George Winston—Postponed

Thursday, April 3, 8 p.m.

Due to health issues, George Winston’s concert at the Bijou Theatre has been postponed for a later date. When the new date is announce, we’ll announce it here at KnoxBijou.com and via the Bijou newsletter.

James Gregory

Friday, April 4, 7 p.m.

For almost over two decades, the unforgettable caricature of veteran comic James Gregory has stood grinning: his blue shirt untucked, his arms outstretched, a carefree welcome to a down-home, hilarious storytelling experience. The trademark caricature is the essence of James Gregory’s comedy: whimsical reflections on life from the front porch. Gregory tours 45 weeks a year, entertaining sold-out crowds in theaters, colleges, corporate events and comedy clubs from Atlanta to Chicago, Seattle to New York. “The most successful comedian America has never heard of,” James Gregory entertains over 10 million people annually, including the Coca Cola Company, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Hewlett Packard Corporation, and the American Red Cross.

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series

Sunday, April 6, 2:30 p.m.

For this all-Mozart program, conductor Lucas Richman performs Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor and Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”). Backed by Mark Zelmanovich (violin), Katy Gawne (viola), and Andy Bryenton (cello).

Knoxville Jazz Orchestra presents

A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald featuring Deborah Brown

Tuesday, April 8, 8 p.m.

Born in Kansas City, Deborah Brown’s musical talents have propelled her from coast to coast in the United States, eventually leading her to Japan, Indonesia, and the Far East and culminating in a 12-year residency in Europe. Singing in nightclubs, concerts, jazz festivals, on television and radio soundstages, Deborah has made a name for herself with appearances in more than 50 countries around the world. She has recorded 11 albums as a leader and has been featured on numerous other recordings as a special guest soloist. Deborah’s first appearance with the KJO in 2005 was a barnstorming success. This second time around focuses on the music of America’s First Lady of Song, Ms. Ella Fitzgerald.

Dave Barnes

with Andy Davis

Friday, April 11, 8 p.m.

Soulful, insightful Mississippi-born singer-songwriter Dave Barnes has something bigger than his talent with lyrics, his vocal mojo or his good looks going for him—he’s just a likable guy. That presence, that aura, has pushed Barnes from performer moonlighting after his classes at MTSU to a national indie-songwriting powerhouse. A chance encounter with Amy Grant found him a powerful fan, as the famous Nashville Christian pop singer made appearances along with her award-winning husband Vince Gill on Barnes’ last album Chasing Mississippi. If his third studio album, Me and You and The World, due out April 1 (no foolin’!), contains the same endearing soul-pop that has won over countless fans, Dave Barnes could become the next big thing in the singer-songwriter world.

Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile

Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m.

Within a year of their formation, Punch Brothers are already playing to sold-out crowds across the United States and preparing to release their second recording project. Comprised of the young and blazingly talented musicians Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Noam Pikelny (banjo), and Greg Garrison (bass), the band has captured the attention of music lovers of all kinds, from bluegrass to classical, veteran to novice. Their first album, How to Grow a Woman from the Ground, was released September 2006 to great critical acclaim and received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance for the song “The Eleventh Reel.” In March 2007, Punch Brothers premiered “The Blind Leaving the Blind,” a long-form, four-movement chamber suite composed by Thile, at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall. The piece is included on Punch, to be released February 26 on Nonesuch Records.

Son Volt

with Bobby Bare Jr.

Tuesday, April 22, 8 p.m.

Jay Farrar formed alt-country group Son Volt in 1994 after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo, in which he shared songwriting duties with Jeff Tweedy. Son Volt’s 2005 debut, Trace, deepened Uncle Tupelo’s roots rock with fierce guitars and lovely melodies. Five years and two CDs later, Son Volt was dropped by its label, and Farrar put the group on hiatus, taking time to tour solo and release two solo discs. In 2004, after negotiations with fellow band members failed, Farrar assembled a whole new line-up and released Okemah and the Melody of Riot. The band’s latest disc is The Search. Son Volt’s music style ranges from quiet folk/country ballads reminiscent of Bob Dylan to barhouse rockers in the spirit of Neil Young with Crazy Horse. Often considered a staple band of the alternative country movement, their music is perhaps better described as genre-spanning traditional American music.

Blue Apple Players presents The Princess & the Pea

Wednesday, April 23, 10 a.m.

Blue Apple Players’ fanciful version of this popular tale takes place on a distant planet in an uncharted universe. While traveling the universe, Princess Eartha finds herself in the middle of a star storm. She seeks shelter with the King and Queen of the Planet Po. Their son, Prince Polaris, is immediately smitten with Eartha, but the Queen is not. She suspects that Eartha is not really a Princess and devises a plan to prove the young woman a fraud. True to the original story, the Queen’s plan fails, and the universe regales in a Royal Wedding for Prince Polaris and Princess Eartha.

Tickets available by contacting Blue Apple Players at 1-800-587-7990.

Knoxville Jazz Festival

featuring Lionel Loueke, plus the Michele Rosewoman and Ralph Peterson Quartet

Friday, April 25, 8 p.m.

The third annual Knoxville Jazz Festival promises an eclectic blend of traditional and avant-garde music to please the palettes of local jazz lovers. The festival officially opens at the Bijou with the lovely, innovative music of The Michele Rosewoman and Ralph Peterson Quartet along with the tantalizing rhythms and melodies of guitarist Lionel Loueke. Loueke makes his East Tennessee debut at the KJF, although he is no stranger to middle Tennessee, having performed at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and with Herbie Hancock at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. His effort on Hancock’s latest CD, River: The Joni Letters, was awarded a Grammy and Downbeat Magazine named him the Rising Star of 2007. Pianist Michele Rosewoman and drummer Ralph Peterson make their first appearance on an East Tennessee stage, bringing an energy and absolute mastery that is seldom seen in live performance.