Vol. 1 — No. 7Weekend Episode · Thu–Sun, Jul 30–Aug 2, 2026 · South Knoxville, TN★ soknoear.com
Vol. 1 — No. 7 · Jul 30–Aug 2★ soknoear.com
The South Knoxville Ear — We Hear Things.
Wanna party in the Dirty South?
★ Tonight's plan: happy hours → music → karaoke →
Kern'sFriSatSun

Back to school at Kern's — a bash, a supply drive, and jazz all weekend

Friday the food hall throws summer a send-off with inflatables and a school-supply drive, then hands the weekend to the jazz players.

Summer's last inflatable

School starts back soon, and Kern's is marking the occasion the right way: a Back to School Bash on Friday from eleven to three, with inflatables, an activity table, face painting — and a school-supply drive with Feed the Children, so toss a pack of pencils or a box of crayons in the car and send a kid into August properly armed.

Fri Jul 31
Back to School Bash · 11 AM–3 PM
Bring
School supplies — drive benefits Feed the Children
Music
Brian Clay Gruuv Fri 7 PM · Sky Hatcher Trio Sat 6 PM · Jason Ellis Sun 1 PM
Where
Kern's, 2201 Kern's Rising Way

Then, the jazz

Then the weekend turns to jazz. Brian Clay's high-energy Gruuv Series takes the stage Friday from seven to ten, the Sky Hatcher Jazz Trio — out of UT's jazz program — plays Saturday at six, and Jason Ellis winds it down easy Sunday afternoon, one to four. Bounce house by day, jazz by night: the food hall contains multitudes.

Original Dirty South Map Found

Click to see the original map of Knoxville’s Dirty South that was recently unearthed for the public to see.

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More From This Weekend

Urban WildernessThuFriSatSun

Your Urban Wilderness weekend — trail report checked this morning

Baker Creek Bike Park is riding well, the Preserve needs a day to dry, and the club that builds it all just hired its first full-time trail crew. Plus: where the beer is when you roll out of the woods.

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Ijams ParkThuFriSatSun

A correction, and a gift: Shakespeare is still on at Ijams Park

Last week we called it the closing weekend. The calendar disagrees — performances run through August 9, including all four nights this weekend and a Sunday matinee.

Read the story
Old Sevier

That variance sign on Jonathan Avenue? Approved, 4–0.

The corner-setback request we decoded two weeks ago sailed through the Board of Zoning Appeals with no opposition. And the Kerbela apartments finally have their committee date: August 13.

Read the story
Ijams ParkFriSatSun

Beyond the stage at Ijams Park: tree school, EcoArt, and the banders

Saturday stacks up for families — learn your oaks from your hickories at 9:30, stories at 10, EcoArt for the 6-to-12 crowd at 3 — and Sunday morning the banding table returns.

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Suttree LandingThuFriSatSun

The specials board: ritas, $4 pints, Singo, and bottomless brunch

The standing orders across the neighborhood, all four days, so you can plan the weekend by wallet.

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