It’s a bluegrass hoedown Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Bijou Theatre

with a major double bill of contemporary picking — The Del McCoury Band

and J.D. Crowe & the New South.

McCoury’s name has become synonymous with the “high lonesome” bluegrass

style. Recording and performing for four decades, McCoury was a member of

the Bluegrass Boys, playing guitar and singing with Bill Monroe. He now

tours with his sons, Ronnie and Robbie, on mandolin and banjo, and Jason

Carter and Mike Bub on fiddle and bass. All are award-winning bluegrass

musicians.

The Del McCoury Band’s last album, A Deeper Shade of Blue, has been

hailed by critics far and wide. Even MTV’s Kurt Loder called it

“Bluemountain music of uncommon purity and spirit.”

Joining McCoury and sons is the innovative Knoxville-born group J.D. Crowe

and the New South. This veteran ensemble most recently released the album

Flashback on Rounder Records. Former members of The New South

include Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs. The current group’s sound is built

around the smooth vocals of guitarist Keith Whitley.

Crowe is known as an innovator in the usually traditional field of

bluegrass, most notably for the lessened role of the banjo in his music.

This particular commercial-country sounding music has been dubbed

“newgrass” by some.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

CAMPUS MUSIC:

Esther Upham will present her senior piano recital at 8 p.m. on Sunday,

Feb. 19, in the UT Music Hall. The program will include works by

Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Bartok. Upham studies with piano with

UT professor David Northington and will graduate in May with a degree in

Piano Pedagogy and Literature.

Chris Hollar will present his junior percussion recital at 8 p.m. on

Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the UT Music Hall. His program will include

works by Miles Davis, Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter. Hollar will be

accompanied by fellow UT students Scott Simmerman, piano; David King,

alto-sax; Luke Batson, tenor-sax; and Jason Oetel, string bass.

The UT Student Jazz Big Band will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb.

23, at the UT Music Hall. The concert, directed by faculty member

Keith Brown, will feature jazz faculty members performing with the student

band. Featured will be saxophonist Jerry Coker, bassist Rusty Holloway,

guitarist Mark Boling and saxophonist Bill Scarlet (professor emeritus).

The program will include selections by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bob

Mintzer, Charles Mingus and John Clayton. Admission is free, but donations

will be accepted.

DANCE:

Knoxville’s City Ballet will present Giselle this

weekend, beginning tonight at 8 p.m. Other shows are scheduled for

Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets are

available at all the regular outlets, or by calling 656-4444.

Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 8 p.m., the KanKouran West African Dance

Company will perform at the Clarence Brown Theatre. A permanent

part of the Institute for the Study of African Culture, KanKouran is

dedicated to preserving and sharing African culture with diverse audiences.

Admission is $3 for UT students, $8 for UT faculty and staff and $10 for

the general public. For additional info, call 974-5455.

CONCERTS– Living Legends and the Not-so-legendary:

Blues great Buddy Guy will perform with special guest Gibb

Droll tonight at the Tennessee Theatre at 8 p.m. Admission is

$18.50.

Mel Torm, the legendary “Velvet Fog,” will appear at the Bijou

Theatre Sunday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. Admission is “only” $40. It’s sure to be

swell.

In an amazing comeback attempt, ex-Journey frontman Steve Perry is

on tour and appearing at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the Civic

Auditorium. Experience the magic.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m., Deadeye Dick, of Dumb and

Dumber soundtrack fame, will appear at the Electric Ballroom.

Also appearing is The Drag. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the

door.

FILM:

Barcelona will be showing tonight and Saturday at the UC.

Showtimes are at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Sunday at the Clarence Brown Theatre, the UT Film Committee presents

The Scent of Green Papaya at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

KNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART:

Stolen Moments, featuring vocalist Teresa Crowe and keyboardist Tom

Johnson, will perform at tonight’s Alive After Five, from 5:30-8

p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 19, is Family Day at KMA. A celebration of African Art

and African-American artists is the focus of this weekend’s event.

Knoxville poet Earl Pruitt will be a featured reader, along with

singing by local gospel groups. Hands-on art activities will be conducted

by artists Gloria Colquitt and Fritz Massaquoi. The

festivities last from 2-5 p.m. The whole day is free.

KNOXVILLE SYMPHONY:

The Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform Monday, Feb.

20, at the UT Music Hall.

LIVE SPOKEN WORD:

Entelechy magazine will host a reading at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb.

23, at the Printer’s Mark Bookshop on Market Square. Featured

readers will be Cheryl Alfrey, Libby Derting and Jesse

Graves. A 30-minute open mic will follow the features.

REGULAR OPEN MIC READINGS:

The Torch Coffee House: Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Admission $1.

Ivory’s: Mondays at 9 p.m. Call 588-6023 for sign-up.

Gryphon’s — Rus’ Romper Room: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Free.

Java, a Coffee House: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Free

Manhattan’s: Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. sign-up). Free.

THEATRE:

The Grapes of Wrath concludes its run this weekend at the

Clarence Brown Theatre. Shows are tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m.

This production is one of the Clarence Brown Company’s best, so check it

out before it’s gone.

Tonight on its main campus, Pellissippi State is hosting a national

touring company’s performance of Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot

Lovers. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $5 at the College

Cashier’s office (at Pellissippi). For more info, call 694-6408.

The West Side Dinner Theatre, 12801 Kingston Pike (in Farragut),

currently features Send Me No Flowers, starring Troy Bierer,

Chris Collins, Mark Hatmaker, Kimberly Hudson, Wanda Huttner, John Lyons,

Will Sanders and Stephanie Stone. Running Thursdays through Saturdays, the

buffet opens at 6:45 p.m. and the play begins at 8:15 p.m. For reservations

call 966-8768. The play runs through March 18.

LOVE THE NIGHT LIFE, LIKE TO BOOGIE:

FLAMINGO’S — on Cumberland Avenue:

Webb Wilder and the Nashvegans appear with I Swear My Name Is

Smith at 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Admission is $8.

Purple Schoolbus will perform Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 10 p.m. The rumor

is: if you like Widespread Panic, you’ll like Purple Schoolbus.

Soulhat will appear at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in support of its

major label CD debut Good To Be True.

MANHATTAN’S — in the Old City:

Local blues great Hector Qirko appears tonight at 10 p.m. This

would be a great way to follow up the Buddy Guy concert. Admission is

$5.

Crawdaddy appears Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 p.m. Admission is

$4.

Junior Johnson will perform Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 10 p.m. Admission

is $3.

THE LIBRARY– on Cumberland Avenue:

The ever-popular Pygmies will perform tonight at 10 p.m.

Monday nights, Tall Paul performs his famous human juke box act.

Admission is $3.

LUCILLE’S — Jazz and Blues in the Old City:

The Marcus Shirley Group perform at 10 p.m. tonight. Admission is

$2.

Donald Brown and Earlybird will play Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 p.m.

Admission is $2.

Werner and Schmidt perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Admission is

free.

The Rocky Wynder Quartet will appear at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Admission is $2.

Jeffrey Bell and Friends will perform at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.

22. Admission is $2.

MERCURY THEATRE– on Market Square:

The Viceroys celebrate their “One Year Anniversary Show” along with

guests Ramblin’ Roy and the National Inbreeding Finalists tonight at

10 p.m. Experience some of Knoxville’s finest Hank Williams (Sr.) rockers,

along with the madness of Ramblin’ Roy. Admission is $5.

Jawbox will take the stage at the Mercury Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10

p.m. Also performing are Edsel and Sandbox. Admission is $7.

This is an all ages show.

Sunday, Feb. 19, at 10 p.m., the Mercury hosts the Club Pompeii

dance night.

Stress Magnet and special guests will appear at 10 p.m. Thursday,

Feb. 23. Admission is $5.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN BREWING COMPANY– on Gay Street:

Knoxville’s superfine Jazz Liberation Quartet will perform at 10

p.m. tonight at Gay Street’s classiest eatery. It’s all that and more.

Admission is free, daddy-o.

TOMATO HEAD– on Market Square:

Free Fourmula will perform Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 p.m. Experience the

magic.