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520 Etc.: The Rising Stars of Sundown

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Knoxville is very lucky.

Not only do we get to see some of the biggest names in the music business for free on a weekly basis in a cool, historic setting, but we are also fortunate to witness the lift-off of some of tomorrow's headliners - many of them from right here in our own backyard.

To be selected as an opener for Sundown in the City is no small pat on the back. It's a serious nod to a band's talent and appeal. Knoxville520 hopes to shed some more light on these up-and-coming artists in our continuing Rising Stars of Sundown series. Each week, we'll say a few words about the opening band for that Thursday's Sundown. We'll provide links to their websites, MySpace pages, sound clips (if available) and show you their ugly mugs - so you'll know what talent looks like when you see it! We encourage you to leave a comment about the bands - especially the local ones - so they know how proud Knoxville is of them!

This week, Sundown in the City welcomes two bands as openers: Antibalas and the Low Stars.

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Antibalas (meaning "bulletproof" in Spanish), a Brooklyn-based afrobeat ensemble has been crossing boundaries for the past decade - both cultural and musical. Both their politics-infused lyrics and horn-based sound are rich with Latin and African influences. Antibalas has collaborated with such respected and diverse artists as Medeski, Martin and Wood, TV on the Radio, Baaba Maal and Gomez. They are represented by the Anti- record label, whose roster of releases includes none other than Tom Waits, Solomon Burke and the Refugee Allstars. Their new album, Security, is available now. Be sure to get a good dancin' spot tonight!


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The Low Stars are a quartet with a sound that hearkens back to the days of Crosy, Stills, Nash & Young. Their tight harmonies, catchy lyrics and hummable melodies give this group from California mass appeal - without the studio over-production that often accompanies such qualities. Band member, Dave Gibbs says, "You can fix everything with Pro Tools in the studio. But that’s not us. We’re just four dudes with guitars. We sound exactly like that when we stand in front of you and sing." Steve Wildsmith, of the Maryville Daily Times, has this to say about the Low Stars. You can see their Flickr photos here.


Tonight's headliner is Edwin McCain. The opening bands will take the stage starting at 6:15pm. There are no coolers or pets allowed and wristbands are required to drink.

Happy Sundown Season!

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