Yarn, BIG DADDY LOVE and Ghost Eagle at The Willow Tree

Three musical groups — Yarn, BIG DADDY LOVE and Ghost Eagle featuring Robby Carden — will perform in concert at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse and Music Room in downtown Johnson City from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 23. Yarn and BIG DADDY LOVE were both present for the grand opening of The Willow Tree about three years ago, and now, they make their return to Johnson City for another big event. The Willow Tree fuels hype for the event on their Facebook page, stating, “It’s going to be one amazing night of music, with one of a kind jams. Epic might be a good word for it.” The price of admission is $13 for advance tickets and $15 at the door.

Native American Festival

Co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and SGA, ETSU will host their second annual Native American Festival this weekend on Friday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The festival will take place at the Amphitheater on campus. The university will celebrate Cherokee culture with award-winning performers through art, music, dance and storytelling. Activities will include learning demonstrations of Native American knowledge and skills, from Northern Traditional and Southern Straight dances to fire by friction and carving with wood, stone and shell.

‘Men in Song’ concert and festival

For the third year in a row, ETSU and Milligan College are collaborating with their respective music departments to present the “Men in Song” vocal music festival and concert, featuring male singers of the Tri-Cities area. The weekend festival will last from Saturday, Sept. 24, at 9:30 a.m. to Sunday, Sep. 25, at 4 p.m., concluding with a grand finale concert, which will include ETSU’s own BucsWorth Men’s Choir — conducted by Alan Stevens — as well as Milligan’s Heard Mentality, the Appalachian Express Barbershop Chorus, the Appalachian Men’s Ensemble and MECCA Men. The concert is set to take place at Seeger Memorial Chapel at Milligan College.

Crista Cloutier, The Working Artist

Presented by Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, professional artist Crista Cloutier will be visiting ETSU and delivering her touring master class, “The Working Artist,” on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m. at the Reece Museum. Cloutier has seen substantial success as an artist, art appraiser and gallery curator, but now she sets her sights on using the tools she has learned throughout her career to teach and inspire others. This event is free, presenting a once in a lifetime opportunity for students to learn from the best.

Fun Movie Friday: ‘Secret Life of Pets’

Buctainment will host another Fun Movie Friday at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30 in the D.P. Culp University Center Auditorium, this time in recognition of Giggles and Glee Weekend, an ETSU weekend event which aims to provide comedy-related events on campus from several different university organizations. The comedy to be screened by Buctainment is the new animated film released this summer by Illumination Entertainment, “The Secret Life of Pets.” Directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney, “The Secret Life of Pets” is rated PG and tells the story of an indoor dog called Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) who finds himself in over his head when his owner brings home a new pet, Duke (Eric Stonestreet). The pair wind up lost in New York City, being hunted by a malicious bunny rabbit named Snowball (Kevin Hart). The movie is sure to elicit at least a few giggles.