Arts, culture and entertainment is alive and thriving in Blount County. Credit the Clayton Center for the Arts with ensuring that the citizens of this community are treated to the very finest offerings in each of these arenas as it has for the past 17 years. The upcoming 2026-2027 season is no exception.
When the new season kicks off on September 15, attendees will be treated to another varied array of performances that offer something special for audiences of all ages. At the same time, the artistry reflects the unique tapestry that is East Tennessee.
“We curated this season with the goal of offering something for everyone while celebrating the culture, creativity, and spirit of our region,” Christy McDonald Slavick, Clayton Center’s Interim Executive Director told Let’s Be Blount.
“From the virtuosity of bluegrass legends like John Jorgenson and Balsam Range, to the nostalgia of The Kingston Trio and the energy of Steep Canyon Rangers, this season highlights artists and performances that connect deeply with Appalachian traditions, storytelling, and musical excellence. We also wanted to create joyful shared experiences for families through Fraggle Rock LIVE, laughter and relatability through the Southern Nights Comedy Tour, and unforgettable tributes like Chi-Town Transit Authority. Together, these performances reflect the Clayton Center’s commitment to presenting nationally recognized talent while creating accessible, meaningful experiences that bring our community together.”
The schedule is as follows:
An all-star bluegrass supergroup in every regard, the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band features four highly accomplished musicians — its namesake John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; Mark Fain on bass; and Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar and vocals.
Jorgenson and Pedersen are founders (with the legendary Chris Hillman) of the influential country-rock group Desert Rose Band. Jorgenson went on to found the Hellecasters and toured with Elton John’s band for six years in addition to contributing to efforts by Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Raitt and Earl Scruggs, among many others.
In 2008, Jorgenson won a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental with Brad Paisley and was nominated for Best Bluegrass Album with Earl Scruggs. Herb Pedersen was a member of the legendary bluegrass band The Dillards as well as the bluegrass super-group Old and In the Way.
In addition, he’s worked with Earl Scruggs, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Tony Rice, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills, Linda Ronstadt, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Jackson Browne and John Denver.
Mark Fain toured and recorded as bass player for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for 13 years, as well as with the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam, Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton. He’s also overseen the efforts of many artists in the realms of jazz, country, bluegrass and gospel.
Patrick Sauber is a multi-instrumentalist who has toured with Peter Rowan and Laurie Lewis and appeared on screen in the hit film The Mighty Wind. The International Bluegrass Music Association are among the entities that have offered their kudos.
An 8-piece Chicago tribute band based out of Atlanta, Georgia, ChiTown Transit Authority was first formed in 2017 with the sole goal of reproducing Chicago’s concert experience with vibrant horns and a woodwinds section.
The group has four vocalists, three of which trade off lead vocals while performing all the familiar and famous songs Chicago has shared over decades of music and memories.
The Jim Henson Company presents the first-ever live musical Fraggle Rock touring show featuring characters from the world-famous Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and the work of top artists and designers from Hollywood and Broadway.
Based on the Emmy-winning Apple TV original series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, this all-new family-friendly live stage adventure features fan-favorite songs and exciting visual effects as Gobo, Red, Mokey, Wembley and Boober Fraggle discover the legend of the Celebration Stone.
Written and directed by John Tartaglia, the creative mind behind Avenue Q, Shrek the Musical, and Stephen Schwartz’s The Secret Silk, the production features new and classic Fraggle songs, immersive stage effects, and the heartwarming magic that has captivated audiences for more than 40 years.
Mary Ryan Brown has been described as an ambitious rose-sniffer. Born, raised, and still residing in Mississippi, she both mocks and participates in the cultural carnival of the Deep South.
With a forthcoming Dry Bar Comedy special and recent appearance on the Nateland Showcase, Mary Ryan proves that clean comedy can still be biting, cerebral and absurd.
For his part, Landon Bryant is a Southern storyteller raised in Mississippi with a large and growing social media following. He is the author of Bless Your Heart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Y’all.
Bryant has been featured in The New York Times, Southern Living, Garden & Gun, ABC News, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more.
Known for his electrifying combination of rock and blues, Marty Manous’ searing guitar and raw, raucous vocals bring to mind Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Joe Bonamassa and The Allman Brothers.
He performs more than 300 dates every year and has garnered consistent praise from fans and critics alike. His album Transcendence reached the top five on the Independent Album Charts and remained in the top ten for six months.
He has shared stages with Mothers Finest, George Lynch, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Foghat, Todd Smallie of the Derek Trucks Band, Ricochet, The Answer, and many others.
Bluegrass band Balsam Range adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains surrounding part of their home county of Haywood, North Carolina, where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge.
Named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2018 Entertainer of the Year, the band has become one of the genre’s most award-winning acts.
Since forming in 2007, the group has earned 13 IBMA awards, released 13 critically acclaimed albums, sold out venues across the nation, and appeared multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry.
The Kingston Trio boasts a legendary legacy as one of the first groups to bring folk music into the musical mainstream. The group rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s and helped influence the musical tastes of an entire generation.
The trio released 19 albums that made Billboard’s Top 100, with 14 reaching the top 10 and five hitting number one.
Today’s lineup continues that legacy while inspiring and entertaining audiences with timeless music and captivating performances.
Having recently released their 15th studio album, Next Act, Steep Canyon Rangers return to the bluegrass foundations that first bound the band together.
Formed in North Carolina and shaped equally by the Appalachian Mountains and the Piedmont, the group has long occupied a singular place in American roots music.
Their balance of traditional bluegrass, contemporary songwriting and regional storytelling has earned them both bluegrass credibility and broader Americana acclaim, including a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for Nobody Knows You.
They remain one of the shining examples of contemporary bluegrass music that stretches boundaries while maintaining broad audience appeal.
Clayton Center for the Arts
502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Maryville, TN
For information, call 865-981-8590 or visit www.claytonartscenter.com .
