Calendar of Events

It starts with the creation myth: St. Vincent, naked and alone in the wilderness, startled as the ominous rattle of a snake breaks the silence of her Eden. She realizes she's not alone in the world and breaks into a run, headed towards the uncertainty of the future. It's a lovely and appropriate metaphor to open St. Vincent's self-titled fourth album, except that it literally happened. "It's not a metaphor at all," St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, says of the album's lead track, "Rattlesnake." While visiting a friend's west Texas ranch, she decided to strip away her clothes and fully enjoy the solitude that city life so rarely affords. "I went walking around this great expanse of land. There was no one around so I decided to take my clothes off and immerse myself in nature. I saw holes in the path, but did not put two-and-two together until I heard the rattle and caught a glimpse of the snake." Clark's been moving at a breakneck speed for the past two years, barely stopping to catch her breath amidst a whirlwind of recording and touring. In 2011 she released her third album, 'Strange Mercy,' called "one of the year's best" by the New York Times and "something to behold" by Pitchfork. The record cemented her status as one of her generation's most fearsome and inventive guitarists, earned her the covers of SPIN, Paper, and Under the Radar, performances everywhere from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Fallon to Letterman and Conan, and a year-long sold-out tour of her biggest venues to date around the world. She appeared on the hit IFC series Portlandia and graced the pages of Vogue's coveted September issue.

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com

Sing traditional shape note music from East Tennessee's own songbook, The New Harp of Columbia in a lovely historic church near Greeneville, TN. All are welcome to participate or listen. Loaner books are available.

Saturday, May 31, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Potluck Dinner on the Grounds at noon.
New Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Greenevillle, TN.
www.oldharp.org or 423 620-8267.

A Community Arts Festival fundraiser on Sunday, May 31 (rain date June 7). Admission is free to the public and there will be live music by local musicians, book signing by local author Kathy Fearing, children's crafts, and an art show highlighting artwork by students from area schools. Bring the family for barbeque, pizza, nachos, and a day of demonstrations, cake walks, entertainment, and silent auction. Handmade crafts by regional artists will available for purchase. All proceeds will be used to support the Center's mission to promote the Appalachian artist through education and sales. Join the fun, take a tour of the Center, and learn the many ways the Center promotes arts in our community!

Appalachian Arts Craft Center: 2716 Andersonville Highway, Clinton, TN. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Closed Sunday and Monday in January and February. Information: 865-494-9854, www.appalachianarts.net

June 1, 2015 marks the 219th anniversary of Tennessee’s admission as the 16th state in the union. East Tennessee’s most important cultural heritage sites are partnering to celebrate Statehood Day on Saturdays, May 23, May 30, and June 6 as well as Sundays, May 24 and May 31. The sites include places of historical significance in the exciting journey from the creation of our country to the founding of our state. The Historic Homes of Knoxville include: Blount Mansion, Crescent Bend, James White’s Fort, Mabry-Hazen House, Marble Springs, Ramsey House, and Historic Westwood. Each site will have individual ways of celebrating the birth of Tennessee. This is a free museum day to the public. In addition to the Historic Homes of Knoxville, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum and Crockett Tavern Museum will also host Statehood Day events.

+ Sequoyah Birthplace Museum (Sunday, May 31, 12:00-4:00 PM)
The mission of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum (Vonore), a property of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is to promote the understanding and appreciation of the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians in Eastern Tennessee, particularly the life and contributions of Sequoyah. The Museum will collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit objects and data that support this mission. Free admission. Demonstrators will be on hand throughout the day.

576 HWY 360, Vonore, TN 37885. Information: 423-884-6246, www.sequoyahmuseum.org

THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN BLUES SOCIETY proudly presents its line-up for its ever popular “BLUES CRUISE” for the summer of 2015. For five consecutive years, the SMBS has presented monthly warm-weather Sunday afternoon/early evening concerts on the Star of Knoxville Riverboat. These 3 hour musical journeys on the Tennessee River are featuring some of the best local and regional Blues Musicians. The schedule for this year brings a wonderful cross section of Blues stylings and danceable favorites.
The bands and dates for 2015 cruises:

May 31, 3-6 PM: The Stella Vees - www.thestellavees.com
June 28, 5-8 PM: Uptown Stomp with Devan Jones - https://www.facebook.com/DevanJonesandTheUptownStomp, WWW.DEVANJONES.COM
July 19, 5-8 PM: Slow Blind Hill - https://www.facebook.com/events/207158045981849, www.slowblindhill.com
Aug 16, 5-8 PM: Al Coffee and da Grind, https://www.facebook.com/AlCoffeeDaGrind/
Sept. 20, 3-6 PM: Jenna and Her Cool Friends, https://www.facebook.com/coolfriendsblues/, www.jennaandhercoolfriends.com
Oct. 18, 3-6 PM: The Romeo Kings, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roger-Hay-The-Romeo-Kings/149845911796328/, http://www.reverbnation.com/theromeokings

Cruises depart at 300 Neyland Drive, next to Calhouns downtown Knoxville. Tickets are available at the Tennessee Riverboat Company where you will also board the authentic paddle-wheeler, or by calling 865-525-7827 and online at http://tnriverboat.com/event/blues-cruise/. Advance purchase and Smoky Mountain Blues Society membership tickets receive a discount. SMBS advance purchase $13 - Public advance: $16. SMBS day of: $16 - Public day of : $19. Info: 865-288-0672, sfkrempasky@gmail.com, www.smokymountainblues.org

By Robert Harling / Directed by James Fisher

Concerned with a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, the play is alternately hilarious and touching—and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters.

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville. Info: 865-544-1999 or email: info@theatreknoxville.com. www.theatreknoxville.com

You've waited for it, and now it's here! Fill up your bookshelves with the best deal going on books. In fact, it's such a good deal, you can buy a bundle and donate them to a nursing home or school near you!

Browse through thousands of used books; proceeds benefit the Knox County Library.

At Bearden High School, 8352 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Info: http://www.knoxfriends.org/book-sales/annual-used-book-sale/

The Sundress Academy for the Arts, a branch of Sundress Publications, is thrilled to announce its summer Fiction Writing Retreat, which will be held from Friday, May 29th to Sunday, May 31st, 2015. The three-day, two-night camping retreat will be held on SAFTA’s own Firefly Farms in Knoxville, Tennessee and focus on fiction writing, with break-out sessions on writing dystopian literature and historical fiction.

A weekend pass includes instruction, writing supplies, food, drink, transportation to and from the airport, and all on-site amenities for $200, with tents, sleeping bags, and other camping equipment available to rent. Payment plans are available!

The event will be open to all writers of all backgrounds and provide an opportunity to work with many talented and published fiction writers from around the country, including Dr. Meagan Cass and Amy Sayre Baptista.

Sundress Academy for the Arts: 195 Tobby Hollow Ln, Knoxville, TN 37931, (865) 560-6106, safta@sundresspublications.com

Directed by Pedro Tomas. Based on the popular book by Pam Munoz Ryan. Esperanza Rising is the story of a wealthy Mexican girl whose privileged existence is shattered when tragedy strikes, and she and her mother must flee to California. Forced to work in a migrant labor camp, Esperanza must learn to rise above her difficult circumstances and discover what she's truly made of. Set in the turbulent 1930's, and based on the popular book by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising is a poetic tale of a young girl's triumph over adversity.

The Rose Center, 442 West Second North St., Morristown, TN, 37814. Information: 423-581-4330, www.rosecenter.org

Now!! The Electrifying Return of America’s Most Powerful Concert Force and Number One Selling Solo Artist in U.S. History! Garth Brooks Makes His First Appearance in Knoxville in over 18 Years!

GARTH BROOKS WORLD TOUR
with Trisha Yearwood
Thursday, May 28 7:30PM
Friday, May 29th 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 30th 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 31, 7:30 PM
Thompson Boling Arena
Knoxville, TN

Buy ONLY at the following: www.KnoxvilleTickets.com/Garth or 1-844-4GarthB (1-844-442-7842)
The Garth Brooks World Tour Sponsored by GhostTunes

For the fifth year, the East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS) is pleased to announce its participation in Blue Star Museums to offer free museum admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their immediate families, as well as National Guard and Reserves, from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2015. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and 2,000 other museums across America. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after completing a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“As the Volunteer State, Tennesseans are always among the first to respond to our country’s call,” says Cherel Henderson, ETHS executive director. “The Blue Star Museums is a wonderful way for us to give back and to say thank you for your service and sacrifice.”

This year, more than 2,000 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer. This year’s Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science, history, and children’s museums, and nature centers.

About Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America. The program runs from Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 through Labor Day, September 7, 2015.

The free admission program is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), a DD Form 1173 ID card, or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card, which includes active duty U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and up to five family members. Please see the chart of the acceptable IDs (PDF). Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM, Saturday: 10AM-4PM, Sunday: 1-5PM. Library: Monday-Tuesday: 9AM-8:30PM, Wednesday-Friday: 9AM-5:30PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

This year's Dollywood BBQ & Bluegrass Festival features over 250 shows in 15 days including The Del McCoury Band, The Earls of Leicester, The Boxcars, J.D. Crow, The Gibson Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, and many more. And all the barbeque you can eat. http://www.dollywood.com/themepark/festivals/Barbeque-and-Bluegrass.aspx