Oak Ridge Today

Soulfinger plays free Secret City Sounds concert on Friday

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Soulfinger

Funk and soul band Soulfinger will play a free show at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion on Friday. (Submitted photo)

A band that plays funk, soul, and R&B will play a free concert at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion on Friday.

It’s part of the Secret City Sounds Summer Concert Series. Friday’s show starts at 7 p.m. at the pavilion at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A press release said Soulfinger is “spearheading a neo-classic funk and soul movement” and “bringing the ‘original’ funk and soul sound and influence back to today’s live music scene.” [Read more…]

Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam play free concert on Friday

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Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam

Twelve-piece Knoxville band Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam plays a free concert Friday evening in Oak Ridge. (Photo by J.L. Kirk)

Secret City Sounds continues their Summer Concert Series with Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam on Friday, Aug. 9. This concert replaces Dishwater Blonde, who had to cancel do to unforeseen circumstances. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“What do you get when you mix one smokin’ hot horn section, a hard-drivin’ funky rhythm section, and three talented and energetic female singers with musical theater experience?” a press release said. “You get Knoxville’s own Soul Candy and The Traffic Jam!” [Read more…]

Red Hot Horn Dawgs play at Secret City Sounds on Friday

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The Red Hot Horn Dawgs

The Red Hot Horn Dawgs will play at a Secret City Sounds concert on Friday, July 19. (Submitted photo)

Secret City Sounds continues its Summer Concert Series with The Red Hot Horn Dawgs on Friday, July 19. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Pavilion located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The Red Hot Horn Dawgs are a nine-piece band with a full horn section and extroverted showmen, and the group’s musical library spans the best years of American popular music, from Otis Redding and Elvis Presley to Billy Joel, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Kid Rock, and Toby Keith, a press release said. [Read more…]

Freight Hoppers play at Secret City Sounds on Friday

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The Freight Hoppers

The Freight Hoppers play old-time string band music, and they will perform at Secret City Sounds in Oak Ridge on Friday. (Submitted photo)

Secret City Sounds continues its Summer Concert Series with The Freight Hoppers at 7 p.m. Friday at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

It’s the second show in the 2013 series, and it’s presented by the Arts Council of Oak Ridge and the City of Oak Ridge.

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

Rick Springfield concert the largest ever for Secret City Festival

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Rick Springfield at Secret City Festival

The Rick Springfield concert at the Secret City Festival on Saturday was the largest ever for the annual festival, an organizer said.

The Rick Springfield concert at the Secret City Festival on Saturday night was the largest ever for the annual two-day festival, an organizer said.

Final numbers weren’t available Saturday night, but total ticket sales could be somewhere around 3,000, said Joye Montgomery, head of entertainment and tickets and the Secret City Festival representative for the Arts Council of Oak Ridge.

“This is the biggest concert ever,” Montgomery said. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival features ‘something for everyone’

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Homemade Wine Band

The Homemade Wine Band played after the Friday morning opening ceremony at the Secret City Festival.

The annual Secret City Festival started today, and it features Manhattan Project bus tours and history displays, World War II living history activities and demonstrations, arts and crafts and antiques dealers, food vendors and exhibitors, a children’s festival area and youth events, and a car show and concerts.

“Join more than 20,000 visitors and residents to celebrate the end of World War II and the heritage of Oak Ridge from 1945 to the present,” a press release said.

Oak Ridge was built during World War II as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, a federal program to build the world’s atomic bombs, and the festival celebrates the city’s heritage.

Festival organizers have provided an overview of some of the many activities and events taking place at this year’s festival:
 [Read more…]

Secret City Festival announces new concert security measures

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

The Secret City Festival will have tighter security at the Friday and Saturday night concerts this year, and visitors could experience a few delays as organizers try to make the shows safer, a press release said.

No backpacks or coolers will be allowed into the concert site, and all bags will be subject to search, the release said.

“In light of recent events, we’re being extra vigilant in our protection of our attendees, staff, and the community during the festival concerts,” Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said. [Read more…]

B&W Y-12 again a premier sponsor of the Secret City Festival

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B&W Y-12 Secret City Festival Check Presentation

Chuck Spencer, center, B&W Y-12 president and general manager, presents a $25,000 sponsorship check for the Secret City Festival to Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, left, and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller. (Submitted photo)

B&W Y-12 is returning to the Secret City Festival once again as the premier festival sponsor, a press release said.

“B&W has led the way in Secret City Festival sponsorships both financially and in kind for the past eight years,” the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a Wednesday press release. B&W Y-12 operates the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Chuck Spencer, B&W Y-12 president and general manager, presented a $25,000 festival sponsorship check during a May 28 meeting. [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…]

Arts Council has Tribute to the Arts on Thursday

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Arts Council of Oak Ridge

Arts Council of Oak Ridge

The Arts Council of Oak Ridge and its member organizations are having a premier Tribute to the Arts on Thursday.

It’s scheduled from 6-9 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge.

“This exciting cultural event will recognize artists and arts supporters from our area for the outstanding contributions they have made through their hearts and talents,” a press release said. “The Arts Council member organizations have long contributed to the culture and vitality of our region, and ACOR believes there is a need to acknowledge these groups and individuals for their service and talents.” [Read more…]

Rick Springfield, The Dirty Guv’nahs to headline Secret City Festival

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Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield, the pop rock singer-songwriter and musician who won a 1981 Grammy for “Jessie’s Girl,” will headline the Saturday night concert at this year’s Secret City Festival, organizers said Thursday.

Springfield has sold 25 million albums worldwide, including 17 Top 40 hits, such as “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love Somebody,” and “Human Touch,” a press release said. “Jessie’s Girl” was a No. 1 hit, and the song earned Springfield a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal.

The Friday night concert at the June 21-22 Secret City Festival features Knoxville-native rock ‘n’ roll band The Dirty Guv’nahs. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival applications now available online

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World War II Re-enactment

The Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge includes one of the largest World War II re-enactments in the South.

Preparations for the 11th Annual Secret City Festival are under way, and applications are now available online.

Vendors and exhibitors can visit www.SecretCityFestival.com and download an application to become involved in this year’s event, which will take place June 21-22 at A.K. Bissell Park.

Applications are available for arts and crafts, exhibitors, and food vendors.

[Read more…]