Where to Find Live Music in Knoxville this Summer: Under the Stars (and Indoors!)
When summer settles into Knoxville, the city hums with more than just cicadas—it pulses with music. From sunset strums on breezy patios to majestic concerts in historic theaters, Knoxville’s live music scene becomes a full-on sensory experience. Whether you’re chasing laid-back acoustic sets or high-energy stadiums, this guide will help you find your perfect summer soundtrack in East Tennessee with shows worth planning a trip around!
If you want that “main event” energy, Knoxville delivers major shows all summer long:
May 30, 2026 – Journey: Final Frontier Tour: Journey is an iconic American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973, renowned for hits like "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms". Led by guitarist Neal Schon, they evolved from progressive rock to a melodic arena rock sound, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
July 25, 2026 – Shinedown: Dance, Kid, Dance Act II Tour (featuring Coheed and Cambria & From Ashes to New): Shinedown is a highly successful American hard rock band formed in 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida, by vocalist Brent Smith. Known for hits like "Second Chance" and "Sound of Madness," they hold the record for the most number-one singles (22) on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
August 22, 2026 – Cody Johnson: Leather Deluxe Tour: Cody Johnson is a prominent American contemporary-country singer-songwriter known for his neo-traditionalist style and high-energy live shows. A former Texas prison guard, he rose from independent success to major-label acclaim with hits like "'Til You Can't" and "The Painter". Johnson has won multiple awards, including CMA Album of the Year for Leather.
September 10, 2026 – Koe Wetzel: The Night Champion World Tour: Koe Wetzel is a Texas-born singer-songwriter known for blending country, rock, hip-hop, and '90s grunge, often dubbed "y'all-ternative" rock.
September 27, 2026 – “Weird Al” Yankovic: Bigger and Weirder Tour:
The vibe: Tailgates, massive crowds, and that goosebumps moment when thousands sing along in the same arena that hosts University of Tennessee Basketball.
Step inside this iconic venue for a completely different kind of summer show.
May 14–15 – Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: The Knoxville Symphony celebrates the close of its 90th anniversary season, Conductor Aram’s 10th season, and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with a program celebrating musical and geographic American landscapes. Marsalis’s Symphony No. 3 is at once invigorating and elegiac, bombastic and introspective, and has been performed by orchestras around the world.
May 20–24 – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: Be Our Guest at BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Disney’s first North American production of the beloved musical in over 25 years. This enchanting and timeless tale, filled with the romance and grandeur audiences know and love, has been brought to life like never before, with spectacular new sets and dazzling costumes. The show boasts the Oscar®-winning and Tony Award®-nominated score, including the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
May 26 – CHICAGO: Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of the rock and roll era," the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago, came in as the highest-charting American band in Billboard magazine's Top 125 Artists of All Time. Chicago is the first American rock band to chart top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.
May 28 – Punch Brothers: Punch Brothers, formed in 2006, are a virtuosic quintet featuring mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, Banjoist Noam Pikelny, and Violinist Brittany Haas. Known for pushing the boundaries of acoustic music, the band has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore.
June 2 – Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening: John Bonham died in 1980, but Jason, who has marked a few places in music history himself, has stepped in from time to time to help keep his father's memory alive.
July 17–18 – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: Six-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Jason Isbell is one of the most respected and celebrated artists of his generation. The North Alabama native possesses an incredible penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song.
July 20 – Band of Horses & Dinosaur Jr.: There might be no other band that was able to channel the generational anxiety in those early millennial years and turn it into such powerful and inclusive art quite like Band of Horses. Band of Horses fashioned gorgeously ragged epics, Ben Bridwell's high-flying vocals and eccentric enunciation floating like a specter that felt like a prelude to a dream.
August 4–8 – & Juliet: Broadway's most fun hit musical, & JULIET, flips the script on the greatest love story ever told, imagining what would happen next if Juliet hadn’t ended it all over Romeo, and got a second chance at life and love – on her own terms. This audience favorite is created by the Emmy-winning writer of “Schitt’s Creek” and features a playlist of iconic pop hits from Max Martin and his collaborators, including “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “I Want It That Way,” “Confident,” and more.
August 21 – 1964: The Tribute: A US Beatles tribute band formed in 1984, exactly 20 years since the Beatles' first arrival in 1964 and the start of Beatlemania. The group focuses on early Beatles music from the 1964 "British invasion" era when the band first toured in the US.
August 22 – The Temptations & The Four Tops: The Temptations, often referred to as American music royalty, are world-renowned superstars of entertainment, revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. They are one of the most iconic, bestselling brands in the entertainment world today. While the group has evolved over the years, Dr. Otis Williams has continued to lead the group and carry the torch forward for the next generation of Temptations' fans. Known globally as one of the most legendary vocal groups in music history, The Four Tops will proudly celebrate 70 years of timeless hits in 2026.
August 23 – Tommy Emmanuel CGP – Living in the Light Tour: Hailed as "one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world" by NPR's World Cafe, Tommy Emmanuel got his start at the age of six, touring his native Australia with his family's band. By his early twenties, Emmanuel was playing on chart-topping hits and performing with acts like Air Supply and Men at Work. Emmanuel stepped out on his own as a solo artist in 1979, releasing the first in a string of acclaimed instrumental albums that would make him an unlikely celebrity in his home country and beyond.
September 14 – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights: A legendary trumpet player, Herb Alpert's extraordinary musicianship has earned him five #1 hits, nine GRAMMY® Awards, fifteen Gold albums, fourteen Platinum albums and he has sold over 72 million records worldwide. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass propelled his sound into the pop music limelight, at one point outselling The Beatles two to one. In 1966, they achieved the remarkable feat of simultaneously having four albums in the Billboard Top 10 and five in the Top 20.
September 27 – Brit Floyd: The Moon, The Wall, and Beyond: Brit Floyd, recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as "The World's Premier Pink Floyd Experience", is renowned for delivering groundbreaking, authentic recreations of Pink Floyd's legendary sound and visual experiences.
Experience: Crystal chandeliers, velvet seats, and acoustics so clean you feel every lyric.
BONUS EVENT – Mighty Musical Monday: Presented on the first Monday of each month at noon (June 1, July 6, September 7), this FREE beloved series features the historic Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, performed by our House Organist Freddie Brabson, with many concerts also welcoming guest artists from the Knoxville community.
A neighborhood favorite in North Knox blending upgraded pub fare and live music. Expect patio seating perfect for warm evenings with weekly acoustic and local band nights.
Experience: Casual, social, and distinctly Knoxville—where locals go to unwind.
Located in Knoxville’s Historic Old City, Barley’s offers great food, live music and a great draft beer selection in Knoxville. Busy calendar with a variety of genres.
Experience: Casual setting that allows proximity to performances or tableside enjoyment.
In the heart of the Old City, the Jig & Reel is a place for musicians and whisky lovers to come together and celebrate the heritage of the Scots-Irish immigrants who settled here. On the weekend, you can find a range of performers from traditional Irish and Scottish groups to Country, Bluegrass, Singer-songwriter, and Americana. All shows are 21+ and begin at 9PM unless otherwise stated, with no cover.
Experience: Think musical pub with nightly music, primarily Celtic, Irish, and Scottish.
Since opening its doors in 1961, the KCAC has hosted musicals, theatrical productions, sporting events, circuses and concerts featuring such notable performers as the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder and Jimmy Buffett.
Experience: The Coliseum has a capacity of 6,500 and the Auditorium 2,500, covering two completely different vibes.
The Open Chord Stage is a premier live music venue in west Knoxville, featuring touring bands, open mic nights, a full bar and café, and hosts one of the largest guitar shops in East Tennessee
Experience: A casual environment that leans more “venue” than “restaurant,” but still has options for standing, sitting, and dining.
For over 25 years, Knoxville’s home in the Old City for creative, independent, and experimental music and performance.
Experience: Expect the perfect “hole in the wall” vibes with an iconic grungy aesthetic, a staple for indie, punk, and all kinds of music outside the mainstream.
With more than 200 performances each year, from student recitals to full-scale productions, the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music is alive with sound. Most concerts are free and open to the public.
Experience: Expect excellent acoustics in their auditorium surrounded by an academic setting at the University of Tennessee.
The WDVX Blue Plate Special® is a free live performance radio show held at noon, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and on Saturday at Visit Knoxville. On Fridays WDVX takes the Blue Plate Special to Barley’s for “The Big Plate”.
Experience: If you ever wanted to be a part of a live radio show, this is your chance. Practice your hootin’ and hollerin’ seconds before the ON THE AIR sign lights up!
Not every great show requires a ticket. Throughout May–September, Knoxville fills up with:
Concerts on the Square – Concerts on the Square presented by First Century Bank will feature free concerts on Market Square with Jazz music on Tuesdays in May, June & July from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. and a variety of music genres on the Third Thursdays in the months of May-September.
Lawn Chair Concert Series – An annual three part series held at Founders Park at Campbell Station in Farragut.
Pickin’ on Nature Concert Series – Join Ijams Nature Center and East Tennessee Bluegrass Association for another year of amazing music with the 2026 Pickin' on Nature Bluegrass Series. This series features five concerts with local and regional talent on the Visitor Center lawn (unless otherwise noted) plus free bluegrass jams on the third Sunday of every month at the Visitor Center.
Second Saturday Concerts at the Cove – The free concerts are held from 6 to 8 p.m. June through August on the second Saturday of each month at the Cove in Concord Park in West Knoxville. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets, lawn chairs, and food (no alcohol).
WDVX Summer Nights Concert Series – This free summer session series might be what kicks it all off, starting in April and ending in October. All shows are free, all ages, and hosted at Yee-Haw in north Knoxville.
Dogwood Arts Murals and Music Festival – This one-day celebration of art, music, and community on May 30 from 12-8PM will transform Emory Place into an open-air gallery as 10 muralists go head-to-head in a live painting competition.
Outdoor music can be found everywhere in Knoxville – Buskers’ tunes fill the air during the Market Square Farmers Market, open lawns at places like Kern’s Food Hall, and stages at breweries like Schulz Brau across town.
🎧 Build Your Perfect Knoxville Music Weekend
Friday: Start at Ale Rae’s → end at Preservation Pub rooftop
Saturday: Big concert or stadium show
Sunday: Wind down with a Bijou Theatre set or acoustic patio music
Final Note (get it?): Knoxville’s summer music isn’t confined to one stage.
One night you’re in a velvet-lined theater with Jason Isbell.
The next, you’re shoulder-to-shoulder at a warehouse show.
That contrast is the magic—and it’s what makes Knoxville one of the most underrated summer music destinations in the Southeast.
Kristen Combs is the Director of Communications & Social Strategies for Visit Knoxville. With an extensive knowledge of Knoxville as a tourist destination, Kristen is also the author of 100 Things to Do in Knoxville Before You Die, published by Reedy Press and available in the Visitors Center Gift Shop. Find Kristen on Instagram at @100thingsknoxville.
