Calendar of Events

An exciting evening of music from the UT Tuba/Euphonium Studio, featuring student soloists.

March 27 at 4:00 p.m.
Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, Natalie L. Haslam Music Center

UT School of Music: Unless otherwise noted, concerts are FREE and open to the public. The Alumni Memorial Building located at 1408 Middle Drive on the UT campus. (The James R. Cox Auditorium is located in the Alumni Memorial Building.) The Natalie Haslam Music Center is located at 1741 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus. In-person events that take place in the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, or the James R. Cox Auditorium, also have livestream options. So if you're not able to be with us in-person for those events, you can still join: https://music.utk.edu/events/live.php

*For individual or small group performances, please check the web site or call the day of the event for updates or cancellations: 865-974-5678, www.music.utk.edu/events

SUNDAY AT 2 PM – 6 PM
1024 Sevier Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920

It's market time! Join us for the Old Sevier Sunday Market back at the South Landing Fitness parking lot (1024 Sevier Ave), across from South Coast Pizza. With over 25+ local vendors and a variety of goods, you're bound to find something unique. From candles to soaps, baked goods to vegetables, handcrafted art pieces, and so much more! Check out the vendor list below!

MARCH VENDORS:
- SoKno Sourdough
- DMDesigns
- Pippili Tea Co
- Felicia's Crafty Adventures
- Surpassing Fancy
- Aw, Snap
- Master Repurposers
- Rainbow Roots Floral Co
- Made by Kelley
- Foraged Farms
- Stinky Co Candles
- Mighty Mud
- Frauleinwunder Bakery
- A Pierce of Cake
- Little Row Farms
- Birch Botanical Spa
- The Lost Artist Collective
- Serendipity + Sage
- Bead Chick Jewelry
- LuckyGirl Eleven
- Rhoda Cards
- K.O. Ceramics
- Old House Pottery
- SoKno Woodworking
- The Bath Lab
- A Stoopid Good World
- Cosmic Kumihumo

https://www.facebook.com/events/533325694766913

The Big Ears Festival is further expanding its offering of free public events to include the readings and talks by Nikki Giovanni and Hanif Abdurraqib, scheduled during the festival at the Mill and Mine.

Nikki Giovanni will appear on Saturday, March 26, at 11:00 am
https://bigearsfestival.org/event/nikki-giovanni/

Hanif Abdurraqib will appear on Sunday afternoon, March 27, at 1:00 pm
https://bigearsfestival.org/event/hanif-abdurraqib/

“We’re proud to be hosting two of the most vital and compelling literary voices of our time at this year’s festival,” says Big Ears Founder and Director, Ashley Capps. “Both of these great writers are profound and inspirational thinkers with deeply important observations. We want as many people as possible to hear what they have to say.”

Poet, writer, activist, educator, and Knoxville-native Nikki Giovanni is, of course, a legend whose powerful and original work now spans six decades. Poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib was awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 2021 and shortlisted for the National Book Award for his latest, A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performances. Music and art are at the essential core of each writer’s work. Both events are presented in conjunction with the Beck Cultural Center of Knoxville.

More details about these events and others at the Big Ears Festival can be found at www.bigearsfestival.org

The play will be 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 a live production of Jackie & Me by Steven Dietz and adapted from the book by Dan Gutman.

Ten-year-old Joey Stoshack is a headstrong young boy with a special talent for time travel. When Joey is assigned to write a report on an African American who has made an important contribution to society, he uses his special ability to go back to Brooklyn, New York, in 1947. He meets one of baseball’s greatest players, Jackie Robinson. Joey plans on writing a prize-winning report, but he doesn’t plan on a trip that will forever change his view of history and his definition of courage.

"[Kids] learn about Jackie Robinson, racial discrimination and restraining one's temper to achieve a larger goal. … The show is truthful, fun and filled with worthy life lessons for kids." -Chicagocritic.com

The play is performed by 14 talented young actors, from ages 9 to 18. Joey will be played by Oak Holden, who is making his KCT debut. He will be joined by Elijah Clemes and DeShayla Foley, who will portray Jackie and Rachel Robinson.

The show is directed by guest director Derrick Washington, Jr. who is a former KCT participant.

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

Mar 25-27 at 7:30 PM
$4.99 · Paid Online Event

To celebrate the 27th season of Tennessee Stage Company's New Play Festival, we bring you two new table readings and two world premiere full productions-- all of which are available online! "In Loving Memory" was filmed in front of a live audience. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can of $2.70 and up to commemorate our 27th season.

Join TSC for our New Play Festival's final premiere of the 2022 season with Taylor James Foster's "In Loving Memory". Jimmy is awake--but there is a problem. He doesn't know where he is, who this strange doctor is,... or who that beautiful woman is over there. A blend of sci-fi, rom-com, and horror weave together as James and Eleanor rediscover their memories during scientific research.

There are TWO ways to watch the show!
1) Click on the link here and join us via Facebook Live. The cost of $5 goes directly to the Stage Company.
https://www.facebook.com/events/491595362432322/

2) Visit http://tennesseestage.com/home/upcoming-productions-3/ticketsandevents/ to register for the Zoom directly. There, you can make a donation of any amount (starting at $2.70 + ) via PayPal and receive a link to watch the show any time that weekend.

Big Ears Festival has officially announced its return for March 24 – 27, 2022!

The lineup is mind-blowing: more than 100 performances that cross all boundaries, as well as discussions, workshops, installations, and surprise collaborations, unfolding over more than a dozen venues across walkable and historic downtown Knoxville.

We're pleased to highlight some exciting new special program and projects to explore at Big Ears 2022:
• Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire plays duets with drummer Andrew Cyrille;
• Nathalie Joachim makes a solo performance for flute, voice, and electronics;
• Saul Williams performs a rare solo spoken word set;
• James McVinnie plays a solo organ recital featuring work by J.S. Bach and Philip Glass;
• Singer / songwriter Leyla McCalla performs her Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes, accompanied by a string quintet from Nashville new music ensemble, chatterbird;
• Guitarist Gyan Riley joins Bang on a Can All-Stars to perform Terry Riley’s Autodreamographical Tales;
• Attacca Quartet play a concert featuring work by Flying Lotus, Squarepusher, and others from their release Real Life; on an additional program, Caroline Shaw joins Attacca to perform music composed exclusively by Shaw;
• Sō Percussion play Julia Wolfe’s Forbidden Love, Nathalie Joachim’s Note to Self (a piece for Sō and Joachim), and the world premiere of Angélica Negrón’s When the Sun Hits Just Right (an octet for Sō and Kronos Quartet);
• Composer and saxophonist Miguel Zenón and Spektral Quartet play Yo Soy La Tradición, as well as the world premiere of a new quartet Zenon has written for Spektral;
• Ensemble Dal Niente play a full two-day sequence of brief sets at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

There’s much to explore and discover, from a dive into the heart and soul of New Orleans music and the Afro-Caribbean cultures that influence it, to a performance by Hadestown-creator Anaïs Mitchell’s great new band, Bonny Light Horseman. A special performance by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra; alt-rock legends Animal Collective, Kim Gordon, and Low; and a stunning world-class jazz lineup are just a taste of what’s on tap for the festival weekend.

https://bigearsfestival.org/

Art, music and makers are a mainstay in Downtown Knoxville, causing it to become an art destination year-round. The Downtown Knoxville Alliance and local businesses are embracing the community’s creativity by curating complementary music and art experiences alongside the Big Ears Festival, an internationally renowned music festival to be held in Knoxville on March 24-27.

Starting Thursday, March 24, and throughout the weekend, more than 25 downtown businesses will host free artist exhibits; live music and art classes; and local makers doing live demonstrations to complement the ticketed and free Big Ears events and performances. Big Ears, The Maker City and the Downtown Knoxville Alliance are collaborating to inform the public of these activities. The free events include live music performances; art exhibitions and demonstrations; and hands-on classes. In addition, artist Megan Lingerfelt will add a spring theme to the Downtown Knoxville mural in Strong Alley, which is located between Market Square and Gay Street, on Thursday and Friday. Participating galleries and merchants will be marked by colorful sidewalk graphics, and the weekend’s activities are available at www.downtownknoxville.org/local-art

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LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS

+ Merchants of Beer, Friday, March 25 at 4pm: Barron Hall of Mighty Mud Studio – Pottery @barronart of @mightymudstudio. Wheel-throwing (pottery) demo with mugs for purchase

+ Street Fair at Southern Railway Station, Saturday, March 26 at 2pm: Kelly Sullivan of Knoxville Arts & Fine Crafts Center @kafcc - Gelli prints; Kendra Barth of Blanket Fort Studio – Clay hand building @blanketfortstudio; Greer Miceli of Greer Miceli Art – Live painting @greermiceli.art.design; Debbie Meritsky & Marc Rotman of Master Repurposers - Stained Glass @masterrepurposers

+ Hyatt Five Thirty Lounge, Saturday, March 26 at 4pm
@williamwrightmusic – Music: World premier of "Make Me New Again" www.williamwrightmusic.com
William Wright is an award-winning Composer of concert music and film scores as well as a 20-year veteran of the East Tennessee music community. On March 26, a selection of Wright's contemporary works, including multiple premieres, will be performed at the Hyatt, downtown Knoxville, at the rooftop 5:30 Lounge. The ensemble for this show will be a trio of extremely gifted East Tennessee musicians that Wright has worked with previously, including pianist Slade Trammell, cellist Cecilia Wright and bass+violist Preston Davis. Trammell helped premiere Wright's work for choir and chamber trio, Concordia, in 2021. William has been collaborating with Wright and Davis for many years. Among the pieces that the ensemble will be performing is a new work, written specifically for this showcase, titled Make Me New Again. The piece is a tone poem, written for piano + viola + cello and found sound, driven by an array of East Tennessee and Knoxville-specific inspirations and features audio from the 1982 World's Fair, which celebrates it's 40th anniversary in May. The ensemble will also be performing Wright's internationally acclaimed work Salt Mass, as well as The Swim Lesson, a piece for Cello that Wright showcased at the 2021 Screen Music Program in Milan, Italy where he was named Best Composer for the Screen, the program's top award. The entire showcase will consist of pieces that have never been performed in the United States.

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All weekend:
+ Beth Meadows, Embassy Suites @bethmeadowsart and www.bethmeadows.com
Beth Meadows creates mixed media works on wood that mix her life in East Tennessee with aspirational and luxurious living. She draws inspiration from contemporary high-end design, but paints in a flat, primitive style. Her work often explores themes such as female confidence, mental health, and interpersonal relationships using dark and humorous undertones. For purchasing information, please contact beth@bethmeadows.com

+ Ryan Blair, Embassy Suites @ryanblairart
Muddy Waters Rise'n: This series of paintings is inspired by the people of Appalachia and their relationship to southern identity and culture. As a child raised in the Midwest, we often would travel to a small East Tennessee town to spend time with family. These early visits along with experiences of now living in the south influence the subject matter in this work, mixing real and fictional stories, characters, attitudes and beliefs.

+ Jalynn Baker, Radius Rooftop Lounge @jalexisphoto and www.jalynnbaker.com
The portrait photography series, “How Did We Get Here?”, explores the various journeys of people who have come to live in the United States. Each story is told autobiographically, revealing a singular perspective while illuminating some of the common hopes, dreams, fears, and vulnerabilities that we share as a human race. As you encounter these stories, I hope you will allow yourself to be challenged to listen more intently and move toward others with love and empathy. To hear stories, visit here: www.jalynnbaker.com/how-did-we-get-here.

+ Tintype Popup w/ Kelsey Dillow
Rala: Regional and Local Artisans presents Knoxville's favorite Tintype photographer! Join us to have your very own tintype portrait made. Hours: March 24-26 11:30am-5:30pm, March 27th 11:30am-5:00pm
Tintype portraits will be 4x5”, 20 minute sessions. Email or DM Kelsey (see information below) to book a time slot. Walk ups are also welcome. Read Kelsey's FAQ on her website for more information or reach out to her with any questions. www.kelseytdillow.com or @kelseytiaraphoto (Instagram) or kelseytdillow@gmail.com

By Qui Nguyen, Directed by Casey Sams
Carousel Theatre

After the death of her teenage sister Tilly, Agnes discovers an untouched “Dungeons and Dragons” campaign in Tilly’s room. In an effort to connect with her sister one last time, Agnes enters the imaginary “Dungeons and Dragons” world she once mocked. She uncovers levels of her sister that she didn’t know existed in an action-packed adventure filled with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and ‘90s pop culture.

The Pay What You Can Preview performance, where patrons can name their own price, will be held Wednesday, March 23rd. Half of the proceeds from PWYW tickets will benefit Girls Inc. of Tennessee Valley. Behind the Scenes Sunday will take place following the Sunday, March 27 matinee. A Designer Talk Back will take place Sunday, April 3rd following the matinee. And, an Actor Talk Back will take place following the April 10th 2:00 pm matinee. The Open Captioned performance also is Sunday, April 10th at 2:00 pm.

Free and convenient parking is available in the Upper Parking of McClung Tower Garage (G2) on Volunteer Boulevard. This show addresses themes of bullying and homophobia and contains depictions of violence, mild sexual content, and mild profanity. Those with auditory and visual sensitivities should be aware loud noises, theatrical haze and flashing lights occur at times in this production.

https://clarencebrowntheatre.com/plays/she-kills-monsters/

Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Artist-of-the-Year: Alex Foster
March 21 – May 1, 2022

GEOFFREY A. WOLPERT GALLERY
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, https://www.arrowmont.org/visit/galleries/exhibition-schedule/

Meet the artist Mon Mar 21, 7-9 PM

At Barrelhouse, it’s important to us to support local artists of all kinds, so every six weeks we have a new visual artist on our taproom wall! Meet the artist, Lauren Kelley, and see her bold, colorful paintings as well as have the chance to purchase. https://www.facebook.com/events/s/meet-the-artist-lauren-kelley/698915158144022/
https://www.instagram.com/laurentheabstractartist/

Barrelhouse – Gypsy Circus Cider, 621 Lamar St, Knoxville, TN 37917
https://gypsycircuscider.com/barrelhouse-by-gypsy-circus-knoxville/

Please join us for this landmark anniversary exhibition of the University of Tennessee Ewing Gallery’s Annual Student Art Competition. This long-standing university event will be on display from March 21 until 2pm on March 30.

Tom Holmes and Shelby Rinke selected the fine art and graphic design selections on exhibition in the gallery.

Ewing Gallery, 1715 Volunteer Blvd on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-3200, www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair, the Museum of East Tennessee History announces the opening of a new, one-of-a-kind exhibition, "You Should've Been There!," in the Rogers-Claussen Feature Gallery from March 19 to October 9, 2022.

The exhibition’s theme is not only a nod to the international exposition’s marketing catchphrase, “You Have Got to Be There! The 1982 World’s Fair!,” but also an acknowledgement that four decades removed, there is a generation of East Tennesseans who were not alive to experience the historic event.

Organized by the East Tennessee Historical Society and the Knox County Public Library, “You Should've Been There!” traces the fair’s development from conception to the pivotal moment when The Wall Street Journal referred to Knoxville as a “scruffy little city” and questioned its ability to host an international event. More than 11,000,000 visitors from around the world were informed and entertained in the various pavilions, exhibitions, and attractions put on by 22 countries and some 50 private organizations. Popular souvenirs were shirts and buttons proclaiming, “The Scruffy Little City Did It!”

The fair’s theme, “Energy Turns the World,” played to the region’s reputation as a technology and science center. For example, it was at the 1982 World’s Fair that users were able to try out a touchscreen for the first time. Elo, a Knoxville-based company, debuted the touchscreen technology, then known as "talk back" computers, in the United States Pavilion. To honor this spirit of innovation, “You Should've Been There!” incorporates engaging touchscreens alongside displays of original fair materials from pickle pins to deely bobbers and everything in between.

To learn more about the exhibition, please visit: https://www.easttnhistory.org/1982worldsfair

"You Should've Been There!" is an official event of the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair. To learn more about upcoming commemorative events, please visit: http://www.knoxvilleworldsfair.com.

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