Calendar of Events

The 38th Annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming will kick off its first evening show on Friday, October 6th with genre-bending powerhouse group, The SteelDrivers—fresh off of their 2016 Grammy win for Best Bluegrass Album. Multi-award winning country singer, Lee Ann Womack, whose career boasts more than 6 million album sales, will perform on the evening of Saturday, October 7th, along with bluegrass super-group, The Earls of Leicester, assembled and led by dobro-master, Jerry Douglas.

Tennessee Fall Homecoming’s first-ever “Family Day” debuts on Sunday, October 8th. The weekend is capped-off with a day full of games, animals, storytelling, demonstrations, and music. Parents and children will enjoy hands-on activities as they learn about Appalachian history & culture—all at an affordable rate. Homecoming will continue to offer three days packed with music, traditional demonstrations, and heritage arts. At least 50 musicians are slated to perform; the full music lineup will be announced in the coming weeks. More than a music festival, guests will enjoy traditional Appalachian dancing, authentic artisans demonstrating and selling their crafts; old-time mountain demonstrations such as sorghum and lye soap making, basket weaving, blacksmithing, sassafras tea making, and more. Guests can tour the historic Pioneer Village and taste fine Southern fare. Student Heritage Day kicks off the festival on the morning of October 6th with activities for young folks.

Homecoming tickets are now available for purchase. Three-day tickets are available at a discounted rate; single-day and evening tickets are also available for pre-purchase.

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, TN 37716 (16 miles north of Knoxville at I-75, exit 122, then one mile east). Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

October 6 & 7 at 8 PM and October 8 at 2 PM

An evening of Shakespeare’s scenes, sonnets, and songs all focused on the theme of LOVE. Celebrate the magnitude of the Bard’s work on this universal theme with scenes from Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors (ages 60 and older) and students. Admission is free for Maryville College faculty, staff and students, but tickets are required.

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

Starring Julia Metry as Lucy in The Telephone and Kathryn Frady as Elle in The Human Voice

"The Telephone" by Menotti
Ben, bearing a gift, comes to visit Lucy at her apartment; he wants to propose to her before he leaves on a trip. Despite his attempts to get her attention for sufficient time to ask his question, Lucy is occupied with interminable conversations on the telephone. Not wanting to miss his train, Ben leaves without asking Lucy for her hand in marriage. But Ben makes one last attempt: He calls Lucy from a telephone booth outside on the street and makes his proposal. She consents, and the two join in a romantic duet over the phone line, at the end of which Lucy makes sure that Ben remembers her phone number.

"The Human Voice" by Poulenc is based on Cocteau's play La voix Humaine. The one-act play involves a single character in a single room with a telephone. The character—an anonymous woman referred to only as "Elle" ("she" in French)—has been abandoned by her lover and reveals that she has attempted to commit suicide. The play consists of her last conversation with her lover.

At the The Square Room: 4 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-544-4199, www.thesquareroom.com

Marble City Opera: 646-217-1580, www.marblecityopera.com

Pellissippi State Community College invites aspiring writers, scholars and fans of Appalachian literature to attend the second-annual James Agee Conference for Literature and Arts. The free conference will feature presentations and workshops led by Appalachian authors Taylor Brown, Erik Reece, Darnell Arnoult and Silas House. The event will be held on the college's Hardin Valley Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. For more information, visit www.pstcc.edu/ageeconference.

Brown will lead a fiction master class. He is the author of "Fallen Land," a 2017 Southern Book Prize finalist, and "The River of Kings." Reece, the author of "Lost Mountain: A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness: Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation of Appalachia" and "An American Gospel: On Family, History, and The Kingdom of God," will lead a master class on nonfiction. Arnoult will lead a master class on poetry. She is the author of "Galaxie Wagon: Poems" and "What Travels With Us: Poems," and is a Weatherford Award winner and previous Tennessee Writer of the Year.

House, the keynote speaker, is a noted environmental activist, often speaking out about mountaintop removal. He is the author of "Clay's Quilt," a New York Times bestseller; "A Parchment of Leaves," a Chaffin Award for Literature winner; and "The Coal Tattoo," which won the Appalachian Writers' Association Book of the Year and Kentucky Novel of the Year awards. Following his keynote presentation on Friday, House will sign books. Event attendees will have the opportunity to network with other writers and creators, meet and mingle with the featured authors and speak to local publishing houses.

Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Information: 865-694-6405.

The Black Jacket Symphony comes to the Tennessee Theatre to perform Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" album in its entirety!

The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience by recreating classic albums in a live performance setting with a first class lighting and video production. A selected album is performed in its entirety by a group of handpicked musicians specifically selected for each album. With no sonic detail being overlooked, the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. Following the album and a brief intermission, the Black Jacket Symphony returns to the stage to perform a collection of greatest hits by the evening's artist.

For more info on The Black Jacket Symphony or to view videos of past performances, visit blackjacketsymphony.com or facebook.com/blackjacketsymphony.

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

Old-Time String Band

The Tennessee Stifflegs play old-time and western swing with a keen sense of showmanship and musical integrity. They are a high energy old-time string band featuring Frank Bronson on fiddle and vocals, Thomas McNair on guitar and vocals, Nathan Black on banjo and lap steel, and Tom Cook on upright bass. Steeped in the tradition of Appalachian string band music, the Stifflegs have played square dances and fiddler’s conventions throughout the region.

Tickets (discounts apply to advance purchase, JCA members, students & seniors) available through http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/1118485, 1-800-838-3006 ext 1, and at the door. At the Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916. For information: 865-522-5851, www.jubileearts.org.

Featuring Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes), Becca Mancari and Lesse Lafser with MUSIC BAND

We're thrilled to announce Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard, Becca Mancari and Lesse Lafser are bringing their kick-ass new project, Bermuda Triangle, to Knoxville this fall! The Nashville-based act debuted earlier this summer, and we're certain this show is not to be missed! Tickets are on sale now!

The Mill & Mine, 227 W. Depot Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Tickets/information: http://themillandmine.com

We’re celebrating fall and the arts by hosting a First Friday Pumpkin Painting Art Slam! Pumpkin artworks will be juried, and awards will be given to youth and adult artists. We suggest a $10 donation to cover the cost of your pumpkin and our painting supplies. You can also bring your own pumpkin and paint. Artists will have 2 hours to art slam, and awards will be announced at 8:30. Don't miss out on this fun and creative event!

How Much: $10 Donation at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-friday-pumpkin-painting-art-slam-tickets-37730435749

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

Hear The Early Morning String Dusters on October 6, 2017 @ 7:00 pm in the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center ampitheater. For over 30 years East Tennesseans have recognized the Early Morning String Dusters as the area’s premier “party” bluegrass band. Relying on comedy, parodies of classic tunes and hard driving, fast paced picking, the Dusters have been a favorite for weddings, birthdays, dedications & special family or company events. In 2008 WDVX, Knoxville’s popular Americana and Bluegrass radio station, began recognizing the band by showcasing them at various public appearances, leading to a series of shows throughout East Tennessee.
$8 per guest – GSMHC Members and Children 5 and Under are FREE.

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 3/4 mile east of traffic light at the Highway 321 and 73 intersection towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN. Hours: M-Sa 10-5. Information: 865-448-0044, www.gsmheritagecenter.org

Stacy Mitchhart Band

Alive After Five is a unique live music series that takes place in the smoke-free, casually elegant setting of the Ann and Steve Bailey Hall in the Knoxville Museum of Art. There is a live band on stage, seating at tables, two cash bars, food from area restaurants, free freshly popped popcorn, and free parking. Audience members can enjoy listening to music, dancing, and browsing the museum’s art galleries. Admission is $15 for general and $10 for museum members and college students with ID. Ages 17 and under are admitted free.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Come join Cattywampus Puppet Council on First Friday in the Black Box of the Emporium Center! Check out all of the beautiful creations we have been working on for our fall show, play with puppets, make something crafty to take home, and more.

Cattywampus Puppet Council, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 114. Information: 865-300-3736, www.cattywampuspuppetcouncil.com

At Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, 1741 Volunteer Blvd., Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

If you are familiar with Director Del Shores’ 2000 cult classic “Sordid Lives,” then you know that he uses humor to make important points about love and acceptance. The 2000 film depicted the difficulty of coming out in a small Texas town. In the 2017 sequel, “A Very Sordid Wedding,” marriage equality becomes an issue in the same small town 17 years later.

The October 6 screening to benefit Positively Living is the ONLY screening in Knoxville. SPECIAL GUESTS: Director Del Shores, Knoxville native Dale Dickey & Oliver Springs resident Levi Kreiss who star in the film, & Producer Emerson Collins who also plays a role in the film.

VIP reception 6:00-7:45 pm in the Center’s Atrium with full bar and a Texas-themed buffet prepared by Holly Hambright
General Admission doors open at 7:30 pm.
Film begins at 8:05 pm in the Sandra Powell Auditorium
There will be a Q & A with Del, Emerson, Dale, & Levi at the end.
Parking: Lot 9 next to the Center

$400 Sordid Sponsors Will receive our eternal gratitude, recognition via website & social media & at the event, & two tickets to the VIP reception & the film. To sponsor, contact gay@positively-living.org
- $100 VIP Ticket Will receive one ticket to VIP reception (6-7:45 pm) & to film
- $20 General Admission Ticket Will receive ticket to film (doors open at 7:30 pm)
Tickets on sale at www.positively-living.org
Tickets are limited in number. Buy early to assure you get yours.

https://www.facebook.com/events/298512010615707