Calendar of Events

A Special Kidstuff Live at the Bijou! July 27 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Throw out the rules when the Billy Jonas Band hits the stage! It’s a musical conversation… a sonic celebration … a splendiferous gathering of old and young because, at a Billy Jonas Band show, the ensemble is… everyone!

The Billy Jonas Band loves to engage and delight humans of all ages. Whether performing for adults, families, school groups, faith communities, or a mix, they strive for a musical excellence that inspires, entertains, and moves people literally and figuratively. With “wild-winded word magic, homemade instruments, exquisite 3 part vocal harmonies, plus guitar and bass, they love to create community through song and story. Their specialty: finding and pushing your & button.

Billy Jonas believes that creating a bright future starts with singing along. Using homemade and re-cyclable instruments, songs that celebrate community, as well as personal and planetary ecology, his all-ages think-outside-the-box performances occur at festivals, theaters, churches, and synagogues, schools, colleges, universities, and libraries around the country. Billy’s goal is to plant musical seeds that will help grow creative, open-minded, engaged, and open-hearted citizens of the world.

https://wdvx.com/event/a-special-kidstuff-live-at-the-bijou-7-27-billy-jonas/
WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

July 27, 2024, 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Join your friends and neighbors at the ‘Birthplace of Tennessee’ for our 3rd annual spring fundraiser - Bluegrass, Barbecue, Bourbon, and Beer at the Blounts! Spend a day relaxing on the Blount Mansion lawn as you enjoy sweet and savory locally prepared barbecue, sample a variety of our region's best and burgeoning craft brews and bourbons, and toe-tappin’ live bluegrass music! Come early, bring a lawn chair, eat some great food and don’t miss out on performances by local artists Blind House and Brand New Box of Matches!

Tickets are all inclusive! $40 per adult, $20 per child when purchased in advance. Add $5 per person for day-of-event purchases at the door.

This event is a fundraiser for c.1792 Blount Mansion, Knox County’s only National Historic Landmark. More information on our museum at www.blountmansion.org. At 200 West Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902

Blount Manson: Blount Mansion is owned and operated by the Blount Mansion Association, a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the unique history and value of the Blount Mansion National Historic Landmark, and inspiring an appreciation of national, state, and local history through the site and the lives of those who lived and worked there. Blount Mansion was the home and capitol of the first and only governor of the Southwest Territory, William Blount, his family, and the enslaved members of the household. William Blount was a signer of the U.S. Constitution and played a pivotal role in Tennessee becoming the sixteenth state.

Broadway Center for the Arts Presents The Little Mermaid July 26 - 28, 7:00 PM.

Are you searching for some family fun this summer? Are your kids complaining of boredom? Bring them to see Disney's The Little Mermaid! With an enchanting prince, a beautiful mermaid, and a delightful cast of sea creatures singing and dancing on stage, it’s sure to be a magical experience for everyone.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”

Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.

Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Oak Ridge Playhouse kicks off their 82nd Season with the innovative and sultry Tony Award Winning Musical NINE!

Get ready for a theatrical experience that ignites the senses as NINE bursts onto the stage with all the vivacity of Italy in a whirlwind of passion and drama. Facing his 39th birthday, charismatic film director Guido Contini navigates the women in his life, while confronting the complexities of love, fame, and creativity. Maury Yeston's sensational and dynamic score transports us into a sophisticated world of glitz and glamour where Guido's dreams and reality intertwine, captivating audiences with emotional depth and an infectious energy. PG-13 Audiences

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-4877, https://www.orplayhouse.com/

Performed Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; and Sundays at 3 PM.

Knoxville Children’s Theatre, in partnership with the Clayton Foundation will present the live musical “Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella: Youth Edition.” The musical is a one-hour adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s timeless tale designed specifically for young performers.

In a faraway kingdom, there lives a kind and beautiful girl named Cinderella. She is forced to work as a servant for her wicked stepmother and jealous stepsisters. Despite her hardships, Cinderella remains hopeful and kind-hearted. One magical night her fairy godmother transforms her into a dazzling princess and she attends the royal ball, capturing the heart of the charming Prince. Dive into this enchanting tale of magic, courage, and the power of dreams! The play is performed by seventeen talented young actors from ages 10 to 16.

KCT is East Tennessee’s leading producer of plays for children and families.
Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

The WDVX Blue Plate Special is a live performance radio show held at noon at Visit Knoxville (301 S. Gay Street) every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with your host Red Hickey… and on Saturday with host Sean McCollough. On Fridays WDVX takes the Blue Plate Special to Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria (200 E Jackson Ave) for “The Big Plate”. Make yourself at home as part of the WDVX family at this this daily free concert series. From blues to bluegrass, country to Celtic, folk to funk, rockabilly to hillbilly, local to international, it’s all part of the live music experience on The WDVX Blue Plate Special.

All seats are free, and visitors may come and go as they please.

Info: 865-544-1029, http://www.wdvx.com

They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler is the first retrospective exhibition of Carl and Pearl Butler, the iconic country music duo whose timeless lyrics and harmonious melodies left an indelible mark on country music. With a career spanning over four decades, Carl and Pearl Butler became celebrated figures in the world of country music. “Carl made scores of major-label records during the 1950s,” says Bradley E. Reeves, the exhibition’s guest curator and author of the new book Honky Tonkitis: On the Road with Carl Butler and Pearl. “These are some of the best bluegrass, gospel, and hard country records ever made, although none could be called a massive hit.” That honor would come in 1962, when Carl and Pearl recorded “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” The song remains among the fastest ever to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Singles. Carl and Pearl’s unique “Knoxville sound,” along with heartfelt lyrics, earned them a dedicated fan base who supported them at performances across the United States and Canada through the 1970s. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends.

Key highlights of the exhibition include:
1. Rare Family Archives: Museum guests will have the opportunity to view the Allen “Junior” Butler Family Collection, which has been made publicly available for the first time and includes never-before-seen photographs, home movies, original instruments, and stage costumes that belonged to Carl and Pearl Butler. “I’m grateful to Allen Butler and his family for opening their home and archives to share with us,” says Reeves.
2. Musical Journey: Explore the duo's musical journey through a feature film, which transports visitors through various periods of their career and traces their unfiltered, raw singing style, one that derived from and advanced the “Knoxville sound.”
3. Behind-the-Scenes: Gain insight into the lives of Carl and Pearl Butler through never-before-seen family photographs and recently uncovered anecdotes from the family and fellow musicians, including Dolly Parton who viewed the Butlers as her “second parents.” “Despite their successes,” says Adam Alfrey, Assistant Director for Historical Services at Knox County Public Library, “Carl and Pearl faced personal and professional struggles, which are intimately documented through the family’s photographs.”
4. Interpretive Experience: Engage with the exhibition to understand how both Knoxville and Nashville played a role in the development of country music. Also, learn how chart-topping artists can quickly become all but forgotten, even in their hometown. “The Butlers somehow fell through the cracks,” reflects Reeves. “It’s my hope that this book and exhibition will contribute to a reappreciation of their great body of work.”
They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler promises to be a heartfelt educational experience for country music enthusiasts and fans of all ages. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Carl and Pearl Butler on the world of music.

At 5:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2023, there will be an opening reception for They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler. The event will include a meet and greet with Carl and Pearl Butler’s family, a book signing by guest curator Bradley E. Reeves, and an exhibition of Appalachian musical pioneer paintings by artist Amy Campbell. At 7:00 pm, there will be a “Tribute to Carl and Pearl,” opened by a performance of the Paul Brewster and Friends Band, comprised of 14-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and Grand Ole Opry performers Daniel Grindstaff, Kent Blanton, Stephen Burwell, and John Meador. A screening of 8mm home movies shot by the Butlers (watch for an appearance by 10-year-old Dolly Parton), as well as some of the Butlers’ rarest television appearances, will conclude the evening.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.eastTNhistory.org/lights-camera