¹ ³Soundtrack of the Year Award,² which was simultaneously
released on CD.

In 2003, The Moody Blues released the first holiday album of their career on
Universal Records entitled DECEMBER. The band¹s majestic, orchestral mix of
rock and pop fit beautifully in the new Christmas CD ­ from its lush
originals, to the band¹s choice of traditional songs.  Produced by Hayward
and Lodge, DECEMBER features five original songs, five cover songs, and one
newly arranged traditional tune with additional lyrics.

Nashville paid tribute to the band in 2004 with the release of MOODY
BLUEGRASS, in which 31 of Nashville¹s top musicians recorded and translated
the group¹s 70¹s and 80¹s classics into bluegrass form. Produced by
mandolinist David Harvey, renowned bluegrass artists from Alison Krauss and
Harley Allen to Tim O¹Brien put their bluegrass interpretations on ³Your
Wildest Dreams,² ³I¹m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band),² ³Nights In
White Satin,² and many other Moody hits.

The Moodies released the Image Entertainment DVD and CD THE MOODY BLUES:
LOVELY TO SEE YOU, LIVE in 2005, recorded at the historic Greek Theatre in
Los Angeles. This recording was pure Moody Blues, marking the first live
performance recorded sans orchestra, since their historic 1969 live release
THE MOODY BLUES LIVE +5.

In 2008, The Moody Blues and Universal Music Enterprises re-released the
group¹s first seven albums, containing the band¹s legendary chart-topping
singles of the 60¹s and 70¹s.  Each re-release by UMe features exclusive
bonus tracks, alternate versions, radio sessions and outtakes; telling a
story about the progression of rock & roll while diving into further detail
with the inclusion of live BBC recordings and bonus tracks.

With a 2009 tour in progress, the legacy of The Moody Blues continues to
live on.  As the world continues to revolve on its axis during any time of
economic and political uncertainty, The Moody Blues have always been there
to provide the world with live music that is engaging and appropriate to the
times.

As they continue to tour and perform for millions of fans around the world,
The Moody Blues will always offer that unique experience of rock & roll
delivered with connectedness, commitment and a sentiment of peace.

KNOXVILLE - The legendary B.B. King will be performing Friday, January 8, 8 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. Tickets are $84.50 and $68, plus service fees, via the Tennessee Theatre box office, all Tickets Unlimited outlet, 865-656-4444, or online www.tennesseetheatre.com.

His reign as King of the Blues has been as long as that of any monarch on
earth. Yet B.B. King continues to wear his crown well. At age 84, he is
still light on his feet, singing and playing the blues with relentless
passion. Time has no apparent effect on B.B., other than to make him more
popular, more cherished, more relevant than ever. Don't look for him in some
kind of semi-retirement; look for him out on the road, playing for people,
popping up in a myriad of T.V. commercials, or laying down tracks for his
next album. B.B. King is as alive as the music he plays, and a grateful
world can't get enough of him.

For more than half a century, Riley B. King‹better known as B.B. King‹has
defined the blues for a worldwide audience. Since he started recording in
the 1940s, he has released over 50 albums, many of them classics. He was
born September 16, 1925, on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, near
Indianola. In his youth, he played on street corners for dimes, and would
sometimes play in as many as four towns a night. In 1947, he hitchhiked to
Memphis, TN, to pursue his music career. Memphis was where every important
musician of the South gravitated, and which supported a large musical
community where every style of African American music could be found. B.B.
stayed with his cousin Bukka White, one of the most celebrated blues
performers of his time, who schooled B.B. further in the art of the blues.

B.B.'s first big break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy
Williamson's radio program on KWEM out of West Memphis. This led to steady
engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis, and later to a
ten-minute spot on black-staffed and managed Memphis radio station WDIA.
"King's Spot," became so popular, it was expanded and became the "Sepia
Swing Club." Soon B.B. needed a catchy radio name. What started out as Beale
Street Blues Boy was shortened to Blues Boy King, and eventually B.B. King.

In the mid-1950s, while B.B. was performing at a dance in Twist, Arkansas, a
few fans became unruly. Two men got into a fight and knocked over a kerosene
stove, setting fire to the hall. B.B. raced outdoors to safety with everyone
else, then realized that he left his beloved $30 acoustic guitar inside, so
he rushed back inside the burning building to retrieve it, narrowly escaping
death. When he later found out that the fight had been over a woman named
Lucille, he decided to give the name to his guitar to remind him never to do
a crazy thing like fight over a woman. Ever since, each one of B.B.'s
trademark Gibson guitars has been called Lucille.

Soon after his number one hit, "Three O'Clock Blues," B.B. began touring
nationally. In 1956, B.B. and his band played an astonishing 342 one-night
stands. From the chitlin circuit with its small-town cafes, juke joints, and
country dance halls to rock palaces, symphony concert halls, universities,
resort hotels and amphitheaters, nationally and internationally, B.B. has
become the most renowned blues musician of the past 40 years.

Over the years, B.B. has developed one of the world's most identifiable
guitar styles. He borrowed from Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and
others, integrating his precise and complex vocal-like string bends and his
left hand vibrato, both of which have become indispensable components of
rock guitarist's vocabulary. His economy, his every-note-counts phrasing,
has been a model for thousands of players, from Eric Clapton and George
Harrison to Jeff Beck. B.B. has mixed traditional blues, jazz, swing,
mainstream pop and jump into a unique sound. In B.B.'s words, "When I sing,
I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by
playing Lucille."

In 1968, B.B. played at the Newport Folk Festival and at Bill Graham's
Fillmore West on bills with the hottest contemporary rock artists of the day
who idolized B.B. and helped to introduce him to a young white audience. In
``69, B.B. was chosen by the Rolling Stones to open 18 American concerts for
them; Ike and Tina Turner also played on 18 shows.

B.B. was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He received NARAS' Lifetime
Achievement Grammy Award in 1987, and has received honorary doctorates from
Tougaloo(MS) College in 1973; Yale University in 1977; Berklee College of
Music in 1982; Rhodes College of Memphis in 1990; Mississippi Valley State
University in 2002 and Brown University in 2007. In 1992, he received the
National Award of Distinction from the University of Mississippi.

B.B. continues to tour extensively, averaging over 250 concerts per year
around the world. Classics such as "Payin' The Cost To Be The Boss," "The
Thrill Is Gone," How Blue Can You Get," "Everyday I Have The Blues," and
"Why I Sing The Blues" are concert (and fan) staples. Over the years, the
Grammy Award-winner has had two No. 1 R&B hits, 1951's "Three O'Clock
Blues," and 1952's "You Don't Know Me," and four #2 R&B hits, 1953's "Please
Love Me," 1954's "You Upset Me Baby," 1960's "Sweet Sixteen, Part I," and
1966's "Don't Answer The Door, Part I." B.B.'s most popular crossover hit,
1970's "The Thrill Is Gone," went to No. 15 pop.

King's 2008 release, One Kind Favor, won a Grammy for for Best Traditional
Blues Album.

SEVIERVILLE - The Rel Maples Institute for Culinary Arts at Walters State Community College will operate a special bake shop to assist with Thanksgiving preparations. A variety of breads, rolls, cakes, pies and cookies will be available from 8:30 a.m to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 in the demonstration kitchen of the Conner-Short Center in Sevierville.

      Red Velvet, Carrot and German Chocolate cakes will be offered, along with pumpkin and pecan pies, more desserts, rolls and a selection of artisan breads.

      Students, under the close supervision of chef instructors, will also offer complete turkey and ham dinners. A turkey dinner for four includes a 10-12 pound oven-roasted turkey with gravy, cranberry salad and two side items for $45. A ham dinner includes an 8-9 pound spiral cut ham, cranberry salad, and two side items for $50. Turkey and ham dinners must be ordered by Friday, Nov. 20.

      For more information, or to place an order, contact Jeri Haun at (865) 774-5817 or jlhaun@ws.edu.

KNOXVILLE - The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to sponsor the 6th annual Emporium Holiday Extravaganza on December 4 and 5: downtown Knoxville's most affordable holiday shopping event with unique gifts and live performances!  This two-day celebration features fine crafts and other handmade gifts by local artists and museum gift shops as well as live music and dance.  This event is FREE and open to the public, and the event hours are Friday, December 4, 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM and Saturday, December 5, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

The Alliance invites the public and downtown workers to enjoy lunch on us on Friday, December 4, beginning at 11:00 AM when you make a $10 purchase.  The Extravaganza continues until 9:00 PM as part of "First Friday" downtown with live entertainment by a string quartet of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, sweet treats, and warm drinks. 
 
Shop for gifts by these artists:
+ Kathy Bradley - Bronze and silver jewelry; hand-painted fabric items; etched glass pieces
+ Larry Cole - Oils, watercolor, mixed media paintings
+ Cindy Day - Watercolors, prints, notecards - www.cindyday.com
+ Dore Via Dumas - One of a kind handmade purses, handbags, and market bags - www.dorepurses.com
+ Lesley Eaton - Illustrations, giclees, prints - www.lesleyeaton.com
+ Brett Garrett - Sculpture and jewelry - www.brettgarrettstudios.com
+ Sari Gunderson (the crosbie) - Screen printed home accessories (pillows, coat racks, hooks, jewelry stands), stationary, and other gifts - www.sarigunderson.com, www.thecrosbie.com, www.tividesign.com
+ Kathy Holland - Paintings
+ Ann Lacava - Silver and chainmail jewelry - www.puresilverstudio.com
+ Hui Malkowski (T. H. E. Pearl Pagoda) - Family farm-raised natural freshwater pearl jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings)
+ Kate McCullough (Sperrin Art Studio) - Pottery, watercolor giclees, note cards
+ Denae Oglesby (Designs by Denae) - Jewelry, precious metal clay - www.designbydenae.com
+ Victoria Simmons - Paintings, drawings, painted furniture, giclee prints, notecards, and vintage figurines
+ Bob and Debbie Walker - Handmade cabochon pendants, rings, and earrings from natural minerals and gemstone material from various mining locations
+ Susan Watson - Pottery and pesto, stained glass, windchimes, suncatchers, and ornaments - www.susanwatsonsglass.com
+ Back Room Gallery - Canvas market bags, brush animal ornaments, wire flower arrangers, Christmas items
+ East Tennessee Historical Society gift shop - Books, local crafts, various gift items - www.east-tennessee-history.org
+ Frank H. McClung Museum gift shop - Jewelry, Egyptian items, Christmas items - http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu
. . . and more!

Enjoy these free, live performances on Friday, December 4:
5:00 PM: Liz&Tim (www.lizandtim.org)
6:00 PM: A String Quartet of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (www.knoxvillesymphony.com)
7:00 PM: The Knoxville Children's Choir (www.knoxchildchoir.org)
7:30 PM: Webford Brown & the Town
 
Enjoy these free, live performances on Saturday, December 5:
12:00 PM: Circle Modern Dance (www.circlemoderndance.com)
1:00 PM: Women's a cappella barbershop by Mountain Breeze Quartet
2:00 PM: Smoky Mountain Harmony A Cappella Show Chorus (www.smokymtnharmony.org)

The Extravaganza takes place at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, corner of Gay/Jackson.  Free parking is available in the lot caddy-corner from the Emporium on Jackson Avenue as well as at metered spots and in city parking garages after 6:00 PM and on weekends.  For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

**Attached images: Samples of items for sale – Jewelry by Denae Oglesby; Screenprinted pillows by Sari Gunderson; pottery by Kate McCullough.
 
About the Arts & Culture Alliance
The Arts & Culture Alliance serves and supports a diverse community of artists, arts organizations, and cultural institutions. The Arts & Culture Alliance receives financial support from the Tennessee Arts Commission. www.arts.state.tn.us

GATLINBURG – Former Broadway performer Lee Lofton will headline the Gatlinburg Festival of Trees “Grace” Luncheon this month at the Mills Conference Center.

This year’s annual event, scheduled for November 24, has been named in memory of Grace Bales Barker. Gatlinburg Inn Owner Wilma Maples, who is the sponsor for the luncheon, named it for Barker, wanting to honor her treasured long-time assistant. A special Christmas tree will be on display at the luncheon and the Festival of Trees with handmade ornaments by Barker. 
           

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries.
           

Lofton, who is now a local State Farm agent, will be accompanied by Karen Hill of Sevierville. He and his wife, Meredith have lived here for approximately three years after residing in New York City.
           

The pair were professional actors pursuing a career in musical theatre when they met performing in “The Secret Garden” in Philadelphia. They were later paired in the lead roles of “Stephen Foster the Musical” and again in “The Secret Garden.”

Lofton received his Bachelors of Music from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and his Masters of Music in vocal performance from Indiana University, where he also served as an associate instructor.

After performing several operas including “The Magic Flute, Cosi Fan Tutte” in Rome, Italy, Lofton gained agent representation and moved to New York City where he switched to classical musical theatre full time. Lee has sung the leads in “Carnival,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I,” and “The Secret Garden,” among others. His roles have taken him to Germany, Japan, Italy and throughout the U.S. 
           

His knowledge of investments and his organizational skills led to the State Farm opportunity, and although he has and will always have a love for performing, his focus is now solely on making a life-long home here in the Smoky Mountains. He is looking forward to the birth of his first son, Creed Baron Lofton in late December.
            

After the luncheon, guests will be led through the Festival of Trees by a surprise guest. 
Tickets to the event are $25 and can be purchased at the Smoky Mountain Rescue Ministry offices, Sevier County Bank in Gatlinburg and from SMARM board members. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday November 24.

For more information please call the SMARM office at 908-3153 or check out the following Web sites: www.smarm.org and www.gatlinburgfestivaloftrees.com.