Calendar of Events

Event by JAZZ in the PARK and Ijams Nature Center

It's Mother's Day…bring Mom! Pack a picnic blanket (or lawn chair) and enjoy an afternoon of live hot jazz, dancing, flow arts, live art, and international cuisine. Spinners, jugglers, and dancers welcome. Bring a picnic if you like (coolers and outside alcohol not allowed; beer available on site). Brent Thompson w/ The Jazz Pioneers will play at 4:00 PM. SWINGBOOTY hits the stage at 5:15 PM. Entrance: $10.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aOubjrYkp8

https://www.facebook.com/events/310785268696701/
Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920

On Sunday, May 12th, the Smoky Mountain Blues Society and Bluetick Tavern will be pleased to present Joanna Connor Band.

Tickets cost $20 for SMBS members and $25 for the general public. Doors open at 4 pm and the performance will run from 5 pm – 8 pm.

Bluetick Tavern has a wonderful selection of food, beer, and liquor available to purchase and is located on 128 W Broadway Ave, Maryville, TN 37801

https://smokymountainblues.org/

Oak Ridge Playhouse closes out its eighty-first season of shows in technicolor with an exciting revamp of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved masterpiece, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

From dreams to destiny, this is the extraordinary story of Joseph. Witness his meteoric rise from favored son to betrayed brother, from prisoner to right-hand man. Blessed with prophetic dreams and one very colorful garment, experience Joseph’s dazzling journey like you’ve never seen before.

With funky choreography, mesmerizing disco sounds, and hypnotic tales told through nightclub glitterati, this new spin celebrates the 1970’s in all its groovy glory. The infectious melodies of iconic hits like ‘Any Dream Will Do’, ‘Close Every Door’, and ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’ thump into the late-night hours.

JOSEPH… has seen several different Broadway & West End revivals, national tours, even a film, but in this version by visionary director Reggie Law, the story peaks in the late seventies at the height of Studio 54. Bringing a new twist to a classic tale, this is a theatrical experience that invites audiences to let loose, have fun, and dance the night away.

Leading the live orchestra is musical director Braxton Chase Kiser. Purchase online at www.orplayhouse.com, or by calling the Box Office at (865) 482-4877, Tuesday – Friday, noon – 5:00 p.m.

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, https://www.orplayhouse.com/

5/10 • Ijams Field Day: Reptiles and Amphibians
5/11 • Early Morning Birding: Spring Migration
5/11 • Early Morning Paddle
5/11 • Pond Exploration
5/12 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga
5/12 • Jazz at Ijams

And more!

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

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