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The Big Ticket

Valentine's Day & Extremely Amorous Music
A musical brunch. Saturday, Feb. 14, 1-4 p.m. Fairbanks. $32 per person, benefits Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

Twelfth Night
Last call for Shakespeare! Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m. Clarence Brown Theatre. Call 974-5161 for tickets.

Sara Schwabe & Her Yankee Jass Band
Treat your sweetie to dinner and romantic tunes. Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 p.m. Lucille's. $5.

Tim Lee and the In-Line Six w/ Dodd Ferrelle & Tin Foil Stars and Tyler Keith & the Preacher's Kids
Rock 'n' roll for sweethearts. Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 p.m. Pilot Light. $5.

The Underpants
All Campus Theatre tackles another play by Steve Martin. Sunday, Feb. 15 thru 21, 8 p.m. Clarence Brown Lab Theatre. $3 UT students, $5 general.

Sister Hazel w/ Dexter Freebish
Radio pop for your weekday blues. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Blue Cats. $13 adv., $15 door.

Old Crow Medicine Show
Old-time music with the energy of rock. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. Blue Cats. $8 adv., $10 door.

Roddy Branch Bluegrass Band
Time for your mid-week twang. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 9 p.m. Barley's. Free.

Jump Little Children
Joyful pop from their upcoming new disc. Thursday, Feb. 19, 8 p.m. Blue Cats. $8 adv., $10 door.

Larry Keel

Under new ownership and management, Barley's Taproom has made some ambitious changes in its live music calendar by scheduling artists—local, regional and national—that have received major record deals and critical acclaim (i.e. Robinella & the CCstringband, Mindy Smith, Malcolm Holcombe, et al.). The Old City pizzeria continues this new standard with acoustic guitarist extraordinaire Larry Keel. His intricate, yet intense flat-picking style explores every crevice of a melody by weaving each note into a coherent flurry of sound. At 34, Keel astounds his colleagues and influences with his unbelievable proficiency and was recently featured as the subject of the forthcoming DVD documentary Beautiful Thing. In promotion of his latest release, Journey, Keel plays an intimate duet show with his wife Jenny on upright bass. (Clint Casey)
LARRY AND JENNY KEEL • THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 10 P.M. • BARLEY'S • FREE.

Bill Mallonee

It's an understatement to call Bill Mallonee a prolific songwriter. As leader of Athens, Ga.'s Vigilantes of Love and as a solo artist since 2003, he's put out 14 records in as many years, and that doesn't even count Pin My Hope coming in May. Where he finds such consistent inspiration may remain a mystery to other songwriters, but fans of his earnest, perceptive and probing songs find that his aim remains true.

Mallonee's exploration of faith and religion caused V.O.L. to be shelved occasionally in music stores as Christian rock. But Mallonee's no Bible-thumper. The issues, arguments and characters he evokes in song are articulate and beyond religious categorization. Lyrically and musically, he's tackling something bigger than can be contained—or assumed—by any one label. Like David Wilcox, Bob Dylan and Randy Newman, he's a passionate performer who demands your rapt attention and earns it 100 percent. (Paige M. Travis)
BILL MALLONEE • THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 7 P.M. • NEW CITY CAFE • $12.

Playing Favorites: A Valentine's Trilogy

Three's a charmer in the case of the City Ballet's selection of pieces that make up this Valentine's weekend show. Classic ballet and modern dance blend in the works of choreographers Val Caniparoli, Stanton Welch and Lila York, giving their dances the traditional beauty and "I can't believe she did that" physicality of ballet, plus the contemporary inventiveness of modern dance moves. The trio of choreographers are the "favorites" evoked by the production's title, and their works should be just as pleasing. City Ballet's resident choreographer Caniparoli presents Vivace, his fourth work for the Ballet. Welch's Fingerprints premiered in February 2002 and has amazed European audiences. And York's Celts gives a nod to the Irish dance and music craze that inspired the piece in 1995. Together, the show promises to be like a Whitman sampler of dance—a little taste that should please everyone. (P.M.T.)
PLAYING FAVORITES • CITY BALLET • SATURDAY, FEB. 14, 8 P.M. AND SUNDAY, FEB. 15, 2 P.M. • KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM • $20-$60