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The Big Ticket

Tone Loc and Young MC
Hip-hop from back in the day. Saturday, Sept. 6, 8 p.m. Tennessee Valley Fair, $5, plus Fair admission.

Plueroma w/Agent Zarkov
Rescheduled CD release party. Saturday, Sept. 6, 9 p.m. Pilot Light. $5.

Feable Weiner w/Sunday Driver
Relentless pop punk from Nashville. Sunday, Sept. 7, 9 p.m. Patrick Sullivan's. $5.

2nite with John Singleton
Oscar-winning director of Boyz N the Hood and 2 Fast 2 Furious speaks. Monday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. University Center Auditorium, UT campus. Free.

The Dave Brockie Experience w/The Pigs, and Lojaque & the Flaming Nahdbits
Former members of GWAR stay freaky. Tuesday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m. Electric Ballroom. $10.

Tab Benoit
Tab Benoit's web site features an animated picture of Louisiana sunset that just takes you there—the warm orange sun reflecting off the rippling water, framed by drooping limbs of dark swamp trees. Benoit's music, inspired by the bayou, is as honest as this scene, and a true reflection of the musician's character. To make sure his songs are fully realized before he goes into the studio, Benoit tours enough to rival the schedules of the most relentless jam bands, playing approximately 250 shows a year. Benoit started catching the notice of blues purists with his 1992 debut Nice and Warm. One early fan was John Lee Hooker, who did the unthinkable and invited the musician to his house. The late Hooker "never want(ed) to meet anyone," says Benoit's publicist, Liz Andreas, but he was so impressed by the young bluesman that he broke the unwritten rule. Who wouldn't be impressed? Benoit keeps it real—living in the swamp, staying close to his roots, keeping the passion of his inspirations alive through his music and his causes. By all reports, Benoit is a serious player who makes jaws drop with the way he handles the Telecaster. And his inherent connection to the swamp has led him to start an organization called VOW, Voice of the Wetlands, which addresses the threat of coastal erosion in Louisiana. He might even have some political aspirations up his sleeve. But before he gets too famous, catch him doing what he does best: playing the blues. John Lee Hooker said he'll be a legend one day. (Paige M. Travis)
TAB BENOIT * WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 7:30 P.M. * BRACKINS BLUES CLUB, MARYVILLE * $10.

Australian Aboriginal Art
The art of Australia's native Aborigines is fascinating for its heritage, visual imagery and portrayal of an ancient culture's complex philosophy. Like Native Americans, Aboriginal artists frequently depict figures—plants, animals, human characters—from the myths and legends of their culture. Aborigines paint about Dreamtime, the genesis tale that lies at the heart of their philosophy. Even when the paintings are only of shapes and patterns, they are earthy and vivid, dazzling canvases of dots, stripes and dashes, resembling a kind of folk art pointalism. This art is part of the real Australia that even visitors to the country don't often see—heartfelt works created by a marginalized minority population that has just in the past several years gained recognition for its special gifts to the country's culture. We don't get many opportunities to see native Australian art in Knoxville, so it's a special treat to have a touring collection from the Mbantua Gallery of Alice Springs visiting the New City Merchants on Sept. 4 and 5. Two representatives of the Mbantua Gallery are touring with the paintings: Maree Axford is an artist who also plays the funky native instrument, the Didgeridoo; and Sydney-native Jenny Dietrich works as the gallery's field and research manager. Proceeds from the paintings sold at the gallery will go to the InterFaith Health Clinic. You might never get the chance to go Down Under, but you can get a feel for its native culture just down the road. (P.M.T.)
ABORIGINAL ART FROM THE MBANTUA GALLERY OF ALICE SPRINGS, AUSTRALIA * SEPT. 4 & 5 * NEW CITY MERCHANTS * FREE.

Tennessee Valley Fair
Just about everything you can find at the fair is your standard tacky and cheesy county fair stuff—hot-dogs and funnel cakes, washed-up pop stars like Tone Loc and Loverboy, some dizzying amusement rides, and a sideshow. Throw in some stinky cows and pigs, a tractor show, and a karaoke booth and you've got a strange draw of a cultural event. But I'd stack the fair up against just about any other festival East Tennessee has to offer. Perhaps it's because the fair is grounded in tradition and something real, an exhibition of livestock at the end of the growing season. It's also frankly a little weird, but I mean that in a good way. Today's pop culture thrives on controlling the spectacle, but when you wander around the fair, you're not quite sure what or who you're going to bump into, and that's an experience you're not going to find in the mall. This year's fair features a hypnotist, a gospel tent, petting zoo, rodeo, Native American exhibit, mechanical bull, rock climbing wall, power-quad jump, elephant and pony rides, a magic show, tractor and lawn mower pulls, a demolition derby, puppet shows, jugglers, comedians, a honey exhibit, silly airbrushed art, nightly fireworks and lots of food that will make you fat. I've always loved the livestock shows and tractor exhibits—maybe I'm na�ve but I appreciate a chance to peak into a world that so few of us are connected to anymore (and if you're going to eat them, at least have the courage to look at them!). You could spend hours at the fair and never get bored. (Joe Tarr)
TENNESSEE VALLEY FAIR * SEPT. 5-14 * CHILHOWEE PARK * $7 GATE, $5 ADVANCE AND FOR SENIORS, $3 CHILDREN 6 TO 11, FREE FOR CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER, 10-DAY PASS $35 * SEE CALENDAR FOR LIST OF ACTS OR CALL 215-1470 FOR MORE INFORMATION