Some really big events dominate the music landscape for Chattanooga this week, so let’s talk about them a bit! Today’s big announcement on Riverfront Nights starts things off for us. The free concert series starts on Saturday, July 31 and is held down on the river in front of where the Coke Stage sits during Riverbend. The schedule is as follows: July 31 features Telluride, with opener Slim Pickins. August 7 features the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, with opener Ogya. August 14 has the Jamie Mclean Band, with opener Jennifer Daniels. There is no Riverfront Nights for the next two weeks, as the Southern Brewers Festival comes in. September 4 has Randall Bramlett, Jeff Acheson, and Yonrico Scott, with opener Wesley Crider. Stratospheerius comes in on September 11, with Pat Babb as opener. September 18 is the finale and features Blueground Undergrass, with Ike Stubblefield. The opening act is Oz & Jaynes. For more info click here.

A musical, 110 In the Shade, starts tonight at St. Luke United Methodist Church, and runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week and next. For more information simply click here.

Peaches In The Plaza has it going on today at Miller Plaza as The Chattanooga Market continues its Thursday tradition of music, fresh produce and crafts. Today’s musical act is Bill Payne, my bro. Come on down to Miller Plaza around 4:30 p.m. and here some free music and get some fresh picked peaches.

Almost everyone remembers Sandy the Flower Man. Sandy Bell is sick and some fine folks and musicians are putting on a great benefit for the man that would come through all the downtown haunts with flowers for the customers. He worked for tips, but was never offended if you didn’t have the money to tip him. He would just smile. The city will honor Sandy with events and music this Sunday. There are live auctions of great items donated to support Sandy, and live music will be at several in-town venues all day Sunday. There are so many bands and auction items, I can’t even list them here. But I can list them right here.

One of my most favorite events of the year – Aquapalooza – is this Saturday afternoon! Come out to Chickamauga Lake and enjoy free music from the Cadillac Saints and Convertibull from a stage right on the lake! You will need a boat, a friend with a boat, or some serious floaties to enjoy this event. The folks at Erwin Marine say there is still time to buy a great new or used boat to participate with the hundreds of other boats that will be tied up together on the lake. They have boats of all sizes and they have one for you and your budget. For more info, call 622-1978 or click here.

The band for my annual birthday bash has been announced. Little Dizzy will play at Buds on August 21. My friends Robert & Mia Younger have a great band and have reunited for this one! It’s been awhile since they played in Chattanooga, so many of you may not have seen them before. I can tell you this, they are good and Mia will rock Bud’s. I hope to see many of my musician friends there!

The Colgate Country Showdown continues this week at T-Bones Friday from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Think you can sing some country music? Come out and get in on the action that is sponsored by 107.9 The Duke. Win here and qualify for the finals at the Lower Level on July 31. Win there and go to the regionals. Win there and you have a chance to compete on national TV for the $100,000 prize. Want to know more? Try clicking here.

Nightfall has the Bottle Rockets, with opening act the Bohannons this Friday at Miller Plaza. I submit that the Bottle Rockets will be a big hit here in Chattanooga. For more info about the Bottle Rockets and Nightfall, click here.

No Big Deal will play at a get-out-the-vote rally in Miller Park from 11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Friday. Lunch is provided for all those that board the free bus and go to vote.

My Pick-O-The Weekend is all of the events mentioned above.

My Pick-O-The Week is Peaches In The Plaza, with my brother Bill Payne performing at Miller Plaza Thursday. The Chattanooga Market comes to Miller Plaza every Thursday and this week features fresh peaches and good music – that’s a great combination.
Live in Chattanooga this week!

Thursday, July 15
Chattanooga Market Party at Miller Plaza – 5 p.m. – Bill Payne
The Palms At Hamilton – Jimmy Harris, Ralph James, Crossfire
Acoustic Café – Troy Underwood
Rhythm & Brews – Perpetual Groove
Spectaters – Blake Morrison
Market Street Tavern – Open Mic
JJ’s Bohemia – Peter Case, Hidden Spots, Front Porch Regulars
Bart’s Lakeshore – Tim Lewis

Friday, July 16
Charles & Myrtles CoffeeHouse – Jeff Talmadge
Nightfall – The Bottle Rockets, The Bohannons
Chattanoogan Hotel Foundry Lounge – Sweet n Lowdown
Rhythm & Brews – Breakfast Club
Tremont Tavern – Tim Cofield
Buds Sportsbar – Adrenaline Drop
T-Bones – Colgate Country Challenge, Chris & Reece from Bud Lightning
The Palms At Hamilton – Jimmy Harris, Ralph James
Village Sports Bar – Channing Wilson
Market Street Tavern – Subway Mars
JJ’s Bohemia – Bohannons, Cary Ann Hurst, Johnny Corndawg
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – Overture For Rent
Bluff View Art District – MeloManiacs from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ziggy’s – Silence The Sorrow, The Dustin Cury Project, Never Surrender

Saturday, July 17
Aquapalooza – Convertibull, Cadillac Saints
The Incline Summer Music Series
CBC Tropicana Room – Melvin M. Miller
Rock City Summer Music Series – New Binkley Brothers
Saturday River Market Party @ Aquarium – Mark Porkchop Holder
Chattanoogan Hotel Foundry Lounge – Sweet n Lowdown
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – TBA
Chattanooga Choo-Choo – Jason Thomas & The Mean Eyed Cats
Market Street Tavern – Big Nekkid
T-Bones – Gabriel Newell & Muddy Soul
The Palms At Hamilton – Jimmy Harris, Dana Rogers
Village Sports Bar – Channing Wilson
Hot Spot Dalton – Stop n Stare
Buds Sportsbar – Adrenaline Drop
Tremont Tavern – Tim Cofield, Kevin Klein
Bluff View Art District – MeloManiacs from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Rhythm & Brews – Frontiers Journey Tribute
JJ’s Bohemia – Christabel & the Jons, Shotgun Party
Ziggy’s – Dim Theory, Painted Blind

Sunday, July 18
The Incline Summer Music Series
Rock City Summer Music Series – New Binkley Brothers
Chattanooga Market –Paul Edelman, Morgan Bracy
Tremont Tavern – Pay The Reckoning, Irish Music Session

Monday, July 19
Market Street Tavern – Old Time Music Jam
Rhythm & Brews – Randy Rogers Band, Casey Adams Band
Southern Belle Riverboat – Slim Pickins
The Palms At Hamilton – Monday Night Big band

Tuesday, July 20
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Tremont Tavern – Open Mic
Market Street Tavern – Billy Hopkins
The Palms At Hamilton – Ralph James
Spectaters – Channing Wilson
Acoustic Café Ringgold – Open Mic

Wednesday, July 21
The Palms At Hamilton – Johnston Brown, Jimmy Harris, Ralph James
Village Sportsbar – Open Mic
Las Margaritas Riverview – Priscilla & Little Rickee
Market Street Tavern – Ben Friberg Trio
Rhythm & Brews – Leticia Wolfe & Songwriters In The Round
Buds Sportsbar – Arlo Gilliam

See you there!

Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or click here for Facebook Page.