Sure it’s cool that big names like 3 Doors Down and John Mellencamp will rock stages in Knoxville this fall. But there is a local scene playing the city that shouldn’t be overlooked, and if you don’t study the concert schedule in the Metro Pulse, it’s easy to miss out on local talent.
Knoxville native and local musician Peter Jones said, “The strip is full of student bars and hip-hop DJs. If people want to hear the best music Knoxville has to offer, they need to head deeper into downtown.” Downtown Knoxville sets the stage for local groups satisfying every genre. From sultry solo open-micers to head-banging heavy metalists, it can be heard in this city.
Market Square
Square Room– In the back of Café 4 this room-turned-venue is a well-staged platform for local notes. The Square Room’s blue-lit haze and soothing décor is perfectly suited for the mellow moans of jazz music. As described on its website, “The Square Room staff creates a hospitable, interactive community where patrons and artists can connect. The Square Room is where great music meets a great audience.” The town-square feel of Market Square welcomes you into the cozy scene of the intimate Square Room setting.
The Square Room is located in Café 4 at 4 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Latitude 35– This venue works as a Jack-of-all-trades in Knoxville. It transitions from sports bar on the ground floor to performance space as you move through the lower two floors. During the Metro Pulse’s August 2011 celebration of 20 years featuring local music, Latitude hosted local country favorites The Drunk Uncles complimenting their versatility. Just a couple doors down from the sultry Square Room, Latitude offers a wide variety of tunes to the Knoxville audience.
Latitude 35 is located at 16 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Preservation Pub– This “speakeasy” rounds out the music scene in Market Square and promises guests live music “most every night” including a singer songwriter night every first Tuesday. One of the more unique features is the pub’s smoking and non-smoking floor. Their customer website reviews rave about the music selection as well as the beer collection. Preservation is a must-stop on the tour of local sound.
Preservation Pub is located at 28 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902
Old City
Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria– Barley’s continues to grow as a hot spot for Knoxville musicians. Guests can grab pizza and a beer and enjoy a show. Local fame like R.B. Morris and the Royal Bangs has graced the stage of this roomy restaurant-bar. Barley’s tunes their diners in to live music almost every night, and the musical lineup should expand further without the competition from the recently closed Patrick Sullivan’s.
Barley’s is located at 200 E. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Pilot Light– This Old City stage has hosted over 1,500 different bands since May 2000 and was voted wtnzfox43.com’s Best Live Music Venue in Knoxville in 2010. The self-proclaimed “home for experimental and independent music, film and performance” is an increasingly popular hub for local groups. The shoulder-to-shoulder comfort of the crowd and dim lighting create the perfect atmosphere for eclectic local sounds. The Pilot Light is gaining more credit for their efforts to bring local and experimental music to the forefront.
Pilot Light is located at 106 E. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915
Boyd’s Jig and Reel– As the newest addition to the Knoxville music family, this Scottish/Irish/Appalachian themed pub is being anything but quiet about their marriage into the music scene. “Knoxville’s first musical session pub” is dedicated to highlighting the music that sprung from the traditions of “pub sessions.” Basically these guys are taking us back to our roots with “cold drink, warm conversation, and lively music.”
Boyd’s Jig and Reel is located at 101 S. Central St, Knoxville, TN 37902
If you spend some time at local stages, you’ll discover the musical talent living within the city. Dylan Wood, saxophonist for local ska band, The Hits, is very familiar with the venues that accommodate local groups. “There aren’t really a ton of places for local music these days, especially if you’re underage. But if you know where to look, there are definitely some places and bands that keep Knoxville from sucking,” said Wood.