After a patriotic detour for the past few weeks, Knoxville is back on track with its regularly scheduled programming. The Bijou is inviting cutting-edge talent while downtown is again home to its regular bar patrons, and everywhere in between seems to be settling into that late summer strut.
Newsies Jr. – Knoxville Children’s Theater (July 16 – 19, multiple times) The sight of a newspaper boy sitting on the street flailing today’s edition around might be archaic, but the sentiment behind the work and what’s worth fighting for is still very much prevalent. A shortened take on the 2012 Broadway musical, “Newsies, Jack Kelly rallies his fellow newsies to protest their employer and learn how to rally around a common goal.
Jason Isbell – Tennessee Theater (July 17 – 18, 8 p.m.) Jason Isbell is entering somewhat of a renaissance in his now legendary career. The former southern rocker is now touring on the back of his latest solo record “Foxes in the Snow,” an intimate collection of introspections and full fledged fables that rival some of southern music’s most prolific songwriters. Isbell needs nothing more than his voice and an old Martin guitar to light up the stage this time around.
Line Dancing – Walnut Springs Winery (July 17, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.) Cowboy hats are on and the vibes are up at Walnut Springs Winery, who are adding a fun night of line dancing to their expanding programming throughout the summer. Whether you’re a seasoned vet of the honky tonk or trying to break in that first pair of boots, Friday night’s fun will have a song or two at everyone’s pace.
Market Square Farmer’s Market – Market Square (July 17, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Stock the fridge with summer favorites with the help of the good folks at the Market Square Farmers Market. Everything here is grown within a 150-mile radius of Knoxville, ranging from fruits and veggies to coffee and artisan crafts with everything in between. The Market is still every Saturday in the square until November.
90’s vs. Y2K Bar Crawl – Skybox Sports Bar and Grill (July 18, 4 p.m.) Denim and sporty sunglasses are back in style around downtown this weekend. This retro-themed bar crawl is looking to muster up some nostalgia and get enough good photos for the front page of your MySpace profile. Tickets are starting at $20.
Banned Book Club – The Bottom (July 18, 2 – 4 p.m.) The Bottom’s regularly scheduled programming is back, this time with a fresh set of takes on Tiffany D. Jackson’s young adult horror novel. The conversation with be headed up by The Bottom’s Bookshop Director Anastasia Williams alongside UTK’s Michelle Christian, as they tackle tough themes in this bloody, brooding novel.
Grooves in the Garden – Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (June 18, 5 – 10 p.m.) In support of UUNIK Academy, this R&B focused music festival is providing a unique concert venue with proceeds going to a worthy cause. Guests are invited to wear all white to celebrate the occasion and enjoy some live music from local record spinners and performers alike. This event is being hosted by WATE’s Teresa Smith.
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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