Upcoming Concerts in Knoxville, TN: Your Live Music Guide

Downtown Theaters: Bijou and Tennessee

Two historic theaters anchor Knoxville's Gay Street concert corridor. The Bijou Theatre, opened in 1909 in the Lamar House building at 803 South Gay Street, offers just over 700 seats across orchestra and upper levels for touring musicians, comedy, performing arts and Knoxville Symphony Orchestra chamber programs. The Tennessee Theatre, at 604 South Gay Street, presents a larger calendar of Broadway productions, orchestral performances, touring concerts, comedy and film in a space that can accommodate more guests than the Bijou. Both venues provide reserved seating rather than open-floor standing areas, making them practical choices when you want a guaranteed seat and sightlines matched to your ticket.

Parking for both theaters relies on public garages and metered street spaces downtown. The Bijou identifies State Street, Market Square and Locust Street garages, along with the neighboring Conley Square Lot at 310 West Church Avenue. The Tennessee Theatre lists Locust Street, Market Square, Langley and Dwight Kessel garages, plus paid options at First Tennessee Plaza and Riverview Tower. Some downtown facilities advertise free evenings and weekends, but those periods do not apply to every lot, so read the entrance signs at the garage you actually use. Arrive early enough to park, walk to the theater and get seated before the performance begins.

Choosing Seats in Historic Rooms

The Bijou Theatre's orchestra level is the practical choice for guests who cannot use stairs, because the venue has no elevator to its upper levels. Wheelchair locations and other accessible seats must be requested when ordering; an available upper-level ticket is not a substitute for a step-free seat. Consult the performance's seating plan before selecting a level. The Bijou offers wheelchair seating, accommodations for low vision or hearing loss, and advance requests for sign-language interpretation. Interpreter requests should reach the theater at least ten business days before the performance and remain subject to availability. KultureCity sensory bags can be borrowed at the box office with identification, a designated quiet space is available for breaks, and staff can help locate it.

The Tennessee Theatre provides reserved seating in orchestra and balcony sections. In the side sections, even-numbered seats are together on the right and odd-numbered seats together on the left, with orchestra-center numbering beginning at 101. A pair numbered 1 and 3 can therefore be adjacent rather than separated by a missing seat. For an event explicitly sold as general admission, a number printed on a ticket may be an inventory reference rather than a seat assignment. Read the event's admission description before assuming a particular row or location is reserved.

Knoxville’s Music Scene

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Knoxville’s Music Scene

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The Mill & Mine: Standing-Room Concerts

The Mill & Mine, at 227 West Depot Avenue one block north of the Old City and across from the Southern Railway Station, brings a different format to Knoxville's concert calendar. Touring artists and themed music nights use an indoor stage with a standing audience area advertised for up to 1,200 concertgoers. Concerts are standing-room only unless the event page says otherwise. An outdoor courtyard, private suites and event facilities allow the building to serve weddings and other private functions, but concertgoers should follow the performance's admission details rather than expecting the seating shown in a private-event photograph. The outdoor courtyard is part of the venue's facilities, not a promise of a seat or stage view for every ticket.

The venue identifies street parking along Depot Avenue and surrounding streets, as well as the public lot beneath I-40 at East Magnolia Avenue and Williams Street, described as a short walk from the building. Do not use the Blue Slip Winery and Southern Railway parking lot: the venue warns that its gate can be locked before concertgoers return. A nearby lot is not necessarily available for concert parking simply because it is close to the entrance.

Knoxville Civic Auditorium: Mid-Sized Productions

Knoxville Civic Auditorium is the theater-style performance hall within the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum complex on Howard Baker Jr. Avenue. Its calendar includes orchestral pops programs, touring stage productions, concerts and comedy in an advertised 2,500-capacity hall. The auditorium is separate from the neighboring hockey arena, despite sharing the address and campus parking facilities. That distinction matters when choosing seats, arranging accessible entry or finding the correct event on arrival. Check the auditorium map for the performance you are attending, particularly when selecting between main-floor and balcony locations.

There is no elevator to the auditorium balcony. Accessible locations are provided on the main floor, making the selected level important for guests who cannot use stairs. Arrange the appropriate seat when ordering instead of relying on a relocation after arrival. Assisted listening devices can be requested from the box office or guest-services staff. Interpretation requires advance coordination, and the detailed policy asks for at least 14 business days. Contact KCAC early enough to identify the supported date and seating area.

Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center: Campus Concerts

Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is the University of Tennessee's large indoor arena on the Knoxville campus at 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way SW. Tennessee men's and women's basketball and volleyball share the building with touring concerts, commencement ceremonies and special events. Opened in 1987, the arena has a published basketball capacity of 21,678. Visitors should distinguish athletic-game arrangements from concert arrangements: the parking plan, doors, floor seating and stage location can all depend on the event. The seating bowl surrounds the basketball court for games, while concerts can use a stage and temporary floor configuration. The published basketball capacity is not a guarantee of concert capacity or an unobstructed view from every section. Select seats from the actual concert or game map.

Concert and special-event parking is currently listed at $20, payable by card, in adjacent lots and garages. Athletic events have their own parking instructions—volleyball guidance, for example, identifies G5/G30 and limited G10 parking rather than applying the concert charge universally. Follow the sport and date-specific campus map. The university advises allowing extra driving time and arriving at least 30–45 minutes before the event, with more time when campus traffic is heavy.

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