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The Big Ticket

Randy McAllister
This bluesman's 2002 release, Givers and Takers, was nominated for a Grammy. Brackins Blues Bar in Maryville. July 10, 8 p.m. $4 advance, $5 at the door.

On Golden Pond
Heartwarming drama from the Actors Co-op. Opening July 11, Black Box Theatre. $5 Thursdays, $12 adults, $18 students/seniors.

Heaven Can Wait
Wacky comedy from those who do it best. July 11 - 20 & Aug. 1 - 16, 8 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, Theatre Central. $10 general admission, $5 students.

I Need Sleep
Quirky, low-fi rock from Chicago. July 12, 10 p.m. Tomato Head. Free.

Knoxville & Vicinity: Works from MFA Alumni
Artists and designers return to their alma mater. Opens July 15, continues thru Aug. 10. Ewing Gallery of Art and Architecture on the UT campus. Free.

Brand New Beat
A '50s musical revue written by Jim Crabtree. July 17 thru Aug. 17, Bijou Theater Center.

Jazz & Funk Night
Burgers, beer, ice cream and music from the Mitch Rutman Band. July 19, 6-9:30 p.m. Ijams Nature Center. $6 members, $7.50 for non-members, free for children under 12.

Jurassic 5
A hip-hop crew from L.A. that namechecks Alvin Ailey and "Les Miserables" and then asks you "What's your contribution to life?", Jurassic 5 couldn't be any more "positive" if they came with a Lynne Cheney seal of approval. As their name suggests, they are self-conscious throwbacks. Their style, sound and social consciousness all descend from the Native Tongues school of late '80s-early '90s hip hop (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Qwest, etc.). They're no choirboys, though—propelled by DJs Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist, their music has an easy West Coast rump-a-thump. They're mostly into having a good time. They have been somewhat unfortunately cast in the role of "safe cross-over rappers," leading to a duet with Nelly Furtado and a tour with Fiona Apple—none of which has been good for their street cred, as you can imagine. But part of J5's charm is that they couldn't care less about street cred. Their biggest concern is that if you come to the show, they want you to leave smiling. Chances are, you will.
(Jesse Fox Mayshark)
JURASSIC 5 WITH MC SUPER NATURAL * TUESDAY, JULY 15, 8 P.M. * BLUE CATS * $20

Summer Ska Weekend
Depending on how you count and delineate, ska has gone through three or four lifecycles. The sound was invented by Jamaican bands (the Skatalites, early Bob Marley) who were imitating R&B bands from the states. It was reinvented in the late '70s by English punks (the Specials, Madness), who related to energy and working class themes of the original ska bands. Then the genre ocean-hopped again in the '90s, when American bands (Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Buck-O-Nine, No Doubt) melded ska with punk hardcore. Unfortunately (for me at least), the newer bands don't have much of a groove to them. Now, some people are saying there's another revival in the works, but I don't know if we're far enough away from the last one to call it that. And anyway, if you're excited by this impressive little ska festival (billing itself as the nation's biggest summer ska show), you probably already know all this. If you've liked ska in any of its previous incarnations, you'll get a good sampling of what the current American crop has to offer. Knoxville's Perfect Orange plays host both nights, with bands coming from as far away as Wisconsin, New Jersey and Florida. This eight-band, two-night show will likely get you dancing. And the ticket price is hard to beat. (Joe Tarr)
SUMMER SKA WEEKEND * FEATURING THE SPITVALVES, NEPTUNE 66, TAJ MOTEL TRIO, THE DISTORTED PENGUINS, TOO SHORT NOTICE, I VOTED FOR KODOS, THE KNOW HOW, AND PERFECT ORANGE * FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JULY 11 AND 12, 7 P.M. BOTH NIGHTS, WITH A PRE-SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT AT 5 P.M. * BRICKYARD BLUES * $10 FOR WEEKEND PASS

Circle Modern Dance
A performance by Circle Modern Dance never fails to be inspirational. In every step, every fluid movement, Circle's dancers communicate an unwavering belief in the body's power to create poetry, share emotion and supersede any preconceptions about what dance is or isn't, should or shouldn't. Circle presents statements of fact: Everyone is a dancer. Everyone has a right to dance. Entering a Circle performance is like giving yourself up to the whims of fate, not knowing if you'll experience happiness or regret, pleasure or pain. But exiting the warm embrace of the Circle dancers always leaves you feeling fulfilled, satisfied with some extra knowledge you didn't have before. And they always leave you wanting more. Their upcoming performance on July 11 is a fundraiser to help put on the yearly Modern Dance, Primitive Light show at the Laurel Theatre. A must-do event for hundreds of people each December, Primitive Light is always a funny, touching, moving experience, which pretty much describes every Circle show. I'm the secretary of the board of directors, so maybe I'm a bit biased. But I've never urged anyone to see Circle who didn't thank me profusely later. Consider yourself urged. (Paige M. Travis)
BARE NECESSITIES: A FUNDRAISER OF CIRCLE SOLOS * SATURDAY, JULY 12, 8 P.M. * STUDIO 1 IN THE CANDY FACTORY * $10 GENERAL ADMISSION, $5 STUDENTS AND SENIORS. ADDITIONAL DONATIONS APPRECIATED.