goings on - SATURDAY 4/29

I was going to prepare another Outsources entry, but over the past few weeks there hasn't really been any relevant music articles...just Metro Pulse using boring stereotypes to scare people away from the Pilot Light (and refusing to write about the Midnight Bomber), the News-Sentinel writing about ego-metal, and the Maryville Daily Times writing about a broad range of bands, none of which really fit here (besides possibly the Tim Lee band, and their recent article on this blog.) So instead I'll use this opportunity to welcome the arrival of the KNOXVILLE VOICE, a new progressive-minded alternative weekly that will hopefully find an audience and give us a less corporate-minded alternative to the Metro Pulse.

I made brief reference (and extensive judgment!) above to what doesn't "fit" on this site, and I say with some authority that ska(core) is one of those things, but for some reason every year in the run-up to SKA WEEKEND I'm overcome with respect for what promoter Ben Altom has done with it. The largest ska festival in the country, it will host 27 bands this year in Knoxville's Old City on Saturday. The best part is that the cost is only $15 plus five cans of food to be donated to America's Second Harvest Food Bank. That's DIY with style and bravado, and even if I'll be avoiding the Old City like the plague that day, I tip my hat to Ben.



Later that night the SWEET SOUTHERN PIXELS women's media art collective will be having their Cotillion party at the Electric Ballroom, and it should be the party of the month, if not the year. DJs, dancers, contests, prizes, libations, videos, photos, and more. Proceeds will facilitate future SSP art shows. This would be your best option for the night's entertainment even if the Old City weren't clogged with ska kids.