Here’s a list of what to do this weekend: KSO’s Appalachian Spring, a new exhibit about East Tennessee’s marble industry, a Big Ears preview, and more. Visit the Knoxville Mercury online calendar or pick up this week’s issue for a full list of the weekend’s offerings.
FRIDAY, NOV. 18
Foothills Craft Guild Annual Fine Craft Show
Chilhowee Park • 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • $8
More than 140 members of the Foothills Craft Guild, established in 1968, will have their work on display and for sale. Continues on Saturday, Nov. 19 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), and Sunday, Nov. 20 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
Rock of Ages: East Tennessee’s Marble Industry Opening Reception
East Tennessee History Center • 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Over the last few years, “marble” has replaced “scruffy” as the most marketable adjective in Knoxville. There are probably more new businesses and events with “marble” in their names than there have been since the turn of the 20th century. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Knoxville marble was used in landmark buildings across the Southeast, from government buildings in Memphis and Nashville to the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. The East Tennessee History Center will celebrate the legacy of the marble industry with a new exhibit of photographs, illustrations, historical documents, and artifacts that opens this weekend and runs through April. Read our preview.
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Appalachian Spring
Tennessee Theatre • 7:30 p.m. • $13-$83
KSO’s new music director, Aram Demirjian, conducts the orchestra in Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, with additional music by Ives, William Grant Still, and Jeff Midkiff. Read Carol Z. Shane’s profile of KSO pianist Emi Kagawa.
Darrell Scott
Bijou Theatre • 8 p.m. • $25
Jim McGuire Darrell Scott has written hit songs for the Dixie Chicks and Travis Tritt, played on albums by Faith Hill, the Zac Brown Band, Suzy Bogguss, Mary Gauthier, Little Big Town, and Steve Earle, and been a regular member of Robert Plant’s 21st-century revival of the Band of Joy. His latest solo album, The Couchville Sessions, is among his best, navigating the territory where country, roots music, and rock ’n’ roll intersect. With Boy Named Banjo. Read our preview.
Nik Turner’s Hawkwind
Open Chord Music • 8 p.m. • $15 • All ages
Hawkwind, formed in London in 1969, played a key role in the development of what’s called space rock—aggressive, druggy, science fiction-themed rock, equal parts avant-garde experimentalism and proto-heavy metal. Nik Turner, one of the founding members of the band, has never been able to put his most famous association behind him—his current U.S. tour is billed as Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, and he’ll be playing songs from the band’s catalog, backed by the San Francisco-by-way-of-Germany psychedelic band Hedersleben, who are also the tour’s opening act. With the Holifields. Read our preview.
SATURDAY, NOV. 19
Secret City Half Marathon and 5K
Oak Ridge • 8 a.m. • $40-$75
Oak Ridge’s biggest road race of the year.
Big Yellow Taxi
Central Collective • 7:30 p.m. • $6/$8 the day of the show
Adeem the Artist, Daje Morris, Luke Brogden, and Kiely Schlesinger perform originals and cover songs by Joni Mitchell.
Temple Dance Night
The Concourse • 9 p.m. • $5 • 18 and up
Knoxville’s longest-running alternative/goth/industrial dance night celebrates its 12th anniversary with DJ Noodles, DJ Nyteshade, and Negasonic Oldage Warhead.
SUNDAY, NOV. 20
Knoxville Choral Society: Appalachian Tales and Tunes
Tennessee Theatre • 6 p.m. • $20
The Knoxville Choral Society’s fall concert looks for the connections between choral music, bluegrass, and storytelling. Read Alan Sherrod’s preview.
NoKno Cinematheque: Plains, Trains, and Automobiles
The Central Collective • 7 p.m. • Free
John Hughes’ classic 1987 holiday road-trip horror-show comedy.
Steve Vai
Bijou Theatre • 7:30 p.m. • $39.50-$59.50
Few artists can claim a career as varied as the one carved out by virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai—including gigs with Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Spinal Tap, and Joe Jackson—over the last 35 years.
Wu Fei and Shane Parish
Pilot Light • 8 p.m. • $7 • 18 and up
Last month brought the much-anticipated details of next year’s Big Ears festival (March 23-26). The manner in which the announcement was made added a welcome wrinkle to the festival’s local presence, offering a free offseason showcase featuring Julianna Barwick and Big Ears alumna Mary Lattimore. Curious music fans have a second opportunity to preview the Big Ears experience this Sunday at Pilot Light, with performances from Shane Parish and Wu Fei, two celebrated regional acts scheduled to return to Knoxville for next year’s festival. Read details in Nick Huinker’s preview.
Senior Editor Matthew Everett manages the Knoxville Mercury's arts & entertainment section, including the comprehensive calendar section—Knoxville’s go-to guide for everything worth doing in the area. You can reach Matthew at matthew@knoxmercury.com.
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