Oak Ridge Today

Lavender Festival returns to Jackson Square on Saturday

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Lavender Festival

Celebrating all things herbal in Oak Ridge, the Lavender Festival returns to Historic Jackson Square on Saturday. It’s the festival’s 15th year, and it’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The free festival features food and music, and close to 100 vendors. They will have plants and herbs, and products related to gardening, cooking, health, and aromatherapy, in addition to fine art and crafts. There will also be booths for children, with crafts, a dinosaur exhibit, and street performers.

Festival-goers can sample foods made with herbs from 9 to 11 a.m. and watch a grilling-with-herbs demonstration by Market House chefs beginning at 1 p.m. Live music will be performed by local musicians throughout the day. Informative presentations and workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the CapitalMark Bank and Trust building next to the playhouse. [Read more…]

Ukelele-strumming duo at Friday fundraising coffeehouse

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Claire Berger and Catherine Payzant

Claire Berger and Catherine Payzant strum their ukeles as they sing. (Submitted photo)

“Clear-toned,” “folksy,” and “spine-tingling” are apt descriptions of the performance Claire Berger and Catherine Payzant will give at Friday evening’s coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge.

Strumming ukeleles and singing with a unique take on both old and new songs, they plan to bring something new to each song they perform.

“When this duo plays, the room is instantly hushed,” said organizer Sumner Byrne. “They cast a spell whether playing Patsy Cline or a recent cover.” [Read more…]

‘Classical June’ at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church starts Sunday

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Submitted

Always seeking to further the art and appreciation of classical music, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Director of Music Wendel Werner has announced that during the month of June various classical pieces will be the featured music during the 10 a.m. Sunday worship services. Everyone is invited to attend. ORUUC is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Featured on June 2 will be a performance of “The Flower Duet” from Léo Delibes’ opera Lakmé sung by Saffron Mills and Anne Scott. On June 19, featured pieces by Schubert and Mozart will be sung by Saffron Mills. Services on June 16 and 23 will feature classical pieces played by Charlotte Bowers and will include some four-hands music played by Charlotte and her mother. On June 30, the feature pieces will be by Bach, Schumann, and Copland sung by Marti Messer. [Read more…]

Peggy’s Irish Festival this evening

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Pat Kane

Award-winning musician Pat Kane will perform at Peggy’s Irish Festival at the Realty Center today.

Peggy’s Irish Festival is this evening from 5 to 9 p.m. at Realty Center on South Tulane Avenue.

The annual festival features Irish music by Pat Kane, two-time winner of the New York City Fleadh Cheoil National Festival of Irish Music.

Realty Center is at 201 S. Tulane Ave.

Community Band Memorial Day concert in A.K. Bissell Park on Monday

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The Oak Ridge Community Band has its annual Memorial Day Concert on Monday evening in A.K. Bissell Park.

The music program will be dedicated to paying tribute to military veterans and to the men and women currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, a press release said. The concert starts at 7 p.m., and there is no admission fee, although donations will be “gratefully accepted to help offset band expenses,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Fundraising concert for medical research Friday

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The Collies

A Friday night concert features The Collies, an Oak Ridge band, and proceeds will benefit Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. (Submitted photo)

Two local bands will play a benefit concert on Friday for a nonprofit medical research organization.

The concert is at the Historic Grove Theater, and it features The Collies, a folk and psychedelic rock band from Oak Ridge. The Sea Legs, an alternative rock band from Webb High School, will open the show, a press release said.

The press release said all proceeds will benefit Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a leading nonprofit focused on funding SMA research to develop a treatment and cure for the disease. [Read more…]

Musicians to perform as coffeehouse opens second season Friday

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Sumner Byrne

Sumner Byrne

Guitars have been tuned, harmonies rehearsed and dance steps practiced in preparation for Friday’s opening of the second season of the Coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Church. The coffeehouse was started by college students last summer as a musical venue to enjoy together while raising funds for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

“We had no idea how much fun the coffeehouse events were going to be when we started last year,” said organizer Sumner Byrne, a college student at George Washington University. “It became clear that the young adult crowd needed a place to hang out, listen to some great music, and reconnect with friends who are normally away at school. [Read more…]

Secret City Sounds concert features The Freight Hoppers

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The Freight Hoppers

The Freight Hoppers

The second show in this year’s Secret City Sounds concert series features The Freight Hoppers, a band that plays old-time string music.

The free concert starts at 7 p.m. today at the pavilion at Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

A press release said The Freight Hoppers have been playing old-time string band music for more than 20 years. [Read more…]

‘Sister Rolls the Dice!’ a sure bet to entertain

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Sister’s coming, so brace yourself—for an evening of good-hearted fun! The Ulster Project is hosting her newest comedy act, “Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice!” on Saturday, May 18, as the finale to their fundraiser. Sister will appear on stage to “instruct” the East Tennessee audience at St. Mary’s School gym, 327 Vermont Ave., Oak Ridge.

The Naples News calls the new show “sharp, witty and spectacularly brilliant.” [Read more…]

Community Orchestra concert Saturday features founder, English composers

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Oak Ridge Community Orchestra

Oak Ridge Community Orchestra

The Oak Ridge Community Orchestra has a free concert Saturday featuring the music of three British composers from the 19th and 20th centuries, and one 21st century Oak Ridge composer—Nancy England.

England founded the ORCO 20 years ago, and she is still with the orchestra today, playing cello. The English composers featured at Saturday’s concert are Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, and Edward Elgar, a press release said.

The concert starts at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, at the corner of the Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. “Admission is free, but modest donations at the door to support the orchestra’s routine operating expenses will be appreciated,” the release said. [Read more…]

Secret City Sounds begins Friday with The Breakfast Club

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Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club

The 2013 Secret City Sounds concert series starts Friday with The Breakfast Club.

Friday’s free concert starts at 7 p.m. at the pavilion at A.K. Bissell Park.

The Breakfast Club was formed in 1993, and it is a 1980s tribute band. A press release said the group, a longtime local favorite, has shared the stage with numerous music legends, including Whitesnake, The Romantics, Poison, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, Hootie and The Blowfish, White Lion, The Smithereens, and Edwin McCain. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chorus ends season Saturday with concert at First Baptist

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The Oak Ridge Chorus ends its season Saturday with a concert at First Baptist Church.

The Oak Ridge Chorus ends its season Saturday with a concert at First Baptist Church.

The Oak Ridge Chorus ends its season on Saturday.

Conductor Dan Allcott will introduce Seth Maples, the new Oak Ridge Chorus Director. Maples will sing a solo as well as share the conductor duties with Allcott.

The Chorus will sing Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair,” Franz Joseph’s Schubert’s “To Music,” Johannes Brahm’s “Four Gypsy Songs,” Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night,” and Charles Bryan’s selections from the opera “Singin’ Billy.” [Read more…]