|
|
|
Johnson City and the Tri-Cities
region offer a host of
alternatives for music
lovers of every stripe,
from classical buffs to
bluegrass lovers to metal
fans. The area’s
strong musical tradition
and a wealth of talent
combine to give ETSU students
a chance to experience
an astonishing variety
of sights and sounds just
a few steps away from campus.
|
| Johnson
City Venues |
back
to top |
|
|
Buck’s
Pizza
Address: 1701 W. State of
Franklin Rd.
Phone: 975-6800
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Blues, bluegrass,
old-time, singer/songwriter |
| Description:
Buck’s is a great place
to order a sandwich or gourmet
pizza, sit back and listen
to some of the area’s
newest talent in the acoustic
line. If there is a cover
charge it’s usually
very low ($2-$3), and it
has the added benefit of
being just across the parking
lots from Lucille Clement,
the school’s largest
dorm. Music on most weekend
nights; all ages (it is mainly
a restaurant). |
Café
111
Address: 111 Broyles Dr.
Phone: 283-4633
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Jazz, blues |
| Description:
Great Chinese-Japanese cuisine
in
an upscale and unique atmosphere.
You’ll have to make
reservations to hear live
music (mainly on Friday-Saturday
nights), but it is a unique
experience. No cover charge;
all ages. |
The
Casbah
Address: 807 W. Walnut St.
Phone: 928-0808
Web: http://www.casbahrocks.com
Types of Music: Modern Rock,
Alternative, Roots-Rock,
Metal |
|
Description: Just about two
blocks from campus and within
walking distance from the
tree streets sits The Casbah,
which specializes in all
things “rock.”
The Casbah features some
of the best in local and
touring bands on the rise.
Plus, you can get a great
slice before the show at
the Italian Pizza Pub, which
takes up the front of the
building. Music Thursday-Saturday;
a local cable music show
is shot there every Thursday
night at 9 pm, with two bands
and a low cover ($2). Shows
are 18 and up; cover prices
can vary from $3 to $8, depending
upon the act, and under 21’s
are usually asked to pay
a little more. |
The
Down Home
Address: 300 W. Main St.
Phone: 929-9822
Web:
http://www.downhome.com
Types of Music: Bluegrass,
acoustic, old-time, singer/songwriter |
| Description:
The Down Home is an East
Tennessee institution, having
served the Tri-Cities for
going on 30 years as the
premier venue for all things
acoustic. If you’re
a fan of bluegrass or “Americana”
music, you can see national
and international acts as
well as the best in local
and regional musicians in
a clean, safe, comfortable
and “down-home”
environment. Music Wednesday
through Saturday. Cover prices
range from $2 for the weekly
“Open Hoot” (an
open mic event held every
Wednesday evening) to upwards
of $15-20 for national stars
like Nickel Creek, Robert
Earl Keen or Scott Miller.
21 and up for the “Hoot”;
18 and up for most other
shows. |
Gatsby’s
Café & Saloon
Address: 227 E. Main St.
Phone: 928-2295
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Cover/tribute
bands, modern rock, dance |
| Description:
Located in a beautifully
restored and renovated building
in downtown Johnson City,
Gatsby’s is the largest
club around offering both
live music and a DJ. If you
enjoy “shaking your
groove thang” as well
as listening to classic and
modern rock, you can’t
beat Gatsby’s, especially
on a Saturday night. Cover
on weekend nights ranges
from $4-$8; 21 and up only. |
Halo
Address: 211 E. Main St.
Phone: 434-0799
Web: N/A
Types of Music: rock and
roll, singer/songwriter,
blues, bluegrass |
| Description:
Although it may be small,
Halo’s casual environment
and unique setting—a
great open-air patio area—have
earned it a reputation as
a great place to catch local
up-and-comers as well as
regional touring bands. There’s
no stage—bands set
up right on the patio or
in the bar—and no separation
between dancing fans and
the musicians themselves.
The friendly all-female staff
and hip atmosphere make Halo
a great place to just hang-out
in the evening, and since
they keep their kitchen open
until 3 am, bands play late
and patrons usually stay
until herded out the door.
There’s music Thursday-Saturday,
and there’s rarely
a cover charge—the
maximum is usually no more
than $3; 18 and up. |
A
Hideaway
Address: 232 E. Main St.
Phone: 928-2929
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Punk, college
rock, indie rock |
| Description:
A Hideaway is the place to
go if you’re looking
for something “left
of the dial.” From
indie-rock to punk, A Hideaway
hosts an eclectic mix of
national, regional and local
bands whose sounds are definitely
outside the mainstream. An
intimate environment, low
cover charges ($3 on weekends),
and an open-minded crowd
make this a great place to
sample what’s going
on in the underground before
it becomes the “next
big thing.” Shows on
Friday and Saturday nights,
“Open Mic” every
Thursday; 18 and up. |
The
Nashville Sound
Address: 1121-B N. Roan St.
Phone: 928-0260
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Top 40 Country,
modern rock, dance |
| Description:
If boot-scooting and line-dancing
are your thing, then the
Nashville Sound is the place
to go. Free dance lessons
on Sunday nights from 7-9
pm. Local and regional acts
provide entertainment on
Friday and Saturday nights,
with the latest country hits,
rock tunes or golden oldies.
Call for calendar and cover
charge; 21 and up. |
Poor
Richard’s on Campus
Address: 825 W. Walnut St.
Phone: 926-8611
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Modern rock,
alternative, jazz |
| Description:
Any ETSU student will tell
you—Thursday night
is the night to be at PR’s,
whether you’re going
there to hear a great local
band or simply to socialize.
From rap-metal to modern
rock to cool jazz, PR’s
presents in an eclectic mix
of local talent in a fun
atmosphere. There’s
great food in the deli, but
the bar is where the action
is. Cover on Thursdays ranges
from $3-$10, depending upon
your age—under 21’s
pay more; 18 and up. |
The
Sophisticated Otter Brewing
Co. & Restaurant
Address: 400 Ashe St.
Phone: 928-1705
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Alternative,
roots-rock, modern rock,
singer/songwriter |
| Description:
Located in a funky, nicely-renovated
old building in a side street
just off the beaten path
(Walnut St.) and the tree
streets, the Otter is the
place to go for twenty-somethings
who enjoy listening to music
in a bar atmosphere. National
acts like Tonic and Blessid
Union of Souls have made
stops there; the Otter also
features some of the best
local and regional talent.
Outdoor shows in the summer
have included MTV-sized bands
like Saliva and Powerman
5000, but the 250-capacity
back room is the happening
place to listen to everything
from funk to blues to singer-songwriters.
18 and up; weekend cover
ranges from none to up to
$7, depending upon the act. |
| Nearby—within
30 minutes . . . |
| Bristol
TN/VA Venues |
back
to top |
|
The Paramount Center
Address: 518 State St.
Phone: 274-8920
Web: http://www.theparamountcenter.com
|
Types
of Music: Bluegrass, country,
blues, acoustic
Description: A restored theater
in the heart of the birthplace
of country music, the Paramount
Center has hosted everything
from Piedmont Blues to ballet,
and featured performers from
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch
Mountain Boys to Martha and
the Vandellas. The Paramount
is in many ways the cultural
heart of a thriving, music-rich
region, and no matter what
your tastes in music or entertainment
are, there will certainly
be at least one or two shows
a year which qualify as “must-see”
events! Ticket prices vary;
all ages. |
The
State Line Bar & Grill
Address: 644 State St.
Phone: 764-2228
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Jam, roots-rock,
blues
|
| Description:
A beautiful vintage-looking
bar/restaurant on the corner
of State Street and 7th in
downtown Bristol, the State
Line hosts local and regional
bands most weekend nights.
Call for calendar and cover
price; 21 and up. |
| Kingsport,
TN Venues |
back
to top |
Kingsport
Sports Club
Address: 2001 American Way
Phone: 378-0024
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Classic rock,
cover/tribute bands, dance
|
| Description:
The Kingsport Sports Club
is mainly that – a
place to watch your favorite
sporting events on multiple
TV screens. However, on many
weekend nights it turns into
a venue for local, regional,
and (sometimes) the odd touring
band. Call for calendar and
cover price; 18 and up. |
| A
little bit further—within
an hour and a half |
back
to top |
The Carter Family Museum/
Carter Fold (Hiltons, VA)
Address: A. P. Carter Highway
Phone: (276) 386-6054
Web: http://www.fmp.com/orthey/carter.html
Types of Music: Bluegrass,
old-time |
| Description:
The Carter Fold is a hallowed
institution in this area,
just like the family who
runs it. Owners Jeanette
and Joe Carter are the daughter
and son of A. P. and Sarah
Carter, founding members
of the Carter Family, the
first popular “country
music” group. Originally
based in A. P. Carter’s
store (which now houses the
museum), the Fold is a good-sized
venue that plays host to
regional and local bluegrass
and old-time bands. If you’re
in the mood for clogging,
buck-dancing, or just clapping
along to some great fiddle
tunes, the Carter Fold is
the place to be. Even if
it’s not your cup of
tea on a regular basis, for
the curious it’s worth
the trip! It’s an authentic
piece of living history that
can be enjoyed by everyone.
Call for calendar and cover
charge; all ages. |
The
Orange Peel (Asheville, NC)
Address: 101 Biltmore Ave.
Phone: (828) 225-5851
web: http://www.theorangepeel.net |
| Description:
Everything from major-label
acts (Sonic Youth, Wilco,
Sister Hazel) to the best
in acoustic, bluegrass and
old-time (Dar Williams, Nickel
Creek, Old Crow Medicine
Show) are featured at Asheville’s
Orange Peel. Booked by A.
C. Entertainment out of Knoxville,
this 1500-capacity club regularly
hosts acts that usually play
only in the larger cities.
Call for ticket prices; 18
and up. |
Withers
Hardware Company (Abingdon,
VA)
Address: 260 W. Main St.
Phone: (276) 628-1111
Web: N/A
Types of Music: Modern rock,
blues, alternative, roots-rock
|
| Description:
Nestled among antique shops
in a well-preserved building
along historic Abingdon’s
Main Street, the Hardware
Company is a local landmark.
Withers is the hang-out for
students from nearby Emory
& Henry College, but
ETSU students might want
to make the trip if they
want to combine an excellent
meal with some good local
music. Typically, one band
plays the entire weekend,
with a standard $5 cover
charge; 21 and up. |
| Other
live music resources in the
region |
back
to top |
Ansley
Roberts Promotions
The
Birthplace of Country Music
Alliance
ETSU Department of Music (events updated weekly)
GoTricities
Music (the largest events database in the Tri-Cities Region from
the Kingsport Times-News)
Johnson
City Civic Chorale
Johnson
City Symphony
Symphony
of the Mountains
WETS-FM Radio
|
|
About Rob Russell |
back to
top |
| As
well as being a popular local
songwriter and performer,
Rob Russell is Director of
ETSU's Writing
and Communication Center.
A native of Morristown, TN,
Rob earned his B.A. in English
from ETSU in 1991. His band,
Rob Russell & the Sore
Losers, performs regularly
around the Tri-Cities as
well as in Nashville, Knoxville,
Memphis and Asheville. Their
2002 CD "I Think We're
Gonna Be Alright" has
received airplay across the
southeast and in Europe.
Visit Rob's web site at
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/61/rob_russell.html
|
East Tennessee
State University
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
423-439-1000
Webmaster |
