Over the last year or so, Chattanooga lost both Track 29 and the Revelry Room, but it gained Songbirds South and the Walker Theatre, both of which were renovated and upgraded with better lighting and sound equipment, in addition to The Signal, a brand-new venue on the Southside.
Giving the city spaces in the medium- to mid-sized capacity range, the three complement existing venues such as Tivoli Theatre and Memorial Auditorium, as well as a variety of clubs and restaurants that offer music.
Songbirds South is actually in the space once occupied by the Revelry Room. It sits below Songbirds Guitar Museum, which is now known as Songbirds North when referring to the live shows that take place there. The museum has become a popular, intimate space to see a show since opening a year ago, and when management decided to close the Revelry Room, Songbirds' management decided to assume the space.
"The shows have become very popular and this gives us a larger space and the opportunity to be creative," says Songbirds President Johnny Smith. "We can put an intimate show in the early evening upstairs and then a larger one downstairs later, for example."
The Walker Theatre is officially known as the Robert Kirk Walker Community Theatre and is located on the second floor of Memorial Auditorium. It has been there since the venue opened in 1924, and though it was largely underutilized over the years, it has been used in the past for concerts, movie screenings, church services and plays.
The structure of the room underwent renovation in 2012, but this past year saw the addition of permanent lighting and sound equipment, plus a makeover of the dressing rooms, lobby and concession areas. New signage has also been added inside and outside, drawing widespread attention in conjunction with its lineup.
It has become a popular venue for fans and the acts who have played it, says facility General Manager Dave Holscher.
"It's a very intimate, great-sounding room," he says.
The Signal opened in late February and is located in what used to be The Jump Park on Chestnut Street near Finley Stadium. It's a multi-purpose venue designed to host concerts and things like corporate parties and galas. It has already hosted rock, country, electronic and urban acts since opening in late February, and Manager Tara Viland says all have played well in the room.
"It's been great getting comfortable with the space, the staff, the sound," she says. "It has all sounded great."
Here are the larger and/or newer live music venues in the area, along with some of the top shows currently on the books. For a more complete listing, visit timesfreepress.com/mychatt.
CAMP JORDAN AMPHITHEATER
Located in East Ridge, the 10,000-seat amphitheater sits within Camp Jordan, which also has an indoor arena, athletic fields and a walking track. It's home to an all-day Christian music festival and other concerts throughout the year.
May 19: JFest (Contemporary Christian festival)
THE CAVERNS
Located inside a cave at the foot of Monteagle Mountain, this is a new venue in our area, and one of the most unique anywhere. "It's part Red Rocks [the iconic amphitheatre in Colorado] and part Ruby Falls," owner and Bluegrass Underground founder Todd Mayo says of the 700-seat space (capacity of 1,000 standing only).
May 5: Steve Earle & The Dukes' 30th Anniversary of "Copperhead Road"
May 26: JJ Grey & Mofro
June 16: Keller Williams
July 15: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
July 21: Scott Miller
MCKENZIE ARENA
Located on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus, "The Roundhouse" is the city's largest indoor venue, with a capacity of 11,557.
May 10-13: Cirque du Soleil "Corteo"
MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM
The 3,866-seat, city-owned facility opened in 1924 and is currently operated by the Tivoli Foundation. It is also home to the Robert Kirk Walker Community Theatre, commonly known as The Walker.
* No shows scheduled at time of publication.
NORTHWEST GEORGIA AMPHITHEATRE
With a capacity of 3,000, this outdoor facility opened in 2007.
June 30: Smith & Wesley
Aug. 24: Shenandoah and Kolt Barber
THE SIGNALOne of the city's newest venues, it hosts a variety of local, regional and national touring acts and is able to accommodate 1,500 concert-goers.
May 22: Stone Temple Pilots
May 24: Cold War Kids
June 2: Fitz and the Tantrums
June 3: Gary Clark Jr.
SONGBIRDS STAGES
Home to the Songbirds Guitar Museum, the world's largest collection of rare guitars, Songbirds also has three small spaces for live music, with two in Songbirds North and one in Songbirds South.
May 5: Lera Lynn
May 11: The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
June 1: Erick Baker
June 22: Ray Wylie Hubbard
TIVOLI THEATRE
The city-owned facility opened in 1921. With a seating capacity of 1,750, it brings in a variety of shows, from classical music to classic rock to Broadway.
May 2: Celtic Woman
May 5: Black Jacket Symphony presents Guns N Roses' "Appetite for Destruction"
May 10: "Ghost"
May 11: "Stomp"
May 16: "Chicago"
June 2: David Blaine
Walker TheatreThe city-owned facility opened in 1924 and is currently operated by the Tivoli Foundation. It is officially the Robert Kirk Walker Community Theatre and has a capacity of 850.
May 3: The Mavericks
May 4: Henry Cho
Aug. 9: Mary Chapin Carpenter