Chattanooga’s Live Music Scene – Who-Too, DeLuna, Althea, Rockamauga, and You!

Friday, September 14, 2012 - by Bob Payne
Bob Payne
Bob Payne
- photo by Algonquin Calhoun

There still is so much going on in the local Chattanooga music scene, it behooves one to just get in the car and make the rounds this weekend. Day stuff, night stuff, fun stuff, and all kinds of things are happening. We’ll start with tonight and work towards next weekend.

Tonight we have Michael McDade picking at the Tremont Tavern in North Chattanooga. You like Neil Young? Well then, you will really like Mike McDade. Be there. Have fun. If Mexican food is your thingy, try out La Fiesta Mexican Grill on Hixson Pike and catch the one man show – Jerry Fordham. Is Cajun more your style? Try out Meo Mio’s in Tiftonia.

Tonight they feature the Scenic City Soul Review, complete with horns. Can’t catch them tonight? They will be at Sugar’s BBQ downtown Saturday night. Speaking of BBQ, if you want some tonight, along with a big helping of party, head to Sugars for the return of Bud Lightning. Don’t want to leave the metropolitan Ringgold area? Head over to the Acoustic Café and see Channing Wilson.

Saturday and Sunday you can head to Coolidge Park for Who-Too Art & Music Festival. Here you can see several bands, including 11:00-12:00 Dana Rogers, 12:45-1:45 Ryan Oyer, 2:30-3:30 Gabriel Newell, 4:15-5:15 Jordan Halquist, and from 6:00-7:00 The Snake Doctors. On
Sunday, you can see 11:00-12:00 Megan Howard, 12:30-1:30 Mark Leamon, 2:00-3:00 Amber Fults, 3:30-4:30 Husky Burnette, and from 5:00-6:00 p.m. the HillCityBillies.

Saturday is another big day in Ringgold, too. The Robby Hopkins Band invades the Acoustic Café at 8 p.m. A few minutes away at the Rockamauga Grill in Chickasprings (Half Rock Springs and half Chickamauga), the Johnston-Brown Duo will be entertaining the guests. The Bohannons, Elk Milk, and Mystery Twins will be at JJ’s Bohemia on Saturday. Jack’s Chop Shop, located at 724 Ashland Terrace, features Summer Hullender, Tim Starnes and Barry Wilde.

Saturday night on the riverfront, the last Riverfront Nights event of the summer features local opener Strung Like a Horse at 7 p.m. and Joe Robinson headlines at 8 p.m. It’s free, fun, and on the banks of the beautiful Tennessee River.

The Junk Yard Funk Band is at Bud’s this weekend if you are out and about in Brainerd. If you are downtown, try T-Bones for Code Blue on Friday Night. Two of the best funk bands around are at Rhythm and Brews tonight – Space Capone and the Power Players Show Band.  Fun times for all guaranteed. Old favorites the Velcro Pygmies are there Saturday night.

Think that’s it? Wrong! Sunday is the Kicken’ Chicken Cookoff at the Chattanooga Market. No Kicken Chicken Cookoff would be complete without good music, and Courter, Clouse and King will provide just that. Matthew Walley will top off the sauce with some music, too.

Now it’s over? Nope. Starting Monday, the Rockamauga Grill has a jam night. Come jam with the likes of Dennis Brown and other big time pro’s. Think you have what it takes to out-pick the master? Bring it. Open to all for a fun time.

Next week, I will be in Pensacola Beach for the DeLuna Fest. It features Pearl Jam, Zac Brown, Foo Fighters, Dwight Yoakum and more. We’ll see if Pensacola can put on a big festival. Other acts include last week’s Riverfront night headliner Fishbone, the Wallflowers, Blackberry Smoke, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Trampled by Turtles, and many more. I’ll report from there on how it all looks and sounds.

Also next week, on the 23rd of September, make plans to attend the North Georgia Amphitheatre for the Althea Reunion Benefit for the family of Ray Collins. Fans of the band Althea – this is your chance to see them perform again. Tim Lewis and Aunt Betty will also appear on the bill. For more info, try https://www.facebook.com/BenefitConcertForTheFamilyOfRayCollins.

For local music info, try www.chattanoogaentertainers.com or www.chattanooganightscope.com. They both have great local music info and schedules. For local info on Country music, try Jim Boles’ site www.chattacountry.ning.com.

Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or catch him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davrik2000 .


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