Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 6/8/15. Motorists drive along MLKing Boulevard past the Camp House on June 8, 2015.In the last decade, Chattanooga’s music scene has undergone a renaissance fueled by new venues that have coaxed bands to stop to play, instead of just to gas up, aided by burgeoning club development in the Southside and along Martin Luther King Boulevard, as well as new management of the city’s largest event spaces.
AC Entertainment, the Knoxville-based booking titan that handles marquee events such as Bonnaroo and Forecastle music festival, took over management and booking of the Tivoli Theatre and Memorial Auditorium. The parade of high-profile acts in recent months includes Old Crow Medicine Show, Widespread Panic, Weird Al Yankovic, The Avett Brothers and Buddy Guy.
Since opening the Track 29 venue in 2011, the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel has become a significant player in the local music scene. Last year, a sweeping overhaul brought new restaurants and event spaces, including the midsize Revelry Room and the Comedy Catch, which moved from its longtime home on Brainerd Road.
As it always has, the city’s music scene offers performances to suit a variety of tastes, from rock and electronic dance music to bluegrass and jazz. Here are some local venues that best showcase the city’s musical diversity.
1. Track 29 – 1400 Market St. (423-521-2929). One of the city’s largest, nonseated venues, Track 29 features an easily adjustable stage to accommodate crowds from 800 up to 1,800. It has brought in acts including Jack White, Ted Nugent, Lucinda Williams, Modest Mouse, Bassnectar, The Avett Brothers, Florida Georgia Line, Big Boi and Old Crow Medicine Show.