Calendar of Events

THE EARLS OF LEICESTER at the Bijou Theatre.
SUNDAY, APR 28 at 7:30 PM.

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, https://knoxbijou.org/

Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Oak Ridge (High School) Performing Arts Center
1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN
Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and Special Guest Choruses

There is nothing final about the subscription series season finale! “Transformation & Triumph” is dedicated to the necessary and continual transformation of society — globally, nationally, and locally. Plan to attend special community events leading up to what will be a historical and moving performance by the full Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra in music by Arthur Roberts and Dmitri Shostakovich, with the Oak Ridge Chorus and special guest choruses joining for the Tennessee premiere of “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” by rising composer Joel Thompson. The Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School provides the community setting for this concert.

https://orcma.org/transformation-and-triumph

For more information, please call 865-483-5569 or visit https://orcma.org

Reception on Sunday April 28, 2-4 PM at the Rarity Bay Art Gallery
Featuring 40+ original works of art from islands near and far.
https://www.islandhoppersart.com/

150 Rarity Bay Pkwy, Vonore, TN 37885
With tropical hors d'oeuvres, pina coladas, and more - and music by Trop Rock Award Winner John McDonald. Please RSVP at https://islandhoppersart.hubspotpagebuilder.com/tropical-escapism-rarity-bay-art-gallery

Viewing by appointment from April 7 - May 3: 865-300-2688

Please join the KJO on Sunday, April 28th at the home of Marga and Jay McBride for an afternoon of Jazz and Cocktails, featuring renowned pianist Eric Scott Reed!

Jazz and Cocktails supports the education initiatives of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra including the Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra, KJO Middle School Jazz Band, Scholarships for East TN youth to attend Jazz Summer Camp at Brevard University, funding for in-school performances at area elementary, middle and high schools, and the Knoxville Jazz Workshop.

Tickets at https://knoxville-jazz-orchestra.monkeypod.io/give/jazz-and-cocktails

Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: 865-573-3226, www.knoxjazz.org

The Smoky Mountain Blues Society will once again present live music with its continuation of our monthly River Cruises of 2023. This month’s second performance will feature the Ray Fuller and The Bluesrockers on the Tennessee Riverboat on Sunday, April 28th at 4 pm – 7 pm.

Tickets are available through the Tennessee Riverboat Company’s website, (tnriverboat.com) and by calling (865) 525-7827. Tickets are just $20 for members in advance and $25 for non-members. SMBS Members should call to claim their discount (865) 525-7827. Members will be receiving discount code by email.

Boarding begins at 3:15 pm.

Event by Old Sevier District and Hi-Wire Brewing Knoxville

Head to South Knoxville for the Old Sevier Sunday Market on April 28th 2-6pm at Hi Wire Brewing!

Hi-Wire Brewing has a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to choose from while you check out all of the unique items that local vendors have to offer. We'll have DJ Captain Ed spinning groovy tunes on vinyl! This market is indoor/outdoor with almost 40 vendors. Family-friendly, including your leashed pups! https://www.facebook.com/events/398770926351307/

APRIL 26-28, 2024 | WORLD'S FAIR PARK

Established in 1961, the Dogwood Arts Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural events in Knoxville! The festival is held on the beautifully redesigned Performance Lawn at World’s Fair Park and features over 100 fine art vendors, live music, entertainment, children's activities, food & beverage vendors, and more.

Friday & Saturday: 10AM - 7PM
Sunday: 10AM - 5PM

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

13th ANNUAL CIRCUS EXTRAVAGANZA: THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS BEAR will be held the last ​weekend of April 2024:
​Friday, April 26 - 7:30PM
Saturday, April 27 - shows at 2:00PM & 7:30PM
Sunday, April 28 - 2:00PM

Come one, come all to Dragonfly Aerial's 13th Annual Circus Extravaganza! Walk through the doors of the big top into "The Case of the Curious Bear," where amazing acrobats, daring aerialists, wacky clowns, and a host of zoo inhabitants draw you into their world of magic, mystique, and mayhem! Join us for performances on silks, chains, stilts, lyra, trapeze, aerial pole, original poetry by Knoxville's poet laureate Black Atticus, and more. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for monkeys, tigers, and even bears*! Rediscover childlike joy and wonder as you get whisked away into the amazing world of our Curious Bear!
*no live animals in the show

Our annual Circus Extravaganza funds our scholarship program for kids. We're always grateful for donations from those wanting to give more than the price of a ticket to help sponsor a child, or from those who can't make the show but want a way to give. Circus Extravaganza benefits #CircusForEveryBody: programs that share the circus with ​under-served + special-needs people

Tickets: https://www.dragonflyaerialartsstudio.com/circus-extravaganza.html

Fri-Sat 7 PM, Sun 3 PM

Hardin Valley Academy Theater, 11345 Hardin Valley Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932
865-690-9690 or https://www.knoxschools.org/hardinvalley

Info: john.sides@knoxschools.org
Tickets: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/81667

The Knox Co. Parks & Recreation Dept. is hosting the 2nd annual "Camporee on the Hill." The weekend-long immersive camping experience April 26-28 at Melton Hill Park (3230 Williams Bend Road) will feature interactive nature programming for both kids and adults, a sunset movie and local band campfire jam session, water sport rentals, and an information command center that details potential plans for Melton Hill Park. The event is free and open to the public, but camping sites are limited and pre-registration for a tent or group camping site is required. Register at this link and hold your spot! https://knoxcountyparks.activityreg.com/clientpage_t2.wcs

Phone: (865) 215-6600
parks@knoxcounty.org
www.knoxcounty.org/parks

Kinky Boots
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Clarence Brown Theatre
April 17 – May 5, 2024

A Tony-winning Broadway sensation packed with fun and a kick of pure joy! Looking to save the family shoe business, Charlie turns to his new friend Lola -- a cabaret performer and drag queen-- who gives him an outrageous idea that could change both of their destinies. Soon, this unlikely duo creates the most sensational footwear that’s ever rocked the runways of Milan… giving the factory and its hard-working family a sparkling new future.

Clarence Brown Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information/tickets: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.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