Staff Pick's: Knoxville, TN
Music Roadtrip
Certified: 🌟 Certified
Description: Knoxville’s music scene hums with history, grit, and southern charm, and these six stops capture its full spectrum. Start at the Bijou Theatre, a restored 1909 gem where jazz legends and folk icons share the same stage that once hosted vaudeville acts. Just up the road, The Mill & Mine brings a modern industrial edge to live shows—an open-air courtyard and impeccable sound make it a favorite for national touring acts. Grab a pint and some pizza at Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria, a cornerstone of the Old City where local bands cut their teeth. Then dive into the creative underground at The Pilot Light, Knoxville’s incubator for experimental and DIY artists. For a brush with grandeur, the Tennessee Theatre delivers old-Hollywood opulence with world-class acoustics. And cap it off at Pretentious Beer Co., where craft beer and live music blend seamlessly in a space that feels more like an art project than a brewery. Together, these venues form Knoxville’s musical soul—eclectic, authentic, and unmistakably alive.