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With 2008 behind us, it's time to look ahead.

The coming year brings more and diverse entertainment to East Tennessee -- the recently opened Square Room (on Market Square in downtown Knoxville) and the soon-to-open Catalyst (in the former location of Blue Cats in Knoxville's Old City) are both big enough to hold shows by regional and national acts; The Capitol Theatre in downtown Maryville will continue to offer a dizzying array of entertainment options; "The Shed" at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson is revamping its concert series; and the Foothills Fall Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in October.

The following is a comprehensive round-up of everything we could find to see and do in the coming 12 months. Obviously, not everything is listed; many venues already have local bands scheduled to perform into the spring. What we've listed here is a roundup of big-ticket events, festivals, movies and more.

JANUARY

7: Live music -- Disciple (Christian rock) at The Capitol Theatre. $12.

9: Live music -- Lonesome Coyotes, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $10.

10: Showcase -- Professional Bull Riders: "Enterprise Tour," 7:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena. $10, $25, $35.

10: Live music -- Pine Mountain Railroad (bluegrass), 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $15 advance/$18 at the door.

10: Live music -- Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

11: TV -- "24" season premiere, 8 p.m. on Fox. After being delayed an entire year by the Hollywood writers' strike, super-agent Jack Bauer returns.

12: Live music -- Bryan Adams solo acoustic show, 8 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $40 and $76.50.

14: TV -- "American Idol" season premiere, 8 p.m. on Fox

15-16: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Masterworks concert: "Mozart and Mendelssohn," 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $21-$81.

16: Live music -- Wallace Coleman Blues Band, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $10.

16: Showcase -- Harlem Globetrotters, 7 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena. $26-$106.

16: Live music -- Tony Rice and Mountain Heart (bluegrass), 8 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $21.50.

16: Live music -- L'Esprit Creole, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

16: Live music -- Erick Baker with Matthew Perryman Jones, 9 p.m. at The Square Room. $10 advance/$12 door.

16: TV -- "Battlestar Galactica" season premiere, 10 p.m. on Sci Fi

17: Live music -- Just Us Bluegrass Band, 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $10 advance/$12 door.

17: Live music -- Pea Ridge Ramblers, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

20: Live music -- The Eagles, 8 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena. $40, $65, $95, $150.

21: Concert -- Lewis Black (comedian), 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $43.50 and $56.50.

21: Live music -- Trivium, 8 p.m. at The Valarium. $14 advance/$16 door.

21: TV -- "Lost" season premiere, 9 p.m. on ABC

22-25: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, 7 p.m. on the 22nd and 23rd, 3 and 7 p.m. on the 24th, 1 and 5 p.m. on the 25th at the Civic Coliseum in downtown Knoxville. $16-$61.

23: Live music -- Tennessee Sheiks, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $8.

24: Concert -- Hal Holbrook's "Mark Twain Tonight" one-man show, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $39.50 and $52.50.

24: Live music -- R.B. Morris and Hector Qirko, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

25: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Chamber Classics concert: "Basically Bach," 2:30 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $22 and $30.

27: CD release -- Bruce Springsteen, "Working on a Dream"

27: Live music -- Brett Dennen with Erin McCarley, 8 p.m. at The Square Room. $15 advance/$18 door.

27 and 28: Fine arts -- Broadway at the Tennessee presents "Hairspray," 7:30 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $29.50-$76.50.

28: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Featuring: Alejandro Escovedo. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

29: Bijou Jubilee concert: Grupo Fantasma, 9 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $20.

29: Live music -- Drive-By Truckers with Bloodkin, 9 p.m. at The Valarium. $23 advance/$25 door.

30: Live music -- John Myers, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $8.

30: Bijou Jubilee concert: Henry Cho, 8 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $25.

30: Live music -- Disco Biscuits with Future Rock, 9 p.m. at The Valarium. $20 advance/$22 door.

31: Live music -- Tommy Emmanuel, 7 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $31.50.

31: Bijou Jubilee concert: Dave Barnes, Erick Baker, Robinella and John Davis, 8 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $20.

31: Live music -- Tennessee Sheiks, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

FEBRUARY

3: CD release -- Dierks Bentley, "Feel That Fire"; Wynonna, "Sing: Chapter 1"

4: Live music -- Citizen Cope, 9 p.m. at The Valarium. $22 advance/$25 door.

5: Live music -- Little Big Town with the Zac Brown Band, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $32.50.

6-8: Festival -- Big Ears Festival, at The Bijou Theatre and The Pilot Light in Knoxville. See sidebar.

6-7: Monster Truck Jam, 7:30 p.m. on the 6th and 5 and 7:30 p.m. on the 7th at Thompson-Boling Arena. $20 ($5 for kids)

7: Live music -- Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time (bluegrass), 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 door.

7: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Pops concert: "The Music of Richard Rodgers," 8 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. $33-$87.

7: Live music -- Steep Canyon Rangers, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $14.

10: CD release -- Missy Elliott, "Block Party"; Warren G, "The G-Files"

11: Live music -- Robert Earl Keen, 8 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. $28.

13: Live music -- Roger "Hurricane" Wilson and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, 9 p.m. at Brackins Blues Bar. $5. After recording with Bo Diddley, Smith joined legendary blues man Muddy Waters' band for 18 years.

13: TV -- "Dollhouse" series premiere, 9 p.m. on Fox. New sci-fi series from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" mastermind Joss Whedon.

13 and 15: Fine arts -- Knox Opera presents "Rigoletto" at 8 p.m. on the 13th and 2:30 p.m. on the 15th at The Tennessee Theatre. $15-$88.

13: Live music -- Donald Brown and Friends, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $9.

17: CD release -- Amazing Rhythm Aces, "The Very Best of the Amazing Rhythm Aces" (includes two new songs). Why you should care: The ARA were one of the first East Tennessee bands to gain national exposure and appeal

17-18: Fine arts -- "Riverdance," 7:30 p.m. on the 17th and 4 and 8 p.m. on the 18th at the Civic Auditorium. $24-$64.

19: Live music -- Michael Franti and Spearhead, 9 p.m. at The Valarium. $20 advance/$22 door.

20: Live music -- Mem Shannon and the Membership, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $10.

20: Live music -- John Prine, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $47.50.

20: Live music -- Wallace Coleman, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

20: Live music -- Perpetual Groove with Lotus, 9 p.m. at The Valarium. $16 advance/$18 door.

20: TV -- The final "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" airs, 12:30 a.m. on NBC. O'Brien will take over Jay Leno's spot as host of "The Tonight Show."

21: Pollstar alert! Lucero with The Dexateens at Barley's Taproom

21: Live music -- Steve Kaufman, 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 door.

21: Live music -- Yonder Mountain String Band, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $25.

21: Live music -- Donna Ray Norton with Melanie Rice, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $12.

24: Live music -- Biscuit Miller and the Mix, 9 p.m. at Brackins Blues Bar. $5.

25: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

26-27: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Masterworks concert: "Beloved Brahms," 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $21-$81.

27: Live music -- Soul Connection, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $10.

27: Live music -- Rodney Carrington, 7 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. $42.50.

27: Live music -- "Doc Rock for Charity," featuring The Vibraslaps, Second Opinion and The Remedy, 8 p.m. at The Valarium. $10.

28: Fine arts -- Kodo (traditional Japanese drumming), 7 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $45.50 and $55.50.

28: Live music -- Celtic Woman: "Isle of Hope," 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. $45.50 and $65.50.

28: Live music -- Jamie Laval with Owen Morrison, 8 p.m. at The Laurel Theater. $15.

MARCH

3: CD release -- U2, "No Line on the Horizon"

3-4: Concert -- Dora the Explorer: Live, 7 p.m. on the 3rd and 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the 4th. $20.50, $30.50 and $40.50.

4-7: Festival -- Knoxville Jazz Festival, featuring Kirk Whalum and Freddy Cole. Venues and tickets TBA.

6: Movie -- "Watchmen." What it is: A big-screen adaptation of the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed DC Comics graphic novel. They said it was too complex to be made into a movie, but director Zach Snyder, from what we see in the previews at least, has made a visually stunning film.

6: Festival -- "Winter Jam 2009," featuring tobyMac, Hawk Nelson, The Afters, NewSong, Francesca Battistelli, pureNRG, Stephanie Smith and guest speaker Tony Nolan, 7 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena. $10 at the door.

7: Live music -- The Dismembered Tennesseans, 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 at the door.

9: Fine arts -- Broadway at the Tennessee presents "Jesus Christ Superstar," 7:30 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $29.50-$76.50.

9: CD release -- Scott Miller, "For Crying Out Loud"

12: TV -- The final episode of hit drama "ER" airs at 9 p.m. on NBC

13: Live music -- Kathleen Edwards, 9 p.m. at The Square Room. $15 advance/$18 door.

14: Live music -- Dan Crary (guitar legend), 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 at the door.

14: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Pops concert: The Lettermen, 8 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. $33-$87.

14: Pollstar alert! George Winston at The Bijou Theatre

17: CD release -- Superdrag, "Industry Giants"

19-20: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Masterworks concert: "Bolero!," 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $21-$81.

20: TV -- Final episode of "Battlestar Galactica," 10 p.m. on Sci Fi

25: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

27: Movie -- "Monsters vs. Aliens." What it is: The latest from Dreamworks Animation, with voices from Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Kiefer Sutherland and Paul Rudd, reinvents the classic monster movies from the 1950s into an "ultimate 3-D" action-comedy.

27: Live music -- Sharon Mosby and the Wendel Werner Quartet, 5:30 p.m. at "Alive After Five." $9.

27: Live music -- Steve Smith (mandolin master), 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. Tickets TBA.

APRIL

2: Concert -- Lily Tomlin, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $46.50 and $59.50.

3: Movie -- "Fast and Furious." What it is: The cast of the first film (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez) are back together to wreck more cars and drive more recklessly.

4: Live music -- Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth (acoustic folk duo), 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 door.

4: Live music -- Unknown Hinson kicks off the 2009 Shed Series at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson. See sidebar for details; tickets TBA.

7: Live music -- Chris Tomlin with Israel Houghton, 7 p.m. at the Civic Coliseum. $29.

7: Fine arts -- Broadway at the Tennessee presents "Sweeney Todd," 7:30 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $29.50-$76.50.

10: Movie -- "Hannah Montana: The Movie." What it is: You have to ask?

13: Concert -- David Sedaris, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $36.50, $46.50 and $56.50.

16-17: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Masterworks concert: "Choral Spectacular," featuring the Knoxville Choral Society, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $21-$81.

23-26: Festival -- Knox Opera presents the annual Rossini Festival in downtown Knoxville

25: Live music -- Scott Miller and the Commonwealth at "The Shed" at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson; tickets TBA

25 and 26: Fine arts -- Knox Opera presents "Pagliacci" at 6 p.m. on the 25th and 2:30 p.m. on the 26th at The Tennessee Theatre. $15-$88.

28 and 29: Fine arts -- Broadway at the Tennessee presents "Stomp," 7:30 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $29.50-$76.50.

29: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

MAY

1: Movie -- "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." What it is: Actor Hugh Jackman reprises his role from the "X-Men" films and shows us the feral mutant's background.

2: Live music -- Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road (bluegrass), 8 p.m. at The Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 at the door.

2: Live music -- Devon Allman's Honeytribe at "The Shed" at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson; tickets TBA

8: Movie -- "Star Trek." What it is: A bold re-imagining of the classic franchise, featuring a young Spock, McCoy and Kirk fresh out of Starfleet Academy. J.J. Abrams ("Lost," "Alias") directs.

25: Live music -- Cross Canadian Ragweed at "The Shed" at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson; tickets TBA

10: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Pops concert: Peter Cetera, 8 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. $33-$87.

14 and 15: Fine arts -- Knoxville Symphony Masterworks concert: "Richman Conducts Mahler," 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $21-$81.

15: Movie -- "Angels and Demons." What it is: Tom Hanks is back as Robert Langdon, the hero from Dan Brown's religious novels, in this sequel to "The Da Vinci Code."

22: Movie -- "Terminator: Salvation." What it is: Instead of a machine traveling back in time, actor Christian Bale is John Connor in the future, after the war and the rise of the machines have turned Earth into a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

27: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

29: Movie -- "Up." What it is: The latest Disney/Pixar animated film about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America.

29: TV -- The final episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" airs at 11:30 p.m. on NBC; Leno will host his own primetime talk show beginning in the fall

JUNE

1: TV -- "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" debuts, 11:30 p.m. on NBC

5: Movie -- "Land of the Lost." What it is: Will Ferrell stars as Dr. Marshall in this big-screen, comedic adaptation of the classic 1970s Saturday morning adventure.

7: Live music -- Pink Martini, 8 p.m. at The Tennessee Theatre. $36.50 and $46.50. Description: "Pink Martini is a 'little orchestra' from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale. They blend such diverse genres of music as Latin, lounge, classical, and jazz. Their music has often been described as 'vintage music,' a descriptive which reflects the content, style and period inspiring many of their songs."

12: Movie -- "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3." What it is: Denzel Washington is a New York subway dispatcher and John Travolta is the criminal mastermind who wants to hijack his train in the latest from action director Tony Scott.

12-14: Festival -- Adventure Con comic book and pop culture collectibles show, featuring Ray Park, Amy Allen and more at the Knoxville Convention Center. Lineup, ticket prices TBA.

15-20 and 22-27: Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp Concert Series, live from Maryville College. Details to be announced. New for this year -- lap dulcimer and songwriting/vocal classes.

24: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

26: Movie -- "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." What it is: A sequel to the big-screen adaptation of the popular 1980s kids toy/cartoon.

27: Pollstar alert! Ray Wylie Hubbard at "The Shed" at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson

JULY

1: Movie -- "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs." What it is: Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo are all back to lend their voices to the latest installment of this prehistoric animated tale.

1: Movie -- "Public Enemies." What it is: Director Michael Mann tells the story of the birth of the FBI and its fight against gangster John Dillinger. Stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff, Billy Crudup, Shawn Hatosy, Emilie de Ravin, James Russo, Leelee Sobieski

10: Movie -- "2012." What it is: Director Roland Emmerich sure likes those end-of-the-world stories. This one looks at the global cataclysms predicted on the Mayan calendar.

16: Pollstar alert! Third Day at Thompson-Boling Arena

17: Movie -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." What it is: Big-screen adaptation of a big novel about the biggest boy wizard of all time.

29: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

31: Movie -- "Funny People." Director Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up") guides actors Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzmann and Leslie Mann in a comedy about a comedian who has a near-death experience.

AUGUST

7: Movie -- "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra." What it is: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Ray Park, Rachel Nichols, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Christopher Eccleston grace the big screen as live-action versions of the popular Hasbro toy line.

21: Movie -- "Final Destination: Death Trip 3-D." What it is: More premonitions of the Grim Reaper, only this time it's literally all around you.

26: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

SEPTEMBER

5: Pollstar alert! The Kentucky Headhunters at "The Shed" at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson

11-20: Tennessee Valley Fair, Chilhowee Park and Fairgrounds, East Knoxville

18: Movie -- "Jennifer's Body." What it is: Screenwriter Diablo Cody, who brought us the delightful "Juno," has penned a new thriller about a demon-possessed cheerleader who's targeted by her less-popular best friend in order to save their small Midwest town.

30: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

OCTOBER

2: Movie -- "Shutter Island." What it is: Director Martin Scorsese's first work of fiction since "The Departed" is based on the Dennis Lehane novel of the same name, an atmospheric psychological thriller set in a 1950s asylum for the criminally insane.

2: Movie -- "Toy Story." What it is: A 3-D version of the classic animated film that kicks off a Disney Digital 3-D "Toy Story" celebration, which includes "Toy Story 2," opening Feb. 12, 2010, and culminates in a brand new adventure starring Buzz and Woody: "Toy Story 3," in theaters June 18, 2010.

16: Movie -- "Where the Wild Things Are." What it is: A big-screen, live-action adaptation of the classic Maurice Sendak's children's novel, directed by Spike Jonze.

16-18: Festival -- Foothills Fall Festival, downtown Maryville

23: Movie -- "Saw VI." What it is: More gore and horror, courtesy of Jigsaw.

24: Festival -- 13th Knoxville Brewers' Jam, World's Fair Park, downtown Knoxville

28: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

NOVEMBER

6: Movie -- "Disney's A Christmas Carol." What it is: Director Robert Zemeckis gives the Dickens tale a 3-D, animated spin.

7: Live music -- Pete Huttlinger (guitar master), 8 p.m. at the Palace Theater. $13 advance/$15 at the door.

20: Movie -- "New Moon." What it is: Second film in the "Twilight" franchise.

25: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.

DECEMBER

11: Movie -- "The Lovely Bones." What it is: "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson tackles Alice Sebold's novel about a dead woman who watches over her family -- and her killer -- from the afterlife.

18: Movie -- "Avatar." What it is: Director James Cameron's first film since 1997's "Titanic," about an ex-Marine thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.

30: Live music -- "Tennessee Shines" live radio show and concert, 7 p.m. at The Bijou Theatre. Hosted by: Jim Lauderdale. $10 advance/$15 at the door.