Even Urban Guys need a break now and then. It’s a pretty big commitment to post an article every week day and upcoming events on the weekend. Particularly while I try to juggle a full-time job and out-of-town trips and obligations. So, I took a couple of days off and I’m easing back in with a modified version of what to do this week. I’m only including a few major events that caught my eye. As always, feel free to add more in the comments.
Tonight starts the action for the remainder of the week with the Little Walter Tribute at Latitude 35. It promises to be a great night of blues with Mark Hummel, Little Charlie Baty and Lil Ronnie. Tickets are $20 – and include dinner! The event starts at 5:00 PM and runs to 8:00 PM, so it’s perfect for you early birds.
Tonight is also the night that jazz moves indoors on Tuesdays. In future weeks the admission will be $5 which then serves as a voucher for that much in food or drink credit. Tonight, however, features Donald Brown and a top notch band playing with featured artist Tom Harrell. Tickets are advertised at $24.50, but I think I may have seen a notice that they are being discounted. This is a great opportunity to hear two jazz greats on one stage. After a medical hiatus, Donald Brown returned this spring with an album entitled “Born to Be Blue,” which I’ve enjoyed immensely. The photographs in this article are from his release party at Bella Luna which included only a very few performances by the man himself. Hopefully you’ll get a good taste of his new material at the show tonight. With three Grammy nominations under his belt just last year (for production and song-writing), this may be the CD that finally makes his a household name in the jazz world.
Thursday night is the launch of the newest book by local author Pamela Schoenewaldt. The book is Swimming in the Moon and the event will take place at the Laurel Theater at 7:00. A $2 donation is requested by the hosting Knoxville Writer’s Guild. Following her immigrant story in the beautifully written When We Were Strangers, this is another, different take on the immigrant story. Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train says, “Swimming in the Moon is a beautifully told coming-of-age story about a resourceful immigrant girl in the 1900s whose passionate, troubled mother constantly threatens what little stability they achieve. From the sun-baked cobblestones of Naples to a crowded boardinghouse in Cleveland to a grand vaudeville hall in Chicago, Pamela Schoenewaldt brings to vivid life a compelling, richly detailed world.” Come to the event. Buy the book from Union Avenue Books. Cari Wade Gervin has a nice interview with Pamela in this week’s Metro Pulse.
Friday is First Friday, so it’s hard to single out too many events. There are a few, however, that caught my attention: Hurry Up and Break Skateboard Art Show and Carnival at 510 Williams St. (Near the Public House). Union Avenue Books is hosting new art by Chris Cornett Jodi Karyl,Jamie L Earls,Sara Sarah Jane Holland,Deborah Rule and Mitchel De La Garza. At 6:00 PM you can catch a Flamenco Performance at the Emporium. Gallery Nuance will have visual and textual art with a Knoxville theme by Al Murrian and David Denton. Al tells me, ” The centerpiece of our installation is the art gallery we’ve created inside a computer which can be viewed in 3D using a machine called Oculus.” Sounds like something to definitely look into. There is also a major event in Krutch Park Friday night which will be centered on the giant Sunflower installation there. I believe Circle Modern Dance will host the show.
Both Friday and Saturday night the Square Room is hosting an event called “All in the Timing,” which features six one act comedies written by David Ives. Doors open at 7:00, shows start at 8:00 and tickets are $10 advance and $12 day of the show. Also on Saturday at 7:00 PM, the Streamliners play at Relix.
Of course, there are Blue Plate Specials every day, great bands playing the pubs and bars all around. The Farmer’s Market is going steady and the Bijou hosts the Breeders Friday night and Moon Taxi Saturday night, so get out and enjoy the city.