The Tennessee Arts Commission will host Tennessee Stages, a statewide conference for Tennessee performing arts presenters and artists, on May 11 at The Renaissance Center in Dickson.Applications for Tennessee artists to showcase their talents are available at www.arts.state.tn.us. Artists will need to submit a press photo and sample of their show (CD or video) along…

Nashville Songwriters Association International’s “Tin Pan South” festival is scheduled March 29-April 3 in Nashville. The week-long event is the nation’s largest songwriters’ festival, with songwriters from across the country performing in venues all over town. Call 800-321-6008 for more information.

The Alvin C. York Shooting Match is slated March 27 in Pall Mall. The event is held in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Bureau of State Parks, and is fashioned after the old turkey and beef shoots of Sgt. York’s day. Highlights include black powder muzzleloading rifles, shooting over the…

The 30th annual Old-Time Fiddler’s Championship is going on in Clarksville March 26-27. The annual event, held at Rossville High School in Clarksville, features authentic old-time music, with competition in 12 events with monetary prizes awarded. Concessions will be available. Call 931-503-0207, or visit www.tnfiddlers.com.

Visitors can travel back in time this March 20-21 to the 1780s at the Living History Spring Encampment at historic Mansker’s Station in Goodlettsville. The encampment features reenactors in period dress camping, cooking and working with authentic food and gear. For further details, call the Goodlettsville Chamber of Commerce, 615-859-7979, or log on to www.goodlettsvillechamber.com.

You can see an acoustic writers night just about any night in Nashville, but on Friday, March 19th, Nashville will experience an event unlike any other before: NashvilleRock.net UNPLUGGED! That’s right, some of Nashville’s most popular and up-and-coming rockers stripped down to the essentials at 2nd Avenue’s hottest rock club, The Old Time Pickin’ Parlor.…

The Southeast Tennessee Aviculture Society presents the annual Exotic Bird Fair Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14, at Niota Elementary School in Niota. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. The event will have everything for the exotic bird enthusiast, including cages, feed, supplies, auctions, and surgical sexing by Dr. Scott McDonald on Sunday only. Admission…

By SHARON THEIMER / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican National Committee on Friday asked about 250 television stations to pull a liberal group’s ads critical of President Bush. The RNC sent the stations a letter Friday suggesting the outlets may be complicit in breaking campaign finance laws if they air the MoveOn.org…

By NANCY BENAC / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — John Kerry’s been described as a waffler who blathers, a son of privilege who won’t stand up to millionaires, a Washington insider who’s a handmaiden to special interests and an inconsistent candidate whose word is no good. All of that comes from fellow Democrats who…