It’s a weekend of tradition in Knoxville. Regional celebrations are taking on their own local interpretation, communal celebrations of the arts are highlighting the homestead, and those stopping by are pushing boundaries while remaining reverent of the history that informs their art. Whether the culture is being revisited or revived, the city is as good at doing its homework as it is pushing the needle forward.
A Celebration of Women in Old-Time Music – East Tennessee History Center (March 5 – 8, multiple shows and times). Headlined by Alice Gerrard, this weekend celebration puts the spotlight on women and their crucial role in the history of regional musical motifs. A live taping of “The Female Bob Dylan” podcast, documentary screenings, and listening parties that can double as time machines will sprawl across Knoxville in a celebration of a certain sect of the arts. Programming for the weekend is free, though spots in certain circuits are limited.
Radical Chimeras – University of Tennessee Downtown Gallery (March 5 – April 4, 5 – 9 p.m. daily) As a precursor and eventual sideshow for the annual Big Ears Festival, composer and visual artist Rob Mazurek is making his pieces pop off the wall with the help of immersive soundscapes. Through light, sound, and movement, the environment seems to come to life and act as its own organism of expression throughout the gallery corridors. Hosted by one of our most cutting-edge expressionists, this boundary-pushing additive is a perfect preview of the slew of experiments to come. The UT Downtown Gallery is free and open to the public.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Movie Experience – Ancient Lore Village (March 6, 6 p.m.) When it comes to high fantasy, Knoxville’s newest movie house breaks the fourth wall. The Ancient Lore Village can go from a winter wonderland to the other side of the wardrobe in a matter of mere minutes. This Friday, they’re screening the second installment in the Chronicles of Narnia film franchise, with the surrounding environment flitting between reality and a world of fauns and talking lions. Tickets are $59 for adults and $51 for children aged three to nine.
Mardi Growl – World’s Fair Park (March 7, 11 a.m.) Swap out the kibble for some gumbo and beignets, and dress the pups up in beads and feathers for a four-legged crawl through Knoxville’s response to the Bourbon Street parades. This annual event, hosted by Young Williams Animal Center, celebrates canines of all breeds and builds, with the proceeds and sponsorship funds accrued going back into their animal-based rescue and rehabilitation programs. Registering your furry friend in the late morning parade costs $15, but it’s completely free to have them sniff around while you peruse the various food trucks and vendor booths available on the grounds.
Banned Book Club – The Bottom (March 7, 2 – 4 p.m.) The Bottom is making a regular occurrence out of controversy. The community group is insistent on highlighting and analyzing hot topics, particularly as it makes its way in and out of local libraries in East Tennessee. In March, the Banned Book Club will be poring over “This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story,” a rom-com that dances between platonic and plain-romantic relationships. The club is led by Bookshop Director Anastasia Williams and UTK’s own Michelle Christian from the Department of Sociology.
L’Amour du Vin – Knoxville Museum of Art (March 7, 5:30 – 10 p.m.) Once a year, the ripe grapes of the Italian countryside and Napa Valley descend upon our little town in the hills to dress up an elegant evening with top-shelf menu items. The annual KMA fine dining event returns for its 23rd on the first Saturday of the month, where the five-star experience helps fund a consistent five-star rotating gallery in the heart of Downtown Knoxville.
Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown – Knoxville Civic Auditorium (March 7, 8 p.m.) Motown always lent itself well to big band backdrops, something the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is clearly hip to. Led by Grammy Award winner Jeff Tyzik and accented by Broadway-bred vocal soloists, the KSO is breathing new life into a genre that still sounds as fresh as it did at its inception. With a setlist spanning generations and a roster primed to tackle any moment, this show is a perfect blend of classical sensibilities with modern finishes.
Jake Owen – Bijou Theater (March 8, 7:30 p.m.) Off the back of runaway radio hits like “Barefoot Bluejean Night” and “American Country Love Song,” Jake Owen cemented his residency not only in Nashville in-groups, but in the rotations of country fans across the country. With his flag firmly planted in the genre’s capital, he’s gotten some wiggle room on his most recent LP, “Dreams to Dream,” to try and investigate the genre’s origin. A decade into his career, Owen has learned how to flit between Music Row’s modern age and the seeds that planted those ideas.
Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts, and culture in and around his hometown. Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at delahoussaye1267@gmail.com or by text at 865-919-5059 with your story idea.
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