Metro Pulse/Music/Eye on the Scene

Behind the Barn Buys the Farm...For Now

Every Wednesday night for four and a half years, Sarah Pirkle and Jeff Barbra have hosted an event called Behind the Barn that was produced on the stage at Barley's and broadcast live over the WDVX airwaves. The fiddle-guitar duo warmed up the crowd by playing a few original bluegrass tunes and toe-tapping covers, then introduced the night's main act. Mostly a showcase of bluegrass or country bands like The Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, the series also featured a wide array of other performers, like rebel country rocker Phil Lee, banjo virtuoso Tony Furtado, and even local rockers the Jodie Manross Band.

But the Behind the Barn broadcast its last show from the Barley's stage on Wednesday, Oct. 1, after general manager Ken Stuart decided that the restaurant, which features live music nearly every night of the week, would no longer host the event.

Barley's' owner Randy Burleson says that after he bought the pizzeria a year ago, WDVX, Pirkle and Barbra and the sound technician asked for more money to produce it. Burleson complied based on the agreement that Behind the Barn would begin to bring in bigger acts and a cover charge would help offset costs to pay the band. For a time, the restaurant saw an increase in music fans who came in specifically to see the band, he says. But when WDVX began presenting concerts across the street at Blue Cats, such as the, Sept. 10 Jay Farrar concert, the BtB crowd "[fell off] by 50 percent." He concedes that Blue Cats has more room for shows, but with the WDVX crowd split between two clubs across the street from each other, Barley's made the decision to take Wednesday nights back into their own hands, musically and financially.

"[WDVX] wanted to continue shows at Blue Cats and Behind the Barn," Burleson says. But with Barley's paying twice as much for BtB nights as regular music nights (approximately $600 compared to $250-$300) and the threat of diminished crowds, Barley's decided to cut ties.

Burleson says Barley's is supportive of WDVX. "We wish them the best," he says, adding that the event was due for "some refreshing." Barley's will continue to book bluegrass and Americana acts on Wednesdays and, with recent sound equipment upgrades, the taproom has bigger, exciting plans in the works.

WDVX station manager Tony Lawson puts a positive spin on the situation. He's made preliminary moves toward finding another venue for the popular music series that frequently drew a crowd to the Old City in the middle of the week. "Right now we're just talking to some folks," Lawson says. "We've gotten some wonderful feedback. I feel pretty good about finding another venue and moving forward with it." Currently, Lawson is busy with the non-profit station's on-air fall fund-raiser. "We're really putting our concentration in the fund drive. But I'm pretty sure we'll get it worked out. That's something we enjoy doing on a weekly basis, and I look forward to taking it to another level."

Wherever BtB makes its new home, Pirkle and Barbra will remain hosts.

"Sarah and I are still on good terms with Barley's and may play there again at some point," Barbra says.

As WDVX looks for a new venue for the event, Pirkle and Barbra are waiting to find out what will happen next. The duo is preparing for the release of their new CD The Barb Hollow Sessions and the accompanying concert at The Palace Theatre on Oct. 24.

Go.

Thursday: Do something different—go check out Mill Creek Mule Skinners at Ritta's Music Grill.

Friday: Gillian Welch at the Bijou is the best show in town. She loves this house so much, she filmed part of her DVD here. Never mind that she's now too popular to deign to talk to little old Metro Pulse. We still love her.

Saturday: Over at the Laurel you can catch the Dismembered Tennesseans, the Flat Creek Boys, R.B. Morris, and Leslie Woods—and help support WDVX.

Sunday: Two of the coolest people making music today—Carla Bozulich and Scout Niblett—are playing at the Pilot Light. You're a damn fool if you don't go. The Pilot Light (hell, Knoxville) hasn't seen a show this good since, well, Deerhoof played here in August. If you're in the mood for tunes early, head down to the Second Harvest Food Bank festival in Tyson Park.

Monday: Sometimes I can't wait to come down with cancer. At least then I'll get to watch TV all day. And on my deathbed I'll get all the answers even if all my questions are taken away. If my life was as long as the moon's, I'd still be jealous of the sun. If my life lasted only one day, I'd still be drunk by noon.

Tuesday: Cook a nice meal, open a bottle of fine red wine, rent Brief Encounter (the David Lean version) and relax.

Wednesday: It's the new version of Trapper Keeper. But can they pull it off without Tiffany Stover? Find out at the Pilot Light.

—Paige M. Travis, Joe Tarr