THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS ADDITIONAL RESOURES 6XPPDU\RIWKH0XVLF $UW 3KRWRJUDSK\ )LQH&UDIWV (DVW0LGGOH:HVW7HQQHVVHH /LVWLQJSDJHRIOLQNVWRDGGLWLRQDORQOLQHFRQWHQW /HWWHUSUHVV3ULQWLQJ Music is only the beginning, with the stage set for MUSIC & ART storytelling in all its forms, from historic theaters to beautiful galleries and museums, from festivals to studios, from ballet to bluegrass, from vintage films to famous fine crafts. ennessee’s diverse musical heritage not only reflects the history of Tits people but also brings the world to our door. In the eastern mountains, the ballads of Scotland and Ireland evolved into mountain and bluegrass music, while the rhythms of Africa became the sound of the blues along the Mississippi River. In time, the sounds and traditions of each style met—literally—in the middle, to form the bedrock of today’s country, jazz, gospel and rock music. Keith Urban, Nashville Travel the Blues Highway The blues are hardly confined Start in Memphis, on historic to West Tennessee. Check out Sun With gospel music forming Beale Street, and visit the sights of Records at RCA’s historic Studio B, the foundation of blues, rock and blues legends like BB King and WC the Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie country music, it’s no surprise that Handy, the father of the blues. Visit Bar and the Music City location of Tennessee is home to a choir full of the studios and museums where BB King’s. In Chattanooga, visit gospel and Christian country stars. the blues grew into soul and rock the Bessie Smith Hall or take in Crossover pop princess Amy Grant music: Stax Records, the Rock n some live music in downtown. and her husband, country crooner Soul Museum. If you’re a fan of the In Knoxville, try Sassy Ann’s, the Vince Gill, are Nashville fixtures. “King” (who isn’t?), take a look at Preservation Pub on Market Square, Multi-platinum rock act Mercy Me his life at Elvis Presley’s Graceland. or other live music venues in the showcases a broad range of musical As you travel east out of Memphis, downtown and Old City areas. stop in Jackson for the renowned influences. The soulful sounds of Shannon Street Blues Fest, held CeCe and BeBe Winans and the every June. Then check out the Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Rev. Al Green, Michael W. Smith’s For soulful gospel, start in Memphis Rockabilly Hall of Fame for a lesson trademark power pop and the at the Rev. Al Green’s Full Gospel on music fusion. classic rock sound of Skillet round Tabernacle, a small Pentecostal out the gospel story. church led by the most famous singing pastor in America. Take Get Country in the musical theaters in Pigeon Nashville is called Music City for a Forge. Just down the road, inside reason; for fans of country music, Dollywood, you can visit the Southern it’s the next best thing to heaven. Gospel Music Hall of Fame and First stop: the Grand Ole Opry, Museum. In the Nashville area, check where country’s brightest stars out the Grand Ole Opry and other perform night after night. Next area venues to see if gospel music visit the “mother church of country is on the bill. And anytime the Fisk music,” the Ryman Auditorium, or Jubilee Singers are nearby, get in line head to the Loveless Barn for Music for a shot of beautiful, soulful gospel Beale Street, Memphis City roots. from this world-famous group. – 2 – For a night on the town, visit a large number the famous musical showcase, The of dinner District. Round out your Nashville theaters and visit with a trip to the Musicians family-friendly Hall of Fame and Museum for a entertainment look at people who made their mark venues. on music history. Don’t leave town Dollywood has without paying your respects, and music galore, maybe hearing some great music, at with stage the Country Music Hall of Fame and shows and street Museum, where you can tour, shop, performers. eat or sit in on a songwriter session. In downtown In the Tri-Cities area, start your Knoxville, take trip at the Birthplace of Country the Cradle of Music Alliance Museum in Bristol, Country Music Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville where you can also hear live music Walking Tour on Thursday nights. The Down and learn about visit the venues along the Home in Johnson City is a local history from pioneer ballads to Traditional Music Trail of landmark for country and bluegrass. rockabilly. While you’re downtown, Southeast Tennessee to hear the Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are sit in on the live noon shows at music of the area’s heritage. hot spots for country music, with the Knoxville Visitor Center, the On your way to Knoxville, time free WDVX Blue Plate Special. In your visit to see where bluegrass is downtown Chattanooga, head to the taken to new heights—and depths— Chattanooga Market; shop, eat and at the Bluegrass Underground. hear some good music, including They’re tuning up for a monthly country acts. radio show 333 feet below the earth at Cumberland Caverns in The High Lonesome Sound McMinnville. In Knoxville, take in the live If you’re longing for sound of noon performances of bluegrass, bluegrass music, the pure strains roots and Americana acts at the of Americana and roots tunes, or WDVX Blue Plate Special, in some solid acoustic performances, the Downtown Visitor Center. Tennessee has it in spades. Check to see who’s playing at the Since East Tennessee, with its quirky Laurel Theatre, venue for Celtic traditions, is the home of everything from Celtic to grunge Appalachian and roots music, let’s grass. Musical shows abound in start our travels there. Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. Three Sisters Music Festival, Make your way to the Tri-Cities, on the Chattanooga riverfront where the Star Barber Shop in every fall, features top names in Bristol is the scene of some old-time contemporary and traditional pickin’ and traditional string music. bluegrass. And the flavor tends Be sure to stop at the Birthplace of toward bluegrass at the Mountain Country Music Alliance Museum, Opry on Signal Mountain. As you’re which honors the pioneers of Dolly Parton leaving Chatanooga, traditional Appalachian music and – 3 – features weekly live music. Take in Classical music can be found Performing Arts Bluegrass on Broad in Kingsport, in every major city. Visit the Newcomers may be surprised the Birthplace of Country Music. Schermerhorn Symphony Center by the variety of performing arts In Nashville, the Station Inn is in Nashville or enjoy orchestras in venues throughout Tennessee, with a must-see, where you’ll the finest Memphis, Cookeville, Knoxville and historic theaters, state-of-the-art bluegrass and roots musicians. The Chattanooga. stages, outdoor amphitheaters and famous Bluebird Café offers a treat small, personal venues that charm for acoustic and traditional music Rock, Hip-Hop and the Rest as much as they entertain. fans as well. You’ll want to visit There’s more than traditional music Historic theaters are a must-see the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase playing here and, once again, Ten- throughout the state. Chattanooga’s Museum for an insider’s look at nesseeans lead the way. Memphis restored Beaux Arts palace, The making instruments. While you’re superstar Justin Timberlake started Tivoli, which cost a million dollars in Middle Tennessee, visit Historic his own record label to promote the to build in 1921, is a great place for Downtown Sparta, known as sounds of the broad variety of music a play, concert or film. In Knoxville, Bluegrass U.S.A. Home of bluegrass from Tennessee, beginning with the the Tennessee Theatre, a fabulous pioneer Lester Flatt, Sparta has band FreeSoul, a band whose music 1928 movie palace, makes every embraced its roots with venues for fuses the sounds of rock, hip-hop, concert, vintage movie or Broadway music, a Lester Flatt memorial, and blues and country in a way that is show a special event. Every enter- the restored Oldham Theater. uniquely Tennessee. The Academy tainer from Mae West to Sheryl Award-winning Three 6 Mafia and Crow has graced the stage of the The Sound of Symphony rapper Yo Gotti also call Memphis historic Ryman Auditorium, the Classical music can be found home. Arena rock royalty Kings of “mother church of country music.” in every major city—and a few Leon have showcased their Ten- Broadway meets Beale Street at smaller ones. Visit the beautiful nessee roots in the documentary Memphis’s restored, historic Or- Schermerhorn Symphony Center Talihina Sky. Knoxville is home to pheum Theatre, with operas, ballets, in Nashville, at the Orpheum in Grammy-nominated R.B. Morris touring shows and gospel musicals. Memphis, or the state theater and Grammy-winning jazz pianist The quirky fun of the world- in Knoxville, The Tennessee. Donald Brown, in addition to a host famous International Storytelling Chattanooga, Kingsport, Cookeville of up-and-coming rock acts. Center in Jonesborough, Tennes- and Jackson all boast accomplished see’s oldest town, has revived the orchestras. art of the telling of tale tales. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) in Nashville regularly hosts an array of theatre presentations and musical events. The restored Frank- lin Theatre and other small town venues add to the fun. The Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville regularly produces new works of Tennessee and Southeastern culture, plus state and regional premieres and revivals of works with Appalachian themes, with nearly 500 performances Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Cumberland Playhouse, Crosssville annually. For more information on performing arts in Tennessee visit http://www.tnvacation.com/music-arts/performing_arts.