Over the past couple of years, Chattanooga has lost some music venues that have put a hurtin’ on the local music scene to some extent. We lost the Tin Can (Former Brass Register), The Lowdown, Midtown Music Hall abandoned live music, and the Lower Level also went to DJ and Karaoke. Also, the word on the street is that the Riverhouse Pub on Frazier will be closing on September 25. That’s another 100-150 events gone. That is the equivalent to about 500 nights per year in lost live music events.

Luckily, some others have begun to pick up the slack and fight the good fight for local live music. The Palms has added the Coconut Room, featuring live music every night. Champy’s Chicken on MLK features some live music, too. The Foundry Lounge at the Chattanoogan Hotel has weekend music that presents some very fine groups in a beautiful atmosphere. (This weekend features one of my favorites – Sweet N Lowdown) The newest venue, Southside Saloon and Bistro features live music several times per week as well.

I stopped off to meet the new Southside Saloon & Bistro folks and see what it was like. It’s located on Chestnut Street, just a couple blocks from Findley Stadium. They have plenty of free parking, too. I was immediately impressed as soon as I entered the door. This place is beautiful, clean, and staffed by fine employees. The menu includes shrimp, burgers, wings, and a few twists – like the jerk chicken I tried and loved. The Cadillac Saints were playing that night and did their usual great set. The Saints are smart, too. The Southside Saloon isn’t a big place, seating about 75 people. They set their sound level for the size of the venue. They knew they weren’t playing the Georgia Dome, and volume was perfect.

You musicians that read this column could do yourself a favor. Go by and see the venue. Speak to the owners and leave a press kit. Be willing to play a time or two for an amount that may be a bit less than you are used to getting. This is a new venue and they are trying to offer live music in a town that has lost 500 nights of the same. They need some time to build their clientele and need your help. And yes, that goes for you bands that get bigger dollars to play. This venue can provide 100-150 nights a year to Chattanooga’s live music scene. I promise one thing – your band’s fans will be impressed with the venue, the food, and the service. The Southside Saloon & Bistro features lunch daily, big screen TV’s, nice looking servers, and they accept credit cards. You can check them out online by clicking right here. Georgia Skruff plays this Friday night, and an encore performance of Laura Walker, Kathy Veazey, Daniel Parkin, and John Rawlston is slated for Saturday Night.

I was a judge at the inaugural Noogapalooza last Sunday and I had a blast. It was definitely the coolest of concepts, as musicians put their name in the hat and were chosen by lottery to play as a band with folks they had never played with before. They had a couple days to practice and the five newly formed bands each played a couple of originals and a cover song. The overall quality of the music was amazing and a testament to the level of musical talent in Chattanooga.

Ahleuchatistas play the wonderful Barking Legs theater tonight (Thursday) at 8 p.m. Learn more about them and Barking Legs by clicking here.

Nightfall features Katie Herzig this Friday. One of my local favorites, Noah Collins, opens at 7 p.m.

Riverfront Nights continues this Saturday on the 21st Century Riverfront with Stratospheerius. Pat Babb’s band, Gypsy Parade, opens at 7 p.m.

Do you like cars? Fast cars. Cool cars. Hot rods. New cars, Antique Cars. This Sunday at the Chattanooga Market features the car show and cruise-in. Kate Klim and Adlai Waxman will be performing at the market, too! And, it’s free!

Tickets to the Lady Antebellum and David Nall concert go on sale at the Memorial Auditorium next Friday. You heard it here first, as usual.

Arts In The Park in Ooltewah will be the happening place Sunday, with the Cadillac Saints, Jericho Brass Band, and the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra playing all afternoon at 9325 Apison Pike.

Paws For The Cause, a benefit for the Humane Educational Society, is tonight (Thursday) at The Mill, located at 1601 Gulf Street. No Big Deal & Wesley Crider will be featured musical guests.

Bob’s Pick-O-The-Weekend is my friends Soul Survivor, playing at the Beautiful Palms on Shallowford Road, between Lee Highway & I-75.

Bob’s Pick-O-The-Week is Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, playing Rhythm & Brews next Monday.

Live in Chattanooga this week!

Thursday, Sep 9
The Palms At Hamilton – Soul Survivor
The Coconut Room At The Palms – Jimmy Harris
Rhythm & Brews – Soul Crush Acoustic
Spectaters – Blake Morrison
Market Street Tavern – Open Mic
Magoo’s – Matt Townsend

Friday, Sep 10
Nightfall – Katie Herzig, Noah Collins
Thunder Creek Harley Davidson – No Big Deal
Chattanoogan Hotel Foundry Lounge – Sweet N Lowdown
Rhythm & Brews – Lord T & Eloise, Hill Krunk & Free Sol
Tremont Tavern – Moonslew
Lynn’s Market Signal Mountain – The Gypsy Truckers
Buds Sportsbar – Downstream
Magoo’s – Chasi Lynn & Country Wild
T-Bones – Cadillac Saints
Southside Saloon & Bistro – Georgia Skruff
Bart’s Lakeshore – Monkey Shine
The Coconut Room At The Palms – Dana Rogers, Jimmy Harris
The Palms At Hamilton – Jason Just
Village Sports Bar – Channing Wilson
Ziggy’s – Shades Of 7, Ordain, The Devil’s Got A Hold On me
Market Street Tavern – Subway Mars
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant – Booker Scruggs Ensemble
Bluff View Art District – MeloManiacs from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sep 11
Riverfront Nights – Stratospheerius, Gypsy Parade
Charles & Myrtles Coffeehouse – Hungry Town
Southside Saloon & Bistro – Laura Walker, Kathy Veazey, Daniel Parkin, and John Rawlston
Riverhouse Pub – Never Surrender
Dalton Depot – Booger Holler
The Coconut Room At The Palms – Jimmy Harris, Dexter Bell
Hot Spot Dalton – Long Shot
Chattanoogan Hotel Foundry Lounge – Sweet N Lowdown
Rhythm & Brews – Abbey Road Live
Oyster Pub – Bounty Hunter
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant –Matt Turnure Trio
Chattanooga Choo-Choo – Jason Thomas & The Mean Eyed Cats
The Palms At Hamilton – Shani Hedden
The Coconut Room At The Palms – Jimmy Harris, Dexter Bell & Friends
Bluff View Art District – MeloManiacs from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Ziggy’s – Edge Of Mercy, The Hollywood Kills

Sunday, Sep 12
Chattanooga Market – Kate Klim, Adlai Waxman
Tremont Tavern – Pay The Reckoning, Irish Music Session

Monday, Sep 13
Market Street Tavern – Old Time Music Jam
The Coconut Room at The Palms – Monday Night Big Band

Tuesday, Sep 14
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Tremont Tavern – Open Mic
Market Street Tavern – Billy Hopkins
The Coconut Room at The Palms- Gentleman’s Jazz Quartet
Spectaters – Channing Wilson
Acoustic Café Ringgold – Open Mic
Bart’s Lakeshore – Tim & Reece

Wednesday, Sep 15
Magoo’s – Open Mic with Troy Underwood
Rhythm & Brews – Infamous Stringdusters, New Familiars
The Coconut Room at The Palms – Jimmy Harris, David Anthony
The Palms At Hamilton – Live Music
Village Sportsbar – Channing Wilson
Las Margaritas Riverview – Priscilla & Little Rickee
Market Street Tavern – Ben Friberg Trio
Buds Sportsbar –Dave Kennedy
Ziggy’s – The Independents, 40 OZ Folklore, The Mackey’s, Hillstreet Hooligans

See you there!

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