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📰 From a Video Game Radio Station to a Knoxville Studio - TuskHead on "Dutchicana," In His Own Words

📰 Fall Break Foam Dart Battles, a Blitzfire Showdown & a Costume Bash

🗓️ "All Animals Are Equal..." - Theatre 23 Brings Orwell's Animal Farm to the Stage

🗓️ Come Sing With Us - K Town Sound's Free Christmas Chorus

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Back in July, we told you about TuskHead, the Dutch Americana artist who signed with Knoxville's Migrant Records and recorded his EP One Step Forward & Two Steps Back at Famous London Recording Studio. In a recent conversation with Sherri Sanderson, co-founder of the Knoxville Insider, at Cultivate Coffee & Flowers (5221 N. Broadway), Patrick van Zandwijk shared the story behind the music.

It started with a video game. His love of country music began with K-Rose, the fictional country station in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which his brother introduced him to. Those old songs stuck. "I always navigated to that country music, more the older country music, the older style of writing," he said, naming Willie Nelson, Jerry Reed and Ed Bruce. "They all write about what they've been through. All relatable things."

He drove 13 hours to get here. While he was in Dallas getting a record mixed, a musician friend he'd never met in person was recording in Knoxville. Patrick made the drive, went straight into Famous London Recording Studio, and knew immediately. "It's sort of a family feeling... I was immediately like, I want to record here. I need to record here."

"Dutchicana" means not hiding where he's from. He loves Americana because it's raw: "You're allowed to make some mistakes. People love it when they hear the buzzing of the guitar." But he won't fake it either. "In my music, you can hear that I'm not from around here... I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm from the Netherlands, and that my stories come from there." When Dutch country fans told him he should sound more like Nashville, he answered with the songs "Dutchicana" and "Ain't Country Enough."

Knoxville players are all over the record. That same friend adds harmonica and backing vocals, and the Famous London crew, including Migrant Records founder Fred Kelly, play bass, extra guitar, brass, piano and organ. For "Out of My Mind," a song about a relationship going in circles, Patrick wanted a big rock finish with everyone soloing. The result runs six minutes, so they also cut a shorter single version. "Since the record is out, the extended version gets streamed way more than the single version!"

The EP has since charted on the Euro-Americana chart and on an all-genre chart in his home province of Gelderland. That's a Dutch Americana record, made in Knoxville, charting on two continents.

One Step Forward & Two Steps Back is out now on all streaming platforms, and on CD through Bandcamp.

📍 Recorded at Famous London Recording Studio · Knoxville · Out now on Migrant Records · Listen here

Knox County Fall Break is here, and B&B Indoor Foam Dart Arena (6709 Maynardville Pike), Knoxville's first and only indoor foam dart battle arena, is opening its doors for it.

Fall Break Special - October 6th–9th, 11 AM–8 PM. B&B is normally closed Monday through Thursday during the school year, but it's opening extra days for Fall Break, plus regular weekend hours. Walk-in players get Buy One Hour, Get One Free all week long. Kids home from school with energy to burn? Problem solved.

Homeschool P.E. Academy - Cohort 2 starts October 12th. The six-week program lets homeschool students earn P.E. credit while building teamwork, communication skills, and cardio, all while having a blast.

Blitzfire - October 17th. B&B's all-day, fast-paced tournament event is back, featuring special guest YouTubers and nonstop high-energy play.

Halloween Blast - October 30th. Come in costume and get half off admission. Expect a costume contest and Halloween-themed games all night long.

More Info

It starts as a celebration. The animals of Manor Farm, tired of hunger and mistreatment, drive out their human owner and declare a new world where every creature is equal. Then the pigs take charge, the rules start changing, and history gets quietly rewritten.

Theatre 23 presents a staged dramatic reading of George Orwell's Animal Farm, adapted by Nelson Bond and directed by Suzy Short, for four performances October 23rd–25th at the Historic Grove Theater (123 Randolph Road) in Oak Ridge.

High school students get in free to any performance. Everyone else pays what they can, from $5 to $23.

Performances are October 23rd at 7:30 PM, October 24th at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, and October 25th at 2:30 PM. More Info

Want to make new friends, spread some Christmas cheer, and experience the joy of singing a cappella barbershop harmony?

Join the K-Town Sound Show Chorus for our 2026 Christmas Chorus! This FREE experience is open to women who love to sing — no previous barbershop experience necessary. Come discover the fun of four-part harmony while learning and performing festive holiday music alongside our award-winning chorus.

And the music doesn’t stop at the final performance! Throughout the season, we’ll have opportunities to share holiday cheer with our Knoxville community through special performances and events.

✨ FREE to participate
🎶 Thursdays, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
📅 October 8th – December 10th
🎄 Final Christmas Show: December 12th
📍 Redeemer City Church at Oakwood
111 E. Columbia Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917

Whether you’re an experienced singer or simply love to sing, come be part of the harmony!

Questions:

Susan Brooks: 904-591-4407
[email protected]

-Contributed by Janet B.

Interested in learning about how a VIP Pass can help your business? Reach out to [email protected] for more information!

🗓️ Now through October 31st - Wicked Cool returns to downtown — a citywide Halloween celebration organized by Downtown Knoxville that turns Gay Street, Market Square, and the surrounding blocks into something genuinely special. Flying ghosts, spooky photo ops, and creepy-crawly installations go up throughout the area, and local businesses lean all the way into the season with Halloween-themed cocktails, specials, and décor. More Info

🗓️ Now through November 7th - Walnut Springs Winery in Strawberry Plains is launching their Wine Maze experience — A Night of Pour Decisions. The concept is exactly what it sounds like: you wander through the corn maze with wine in hand, discovering five tasting stations tucked into the twists and turns, each one bringing a new pour and a new vibe. Boots are encouraged. Getting a little lost is part of the fun. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ October 5th - The Pint-Sized Opera: Welcome & Season Reveal Party runs from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Barley's (200 E Jackson Avenue), and it's exactly what it sounds like: opera in an approachable setting, with the added excitement of a full season announcement. Pint-Sized Opera is Marble City's ongoing series that brings opera off the stage and into the room with you — no formal concert hall required. RSVP is required. More Info

🗓️ October 6th - National Night Out - 5:30 PM–7:30 PM, Urban Wilderness Gateway Park (1250 Tilson St.). Food trucks, games, and a celebration of local first responders — plus info on becoming a Master Gardener.

🗓️ October 6th - This one is part history lecture, part storytelling. The East Tennessee Historical Society's Brown Bag Lecture Series welcomes historian Amy Laurel Fluker at noon at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street) for a talk based on her book Haunted by Memory: Ghost Stories of the American Civil War, October 6th from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ October 6th - Firepits and S'mores Galore with Fairy House Building A perfect fall night at the quarry — firepits, s'mores, and the creative magic of building tiny fairy houses in the woods. More Info

🗓️ October 7th - Up (2009, PG) @ Historic Westwood · knoxheritage.org/westwood

🗓️ October 8th - On October 8th at 10:00 AM, the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Tuckaleechee Garden Club, TFGC District IV will formally dedicate a Red, White and Blue Garden to Honor Veterans at the Ivan Racheff House and Gardens (1943 Tennessee Avenue) — part of the national Plant America 250 initiative celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

🗓️ October 8th - The Friends of the Knox County Public Library, in partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society, presents "Zenith Man: A Talk by McCracken Poston Jr." at 6:00 PM at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street). Free and open to the public. More Info

🗓️ October 9th - Be Aware and Paint Your Pair is a breast cancer awareness paint night coming to Splatter Oak Ridge (1143 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 105, Oak Ridge) from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ October 10th - UT Gardens Plant Sale - 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

🗓️ October 10th - Soil Science Class - 10:00 AM–noon. Head to the Carriage House at Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum for a class on soil science, plant nutrition, fertilizers, and "green manure". Register by emailing [email protected] with your name, email, and number attending.

🗓️ October 10th - Get ready for an electrifying experience at the 2026 Knoxville Drive Electric Festival from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. More Info & Sign Up

🗓️ October 10th - Scruffy's Cafe (1015 N. Broadway) has partnered with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to host Story Time with the Cats from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ October 10th - Organize Your Genealogy takes place from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street), led by Brandie Ledford, a Reference Assistant in the McClung Historical Collection. More Info

🗓️ October 10th - Halls Branch Used Book Sale (4518 E Emory Road) 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

🗓️ October 10th - Hola Festival 2026 takes over World's Fair Park on October 10th from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM — a full day celebrating the art, music, food, and culture of Latin America and the Hispanic community right here in Knoxville. More Info

🗓️ October 10th- Get ready for a day of spooky stories, live music, folklore, and Halloween fun as Appalachian HorrorFest returns to the Holiday Inn–Cedar Bluff for its fourth year! More Info

🗓️ October 10th - Ready for something a little different? The Oddities & Art Market is making its Knoxville debut on Saturday, October 10, bringing a wonderfully weird day of art, curiosities, and unique finds to the World's Fair Exhibition Hall More Info

🗓️ October 11th - Cato at 4247 Sam Walton Way is hosting a Barn Quilt Painting Class from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, where each participant will create their own 10" x 10" barn quilt square. All materials are provided, patterns come pre-drawn on the boards, and no prior experience is required. Tickets are $25 per person, with 100% of proceeds donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Spots are limited — reserve yours by registering in store or calling (865) 922-9369.

🗓️ October 11th - Amadeus Concert Ensemble opens with PIANO PASSIONS at 5:30 PM, featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Dr. Chih-Long Hu, Professor of Piano at UT Knoxville. More Info

🗓️ October 11th & 12th - Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating Knoxville’s local creative community at the Second Annual Scruffy Roots Festival! The festival will bring together local artists, vendors, music, and family-friendly activities for an afternoon and evening of fun at The Lawn at Kern’s Bakery. More Info

🗓️ October 12th - Knoxville's own Buffalo Bills Mafia chapter gathers at Clancy's Tavern & Whisky House (602 S. Gay Street) at 8:15 PM, which rolls out the red carpet with a dedicated viewing area, Buffalo wings, and Labatt Blue on tap. Free parking at the State Street Garage makes it easy.

🗓️ October 15th - Archives After Dark, part of Knox Heritage's Suppers & Such series, transforms the firm's storied office space at 6:00 PM into an evening of clandestine cocktails, jazz, and whispered history at 505 Market Street, Suite 300. More Info

🗓️ October 15th - Knoxville's most celebrated local historian returns to Blount Mansion Visitors Center (200 West Hill Avenue) at 6:00 PM for "The Road to Knoxville" — a look at the city in the 1790s and its surprising connections to the Revolutionary War. RSVP to [email protected]

🗓️ October 15th-18th - Board Game Days 2026 — Knoxville's premier tabletop convention — across two downtown venues. More Info

🗓️ October 16th - Unshattered is a black-tie evening for exactly 120 people — one night, never repeated — coming to The Standard in Knoxville, doors at 6:30 PM. Created by three-time founder and local event architect Preston Garland, the evening unfolds across four movements. More Info

🗓️ October 17th - The Knoxville Reptile Expo presented by Show Me Reptile Show takes over the Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Hwy) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ October 17th - The October Sky Festival returns to Oliver Springs on from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM — a free, all-day community celebration of the town's rich heritage and its place in American cultural history. Oliver Springs was the filming location for the beloved 1998 film October Sky, based on Homer Hickam's memoir about a coal miner's son who fell in love with rocketry and went on to work for NASA. More Info

🗓️ October 18th - Family Garden Day - 1:00 PM–5:00 PM. Master Gardeners return to Knoxville Botanical Garden (2743 Wimpole Ave.) with an Ask-a-Master-Gardener table at this free family event, which also features a plant sale.

🗓️ October 18th - Knoxville's own Buffalo Bills Mafia chapter gathers at Clancy's Tavern & Whisky House (602 S. Gay Street) at 4:25 PM, which rolls out the red carpet with a dedicated viewing area, Buffalo wings, and Labatt Blue on tap. Free parking at the State Street Garage makes it easy.

🗓️ October 18th - Spend a beautiful fall afternoon enjoying nature, music, and family fun at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum! Family Garden Day takes place Sunday, October 18, from 1–5 p.m. This free community event invites families to get outside and explore the Garden with hands-on activities, lawn games, and plenty of opportunities to discover the beauty of the season. More Info

🗓️ October 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th - The Museum of Appalachia Fall Heritage Days returns for four days — at the museum's stunning 35-acre grounds in Norris. This is the region's most immersive celebration of early Appalachian life at harvest time, with skilled artisans and educators demonstrating the crafts, foods, and traditions that defined this corner of the mountains. More Info

🗓️ October 22nd & October 23rd | 4:30–8:30 p.m. A little autumn magic is coming to Ancient Lore Village with Trick-or-Treat Trails, a whimsical Halloween experience created especially for younger adventurers! More Info

🗓️ October 24th - Invasive vs. Native Nature Walk - 9:00 AM. Learn to tell invasive weeds from native plants on a free guided walk through Collier Preserve, led by a Knox County Master Gardener. Meet at 316 W. Emory Road.

🗓️ October 24th - Xul Beer Company presents the fifth annual Kill the Lights Beer Festival on October 24th, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Covenant Health Park, home of the Knoxville Smokies. Expect more than 200 beers from 100 breweries from around the world, along with new beer and merchandise releases, food vendors, and a live DJ spinning all afternoon. More Info

🗓️ October 24th -The 5 Love Languages Family Conference comes to First Baptist Knoxville from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, led by Dr. Gary Chapman himself. The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller will spend the day walking through five sessions designed for parents, grandparents, and anyone building or hoping to build a family. More info & Register

🗓️ October 24th - The East Tennessee Holistic Health Fair is happening from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 2931 Kingston Pike. presented by the East Tennessee Wellness Directory, brings together local practitioners, wellness businesses, and community members for a full day of exploration, education, and connection. More Info

🗓️ October 24th - Trenditions Hair Studio (6822 Maynardville Pike) is hosting Beauty for a Brighter Tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — a fundraising event with services, food trucks, and vendors, all in Lecia's honor. Spots are filling up fast — call the salon at (865) 922-0452 Tuesday through Friday to book yours before they're gone. Food trucks and vendors will also be on-site.

🗓️ October 24th - Karns Branch Used Book Sale (7516 Oak Ridge Hwy) 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

🗓️ October 25th - The Knoxville Buddy Walk — an annual celebration supporting people with Down syndrome — is coming to the World's Fair Park Festival Lawn (963 World's Fair Park DrIVE), and the organizing team is looking for volunteers to help make it happen. To sign up or for more information, contact Angie Holbert at (865) 202-8867 or [email protected].

🗓️ October 25th - The Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade & Pet Expo returns to the UT Gardens from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM — an afternoon celebration of dogs, costumes, fall, and the very good people who love both. More Info

🗓️ October 27th - Knox MAHJ Social Club is hosting Tiles for Tatas from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens Carriage House — an American Mahjong event benefiting Breast Connect and the work of Stephanie Buchanan Ewers in the fight against breast cancer. To reserve: text or call Stephanie at (865) 809-2636.

🗓️ October 29th - The Whiskey Row Region Course (Class #255) takes place at 6:30 PM at 2901 Tazewell Pike — a 1.5-hour interactive session on how Louisville's historic Whiskey Row went from pre-Prohibition powerhouse to post-Prohibition ghost town to full-blown modern destination. More Info

🗓️ October 30th - November 1st - The Foothills Craft Guild's 60th Annual Fine Craft Show takes over the Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Highway). Friday and Saturday run 10 AM–6 PM; Sunday is 10 AM–4 PM. More Info

🗓️ October 31st - Weed Wrangle - 9:00 AM–noon. Then put that knowledge to work. Volunteers will pull invasive plants at Collier Preserve, with Ijams Nature Center supplying Weed Wrenches to get them out by the root. Bring work gloves and wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Sign up here.

🗓️ October 31st - Monsters at the Museum returns to the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street) on October 31st from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a full day of free, family-friendly Halloween fun. More Info

🗓️ October 31st - Trick or Treat on the Square takes over Market Square and Union Avenue from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM — a free, family-friendly evening where downtown shops, restaurants, and businesses hand out candy to kids making their way through the square. Free trick-or-treat tote bags are available while supplies last at the Downtown Knoxville table at 17 Market Square (between Kabuki and Not Watson's). More Info

🗓️ November 4th - Laura Resau is coming to the East Tennessee History Center (601 S Gay Street) on November 4th at 6:00 PM to answer exactly that question, in a talk called "The Alchemy of a Novel." More Info

🗓️ November 28th - The Gobbler 5K & 10K hits Fountain City's Adair Park on November 28th, at 8:30 AM, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The start line sits next to the Knoxville Parks & Recreation building at 1807 Adair Drive. More Info

🗓️ Tuesdays - Knoxville Dodgeball has been running weekly drop-in games at the Farragut Community Center Gym every Tuesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM since April 2025, and the doors are open to anyone 18 and up. More Info

See Recurring Weekly & Monthly Networking Events

🗓️Free Veterans’ Breakfast: The United Veterans Council of East Tennessee presents 20 free breakfasts for Veterans and guests on four Saturdays, monthly. Coffee line starts at 8am, Chow line starts at 8:30am. Locations and Dates

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