Steve Wildsmith

Let’s see what we have piling up on the desk that’s worthy of sharing ..

• A new 70-seat theater called Imagine This is now open in Pigeon Forge. It’s located in the Red Roof Mall, 2850 Parkway (Traffic Light No. 4), Suite 18. According to the press release, it’s “an electic mix of various musical styles including pop, blues, rock, jazz, Broadway, acoustic and more. We will also be featuring a variety of mixed media artworks in the front gallery lobby.” The schedule for the time being includes: Pianist and singer-songwriter Neesee Hurst (who has a standing first-Tuesday-of-the-month gig at Downtown Grill and Brewery in Knoxville) on Mondays; Greg Dennison: “A Tribute to Elvis” on Tuesdays; Michelle Monet’s show that splits original music with a tribute to Barbara Streisand (it’s called, interestingly enough, “She, Streisand and Me, Monet”) on Wednesdays; a songwriters showcase on Thursday; the five-piece “good times music” band Dream Catcher on Fridays; Meg n Dredd, an acoustic duo that won the songwriting contest at Hard Rock Gatlinburg earlier this year, on Saturdays; and “Pajama Night,” with Monet leading a sing-along, on Sunday nights. No word on ticket prices or exact times; for that, you need to call (865) 223-5815.
• Don’t forget — South Bound Bar and Grill celebrates its grand opening on Friday night with a 7 p.m. show by country-rockers Confederate Railroad. The concert will take place in the back parking lot (adjacent to Barley’s Taproom) and will also feature Brendon James Wright and the Wrongs. The venue is the latest attempt to make a go of the space at 106 S. Central St., previously occupied by Club 106, Red Iguana, The Thinq Tank and Hoo-Ray’s. South Bound will feature three floors of entertainment. The doors open at 5 p.m.; admission to the show is $10.
• A fund-raiser to re-open Coffeez in Sevier County is the purpose of Saturday’s Sevier County Musicfest, which starts at 2 p.m. at 828 Black Bear Cub Way in Pigeon Forge (at the Black Bear Ridge Resort). It’s an all-ages show, and for $10, you get a ton of local bands: Dear Lovely, Scarla the Wolf, Waste and REgret, Bruteforce, Deconsecration, Lydian Skyline, Amidst the Mannequins, Suspense in the Upper Room, Do Not Resuscitate, Through Agony We Reign, Oceansnorth, We’re No Daughters and Bearing the Hero.
• If you’ve never eaten at Chez Guevara, the Tex-Mex place in Suburban Center on Kingston Pike in West Knoxville, you’ve missed out. Rectify that on Friday night, when you can also check out a rare Chez Guevara performance by Kit Rodgers and The Plan. According to his press writer, he “gives emotion a lyrical voice and his approach to music is simple. He will move you with his music. From his stripped-down alterna-folk debut CD ‘Naked Coffee,’ delivered with conviction and a truly acoustic representation, to the full-out produced follow-up release, the lyrics are the focus and he makes certain to move you, regardless of the genre or style.” The show starts at 10 p.m., and admission is free. Check him out on Myspace.
• Another show that deserves mention: at 7 p.m. Saturday, the band Early Bird Special will perform at Moondollars Cafe and Bistro, located at 201 Jackson Square in Oak Ridge (across from the entrance to the Oak Ridge Playhouse).  Comprised of singer-songwriters Steve Grimsley, Kelley Massey, Vern Lindsey and Kathy Huber, the band plays “folk music from the ’60s and many other memorable hits from the ’50s-’90s — performing with wit, great harmonies, spirit and a pretty hefty dose of insanity!” Admission is $3 at the door, or $2 if you’re older than 55. Check out Moondollars online.
• New music on the local horizon: 1220 releases “Killin’ for a Livin’” Saturday night at The Catalyst in Knoxville’s Old City … Vacationist League recently released “Bypassin’ the Barroom” and have it up for sale on CD Baby … Jonathan Sexton and the Big Love Community Choir anticipate a June release for a new album … pop-rockers Vertigo have a new album on the launch pad, “The Coming and the Going” …