Nonprofit bike collective educates, empowers through community action

Of the many foundations in Knoxville that offer community outreach, perhaps none is as intriguing – or as mysterious – as Kickstand.

Though the bicycle collective, currently located at 2112 East Magnolia Ave., in the building formerly owned by Tribe One, has existed loosely in one form or another for the last several years, not much is known about the organization or about exactly what it is it does.

However, with a myriad of changes appearing on the horizon and others already having taken place, the nonprofit group is making serious inroads toward finally establishing a concrete identity for itself.  Speaking over coffee with Jonathan Woodroof, Paul Attea and Genny Petschulat, three of Kickstand’s most active members, BLANK was able to learn more about the inner workings of the group, for what it stands and what it hopes to accomplish in the future.

The Return of a South Knoxville Institution

A South Knoxville institution is back.

Basement Records, an area staple, is back in business under new ownership.

Matthew Adkisson reopened the store, located at 5009 Chapman Highway, 11 months ago.

The store was closed for a time after a 24-year run as one of Knoxville’s used music dealerships when their reputation took a hit due to poor customer service and lack of organization.

Adkisson, however, has changed all that. He’s a true music fan who enjoys interacting with other music fans. He’s also selling the Basement Records brand with t-shirts and an appearance at a recent record show.

“It’s a whole new business, and the word’s getting out that I’m here,” Adkisson said. “I love dealing with people, and I’ve always liked working with customers.”

The first ever KnoxGives will be held at the World’s Fair Park on June 8^th from 2:00pm until 10:00pm. KnoxGives is a true community event that will be raising money for five nonprofit organizations by celebrating Knoxville’s local art and music scene. Theses organizations include: Tennessee Veterans Business Association, Club Blue raising funds for the Boys and Girls Club of East Tennessee Valley, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, American Diabetes Association Knoxville Chapter, and Fort Sanders Fest raising funds for The Scarecrow Foundation.

Seven talented bands with various musical styles will be playing throughout the day and six of those bands call Knoxville home. KnoxGives lineup includes: The Bus Driver Tour, Big Country's Empty Bottle, Guy Marshall, Ian Thomas and the Band of Drifters, Strung Like A Horse, Baseball, and The JoJax. There will also be local art vendors, a children’s play area, food vendors, beer vendors, and much more. Entrance to this event is free to the public while donations will be greatly appreciated.

The Tennessee Veterans Business Association is planning and organizing KnoxGives, which is presented in conjunction with the American Diabetes Association's TourDeCure and the Knoxville Film and Music Festival. The TourDeCure will be held at the World’s Fair Park earlier that morning. The Bus Driver Tour will be taking the stage at 2:00pm to kick off KnoxGives as the TourDeCure’s cyclists will be trickling across the finish line. The Knoxville Film and Music Festival is taking place the first two weeks in June and will be bringing over eighty bands to ten different venues in Knoxville. The following businesses are sponsoring KnoxGives: AnyBody Fitness, Preservation Pub, Eagle Distributing, Combined Insurance, HR Comp, OHS West, and the YMCA. Many different organizations, businesses, musicians, and artists have teamed up to create this unique event that unites our community while working towards one common goal: Making Knoxville the best place to live, work and play!

Those Darlins, Hudson K, Flux Pavilion, On My Honor, PUJOL, The Kingston Springs, Sons of Fathers and more with be performing at the Knoxville Film & Music Festival. Music June 1st - 8th in Knoxville, TN.

This is the first year an additional week of music will be added to the already popular Knoxville 24 Hour Film Festival, offering some of finest rock, blues, hip-hop, metal, and electronic dance music artists in the country. Local, National and International acts will be featured at venues across downtown Knoxville, including locations in The Old City, Market Square, and the World’s Fair Park. The KFMF will also be host to the Band Eat Band competition at the Preservation Pub and the Widespread Panic After Party’s. We will also have a showcase for Knoxville's own Dracula Horse Records.

For more information, and a full line up of artists and venues, please visit www.knoxvillefilms.com/kfmf/music-festival/

To purchase tickets go to www.knoxvillefilms.com. Week long passes start at $25.00. Individual event ticket prices will vary.

Artists Appearing as part of the Knoxville Film & Music Festival:

Those Darlins, Sons of Fathers, PUJOL, The Kingston Springs, Flux Pavilion, Hudson K, On My Honor, Ex Gold, Yung Life, The Nimoids, Big Gene and Daddy Lee’s Loud Pack, Rollin’ & Tumblin’, Vagabond Philosophy, Copper Into Steel, Blue Heavy, Royal Hounds, Big Jon & The Nationals, Baseball, Crumbsnatchers, Skytown Riot, Soulfinger, Deconbrio, Cryogen Second, Chrome Molly, J2 Delta, Crackteam, Matt Lab, iRell, BoltAction, Master Raptor (MSTR RPTR), Dr. Steam, Subsergence, Knoxville Bass Mafia, Tame the Hurricane, Smooth Operationz, DJ Mike Nasty, Mac Sosa, Secret City Gang, Oversat, Dominic Gillette, The Protagonist, Madd Lyfe Entertainment, Sale$ w/ Team Money Train, Trick-J, Boss Awesome, D-Alpha, Moniker, The Vibraslaps, El El, Far From Proper, Bad Ideas, Nothing to Write Home About, Minor Nine, Tree Tops, Static Revival, Deep Green, Maps Need Reading, Appalachian Fury, The Bus Driver Tour, Big Country’s Empty Bottle, Guy Marshall, Ian Thomas and Band of Drifters, Strung Like a Horse, The Jojax