The Spring schedule of entertainment and other distractions from study

begins tonight with poetry and music all over town.

Leroy’s Open Mic Poetry Night moves to Hannah’s Caf, Cumberland

Avenue tonight at 9 p.m. Master of Ceremonies Leroy Smith describes the

weekly reading as “serious writers having fun.” Any poetry style is

welcome, and diversity is encouraged. Featured readers tonight are

Debbie Geis, a professor in the UT English Department, and Rus

Harper, an icon of the Knoxville music and poetry scene. Future

featured readers include Jennifer Vasil and Daniel Roop on Jan. 18, and

Marilyn Kallet and Randall Brown on Jan. 25. The new venue should make for

a fun evening of dinner and spoken word performance. Readers can sign-up at

8:15, or call 522-6856.

At 8 p.m. at the Electric Ballroom, Hootie and the Blowfish

will perform songs from their debut album Cracked Rear

View.

When they appeared on The Late Show, David Letterman proclaimed

this hard-touring South Carolina quartet “my favorite new group.” Their

nouveau-Southern sound should gain them popularity amongst college

listeners and classic rock fans alike.

Lead singer Darius Rucker has a deep, throaty voice that Rolling

Stone called “a force of nature.” New Yorker magazine calles

their songs “sincere, wide-open rock anthems.” Besides their radio hit

“Hold My Hand,” stand-out tracks include the country-rock “Running From an

Angel” and the guitar-driven “Drowning.”

Opening for Hootie and the Blowfish is country “neo-traditionalist” Jim

Lauderdale. His debut album, Pretty Close to the Truth,

is full of robust country twang and the insight of a well-travelled

troubadour. His part of the show should well compliment the Blowfish.

Thursday evening, Jan. 12, between 7 and 10 p.m., the Knoxville Museum

of Art will host a party in celebration of a new joint agreement

between the KMA and UT. The partnership will allow the institutions to

share resources and information for the mutual benefit of both.

UT Chancellor William Snyder and KMA President Richard Ferrin will sign

the agreement at 8 p.m. during this first-ever “UT Night” at the KMA. All

UT students and faculty are invited free of charge.

Thursday evening at Flamingo’s, Supplication returns to

Knoxville with local rockers Stem. Look for a close-up of this show

in tomorrow’s Daily Beacon.