Chip Davis likes to create. He also likes a challenge, and he's learned over the years that he is a little dyslexic when it comes to the word no.

Slim Pickin's was the big winner in the inaugural FYI Music Awards on Friday night at Rhythm & Brews, taking top honors as Best New Band, Best Live Band and Best Bluegrass Band.

One year after announcing it would suspend opera productions due to budget issues, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera announced two future shows, part of a plan to bring opera back.

One year after announcing it would be suspending opera productions due to budget issues, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera today announced two future shows that are part of plan to bring opera back, though not right away.

Casey Phillips: For blues rock guitar aficionados, watching 32-year-old Joe Bonamassa's star rise has been akin to witnessing the rebirth of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The third annual MainX24 event, set for Dec. 5, will take on a hip-hop flavor with internationally known DJ Mix Master Mike serving as headliner, according to organizer Tiffanie Campbell Robinson with Quiddity Entertainment.

Turn on a classic-rock radio station anywhere in the country, any time of day and chances are very good you will hear “Carry on Wayward Son” before too long.

Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga has been awarded $100,000 to preserve jobs within local arts agencies.

Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga has been awarded $100,000 to preserve jobs within the local arts agencies from the National Endowment for the Arts, according to a news release.

"Michael Jackson's This Is It" hit movie screens nationwide at midnight, but lifelong fan Olen Justice said he doubts he will see the film in the near future -- or maybe at all.

Animator Ron Campbell has worked on some of the most beloved cartoons of all time, including "Scooby Doo," "The Jetsons," "The Flintstones" and "Rugrats."

Several themes, or subplots, were woven into Thursday night’s Chattanooga Symphony & Opera’s presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Tivoli Theatre.

CASEY PHILLIPS: It’s a little strange to be writing a review of this album months after Peewee Moore’s Web site says it was originally released. Still it presents such a fine example of road-worn, cotton-picking outlaw honky tonk that I think it deserves a look.

Chattanoogan Jordan Thomas has been chosen as a CNN Top 10 Hero for his work raising funds to provide prosthetics for children in need, according to a CNN news release.

Early in her career, actress Mimi Kennedy chose to work primarily in television so she could raise a family and involve herself in community activism.

None of the shows nominated for Emmys tonight in the drama or comedy categories were among the Top 10 television programs watched by Chattanoogans in the May TV ratings book.

BARRY COURTER: I’m mostly familiar with Mark Knopfler through his Dire Straits work. This is his seventh solo studio CD. “Get Lucky” is a more personal collection of songs with a very folk feel and plenty of Celtic influences. Fans looking for Dire-style radio hooks may be disappointed, but I like this record.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will open its 2009-10 season Sept. 12 with "Stay Tuned," a Pops Series performance that pays tribute to early television melodies, according to executive director Molly Sasse.

The Hunter Museum of American Art will begin looking for a new director next week, but it will not be in a rush, a museum official said.

The Oct. 2 Nagata Shachu show in UTC's Fine Arts Center will kick off the 30th anniversary of the Patten Performances series, according to a news release.

Diana Ross was a little skittish around the 6-foot python, but soon she was comfortable enough to help the reptile shed its skin.

The nine-member Chattanooga City Council has five new members. They are Pam Ladd, Russell Gilbert Sr., Andrae McGary, Deborah Scott and Peter Murphy. Mr. Gilbert began serving in November and the others in the spring.

Devastating is the word used by local entertainers and broadcasters to describe news of Michael Jackson's death on Thursday.

Local musicians and pop music fans were quick to react to the news of Michael Jackson’s death.

MANCHESTER, Tenn. -- As the more than 75,000 people from all over the country and world who attended this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival head home today, they will have plenty to talk about, if they

Riverbend 2009 was a success ... considering.

MANCHESTER, Tenn. — For Bruce Springsteen, having the word legendary used to describe one of his concerts is as commonplace as an encore.

On day three at Bonnaroo, business has been brisk for vendor Trevor Ross, owner of Earthtone Instruments, an Orlando-based business that sells hand-made flutes, walking sticks and porcelin whistles.

It occurred to me that this year’s Bonnaroo has a bit of an oldies flavor to it for me.

During one of the many thunderstorms that hit Manchester and the Bonnaroo site Thursday, I spent several minutes visiting with Steven Smith, one of the hosts for Fuse, which is the official television partner for the festival.

So the Beastie Boys were good last night, but they didn’t blow me away.

Jennifer Ohle initially visited Dwelling on Brainerd Road just to check out the building, which once was home to Vanderstoop Shoe Shop.

MANCHESTER, Tenn. -- Parrotheads at Bonnaroo will get a surprise appearance by Jimmy Buffett at noon today, according to Ken Weinstein with Big Hassle Media.

To the uninitiated folks who think of Bonnaroo as either a mud-soaked or sun-scorched mob of smelly people, this afternoon’s musical lineup is answer enough to why people attend in droves.

Veteran Bonnaroo attendees know three things about the festival: There is no shade, it's going to rain, and the music will be world class.

Every day is Beatlemania for Ralph Castelli. For the last two decades, the California-born drummer has portrayed Ringo Starr as a member of Rain, a Beatles tribute act.

Buying most of the 700 acres where the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival sits in Manchester, Tenn., has proven a sound business move, festival co-founder Ashley Capps said.

I’ve attended Riverbend pretty much from the beginning.

If meteorologists are predicting temperatures near 90 degrees, high humidity and evening showers, it must be time for Riverbend.

Recognizing that the economy has limited travel plans for many people, Riverbend organizers are playing up the “staycation” aspect of the festival, according to Executive Director Chip Baker.

Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga is $500,000 short of its $1.3 million goal heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

When you hear Merle Haggard or Johnny Cash sing of life in prison or Frank Sinatra croon about love lost, you can hear the truth in their voices.

CASEY PHILLIPS: I never thought I’d say this about Bob Dylan, but I really dig the vocals in “Together Through Life,” and for the most part, the songwriting didn’t blow my mind.

Graceland, former Memphis home of Elvis Presley, has three new exhibits honoring the King.

At least one vendor planning to sell at the Latin Fair at Sunday’s Chattanooga Market seems to have been scared off by the association between swine flu and Mexico, the market’s owner said.

Wednesday is Earth Day. For many, recycling is part of an Earth-friendly lifestyle. We’ve assembled this list of useful information for getting started.

Ever since moving to the Scenic City, North Georgia-based folk singer/songwriter Jennifer Daniels has been at the top of my list of pleasant musical surprises.

Evaluating the state of the arts in Chattanooga might be akin to defining an abstract painting or sculpture. Where some see beauty, others see pain or sorrow.

Last week I wrote about the recently announced change in management of Finley Stadium and First Tennessee Pavilion. Merrill Eckstein will officially take over from Frank Burke at the end of May.

Little Richard will close out Riverbend 2009, headlining the main Coca-Cola Stage on June 13, according to talent and production coordinator Joe “Dixie” Fuller.