Music scene · Chattanooga

Chattanooga's riverfront and mountain backdrop created a crossroads for musical exchange long before the railroad era. The Southside anchors the action, with Songbirds hosting acts in a restored guitar museum and The Signal drawing national indie and rock tours. The Tivoli Theatre and Barrelhouse Ballroom balance grandeur and intimacy. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center honors city's blues legacy, while IBMA World of Bluegrass cements its status as a mandatory stop for roots musicians.

Chattanooga's Ninth Street, known as the Big 9, rivaled Beale Street and Bourbon Street as a center for Black entertainment from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Clubs like the Nightcap and Brown Derby hosted Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and James Brown after their main stage shows. Bessie Smith sang on street corners in Blue Goose Hollow before becoming the Empress of the Blues.

Songbirds hosts acts in a restored guitar museum on Station Street. The Signal draws national indie and rock tours to the Southside. The Tivoli Theatre and Walker Theatre inside Memorial Auditorium balance grandeur and intimacy. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center honors the city's blues legacy with exhibits and performances.

Chattanooga produced Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues, and soul legends The Impressions with Sam Gooden and Fred Cash. Jazz innovators such as Jimmy Blanton and Clyde Stubblefield also called the city home.

New musicians should visit Songbirds for its community events and exhibits on local history. The Nightfall concert series at Miller Plaza offers free outdoor shows every Friday. WUTC radio broadcasts local and regional acts. Barking Legs Theater hosts a monthly jam session and jazz in the lounge.