Mongolian thought for the weekend: “Where the camel grazes, there the goat

can also find something.”

The proverbial camel is grazing on local music this weekend, with a

veritable weekend showcase of the best in town. From the heavy melodies of

Superdrag to the mountain harmonies of Norman and Nancy Blake, Knoxville is

once again the real “Music City.”

HEY KIDS, DO YOU LIKE THE ROCK-N-ROLL?:

Tonight at 10 p.m. at the Mercury Theatre, those adorable teen

idols known as Superdrag will do that melodic wall-of-noise thing

that they do so well. They smile, they bounce, they jump around. Record

deal rumors run rampant. It’s what the kids are listening to these

days.

“We’re loud fuzzy atmospheric rock, in the vein of My Bloody Valentine, the

Beatles or Velvet Underground,” says Superdrag bassist Tom Pappas.

Also appearing will be the enigma known as The Opposable Thumbs,

featuring local hero Todd Steed on guitar and vocals. They also smile,

bounce and jump around.

“Our music is designed to appeal to two basic camps of people — Americans

and foreigners,” says Steed. “People who won’t like it are intellectuals or

other dead people.”

Admission is $3.

FRESH NOISE, NO CHARGE:

The Idle Hands and Chug-a-lug Donna offer Knoxville’s

best underground sounds, and they’re both appearing for free at

Gryphon’s Saturday, March 11.

The Idle Hands’ two-guitar sound joins big names like the Jon Spencer Blues

Explosion on the cutting edge of blues-rock.

“Call it rock and soul, for lack of anything better,” says guitarist David

Wilson.

Chug-a-lug Donna, taking their name from David Lynch’s Fire, Walk With

Me, offer a dynamic leap-and-tumble guitar orgy and passionate

vocals.

“It’s the kind of thing that lovers can tango to,” says one bandmember, on

the promise of anonymity.

Gryphon’s is located at 2003 Highland Ave.

ANNUAL JUBILEE FESTIVAL:

Our friends in Mongolia have a saying: “In difficult times, sorrow is

shared; in good times, joy.” There’s always a good time to be had at the

Laurel Theatre. This weekend, Jubilee Community Arts

celebrates its 25th year with a festival of regional music. The

party is tonight and Saturday, with workshops in guitar and songwriting

Saturday afternoon.

Festival Schedule:

Tonight, March 10:

7 — The Epworth Old Harp Singers

7:50 — Sean McCollough

8:10 — Amelia Earheart Returns

8:30 — Evan Carawan and friends

9 — Norman and Nancy Blake

10 — Donald Brown and Nancy Brennan Strange

10:30 — Jacqui Alexander

10:45– Stranger Than Paradise

11:40– The Mumbillies

Saturday, March 11:

2-3 p.m. — Workshop in Traditional Blues Guitar with Mike Dowling

3-4 — Songwriting Workshop with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings

4-5 — Children’s Songwriting Workshop with Kiya Heartwood

5 — Community Potluck Dinner

7 — Jim Turley & Will Keys

7:15 — The Hominy Mamas

7:35 — Susanna Drake

7:50 — Rich Kirby

8 — The Carawan Family

8:20 — The Carpetbag Theatre

8:40 — Sonny Houston

9 — Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

9:30 — Clyde Davenport

10 — Mike Dowling

10:30 — Kiya Heartwood

The ever-specific JCA admission pricing schedule is in full swing for this

special event. JCA members and students pay $15 for the whole weekend, $9

for just Friday and $6 for just Saturday. General attendees pay $17 for the

whole weekend, $10 for just Friday and $7 for just Saturday. Kids prices

are $4 for the whole weekend, $3 for just Friday and $2 for just

Saturday.

AT THE BIJOU:

Jazz great Joe Lovano and group will appear at 8 p.m. Thursday,

March 16. Lovano is a highly acclaimed saxophonist. His latest album is

Rush Hour, on the Blue Note label.

LIVE SPOKEN WORD:

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.

ART:

Hanson ArtSource features the art of California painter Don Hatfield at

their Main Gallery this month. The gallery is located at 5607 Kingston

Pike. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10

a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

FILM:

Are you lookin’ at me?

The UT Film Committee presents Martin Scorseses’ Taxi

Driver this weekend, starring Robert DeNiro, Cybil Shepard, Harvey

Keitel and Jodie Foster. This classic tale pits DeNiro’s off-beat cabbie

against the world. Shows are at 7 and 9:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday, March

11.

Wednesday, March 15, the film committee offers a human rights double

feature. First up is Black and Blue, involving the way

Philadelphia police treat people of color. This will be followed by

Latent Images, concerning political conditions in Chil. Shows

are at 4 and 7 p.m.

THEATRE:

Theatre Central, located at 141 S. Gay Street, presents One Flew

Over the Cuckoo’s Nest through April 22. Shows are Thursdays,

Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 on Thursdays, $8 on Fridays

and Saturdays. Students pay $5 for any showtimes.

The Bijou Theatre Center’s 1994-95 Young People’s Theatre Series

concludes this weekend with To Kill a Mockingbird. The play

will be presented tonight at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 11, at 2 p.m. and

at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 12. Adult tickets are $6 and children’s tickets

are $4.

The West Side Dinner Theatre, at 12801 Kingston Pike in Farragut,

currently features Send Me No Flowers, a comedy, Thursday

through Saturday. The buffet starts at 6:45 p.m., the play at 8:15 p.m. For

reservations call 966-8768. Cost is $18 per person for both dinner and the

play, but “liberal discounts” are available for groups of ten or more.

The Cumberland County Playhouse, located in Crossville, Tenn.,

features Fiddler on the Roof, opening tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $16, $15 for Seniors and $8 for children and students. Future

show dates and times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30

p.m. and Sundays at 2:30. Thursday matinees are scheduled for March 30 and

April 13 at 2 p.m. The play runs through April 15.

ROCK PARTIES:

ELECTRIC BALLROOM:

AC Entertainment, who brought George Clinton last weekend, continues

their diverse booking this week with two very different rock and roll

shows.

Tonight at 8 p.m., Allgood bring their southern-style jams to

town.

Saturday, March 11, at 8 p.m., AC presents Jackyl, those wild and

crazy chainsaw rockers led by the often-barely-dressed Jesse James

Dupree.

For ticket info on either of these shows, or to charge by phone, call

656-4444.

FLAMINGO’S:

Blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis performs at 10 p.m. Saturday,

March 11. Guitar World recently said Ellis “stands alongside Stevie

Ray Vaugh and Johnny Winter– and that ain’t just hype.” Opening the show

will be local soon-to-be-legend Joe King, who just finished a

recording session with producer Robert Palmer (not the Power Station guy)

for Fat Possum Records. With a college ID, admission is only $5. Otherwise,

the general public pays $10.

LUCILLE’S:

The Marcus Shirley Group performs at 10 p.m. Admission is

$2.

MANHATTAN’S:

Trio San Rafael perform tonight at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.

Stem will play their experimental groove music Monday, March 13, at

Manhattan’s Club Eclectic. Special guests will be announced later.

Admission is $3.

MERCURY THEATRE:

Babyfat, some big hot news from Atlanta, will play Saturday, March 11,

at 10 p.m. Opening the show is Knoxville band Leaf.

Polvo will play at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 16, along with

Butterglory. Admission is $5.

TOMATO HEAD:

Acoustic group Faces of Eve will play tonight from 10 p.m. until

midnight. Admission is free.

Saturday, March 11, Brandon Beavers and friends will spin

jazzy tunes for all. Call the restaurant at 637-4067 for more info.

Last, but not least: “When you whisper in the ear, everyone in the yurt

hears.” If you have an event you’d like listed in the Daily Beacon

Arts and Entertainment Calendar, call 974-0646 or send the pertinent info

to 5 Communications Building. You tell us, and the whole UT yurt will

know.