Short Takes: A Glimpse at Weekend Entertainment

ROBINELLA
Time was when Maryville, Tenn.’s Robin Ella Bailey seemed on the verge of the next big thing.
Billed as Robinella, the University of Tennessee graduate will draw from her four albums on Nov. 29 at the Down Home in Johnson City, Tenn. The genre-defying singer features a sound that draws from her own songs, along with those from country, rock, pop, jazz and bluegrass.
Robinella is something of an Appalachian Billie Holiday. From her Sony Music debut in 2003 and through her forthcoming new album, her style eases along with class topped with dignity wrapped in unpredictability.

IF YOU GO
Who: Robinella
When: Nov. 29, 9 p.m.
Where: Down Home, 300 W. Main St., Johnson City, Tenn.
Admission: $16
Info: (423) 929-9822
Web: www.robinella.com
Audio: www.myspace.com/robinella1

CHRISTMAS FROM DUBLIN
Pure majesty.
Hear music that soars from the tongues of the Three Irish Tenors when they present “Christmas From Dublin” on Dec. 1 at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Va.
Featuring the voices of Ciaran Nagle, Kenneth O’Regan and Des Willoughby, the program will focus on traditional Christmas music.
Three voices with the strength of mountains – just imagine as they bound to the heavens on “O Holy Night.” Feel the grandeur of “Silent Night.”
Awash in the spirit of Christmas, the Three Irish Tenors offer a charming start to the holiday season.

IF YOU GO
Who: “Christmas From Dublin” featuring the Three Irish Tenors
When: Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mountain Empire Community College Goodloe Center, Big Stone Gap, Va.
Admission: $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for public school students, free for MECC students
Info: (276) 523-2400 or (276) 376-4520
Web: www.thethreeirishten-ors.com
Audio: www.windwoodtheatricals.com/html/the_three_irish_-tenors.html

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Care for one, care for all. That’s the message of Barbara Robinson’s classic “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!” which Publishers Weekly called “One of the best Christmas books ever.”
Follow the tale and message of the unruly Herdman kids when the Kingsport Theatre Guild stages “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!” from Dec. 2-7 at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. Therein, humor mixes with message.
When the six Herdman kids overtake the staging of a church’s staging of a Christmas pageant, they impart resounding messages. Primary among them, love even the seemingly unlovable, as Christ would have done.

IF YOU GO
What: Kingsport Theatre Guild presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!”
When: Dec. 2-4 at 10 a.m.; Dec. 5-6 at 7 p.m.; and Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.
Where: Kingsport Renaissance Center, 1200 E. Center St., Kingsport, Tenn.
Admission: $5
Info: (423) 392-8414
Web: www.kingsporttheatre.org

MUSIC NOTES
-- Rock lives! Thus far, fall has brought razor sharp rock via Aussie vets AC/DC (slated to appear in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 18) and their chart-topping “Black Ice.”
-- More is on the way. Guns N’ Roses’ issued (after more than a decade’s wait ... finally!) “Chinese Democracy” this week (sample it at www.myspace.com/gunsnroses)
-- Axl Rose and company will compete for sales alongside new albums by such superstars as Fall Out Boy, The Killers and Nickelback. Add to the mix new releases from Kanye West (“808s & Heartbreak,” Nov. 25), Britney Spears’ aptly titled “Circus” (Dec. 2), American Idol winner David Cook’s debut and hip-hop king 50 Cent’s “Before I Self Destruct,” and perhaps sales of music will have cash registers jingle-belling right along this Christmas season.
-- Country fans can look to a superb cobbling of Reba McEntire’s career on the newly issued box set, “50 Greatest Hits.” The former rodeo queen joins an impressive list of country singers with new albums on shelves, including Toby Keith’s rambunctious “That Don’t Make Me A Bad Guy,” Brad Paisley’s showman-on-parade “Play” and Taylor Swift’s absent-of-country pop album “Fearless.”
-- For those looking for new Christmas releases, tune in next week for a thorough going-through in Music Notes.

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.