Knoxville, Tennessee
A haven for roots rock and Americana, Knoxville may not be the hippest of the Southeast cities when it comes to the usual indie rock genres, but its tightly woven music scene and thriving college audience mean there is lots of activity for more overlooked genres. Festivals — like Sundown in the City, which takes place every Thursday night during the summer — ensure great exposure for regional acts, many of whom find it easy to build strong relationships with venues and promoters due to the small number of bands who frequent the city. With Knoxville being within eight hours of every major Southeastern city from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and boasting an eager student crowd from the city’s University of Tennessee, it is an easy and logical stop to make during a tour through the region. Both Atlanta and Nashville are within a three-hour drive of this northeastern Tennessee metropolis.
Guide to Gigging in KNOXVILLE
Book a Gig: Venues
The Pilot Light
106 E Jackson Ave
Knoxville, TN 37915
(865) 524-8188
www.thepilotlight.com
Small but welcoming, The Pilot Light fits a tight crowd of about 100-200. If you’re an indie rock band looking for a way into Knoxville, The Pilot Light is your best bet, though they are willing to book acts of all genres. To get in touch, send an email to booking@thepilotlight.com.
Barley’s
200 E Jackson Ave
Knoxville, TN 37915
(865) 521-0092
www.barleystaproom.com
With their jam band franchise stretching throughout the Southeast in cities like Asheville, Greenville and Knoxville, Barley’s may be a little hard to break into if you’re an act new to the city. But with a big college crowd always happy to come for the great beer selection and good tunes, this small venue is a great place to aim for getting on the tour schedule.
Longbranch Saloon
1848 Cumberland Ave
Knoxville, TN 37916
(865) 546-9914
www.myspace.com/longbranchsaloon
The closest live venue to the University of Tennessee, Longbranch Saloon sits smack in front of the school. Longbranch has been making more of a name for itself by doing great deals for artists: they only take $40 to cover their overhead and bands can charge what they want at the door, though they must have someone to collect the cash.
Preservation Pub
28 Market Sq
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 524-2224
www.preservationpub.com
Small and cozy, this Market Square staple is adored by college students all over the city. With live music Monday through Saturday, the venue’s mellow vibe calls for a lighter fare of rock, such as the singer/songwriter showcases the venue does on a regular basis. Email booking@preservationpub.com for booking information.
The Corner Lounge
842 N Central St
Knoxville, TN 37917
(865) 971-1711
www.cornerlounge.net
Having taken a brief vacation this July, this small and casual venue has been back in full force since August. A “Knoxville institution” that has been around in some form or another for over 60 years, The Corner Lounge has been serving up local music since local musician and sound guy Ed Corts took over in 2005. Send an EPK to booking@cornerlounge.net or a hard copy of your press kit to the address above, attention Kim.
Promote a Gig: Media
Metro Pulse
602 S Gay Street
Mezzanine Level
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 522-5399
www.metropulse.com
Knoxville’s best free weekly offers sought-out listings that quickly find their way to the eyes of college students and other concert-going folks, since the publication is distributed in practically every campus building and all over the city. Contact Kevin Crowe, the Arts and Entertainment Editor, at crowe@metropulse.com for a review, or email calendar@metropulse.com to get your gig listed.
WUTK
P103 Andy Holt Tower, Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-2229
www.wutkradio.com
Going above and beyond the call of duty that most college radio stations answer, WUTK is a huge force in the local music scene and has the folks every Knoxville-bound musician should make friends with. DJs read out a list of shows five times a day and play boatloads of local music.
Gear/ Repairs
Lunsford’s Musical Instruments
3606 Western Ave
Knoxville, TN 37921
(865) 523-0276
www.lunsfords.com
Lunsford’s had been around since the early ‘80s, and is now run by Sonja Lunsford Dittrich. The store has a great instrument repair staff, headed by Walter Spears, who has had over 40 years experience.
Pick ‘n’ Grin
106 Grove St
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 588-5361
www.pickngrin.net
Featuring lessons, as well as an array of equipment for both DJs and musicians, Pick ‘n’ Grin also buys equipment and sells used gear — perfect for those on a shoestring budget!
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