Oak Ridge Today

The SteelDrivers play in Oak Ridge

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ORNL Federal Credit Union Summers Sessions concerts are in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy ORNL Federal Credit Union)

Bluegrass group The SteelDrivers will perform at a free concert in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

It’s the last Summer Sessions concert of 2021, and the show is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 23, in the pavilion at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The opening band will be Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

The concert series is sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union.

The SteelDrivers are based in Nashville and known for their dynamic songwriting and eclectic shows, a press release said. Current band members include Tammy Rogers on fiddle, Mike Fleming on bass, Kelvin Damrell on guitar and vocals, Brent Truitt on mandolin, and Richard Bailey on banjo.

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Bluegrass mass concert will help Second Harvest Food Bank

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Tim Sharp (Submitted photo)

A unique blend of bluegrass and classical choral music and lively Appalachian storytelling will be presented on October 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church of Knoxville, 2829 Kingston Pike.

The University of Tennessee Chamber Choir and the choirs of First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge and Second Presbyterian Church of Knoxville will perform the choral music. The event is free and open to the public, but an offering will be taken to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves both Anderson and Knox counties, a press release said.

“Come Away to the Skies: A High Lonesome Mass,” composed by Tim Sharp and Wes Ramsay, will be the main musical feature, the press release said. It combines the classical structure of the mass with bluegrass and mountain music performed by guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and voice.

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Travelin’ McCourys and Circus No. 9 perform Saturday

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The Travelin’ McCourys and Circus No. 9 will perform Saturday, July 13, 2019, for the next Summer Sessions concert event presented by ORNL Federal Credit Union. (Photo courtesy ORNL Federal Credit Union)

The Travelin’ McCourys and Circus No. 9 will perform this Saturday, July 13, for the next Summer Sessions concert event presented by ORNL Federal Credit Union.

“Grammy Award winners The Travelin’ McCourys bring excitement and energy to all their performances with their mix of traditional and progressive bluegrass music,” a press release said. “East Tennessee’s own Circus No. 9 blurs the lines between bluegrass, jazz, and rock. The electrifying performances of The Travelin’ McCourys and Circus No. 9 are not to be missed!”

Summer Sessions is a free concert series for the community featuring bluegrass and American bands from throughout the region. 

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Secret City Festival offers weekend of fun, entertainment

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2015 Secret City Festival photo by Rob Welton

2015 Secret City Festival photo by Rob Welton

 

By Explore Oak Ridge

The 14th annual Secret City Festival is Friday and Saturday, and the excitement is building! Kick off your festival fun by bringing your chairs and your family, and stake out a spot in front of the Pavilion Stage. You don’t want to miss the great artists that will be performing all day on Friday and Saturday.

Arrive early to take in the opening ceremonies, then get your Friday festival started with entertainment from ACRODUNK. Showcasing their highflying, gravity defying acrobatics with “slam,” ACRODUNK performs three times on Friday and Saturday.

Jubal hits the Pavilion Stage twice Friday afternoon with their alternative folk music. Combining two voices and a guitar, Jubal creates an intricate and emotional sound.

Get your fill of Scottish bagpipes and drums from the Knoxville Pipes and Drums, who open Saturday morning’s pavilion entertainment.

The Secret City Winds and the Oak Ridge Community Band will be showcasing their talents with an array of musical selections twice on Saturday. [Read more…]

Museum of Appalachia announces line-up for Tennessee Fall Homecoming

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Museum of Appalachia Wilson Barn Stage

A performance at a previous Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia near Norris. (Submitted photo)

Submitted

NORRIS—The best bluegrass, gospel, and old-time music in the South will resonate across the beautiful grounds of the Museum of Appalachia this coming October 10-12. This year’s line-up includes more than 70 national, regional, and local musicians performing on five unique outdoor stages throughout the pastoral museum setting.

In celebration of 35 years of this award-winning festival, organizers have put together the strongest lineup in event history, including Grammy award winner and multi-talented Marty Raybon and Full Circle, International Bluegrass Music Association male vocalist of the year Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, Jeff Brown and Still Lonesome, Grammy-nominated Della Mae, “Entertainers of the Year” and “Vocal Group of the Year” The Gibson Brothers, and the multi-award winning group Lonesome River Band.

Appearing again this year are Grammy-nominated Blue Highway, “Broadcaster of the Year” Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, the award-winning Darrell Webb Band, the highly recognized Blue Moon Rising, Grits and Soul, Jesse Gregory and Faultline, and the legendary Paul Williams and the Victory Trio. Joining these top artists is one of the most successful bluegrass bands of all time, seven-time International Bluegrass Music Association “Vocal Group of the Year” with multiple Grammy and Dove award nominations and IBMA Hall of Fame inductee Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line celebrates 40th anniversary Friday

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Deborah Patterson

Deborah Patterson

For 40 years, volunteers with CONTACT Care Line have provided a listening ear to East Tennesseans in crisis, and the Oak Ridge-based nonprofit is inviting the public to a Friday evening of bluegrass music to celebrate its milestone anniversary.

The public is also recognizing CONTACT, with both the city of Oak Ridge and Rep. John Ragan from Tennessee’s District 33 proclaiming November as “CONTACT Care Line Month,” a press release said.

“A lot has changed in 40 years,” said Deb Patterson, CONTACT’s executive director, “but six of our volunteers have been with us from Day One, and what hasn’t changed is that lonely people, people with mental illnesses, the elderly—all of us, really—need someone to talk to every once in a while. It’s going to be special to reach the 40-year milestone and to thank all our telephone workers.”

The 40th Ruby Anniversary Balloon Pop Concert featuring the Ridge City Ramblers will be held from 7-10 p.m. Friday at the Pollard Conference Center in Oak Ridge. The Ramblers will provide a fun mix of bluegrass and Americana music, and there’ll be a prize in every balloon, the press release said. [Read more…]

Ridge City Ramblers have CD release party on Wednesday

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Ridge City Ramblers

The Ridge City Ramblers will have a CD release party in Oak Ridge on Wednesday. Members of the band are, from left, Gary Coleman, Mary Tuskan, Scott Linn, Abbie Hoerner, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and Steve Reddick. (Submitted photo)

The Ridge City Ramblers will have a CD release party to celebrate their first CD from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen in Jackson Square.

“Ramblin’ on my mind” is the title of the band’s CD. The Ramblers draw their inspiration from bluegrass, blues, traditional, and Americana music, and the band’s musicians bring experience with a host of musical styles and performing groups.

An Oak Ridge band, the Ramblers will entertain the Razzleberry’s audience with songs from the CD and other selections. [Read more…]

Despite federal shutdown, Museum of Appalachia still open, Fall Homecoming happening

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Museum of Appalachia Wilson Barn Stage

Despite the federal shutdown, the Fall Homecoming is still happening this weekend at the Museum of Appalachia near Norris. (Submitted photo)

Despite the federal shutdown, the Museum of Appalachia near Norris is still open, and the 34th annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming is happening this weekend, officials said.

The Fall Homecoming is scheduled from Friday, Oct. 11, to Sunday, Oct. 13. It will feature more than 400 traditional musicians, singers, cloggers, and buck dancers, a press release said.

It said the three-day Homecoming is one of the nation’s largest, most authentic music and folk festivals.

“Each day, all day, musicians perform on five unique stages, filling the air with bluegrass, old-time, Southern gospel, and Americana music,” the release said. “Homecoming includes historic demonstrations of mountain skills, Revolutionary War and Civil War encampments, and a large arts and crafts fair featuring authentic Appalachian artisans. Pinto beans cooked over an open fire, home-made ice cream, Dutch oven cobbler, sassafras tea, and barbecue are some of the southern delicacies available for purchase.” [Read more…]