Chattanooga Music Venues
While many focus on Nashville as the music capital of Tennessee, Chattanooga can surely give the city a run for its money. With a variety of different music venues and free concerts, there are plenty of opportunities to find live music in the Scenic City.
Chattanooga Nightfall - Miller Park
Each year, from the end of May to the end of August, Chattanooga offers a free concert series in the downtown area—Nightfall. Every Friday night, the city blocks off the streets around Miller Park and Miller Plaza to host this family-friendly event. Starting at 6 p.m., attendees can shop at different vendors for locally-made goods at the Nightfall art market, and food and beverage trucks begin selling at 6:30 p.m. Live music begins at 7 p.m. While Nightfall is almost over this year, make sure to check out their website to find the lineup and any information for next summer!
The Signal
The Signal is an event space and concert hall in the heart of Chattanooga, adjacent to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. While it can be used to host events like weddings, galas, and more, it’s also a prime venue for a variety of Chattanooga concerts. The Signal hosts artists like Tyler Hubbard, The 502s, and Jesse McCartney, and they also offer dance parties to popular artists’ songs (like Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and ABBA)!
Songbirds
Songbirds isn’t just your ordinary music venue—it’s also a museum and a foundation! You can take a free, self-guided tour through their expansive collection of guitars, pedals, and amps, including celebrity-owned guitars. (We’re looking at you, Dolly Parton!) For live music, Songbirds offers a 250-person venue for an intimate concert setting. Songbirds features musicians such as Jordy Searcy, Alison Brown, Kris Allen, and more. If you’re interested in the foundation itself, head to their website to learn more about their initiatives to preserve music history and offer educational music programs.
Tivoli Theatre
While currently under renovation, the Tivoli Theatre, opened in 1921, is still worth mentioning as one of Chattanooga’s most popular music venues. After all, it is known as the Jewel of the South! Located on Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga, the Tivoli has hosted a wide variety of performances including Broadway shows, live concerts, and comedy acts. Make sure to check out this Chattanooga music venue after renovations wrap up in late 2025 or early 2026.
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium
A part of the Tivoli Foundation, the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium has taken over much of the Tivoli’s live music events while it undergoes renovation. At this location, right next to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on McCallie Avenue, attendees can see theatrical productions, comedy shows, and, of course, live music. This venue seats 3,866 people and hosts musicians such as the Black Jacket Symphony, Joe Bonamassa, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and much, much more.
Walker Theatre
The Walker Theatre is the final venue in the Tivoli Foundation’s trio. While housed in the same building as the Memorial Auditorium, the Walker Theatre is a smaller concert venue. In fact, it only seats 851 people. This makes it the perfect venue for smaller artists or those looking for more intimate Chattanooga concerts. Artists such as the Indigo Girls, Mac Demarco, and even “Weird Al” Yankovic have graced the Walker Theatre stage.
Barking Legs Theater
The Barking Legs Theater is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the performing arts in the southeast. This intimate concert hall offers 76 fixed seats, but it can accommodate overflow crowds of up to 150 people. While the venue hosts all different kinds of performances, it’s especially known for intimate live music. Concert-goers can see artists like Drew Sterchi & Blues Tribe, Joy Adams, and the Monday Nite Big Band. On Wednesday nights, head to Barking Legs for “Wednesday Jazz,” featuring local musicians.
Bessie Smith Cultural Center
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center seeks to preserve African American history in the city of Chattanooga through hosting performances, events, and performing research. The Bessie Smith Center also features a museum of African American history that can be toured by the public at $10 per adult ticket. In the past, the Bessie Smith Center has hosted the Big 9 Music Fest and features a variety of events during Black History Month. Make sure to check out their events page to stay up-to-date on the live music happening in this venue.
Barrelhouse Ballroom
Located at the Five Wits Brewing Company in the Southside area, the Barrelhouse Ballroom remains a popular music venue in the area, and it can accommodate approximately 500 people. Head to their website to check out their list of future shows, including performances by North Mississippi Allstars, Knox, The Banshees, and much more. Most shows are general admission and standing room only, so make sure to plan accordingly.
The Woodshop
The Woodshop is a neighborhood bar in the St. Elmo area. While they offer a wide variety of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as some mouth-watering food options, they’re also known for hosting intimate live music performances. Tuesday through Friday, attendees can enjoy live music at low to no cost; however, tickets for Saturday night performances can be purchased on their website. Head to The Woodshop’s Instagram to view their monthly performance schedule.
Riverfront Nights - Ross’ Landing
Need more Chattanooga live music? Similar to Nightfall, the Scenic City has another summer concert series—Riverfront Nights. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can enjoy free concerts on Saturday nights at Ross’ Landing, right off Riverfront Parkway. Music will be live from 7 to 10 p.m., though concessions will begin selling at 6 p.m. Head to Riverfront’s website to view their current schedule, and remember to check back before they begin their 2025 season.
