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| Slow Blind Hill, Jr, Jaimie Cameron and Henry Perry, Preservation Pub, Knoxville |
There are so many series and festivals running around town that you may have a hard time keeping them all straight. That’s where I can help. We have a new series, a returning series, an ongoing series an old festival and a new one. Let’s sort it all out.
I’ve written in the past about the marvelous “Homegrown” series hosted by WFIV and Preservation Pub. I used to make it out to Disc Exchange on occasion to hear the show when it broadcast from there, but honestly, as much as I love Disc Exchange, it was not a comfortable place to see a live show.
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| Jaimie Cameron, Preservation Pub, Knoxville |
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| Henry Perry, Preservation Pub, Knoxville |
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The Speakeasy at the Preservation Pub is comfortable, smoke-free(ish) and has an excellent stage. The show features interviews and songs from local artists each Wednesday night from 7:00 to 8:00. It’s a great slot for people who want to hear music during the week, but have to get up for work the next morning. It is also free, which is my favorite price.
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| Slow Blind Hill, Jr, Jaimie Cameron and Henry Perry, Preservation Pub, Knoxville |
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The photographs you are seeing on this post of Slow Blind Hill, Jr. are from a recent Homegrown show. Slow Blind Hill, Jr. features Jaimie Cameron on guitar and vocals and Henry Perry on harmonica and backing vocals. They are half of the full band, Slow Blind Hill and you can most often catch them playing their brand of blues at the Crown and Goose. I’ve enjoyed their music for many years and I suspect you would, too.
Tennessee Shines is a series sponsored by WDVX which had its original run as a monthly show in the Bijou and was both broadcast live on the radio and was filmed for television. The series eventually went on a hiatus from which it appeared likely to never return. Then it returned – though in a drastically altered form. It now happens every Monday night, features more local talent, and is broadcast from the Knoxville Welcome Center via WDVX. The cost is $10. The photographs you are seeing of R.B. Morris and Greg Horne are from this series earlier this week. Megan McCormick (who is not local) will be featured next week, along with others.
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| R. B. Morris with Greg Horne, Tennessee Shines, Knoxville, March 2012 |
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| R. B. Morris with Greg Horne, Tennessee Shines, Knoxville, March 2012 |
So, you’ve got your Monday night and your Wednesday night covered, but once a month you’ll need to throw in a Thursday night for Scruffy City Roots. The concept here is actually closer to the original Tennessee Shines than is the current Tennessee Shines. Scott Miller, who, thankfully, can’t seem to ever leave Knoxville will host the show and Jack Neely will interview guests between sets.
It will broadcast live over WUTK from the Square Room and will be viewable on the website as it is filmed for possible broadcast at a later time (I’m pretty sure about the last part). The cost is $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show. The series holds its inaugural episode this coming Thursday night, March 22.
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| R. B. Morris with Greg Horne, Tennessee Shines, Knoxville, March 2012 |
Earthbeats is a festival focusing on Earth Day and taking place on April 21 on the World’s Fair Park. It includes artists such as two of my favorites: Theorzt and Jodi Manross.
Finally, the Rhythm N Blooms festival returns this year as a part of the Dogwood Arts Festival and includes local, regional and national artists such as Amos Lee, Citizen Cope, the Black Lillies and Darrell Scott playing venues all around downtown over a three day period from April 20 – 22. Tickets for the entire weekend are $55 and single-day tickets are $25.
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| R. B. Morris with Greg Horne, Tennessee Shines, Knoxville, March 2012 |
So, there you go, all laid out for you to mark up your calendar and save your money. Again, Knoxville is overwhelmed with great music. Are we the capital of Americana music? That’s a good possibility to ponder. In the meantime, just get out and enjoy it.
