Ian Thomas & The Band of Drifters performing at "Alive After Five" on Friday, September 28

KNOXVILLE -- Ian Thomas & The Band of Drifters will be performing at Knoxville Museum of Art's "Alive After Five" on Friday, September 28, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

After traveling for years as a street performer, Ian Thomas began playing clubs in New York City, where he recorded his debut album "A Young Man's Blues" and his follow-up "Live at Rockwood Music Hall." Since then, he has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Corey Harris, Dr. John, Sam Bush, Carolina Chocolate Drops, and The Avett Brothers.

Drawing on a variety of American roots influences, Thomas delivers a captivating, raw live performance and distinctive sound from his original compositions on guitar, harmonica and kazoo.

The Band of Drifters are Brock Henderson on electric and pedal-steel guitars, Chris Zuhr on upright bass, and Jon Whitlock on percussion. Together, they produce a sound reminiscent of old-time country blues and western swing, with some Cajun-like rhythms stirring the dance floor and a nod of approval from the ghost of Johnny Cash.

Alive After Five takes place in the casually elegant atmosphere of the museum's Great Hall and features tabled seating, food from a variety of area restaurants/caterers, cash bars, dancing, free freshly popped popcorn, free portrait drawings (first come, first drawn), and a licensed therapeutic masseuse/masseur available for chair massages.

Admission to the "19th Anniversary Celebration" of Alive After Five is $10 for general admission and $6 for college students with valid ID. Museum members and ages 17 and under are admitted free.

Alive After Five is sponsored by Cherokee Distributing Company, East Tennessee PBS, Metro Pulse, WDVX-89.9FM, and WhatsHotKnox.com.

Published September 14, 2012