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advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement. Founder: Bill Williams

Local Artists to Host 2nd Annual February #pouncepunk23 Challenge

Appalachian artists Brett Marcus Cook and Richard Graves have announced the 2023 Pouncepunk community art challenge this February. Pouncepunk is an annual art challenge in the form of a prompt list, where everyone is invited to make art together in the month of February.

To participate, create a piece of art in any medium based on a prompt from the list, and post on that day in February using the hashtag #pouncepunk23. Tag the hosts (Instagram @brettpunk @serpounce) so they can see and share your creations.

This is the second year hosting the challenge. In 2022 there

were over 1500 entries both local and international that included traditional illustrators, painters, animators, dancers, make-up artists, doodles, hobbyists, youth art, and many folks using the challenge as an excuse to create for the first time in a while. No experience necessary to participate, all skill levels enthusiastically welcomed. The project was founded as a way to showcase and celebrate the talent and creativity of the people in Appalachia and to cultivate a supportive environment for the community to make art together in a fun way.

Bristol TN/Va

Bristol, TN/VA

WEDNESDAY JAN 11th

Dan Herrell 6:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

Dan Deel 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

THURSDAY JAN 12th

Cripple Creek Gang 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

TJ Darnell 6:00pm at Delta Blues BBQ

Trevor Meade Music 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

FRIDAY JAN 13th

Trevor Meade 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Ryan Redman 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

James Meadows 8:00pm at Quaker Steak & Lube

Boombox 80’s Band 8:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar

SATURDAY Jan 14th

Hearts Gone South 4:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

C Tokes 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Mississippi East 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar

Johnson City

Johnson City, TN

TUESDAY Jan 10th

Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

WEDNESDAY Jan 11th

HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

THURSDAY Jan 12th

Justin Mychals 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza

FRIDAY Jan 13th

Big Son 7:00pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub Beth Snapp 8:00pm at The Down Home WyndRider | Death Nebula | Sick Beyond 10:00pm at Capones

SATURDAY Jan 14th

Annabelle’s Curse 8:00pm at The Down Home

Laid Back Country Picker with The Dimestore Cowboys 10:00pm at Capone’s

Kingsport

Kingsport, TN

FRIDAY Jan 13th

Cam Ragsdale 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company

Zak Saltz Band

9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

SATURDAY Jan 14th

Big Son 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company 2HL 8:00pm at The Sports Mill

Son

TRI-CITIES NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm

THURSDAY

Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm

Sing Your Heart Out Karaoke at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN

Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN

FRIDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Union Street Taproom - Erwin, TN 8pm Jan 28, Feb 18 & Mar 4

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm

Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm

Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm

Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA BINGO DJ NIGHT

TUESDAY

Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café

Johnson City TN

DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm

WEDNESDAY

Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm

Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom Bristol, VA 7pm

THURSDAY

Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN- 7pm

WEDNESDAY

Bingo at Tipton Street Pub Johnson City, TN 9pm

Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina Boones Creek, TN 8pm

Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

THURSDAY

Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm

THURSDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

FRIDAY

Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY

Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

SUNDAY

DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and GrilleBristol, TN 10pm

423-930-7319

Hi, I’m Lita! I’m a beautiful 5 yr old black and white bobtail kitty with beautiful green eyes with black eyeliner around them. Who doesn’t love a cat with a stubby tail !!! I love attention and if I don’t get it, I may yell at you. I do love to be petted and if you stop before I’m finished, I might yell at you some more. Don’t take

it personally it’s just me being me! I do have a flea allergy, so I do need to be kept up on my flea meds. I’ve been spayed, current on vaccinations and microchipped. Come visit Lita at The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue and consider opening your heart to her.

Photo by With Love by Donna

Hi! My name is Star! I am a German Shepard and Mountain Cur mix. I am 2 years old. I am high energy, good with kids, cats and other dogs. I lived in an abusive household and my previous owner had to leave and

Photo by With Love by Donna.

Johnson City Jazz Festival Announces 5th Annual Festival March 30, 31, April

Due to popular demand, organizers of the Johnson City Jazz Festival announced today that the 5th annual Johnson City Jazz Festival will take place March 30, 31, April 1 - 2023. As in previous years, The Festival will be held at the Carnegie Hotel ballroom and bar.

Bill Perkins, local jazz guitarist and the person responsible for booking the musicians, noted that while they do not have the full line-up yet, they are working on a great mixture of the jazz genre for the enjoyment of all who will attend. He did note that the great Latin jazz band La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet “can’t wait to perform at the festival this year.” Stay tuned at www.johnsoncityjazzfestival.com for further details and band announcements.

As in previous years, local jazz musicians will perform at no charge (tips are encouraged) on Thursday night. And, like previous years, March 31, April 1 Festival tickets will be $20 for one night, $30 for both nights. There

will be 2 bands each night. Tickets can be purchased on the web site when the full line-up is in place.

Organizers appreciate all the support they have received in previous years from the community including sponsors Bank of Tennessee, First Horizon Bank, Carnegie Hotel, Time & Pay, Christian Schmid Design, Alberts Pawn, Interstate Graphics, Tennessee Hills as well as other Friends of the Festival as they work to bring great live Jazz to our area.

For more details about the festival and to buy tickets, visit: www.johnsoncityjazzfestival.com and follow the festival on Facebook: facebook.com/johnsoncityjazzfestival/ and Instagram: instagram.comjohnsoncityjazzfestival/ Anyone looking for more information on how to support the festival or other details can contact Steve Scheu at 423-854-8860 or email to info@johnsoncityjazzfestival.com

THINGS TO DO THINGS TO DO

BRISTOL

SATURDAY JAN 14TH

Skate 2:00pm at Bristol Skateway

Board Game Night! 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library

JOHNSON CITY

SATURDAYS

ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149

TUESDAY JAN 1OTH

Branding Yourself as a Creative by Kelly Porter 6:00pm at Johnson City Center for Art & Technology (JCCAT)

WEDNESDAY JAN 11TH

Free Women’s Self Defense Class 6:00pm at Crossroads Martial Arts

FRIDAY JAN 6TH

Johnson City Love & Hiking

Date For Couples (Self-Guided)

7:00am at Willow Springs Park

Weekly YuGiOh Duel Night 6:00pm at CardFox

SATURDAY JAN 7TH

Johnson City Love & Hiking

Date For Couples (Self-Guided)

7:00am at Willow Springs Park

SUNDAY JAN 8TH

Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided)

7:00am at Willow Springs Park

KINGSPORT

THURSDAY JAN 12TH

IBN Biz Lunch 11:30am at Pratt's BBQ

SATURDAY JAN 14TH

Nature: Wolf Howling 10:00am at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

JONESBOROUGH

TUESDAYS

Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show

7:00pm at The International Storytelling Center

SATURDAY JAN 14TH

Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site

ABINGDON, VA

TUESDAY JAN 1OTH

Great Reads for Winter 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library

WEDNESDAY JAN 11TH

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

THURSDAY JAN 12TH

Wolf Hills Toastmasters 3:15pm at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

Adobe In-Design Intro 2:00pm at William King Museum of Art

SUNDAY JAN 15TH

Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

COMEDY SHOWCASE

WEDNESDAYS

Comedy Open Mic 7:30pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

THURSDAY DECEMBER 14TH

Improv Stand-Ins 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

FRIDAY DECEMBER 13TH

James Patterson 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

SATURDAY DECEMBER 14TH

James Patterson 8:00pm and 10:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club

To be featured in The Loafer's Things to Do email us at: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319

USeless Facts

1. The name for January comes from the Roman god, Janus, who is always depicted with two heads. He uses one head to look back on the year before, and the other head to look forward into the New Year!

2. Oddly enough, couples tend to separate or divorce more so in January than any other month of the year.

3. In Pasadena, California, there has been a Rose Parade held every year since 1890. It has since been broadcasted worldwide and is typically viewed in over 100 countries around the globe.

4. If you were born in January, your birthstone is a garnet!

5. In leap years, January always starts on the same day as April and July.

6. London is famous for its extensive subway system, nicknamed “The Tube.” This makes sense because they’re also responsible for opening the first operational underground railway on January 10, 1863.

7. Some historical names for January include “Wulfmonath,” which came from the Anglo-Saxons because it was the month hungry wolves would come scavenging. King Charlemagne would call it “Wintermanoth” meaning “winter/cold month.”

8. Originally, the Roman calendar had only 10 months, and it excluded January and February.

9. King Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, is responsible for adding both January and February to the Roman calendar. He did this so calendars would be equivalent to a lunar year. Even so, it only had 30 days.

10. Finally, Julius Caesar added the 31st day to the month and completed it to the full month of January we practice now!

11. January was a monumental year for Alaska! As of January 3, 1959, Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States.

12. Generally, January is the coldest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

13. The equivalent month of January in terms of temperature in the Southern Hemisphere is July!

14. Referring back to the Julian and Gregorian calendars, January is the first month of the year, and the first of seven months to be 31 days long.

15. In the United Kingdom, some people practice “Dry January.” This is a movement to encourage people to quit drinking alcohol for the month in order to encourage public health.

Beanz Biker Corner Beanz Biker Corner

Hello everyone, I truly pray your Holiday season was all you hoped it would be. Now that we have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years behind us. Let’s start this 2023 year with new hopes and dreams. Be kind to each other, be respectful to others.

January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the first of seven months to have a length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere where it is the second month of winter and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere where it is the second month of summer. In the Southern hemisphere, January is the seasonal equivalent of July in the Northern hemisphere and vice versa.

January's birthstone is the garnet, which represents

constancy. Its birth flower is the cottage pink Dianthus caryophyllus or Galanthus as well as the traditional carnation. The Japanese floral emblem of January is the Camellia. In Finnish, the month of tammikuu means the heart of the winter and because the name literally means "oak moon", it can be inferred that the oak tree is the heart of the grand forest with many valuable trees as opposed to the typical Arctic forests, which are typically pine and spruce. The zodiac signs for the month of January are Capricorn (until January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 onwards). The name of the full moon occurring in January is the wolf moon.

the army on an expedition. As the god of transitions, Janus is often depicted with two, bearded heads that face in opposite directions, looking to both the future and the past. After 153 BCE, January (mensis Januarius in Latin) became the first month of the Roman calendar (which we adopted), the figure of Janus a perfect symbol for new beginnings.

as deceitful and, well, two-faced.

By Anne Hartley

Known for recaps and resolutions, each new year often starts with retrospection and the month of January. What does January mean? January, as we know, is the first month of the year and contains 31 days. The term originated before the year 1000 from Middle English, ultimately deriving from the Latin noun use of Jānuārius, equivalent to Jānus. Who was Janus? In ancient Roman culture, Jānus was a god of doorways, beginnings, and the rising and setting of the sun. His name comes from the Latin jānus, meaning “doorway, archway, arcade.” Fun fact: the closely related Latin word jānua, meaning “door, doorway, entrance,” ultimately gives us the word janitor, which originally referred to a door attendant or porter before evolving to its more familiar sense of “custodian.”

There were many gateways in Rome where ceremonial entrances and exits were made, especially for the departure of

This ancient deity Janus has found his way into modern English in more ways than one. And as you might expect, his other lexical contributions are not entirely straightforward. The versatile word Janus-faced can refer to someone or something’s capricious or seemingly contradictory nature. Or it can be used with a more negative undertone to describe someone

The two faces of Janus are also evident in the term Janus word, “a word that has opposite or nearly opposite meanings,” such as cleave and dust. (These are also called contronyms.) To cleave something can mean to adhere closely to that thing, but it can also mean its opposite: to split, divide, or cut off. As a verb, dust can refer to the removal of dust, or the addition of it. (Think dust the cookies with confectioners’ sugar.) Duality is embedded into all of Janus’s words, including the very language we use to talk about the beginning of the calendar year: January.

Beanz Biker Corner

Sponsored By Biker Wear

How Often Does Your Audience See You?

Consistency is the key to a successful social media strategy. Algorithms prevent your audience from seeing your online presence unless you are consistently posting relevant content. This may seem like a daunting task, but there are a few easy ways to consistently stay in front of your target audience.

Social Media Scheduling

Scheduling tools such as Buffer, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social allow you to create content in advance and schedule it for your brand's optimal time. They allow for content to be posted while monitoring your social media presence. Creating a consistent message is crucial to your brand, and scheduling posts in bulk

allows for a consistent message while maintaining your brand reputation.

Event Promotion

Do you have an event coming up? Have you promoted it within the past week? Posting an event and assuming that everyone will see it is a sure way to have low attendance. Hype up your event at least once a week to ensure the algorithms place it in front of your full audience.

Breaking News

Having consistency in your social media strategy allows you to be on top of your game when breaking news hits. It allows you to follow the story from both brand and audience perspectives. Your brand message is still placed in front

of your audience while you are able to successfully address breaking news stories.

Colorful Images

Posting a colorful image is the best way to draw attention to your update among the sea of other updates. Posting colorful images on a consistent basis will continue to draw that attention to your brand. Standing out in the crowd is the main reason for creating brand consistency. A consistent social media strategy is the key to standing out above the crowd. Since most companies do not have a dedicated social media presence, a constant social media strategy will win over your audience.

By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments

Giving Johnson City a Gourmet Experience

by Kathie Scalf

The restaurant industry is a tough gig. According to a recent article from CNBC, around 60% of new restaurants fail within the first year, and nearly 80% close before their 5th anniversary, with those stats being astronomically higher for independent restauranteurs in the biz. Which is what makes Johnson City’s own Gourmet and Company so unique; in staying power alone, it’s one of the longest standing establishments in the area, providing fine dining and retail to the Tri-Cities since 1989. My first memory of eating at Gourmet dates all the way back to middle school! In 7th grade, around 1999, one of my best friends had an older sister who could drive. Since she was dating one of the cooks she would always take us there when he was working lunch and get us iced teas. As I got older and prior to my move, I routinely enjoyed business lunches with clients and employers, as well as checking out the retail shop for unique birthday gifts not found in other mainstream wholesale stores. I recently celebrated my birthday with family and close friends back home, and being one of my go-to’s every time I’m in town, Gourmet was the obvious choice for dinner location. That’s one of the most fabulous attributes of this restaurant- the ambiance is upscale enough to provide a memorable experience for celebration, but welcoming and intimate enough for a weeknight dinner alone at the bar. And the menu provides the same

accommodating balance of options, offering everything from cheeseburgers and fries to prime cuts of meat and seafood.

Being a creature of habit, I love that Gourmet keeps their core items on menu year-round. I am comforted by knowing whether I’m cozying up to the bar on a blustery night in February or hanging with friends on the patio during the dog days of summer, I can always enjoy a goat cheese salad or meat and cheese board. Their original burger is my favorite menu staple, and I always make mine extra fatty by adding thick cut slices of bacon and even a fried egg. The original fries are delicious, but you have the option to elevate your experience and upcharge to truffle fries for an even more distinct flavor.

If you’re not someone who gravitates to the same ol’ same, or you’re looking for something a bit more elegant, Gourmet offers a wide selection of seasonally rotating options as well. Each night you never know what the chef will be featuring on special, whether it’s delicate seafood or thick cut slabs from the carving board. And all the sides change with what is available; Gourmet prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients as much as possible and nowhere is this more obvious than the compliments to the mains. From hearty root veggies and heirloom grains in winter to bright berries and fresh-from-the-garden produce in summer, Gourmet’s courses are always perfectly paired by the chef. My favorite aspect of this restaurant is hands-down the staff. As someone who has worked this industry from all sides, it speaks volumes to me

when there is minimal turnover amongst the employees. I love going into Gourmet and seeing the same team of amazing smiling faces I’ve grown to know over the years. Todd, the bar manager, has been a longtime friend and icon in this industry, and his career with this company has to be in excess of 15 years now. When it comes to making a cocktail, I can always count on him to properly prepare the classics and trust his judgement when whipping up something on the fly that will tickle my passing fancy. Their wine list is solid, with some rotating seasonals, and they also offer a corkage fee if you’d prefer something from your own cellar you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

On the evening of my birthday celebration, I arrived early so I opted for a cocktail first while greeting my guests. Since I wanted something that came with a little nosh to curb my hunger until everyone I arrived, I went with a vodka and stuffed olive martini. A person’s martini preference is as unique as any snowflake so tailor yours to your liking, but when it comes to my standard order it’s always Chopin, extra cold, lightly dirty, with blue cheese olives. Gourmet has an unexpected option of goat cheese instead of blue cheese, which I delight in indulging. We popped a bottle of bubbly for a toast once everyone arrived, that Todd had arranged chilling in a tableside bucket. Everyone ordered their own dishes, but my selection of the 4oz beef tenderloin cut was cooked to medium rare perfection and served with a mix of brussels, root veggies and local potatoes and mushrooms. I had brought a bottle

of Cahors (Malbec from the Cahors region of France) that paired beautifully with my steak as well as the other hearty meats ordered around the table, but Gourmet’s red wine menu has myriad delicious options that would be outstanding as well. Finally, I wrapped up my celebratory dinner with bananas foster and an espresso martini, the perfect sweet finish to a predictably amazing experience.

Johnson City is blessed to have a culinary establishment that is built to stand the test of time. We all love the “hot new thing,” but when it comes to food and drink trendy never beats the classics. Intimate, elegant ambiance, consistent, wellcurated menus and a professional, caring staff has made Gourmet and Co the standard of excellence for over 3 decades and I suspect it will remain that way for decades to come.

Slumberland

There is a new fantasy film now showing on Netflix you may want to check out featuring "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa. "Slumberland" is based on the comic strip "Little Nemo in Slumberland", and co-stars Marlow Barkley as a young girl raised in a lighthouse who has dreams of Slumberland. The story begins by introducing us to Nemo and her father Peter (Kyle Chandler), a lighthouse keeper who has taught his 11-year-old daughter all about running a lighthouse. Each night Peter tells his daughter wild stories about his adventures with a character named Flip. One of the stories is how he and Flip search a cave to find magical wish-granting pearls. Of course the stories cause Nemo to have wild dreams each night. One night as Peter is telling Nemo another wild story, a ship is in distress and he must leave to help. The trip results in Peter being lost at sea and feared dead. After this tragedy, Nemo is sent to live with her uncle and Peter's brother Phillip (Chris O'Dowd), who is not exactly thrilled about raising a child. Nemo moved to an unnamed

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint

city with Phillip, who is living a rather dull and unhappy life, even though he loves his job of selling door knobs. Nemo struggles with her new life in the city and with her new guardian, and seeks solace with her stuffed pig named Pig and her nightly dreams in Slumberland. During one episode, Pig comes to life and Nemo finds herself in Slumberland, the world between dreams. During this visit her beg magically grows legs and transports her back to the lighthouse where she meets Flip (Momoa), a character who is not only a dream "outlaw" but is very stubborn as well. Flip is in the lighthouse searching for a magical map of which Nemo knows nothing about. When she awakens Nemo finds the map in the waking world and manages to take it back to Flip in Slumberland so she can help find the magic pearls to wish her father into her dreams. Flip confides to Nemo he has no idea who is in the waking world as he has refused to "wake up" for so long. The two use the map to journey through the dreams of others in order to find the cave containing the magic pearls. While on their journey through others dreams, they are attacked by a cloud of smoke resembling a kraken (a legendary sea monster), which Nemo encountered in a previous dream in which the creature took her dad. As if this isn't bad enough, the two are being chased by Agent Green (Weruche Opia), an operative of the BoSA (Bureau of Subconscious Activities), who has been in pursuit of Flip for his dream hopping and never waking up. Despite continued

dream hopping, Flip is eventually caught, and when Nemo wakes up Phillips shows her an old video tape of him and Peter as children. While viewing the tape, Nemo realizes her uncle is actually Flip, and due to refusing to wake up, remains in his unadventurous and static state. The story continues back and forth between Slumberland and the waking world with Nemo and her uncle finally becoming close due to a near tragedy involving Nemo. As the film ends, Nemo has become more comfortable in her school, and Phillip is finally becoming more outgoing in life,

and shows real love and a caring attitude toward his niece. The film was amazingly beautiful and the special effects are wonderful. Momoa appears to be having a blast as Flip, with his horns and sharp teeth. Co-star Barkley is very effective and sweet in her role, and I really enjoyed when her stuffed pig came to life.

"Slumberland" is a film the entire family can enjoy and is purely a magical adventure. Now showing on Netflix. (Rated PG)

Bristol

PARAMOUNT

Jan 6 Dailey & Vincent

Jan 7 Journeyman-Tribute to Eric Clapton

Feb 2 Ace Frehley

Feb 3 Neko Case

Feb 4 Cash UnchainedTribute to Johnny Cash

Feb 23 Sierra Hull and Justin Moses

Mar 11 Free Fallin’-The Tom Petty Tribute

Apr 1 49 Winchester

Apr 15 Best of the Eagles-Tribute

Apr 29 Ashley McBryde

May 11 Steep Canyon Rangers

May 19 A Brothers RevivalTribute to The Allman Brothers

CAMEO THEATER

Jan 8 Geoff Tate

Feb 11 Lorrie Morgan

Mar 17 John Michael Montgomery

Mar 18 Bad Marriage

Mar 26 Eric Gales

May 10 An Evening with Roger McGuinn

JOHNSON CITY

FREEDOM HALL

Apr 14 Nate Bargatze

Jun 2 Mr. Speed- Kiss Tribute

MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Feb 4 The Black Jacket Symphony: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours

Apr 30 Amy Grant

GREENVILLE

NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Jan 21 The Isaacs

Jan 27 The Doo Wop Project

Feb 3 Heather Land

Feb 11 I Am He Said

-a Neil Diamond Tribute

Feb 17 Roots & Boots Acoustic tour with Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw

Mar 4 Resurrection- A Journey Tribute

Mar 11 Jefferson Starship

Mar 31 Gentri (The Gentlemen Trio)

Apr 4 One Night of Queen-performed by Gary Mullen And the Works

CONCERT SCHEDULE CONCERT SCHEDULE

Apr 14 Mark Lowry

Apr 22 Masters of Soul

May 5 Wild World of Animals Free Community Concert Series

May 13 Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives

May 20 Get The Led OutLed Zeppelin Tribute

Knoxville

TENNESSEE THEATRE

Jan 12 Tommy Emmanuel

Jan 26 Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Feb 3 Kevin James

Mar 3 Home Free

Mar 16 Buddy Guy

Apr 26 Ben Folds and a Piano Apr 28 Amy Grant

THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA

Feb 17 Journey and Toto

Feb 18 Cody Johnson featuring Randy Houser

Feb 24 Blake Shelton

Mar 30 Kane Brown Apr 21 Lizzo

Jul 15 Thomas Rhett

Oct 16 Shania Twain

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM

Feb 2 Scotty McCreery

Feb 4 Fortune Feimster

Feb 17 Heather McMahan

Feb 21 Tedeschi Trucks Band

Mar 3 Zach Williams

Mar 14 Third Eye Blind

Mar 22 Champions of Magic

Apr 20 Casting Crowns

Apr 29 Theresa Caputo

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM

Feb 16 Whiskey Myers

Apr 15 & 16 Leanne Morgan

BIJOU THEATRE

Jan 21 Drivin & Cryin

Jan 27 Scott Miller and David Childers

Feb 11 Erick Baker

Mar 11 Marc Brossard with Seth Walker

Mar 17 The Mavericks

Mar 23-25 Drew & Ellie Holcomb Apr 7 David Sedaris

Nashville

RYMAN AUDITORIUM

Jan 4 Celebrating the Life of Justin Townes Earl with Steve Earl and the Dukes and friends

Jan 27 Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Jan 30 Mammoth WVH and Alter Bridge

Feb 5 Night Ranger

Feb 6 Paramore (Opry House)

Feb 9 & 10 Blackberry Smoke

Feb 14 Death Cab for Cutie

Feb 20 Bush

Feb 23-25 Tedeschi Trucks Band

Feb 26 Billy Strings

Mar 4 Dawes

Mar 11 & 12 Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros

Mar 18 Buddy Guy

Mar 31 & Apr 1 GOOSE

Apr 7 & 13 Morgan Wade

Apr 8 Leann Rimes

Apr 14 & 15 Lady A

Apr 19 Leann Morgan (Opry House)

Apr 21 David Spade

Apr 27-29 Nickel Creek

May 8-10 John Mellencamp

May 19 Crowded House

May 24 Rick Springfield

Jul 6 Sam Bush

ASCEND AMPHITHEATER

May 11 Koe Wetzel

Jun 23 Walker Hayes

BRIDGESTONE ARENA

Jan 20 Barry Manilow

Feb 9 Andrea Bocelli

Feb 19 TobyMac with Crowder

Feb 24-25 Billy Strings

Mar 1 Carrie Underwood

Mar 31 Kane Brown

Apr 7 Chris Tomlin

May 4 Janet Jackson with Ludacris

NISSAN STADIUM

Apr 15 Luke Combs

May 5-7 Taylor Swift

May 19 Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks

BROOKLYN BOWL

Mar 7 Theory of a Dead Man

Mar 31 Larkin Poe

Apr 6 The Winery Dogs

Apr 14 Queensryche

Asheville

THE ORANGE PEEL

Jan 13 The Breakfast Club

Jan 20 Larkin Poe

Feb 18 Elle King

Feb 25 Paul Thorn

Apr 4 The Winery Dogs

Apr 20 Judah & The Lion

May 12 & 13 Drive By Truckers

May 21 Trae Crowder

Jun 22 Margaret Cho

Cherokee, N.C.:

HARRAH’S CASINO

Jan 7 Styx

Jan 13-15 Jamey Johnson

Feb 3 Rep Speedwagon

Greenville, S.C.

BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA

Jan 29 TobyMac, Crowder, Cochren & Company

Feb 16 The Judds featuring Wynonna

Feb 18 Katt Williams

Mar 12 Greta Van Fleet

Mar 18 Kane Brown

Apr 27 Kenny Chesney

Jul 14 Thomas Rhett

Winston Salem North Caroiina

LJVM COLISEUM

Mar 3-4 Billy Strings

Pikeville, Ky

APPALACHIAN WIRELESS ARENS

Mar 8 Theory of a Dead Man and Skillet

Mar 18 Koe Wetzel

Jun 24 Travis Tritt

Myrtle Beach,

House of Blues

S.C

Jan 28 Steel Panther

Feb 25 Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Mar 24 Skid Row and BuckCherry

Mar 25 Eric Johnson

Apr 7 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox

The Velvet Underground

Many years ago I was standing in the hallway between classes at high school talking with a friend. The friend and I both had very similar tastes in music and we often talked about music as much as we could. As we were talking about something that day, I don’t remember what, he handed me a CD with an Andy Warhol of a banana on the cover. “Take his home and listen to it tonight, I think you’ll like it.”

The album was “The Velvet Underground and Nico,” the debut album by the legendary New York City rock band that many have called the birth of alternative rock. The legend goes that the album didn’t sell many copies, but everyone who bought one started a band. The band’s influence goes far and wide, despite having only made four albums during their run. David Bowie was hugely influenced by the group and was eager to repay the favor by producing member Lou Reed’s 1972 album “Transformer.”

The band members, Reed, John Cale, Maureen Tucker, and Sterling Morrison all brought Avant-Garde and art to rock and roll. They soon caught the eye of Andy Warhol, who took the band under his wing and was listed as a producer on the band’s first album. Two years ago, director Todd Haynes' new documentary on the band “The Velvet Underground” premiered on Apple’s streaming service AppleTV+.

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

This very good documentary makes its home video debut thanks to The Criterion Collection, who have released it on blu-ray and DVD. The documentary is a great watch and thankfully doesn’t go over things that haven’t been talked about time and time again for those who are fans of the band. It features interviews with surviving members Tucker and Cale, and those who were around at the time of the band’s first appearances at Warhol’s Factory (such as indie actress Mary Woronov). Plus, beloved iconoclastic musician and fan Jonathan Richman. Sourced from the original 4K digital master, this new bluray has been approved by both Director Haynes and the cinematographer, Ed Bachman. The DVD features the movie in a 5.1 Dolby Digital track, while the blu-ray exclusively has a Dolby Atmos mix, which expands greatly on the audio placement possibilities of the traditional 5.1 surround sound stage. An alternate stereo mix is also included.

The movie looks great, its experimental art house film style works beautifully and goes along great with the style of The Velvet

Underground. I can’t playback Dolby Atmos, which requires a special receiver and additional speakers than I currently have in my home theater, so I sampled the Stereo mix instead. It’s great. Clear, and sharp, and the music sounds as good as it ever has. Bonus materials on this disc are a little on the light side for Criterion but are nonetheless very good. We have a commentary with Haynes and the film’s editors, Alfonso Conclaves and Adam Kurnitz. Outtakes from the interviews made with Woronov, Richman, and filmmaker Joan Mekas. Plus we have a conversation between

surviving members Cale and Tucker, with writer Jenn Kelly from last year.

Also included are the full versions of some of the avantgarde films excerpted in the documentary, plus annotations that run with the documentary of what film is being clipped at that time. For fans of The Velvet Underground, this is a great documentary that is well worth your time, Criterion has done a great job bringing a title that was born into the streaming world to a disc that would be a nice addition to any music lover’s collection.

See you next week.