Nightfall, considered by many Chattanoogans to be a treasured ritual of summer for the past 32 years, will continue to keep its brand and its music in the public eye with an amended schedule for 2020. Typically held the first Friday of May 1 through the end of August, Nightfall was required by a City mandate to postpone all shows in May. Most of these performances have now been rescheduled for new dates at the end of summer.
Nightfall organizers have made the decision to also postpone live shows through at least the month of June. A decision about July will be announced soon.
According to Carla Pritchard, owner of Chattanooga Presents and the Nightfall series, “I’m hopeful that we can plan to start live shows in Miller Plaza and Miller Park in August, and I have pushed dates later into September to try to accommodate acts that had to be rescheduled from the beginning of the season. We might even add a couple of Saturdays in August, if that month works out well. We will be keeping a flexible approach to the season – understanding that people are anxious to have the fun and community connection that Nightfall offers, while doing all we can to ensure that we only start when it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so.”
Currently, the plan is to begin virtual shows through the Nightfall Facebook page for the June dates on Friday, June 5, 12, 19 and 26 (and beyond that as needed, until we are cleared to begin live shows). These shows, webcast at 7 p.m., will include our usual format of a local opening act followed by a headliner from wherever they are around the country. The shows will be shortened to one hour, including a 20-minute opening set and a 40-minute headline show, punched up with a little fun in between sets by our host and Nightfall’s long-time stage manager, John Rawlston.
The first virtual show at on June 5 at 7 p.m. will feature an opening set by the Cookeville soul band, The Smokey Nights, and headlined by Cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux and his band from the Bayou.
Nightfall is grateful for the faithful funding provided by Kelly Subaru, Fletcher Bright Realty, Mich Ultra, Warehouse Row, Southern Honda Powersports, Chattanooga Coca-Cola, Lass & Lions and media support from EPB, WUTC 88.1, and Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Look for the latest news about Nightfall and opportunities to celebrate its long history of great music through www.nightfallchattanooga.com.