Here’s a list of what to do this weekend—an assortment of local versions of the Women’s March on Washington, a pair of ACLU benefits, blues, worms, Sibelius, burlesque, Flannery O’Connor, 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, JAN. 20
Women’s March on Washington UT Sister March
University of Tennessee • 12:30 p.m. • Free
If there’s a good way to start the Trump era, this is it—join hundreds of other concerned citizens to champion women’s rights while the Grabber-in-Chief is being sworn into the most powerful office in the world. We’ve got more coverage of East Tennessee women headed to Washington for the Women’s March and local related events.
Alive After Five: The Tommie John Band with Crawdaddy Jones
Knoxville Museum of Art • 6 p.m. • $5-$10
Tommie John’s local blues combo and Michael Crawley’s new duo are both headed to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge in a couple of weeks. Catch this warmup performance at KMA’s weekly happy hour concert.
Shelter From the Storm ACLU Benefit
Scruffy City Hall • 6 p.m. • $10
Now that the shock and surprise that ended 2016 have passed into the history books, the real and difficult business of living in a newly reordered world moves to the top of the agenda, with express urgency. Proceeds from this local benefit—featuring music by Cereus Bright, Hudson K, Bark, Paul Lee Kupfer, Black Atticus, and Shimmy and the Burns and an appearance by state Rep. Rick Staples—is headed straight to the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. The concert’s name, of course, comes from Nobel laureate Bob Dylan.
KSO: Sibelius Violin Concerto
Tennessee Theatre • 7:30 p.m. • $15-$88
Violinist Bella Hristova joins the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Andrew Grams for Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor. The program also includes music by Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák.
R.B. Morris
Laurel Theater • 8 p.m. • $13
In the last year, R.B. Morris has been named Knoxville’s first poet laureate and staged a new and official production of his play The Man Who Lives Here Is Looney, about James Agee. But he’s not too big a star to round up a band—this one includes Daniel Kimbro and Greg Horne—for a concert in Fort Sanders, the neighborhood he’s lived in and championed for decades.
Lil Iffy with Peak Physique
Pilot Light • 10 p.m. • $5 • 18 and up
Last year, after retiring the Harry Potter-themed wizard hip-hop persona Lil Iffy, Wil Wright teamed up with Matt Honkonen (formerly of Tenderhooks and half a dozen other local bands) as the alt-R&B/electronic-pop duo Peak Physique, with the goal of bringing people together (“mostly at the face, hands, and bathing suit areas,” they say). They’ve just been announced as part of the lineup for the Dogwood Arts Rhythm N’ Blooms festival, scheduled for April 7-9; before that, they’ll be opening for a resurrected Lil Iffy along with Tom Ato and Katie and the Bass Drum in the Old City.
What a Joke Comedy Festival
Various venues • $15
When faced by the imminent collapse of civil society as we know it (or at least the federal bureaucracy), laughter may not be the first response most people think of—but it could be one of the more productive. Soon after the election of reality TV star Donald Trump as president of the United States of America, a pair of New York comedians immediately started planning a three-day benefit to support the American Civil Liberties Union. That idea quickly mushroomed into the national What a Joke comedy festival, taking place during Inauguration Day weekend with shows in 29 cities—including Knoxville.
“I don’t have a lot of skills to offer to the fight, but I do know how to tell jokes and I know others who also know how to make people laugh,” says local organizer Shane Rhyne. “So, here we are.”
The second and final night of the local festival takes place in and around Happy Holler at the Central Collective, Holly’s Corner, Ironwood Studios, and Modern Studio.
SATURDAY, JAN. 21
Knoxville Botanical Garden Worm Composting Workshop
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum • 9-11 a.m. • $15-$20
Dig into the wiggly world of vermicompost techniques!
Women’s March Knoxville
Market Square • 12:30-3 p.m. • Free
A local companion to the national Women’s March on Washington—one of several local events being held to support women’s rights on inauguration weekend.
Anderson County Solidarity With the Women’s March on Washington
Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church • 1-4 p.m. • Free
Even if you can’t make it to Washington, D.C., for the Women’s March, you can let your voice be heard in support of women’s rights. Join the Anderson County Democratic Party for an indoor rally and read more coverage of local events and local women headed to the D.C. March.
Cumberland Piano Trio
Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church • 7:30 p.m. • $25
The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association hosts this local trio— Susan Eddlemon (violin), Emi Kagawa (piano), and Dan Allcott (cello)—for a program of music by Brahms and Fauré.
Hazel
The Open Chord • 8 p.m. • $7 • All ages
Sydney King-Bowman The local synth-pop trio Hazel celebrates the release of its debut single, “Shadow,” with support from Senryu and Hudson K.
Salome Cabaret: Boobs Over Broadway
The Edge • 11 p.m. • $10-$20 • 18 and up
Knoxville’s award-winning burlesque troupe kicks off its ninth season with an untraditional and sexy tribute to Broadway and the art of musical theater.
SUNDAY, JAN. 22
Israeli Film Festival
Arnstein Jewish Center • 1-7 p.m. • Free
Catch The Green Prince, a documentary about terrorism in Israel, and My Lovely Sister, a family drama set in the Mizrachi community. Coordinator Rachel Harris will lead discussions about each movie.
Wise Blood
Lawson McGhee Library • 2 p.m. • Free
The Knox County Public Library’s month-long inquiry into the work and legacy of Flannery O’Connor continues with a screening of John Huston’s ambitious 1979 adaptation of her 1952 novel about Hazel Motes and his violent religious mission.
Sundress Academy for the Arts Reading Series
Bar Marley • 2 p.m. • Free
The local artists’ and writers’ collective hosts its monthly reading series, with L.A. Hoffer, Hank Backer, and Katharine Johnsen.
Evelyn Miller Young Pianist Series: Chang-Yong Shin
UT Natalie L. Haslam Music Center • 2:30 p.m. • $25
This prestigious showcase of young classical music talent starts its 37th season with Chang-Yong Shin, winner of the 2016 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, performing music by Bach, Busoni, Beethoven, Granados, and Prokofiev.
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.
Share this Post