Lisa Denton and Barry CourterBARRY COURTER: Lisa, it's not often you get to mention Ramsey Lewis and Bret Michaels in the same sentence, so I jumped at the chance just now. Lewis is a jazz legend who performs at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Tuesday for opening night of the Patten Performances series.
Michaels, who will appear at Oasis Restaurant and Sports Bar on Wednesday, is best known either as the lead singer of Poison or as the star of the reality show "Rock of Love With Bret Michaels." You think I might see some of the same people at both shows?
LISA DENTON: I'm thinking not. Speaking of nots, well, actually, knots, remember the knot Michaels got on his head at the 2009 Tony Awards when he was hit by a set piece being lowered from the rafters? He had just sung the opening number, Poison's "Nothin' But a Good Time," but that was the end of his good time for the night. From all accounts, he has fully recovered and his current tour is reportedly selling out some venues.
You know, the really big news is the American Quilter's Society QuiltWeek gathering here in Chattanooga. In addition to all the exhibits and workshops at the Chattanooga Convention Center, several places around town, such as Rock City and Ruby Falls, will be putting up quilt exhibits, and the Chattanooga Theatre Centre will present a play called "Gee's Bend," based on a family of Alabama quilters. And I hear that a local artist will be doing quilt patterns in the morning dew at Coolidge Park.
BARRY: That would be Hollie Berry. She also did one of the murals on McCallie Avenue. She's good.
Funny story about the "dewdles," which is what she calls her Coolidge Park work: She does them for people to check out and enjoy, however, it seems a lot of people like to get up close and personal and ask her about them. While she's working. Which means they tramp right up to her, adding their own special designs to the works.
Anyway, there is a lot going on in the quilting world, for sure. I'm very excited that Atlanta's The Producers will close out the Riverfront Nights series on Saturday. I mentioned seeing them here many years ago to their manager and he said, "Yeah, at the National Guard Armory. Dez Dickerson (he used to play with Prince) opened. I was there."
It's the original lineup, and obviously same manager, so that is cool. "She Sheila" and "What's He Got" are '80s classics. Gonna have to practice up on my pogo moves. Or move, it's pretty simple, but I still might fall down.
LISA: An '80s dance party! Woo-hoo. Anybody who doesn't remember The Producers' MTV videos -- back when MTV played videos -- can find the songs on YouTube.
BARRY: And, their keyboardist is named Wayne Famous. Good name.
LISA: Don't forget that the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will kick off its 2014-15 season with a Masterworks concert of Beethoven's 9th on Thursday. This is a pretty big season for the CSO, considering that famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma will be here for a gala in October.
BARRY: That's a great name, too.
LISA: And this Saturday, John Corbett will be at Cumberland County Playhouse for a concert. He's probably best known as an actor ("Northern Exposure," "Sex and the City," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"), but he's also a country singer.
BARRY: One of my favorite Chattanooga Market events, the Cast Iron Cookoff, is Sunday. Once again, I have offered my services as a judge. Competing this year will be Nick Goeller of 212 Market, Michael Lindley of Public House, Brian Hedeman of Root, Anna Gipe of Council Fire and Charlie Loomis of 1885 Grill.
And, since this is the week of good names, the International Cowpea Festival returns to Charleston, Tenn., on Saturday.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.