Bob Payne
Ich erklarte dir so. I think that means “I told you so!” That goes out to my friends who didn’t think Volkswagen would choose Chattanooga. You know who you are. I always believed it would be Chattanooga, and kept the faith. How could they not? It’s a beautiful city with great people. Thanks to all of the people who made it happen.
Each week, we highlight a band and tell a little bit about them. That works well, but I have had some requests for information on venues that feature live music. This week’s column gives a description of many of the venues where live music is played on a consistent basis. I can’t list them all, but I will have another edition with more venues, soon.
I have included links to most venues, so save this page as one of your favorites, and refer to it often!
Chattanooga Market – A great place to hear music with no charge for entry or parking. Family friendly. Non-smoking inside pavilion. Open air, with big fans for ventilation. Food and beverage available on site. No Pets allowed. Music on Sunday’s around 12:30 p.m. Located on Carter Street across from Findley Stadium. www.chattanoogamarket.org
Nightfall – Every Friday night at Miller Plaza downtown at MLK and Market Street. Some of the nation’s top touring acts play all genres of music. Food and beverage available on site. Outdoor ampitheater. Special motorcycle parking on Market Street. www.downtownchattanooga.org
Charles & Myrtles Coffee House – Located at Christ Unity Church at 123 McBrien Road, right off the interstate in Brainerd area, this venue offers some of the area’s finest musical talent. No cover charge – tipping allowed. Family friendly, non-smoking, no alcohol. www.christunity.org
Barking Legs Theater – Offering award-winning music from local and touring acts, many of which have written for or performed with some of the most celebrated musicians in the world. Small cover charge. Intimate setting to hear some of the most in-demand artists to come to Chattanooga. Located on Dodds Avenue a couple blocks North of Main Street. www.barkinglegs.org
The Mountain Opry – Located on Signal Mountain, this venue offers the best in Bluegrass and Mountain music every Friday night. Non-smoking inside. Concession stand on site. Multiple acts each Friday night play 3 or 4 songs each. Outside, you will find some of the area’s best bluegrass musicians jamming and tuning up before their performance. No charge, tipping allowed. www.mtnopry.com
Snow Hill Bluegrass Jam – Located on Snow Hill Road in Ooltewah, pickers from all over the area come on the first Saturday of each month to play and jam.
Rhythm & Brews – Located right downtown on Market Street, this club brings the hottest acts to town, like Here Come The Mummies, The Velcro Pygmies, and others. This place gets packed, so get there early. Food available, as well as all beverages, beer, etc. www.ticketbiscuit.com/rhythm-brews/eventslistpage.aspx
Midtown Music Hall – Located on Georgia Avenue, right behind where Nightfall occurs, the former Yesterdays club features local acts, as well as touring acts. Food available, as well as all beverages, beer, etc. www.ticketbiscuit.com/midtownmusichall/CalendarPage.aspx
T-Bones – At the corner of Chestnut and Main Street, this club has great food (try the BBQ) and fantastic servers. They feature live music Thurs-Sat nights with no cover charge. It gets pretty crowed around 11 p.m., so get there early to get a good seat. 423-266-4240
Buds – A Chattanooga staple for nearly 30 years, this club has live music on Wednesday and Friday nights. Food, from steaks to chicken fingers, plenty of attractive servers, and a very nice non-smoking room for those that want to be in a smoke free environment, separate from the main room. They have somewhere around 2 cazillion televisions there, too. www.budssportsbar.com
JJ’s Bohemia – A cool little club on MLK that features local and touring acts. These folks have given many a band an appreciative crowd to play for which to play. www.Myspace.com/jjsbohemia
The Palms at Hamilton – A beautiful club, with good food, features popular local bands every Thursday. Smoking allowed. www.thepalmsathamilton.com
Table 2 – Located downtown, behind Warehouse Row, right off Market Street, this club features live Jazz on Tuesday and Friday, and gourmet food. www.table2restaurant.com
The Market Street Tavern – Market Street and MLK, right at Miller Plaza. Great gathering place that features good food, and a wide range of music, from Jazz, to Bluegrass, to Reggae and more. www.marketstreettavern.com
More venue descriptions coming soon!
Live! In Chattanooga
Thursday, July 17
Chattanooga Live! - WAWL FM 91.5 radio – Guest: Jeff Styles
Midtown Music Hall – Nevermind, Nirvana tribute band
Niko’s Southside Grill – No Big Deal at Humane Society Fundraiser
T-Bones – Pee Wee Moore
The Palms At Hamilton – Preston Parris Project
Friday, July 18
Buds – Bud Lightning (Formerly Live at 11)
Rhythm and Noon at Miller Plaza – No Big Deal
Nightfall – Ruthie Foster, Leticia Wolfe
Rhythm & Brews – Ten, a tribute to Pearl Jam
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Midtown Music Hall – Whild Peach
Deadwood Station – Austin Earl
Charles & Myrtles – Mayhaws
T-Bones – Big Mountain Frog Symphony
Caffeine Addicts Coffeehouse Ringgold – Spatial Effects
Pentz Street Station Dalton – Barefoot Nellie
Blue Orleans Creole Restaurant Amnicola – Blues FX
Blues Train Café Dalton – Buckner Brothers
Saturday, July 19
Rhythm & Brews – Fly By Radio
T-Bones – Chris Gomez and Friends
Aquapalooza – No Big Deal, The Mudville Mafia play on the water at Chickamauga Dam. Bring your boat! 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Deadwood Station – Austin Earl
Charles & Myrtles – Flyin’ A’s
Signal Mountain Presb. Church – Guitarist Alan Shikoh & Keyboardist Steve Phillips (7:30 p.m.) Call 886-2190 for info.
The Local – Molly Maguires, Foxfire, Jason Lyles, Husky Burnette, Bob Carty, Hara Paper, & Bethany and Chris from the River City Hustlers
Blues Train Café Dalton – Eric Culberson Blues Band
Sunday, July 20
Chattanooga Market – Coca Cola Collectors Show
Barking Legs Theater – The Waybacks @ 8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22
Table 2 – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
JJ’s Bohemia – Cohen and The Ghost
Wednesday, July 23
Rhythm & Brews – Hayes Carll, with Nathan Farrow
Market Street Tavern – Live Jazz by the Ben Friberg Trio
Buds – Roger Alan Wade
Merle Haggard is coming to the Memorial Auditorium on August 6. Get your tickets by calling 423-642-TIXS.
The Legends of Funk are at the Memorial Auditorium on August 2. Get your tickets by calling 423-642-TIXS.
See You There!
To have your venue’s live event listed, just email us at davrik@aol.com