BARRY COURTER: Lisa, if I asked you to name the local singing group that charted 15 Top 10 hits, including five No. 1 singles, then gave it all up to go back to school and raise babies, could you do it?
LISA DENTON: Of course I can, you simpleton. The Forester Sisters were on top of the country music world and walked away from it all, but they’re back.
ACTUALLY LISA DENTON: Barry, stop filling in my part. I would never call you a simpleton. (Out loud.)
BARRY: The Foresters have done a few shows together over the years, but not many. The babies are all grown, so Kim decided it was time that she and sisters June, Kathy and Christy got back onstage, so she broached the subject and the others agreed. They are doing three shows in three days in three cities. They’ll be at The Church on Main in Chattanooga Thursday, then at the Opera House in Fort Payne, Ala., on Friday and the Princess Theater in South Pittsburg on Saturday.
LISA: I’ve always liked their songs: “I Fell in Love Again Last Night,” “Just in Case,” “You Again.” And when they sang “Mama’s Never Seen Those Eyes,” it sounded like they were talking about their own mama dishing out advice.
BARRY: I was always partial to “That’s What You Do When You’re in Love.” They’ll be doing some of their hits and some holiday favorites. Kim also told me that each of the four would do a couple of songs either by themselves or with members of their own immediate families.
LISA: Sweet.
BARRY: Thursday is also when another local-singer-made-good will host his Christmas concert. James Rogers is performing a selection of the songs he did in theaters in Pigeon Forge for so many years and also a selection of holiday favorites. This is the 20th year he’s done the show.
LISA: James is a nice guy, and he always draws a big crowd for this holiday show.
And the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will be doing its annual “Home for the Holidays” Pops concerts at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. Those are always fun.
It’s cool that there are some standalone events on the calendar this week because several things are winding down. This is the last weekend to go to Chattanooga Market’s Holiday Market at Chattanooga Convention Center, Holiday Lights at Chattanooga Zoo and The Hilltop Christmas, which has reindeer, out on Highway 58.
Of course, if we’re talking muscular beasts, there’s also Magic Men Live at Track 29. It’s just what you think it is – a stage show based on the 2012 Channing Tatum film.
I’m not sure how we got from the Forester Sisters to Magic Men Live.
BARRY: WE didn’t make that leap, but I’m not surprised you did. I’m guessing these guys all have beards and dress as firemen.
LISA: I wouldn’t run away from that, but I’m not that picky.
BARRY: And for folks looking for Griswold-style houses all lit up for Christmas, we ran a list in Sunday’s paper. You can find it and a video of one of the most-outrageous light shows linked to this column online.
If you’re looking for something non-holiday-ish, Barking Legs has Alison Brown Quartet on Thursday. And Big Ed Caylor is at The Comedy Catch with James Gregory this weekend. One could argue both have helped build the club – Gregory with his years of doing shows there, and Caylor literally helped with the construction work on the new place.
Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.