Something old, something new

Betsy PickleOur Town Arts

Guess who’s turning 110 on Friday?

It’s the Bijou Theatre, and she doesn’t look a day over 80!

The Bijou is turning back time and celebrating the occasion with a Vaudeville Extravaganza featuring Sammy Miller & the Congregation. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the party starts at 8. The lineup for the three-hour variety show ranges “from the sublime to the spastic,” the Bijou promises.

Acts also include the Candybox Revue, Brandon Gibson, Michael Messing, Kinetic Kristen, Deanna Danger and Salome Cabaret.

Tickets are $19.09, in deference to the year the theatre opened its doors. VIP tickets are $50 and include a premium seat location and a commemorative poster from Status Serigraph.

Klezmer in da house

The Big Galut(e) performs Saturday.

Also kickin’ it old school this weekend is the Big Galut(e) Klezmer Ensemble, performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pollard Auditorium, 210 Badger Ave. in Oak Ridge as part of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association’s season.

Winner of the Simcha Prize at the 2017 International Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam, the five-member ensemble performs Klezmer originals and new twists on old tunes; classical works by Mahler, Moussorgsky, Brahms, Shostakovich, Salomone Rossi and Kurt Weill; tangos from Buenos Aires and Broadway; comical songs; and more.

Big Galut(e) has been described as “a serious band with lousy American humor.”

The ensemble will present a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. that’s free with ticket purchase and will cover the history and development of Klezmer music.

At 12 p.m. Saturday at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Beth El Center, 101 W. Madison Lane, violinist and author Sasha Margolis will speak about his book, “The Tsimbalist,” a murder mystery set during the complexity of life between Jews and Russians in 1871. That event is free and open to the public.

 

Meet Mr. Wright

Music man Wil Wright (Photo by Thuy Ho)

Multi-genre musician Wil Wright will perform tonight (3/14) on the Six O’Clock Swerve, a free concert at Barley’s that’s hosted by music columnist and “All Over the Road” DJ Wayne Bledsoe and broadcast live on WDVX, 89.9 FM. Barley’s is at 200 E. Jackson Ave.

Renowned for his work with such diverse groups as Senryu, LiL IFFy and Peak Physique, Wright has taken on another challenge with scoring films. Can’t wait to hear what he has up his sleeve for tonight! If you can’t make it to the show, tune in to WDVX on the radio or stream the 6 p.m. show on wdvx.com.

By the way, if you can get yourself down to the Blue Plate Special at the Knoxville Visitors Center (301 S. Gay St.) at noon Friday, WDVX will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Four Leaf Peat and Seth Walker. Or just be a slug and tune in.

Almost out of time

You’ve probably heard the rave reviews for “Detroit ’67,” which ends its run Sunday at the Carousel Theatre on the University of Tennessee campus. Not only is the clock ticking, but only two of the five remaining shows have tickets available, and they are limited. Hope you can catch it Friday or Saturday.

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