Laura Rogers, left, and Lydia Rogers of The Secret Sisters

BARRY COURTER: Lisa, I'm pretty excited. The Secret Sisters are coming back to town. They were here for Riverbend last year, and they will open this year's Patten Performances series Tuesday at the UTC Fine Arts Center. I'm a huge fan of Laura and Lydia Rogers, and it's no mystery why. They can sing.

LISA DENTON: I have to agree. No less than T Bone Burnett signed on as executive producer of their debut album after hearing them sing. To keep the sound pure, they recorded it the way it would have been done in the 1950s -- no computers, no digital equipment, just a vintage microphone and old-timey tape.

They're out of Muscle Shoals, Ala., and their sound is definitely a throwback. Their appearance is too, for that matter. They look like they could be sitting on the porch churning butter and breaking green beans while the gramophone plays just inside the screen door.

BARRY: Yep, with three or four dogs asleep under the porch. They are the real deal. I get the feeling listening to them sing that a whole passel of chores are being neglected back home, and we are better for it. One of my favorite songs of theirs is "Tennessee Me," but I like them all.

LISA: Besides all the fairs and festivals going on this month, I've heard some rustling about a few corn mazes opening too. Old McDonald's Farm in Sale Creek and Grandaddy's Farm in Estill Springs, Tenn., debut Saturday, and The River Maze opens next Monday in Ocoee, Tenn. Rock City's Enchanted Maize will be ready Sept. 20. Nothing says fall like a corn maze and pumpkin patch. You know how I like to get out into E-I-E-I-O country.

BARRY: It's not possible to say "E-I-E-I-O" without smiling, is it?

We should mention that Corey Smith returns to Track 29 on Friday, and Joe Robinson closes out the Riverfront Nights series on Saturday at Ross's Landing.

And "Grease" is again the word this weekend at the Tivoli. That's always been one of my favorites. Could have something to do with Olivia Newton-John being in the movie version.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.