Best Bars With Live Music in Knoxville, TN

Boyd's Jig & Reel: Old City Pub and Music Venue

Boyd's Jig & Reel is a pub and live music venue in Old City at 101 South Central Street. The address puts you in the dining and art district, where several music stops share the blocks. Boyd's and Wagon Wheel are among the music venues that give Old City its evening calendar.

This is a pub format, so you can expect the bar and performance space to share the same room. The schedule and artist rotation vary by week, and the setting is designed for casual visits rather than reserved theatre seats. If you're planning an Old City itinerary, Boyd's fits into a night that includes dining and art stops in the same district.

Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria: Restaurant, Bar and Performance Calendar

Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria brings live music into a restaurant and bar setting in Knoxville's Historic Old City at 200 East Jackson Avenue. The venue is a working restaurant with scheduled entertainment, so you should approach each visit as a combination of food menu, draft-beer program and performance calendar rather than a single-purpose concert room.

The menu includes pizza, burgers, chicken dishes, wraps and salads alongside the taproom's beer selection. Kitchen hours run to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and midnight Friday and Saturday. If a meal is central to your plans, confirm current service before you go. The building's closing time is separate from the kitchen schedule.

The music calendar lists the artist, date and admission details for each show. A restaurant table or private-room reservation should not be assumed to include admission to a separately ticketed performance. Confirm the particular show's seating and entry arrangement with the venue if that affects your visit.

Barley's house policy limits admission to guests 21 and older after 9 p.m. This is important for families considering an evening performance even when they plan to arrive before that hour. Check any additional restrictions on the individual event before making arrangements for a younger guest.

The venue lists 865-521-0092 for general contact and separate addresses for entertainment booking and private-room rentals. The general-information email is info@barleysknoxville.com. For an event visit, provide the artist and date so staff can answer for the setup being used rather than a private rental. Contact the Knoxville venue for the appropriate entrance, seating assistance or current parking advice.

Four Leaf Peat at Boyd's Jig & Reel in The Old City, Knoxville, Tennessee - 6/2/12

Watch Four Leaf Peat play at Boyd’s Jig & Reel in this archival clip. Check the pub’s calendar for current music.

Four Leaf Peat at Boyd's Jig & Reel in The Old City, Knoxville, Tennessee - 6/2/12

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Open Chord Music: Kingston Pike Venue, Bar and Shop

Open Chord Music combines a live performance venue, bar and café with a music shop at 8426 Kingston Pike in Knoxville. Touring bands, local performers and open-mic nights share a calendar that ranges from acoustic shows to amplified concerts. The shop and stage serve different purposes, with different hours, so a daytime visit to browse instruments is not the same as arriving for a ticketed evening performance.

Use the complete street address when arranging directions or a ride; this is a Kingston Pike venue rather than one of the downtown theatre rooms. The venue phone is 865-281-5874.

The music store publishes regular daytime hours, while the venue, bar and café operate around events. Concert notices distinguish doors from the performance start. Use the specific show's times and age designation, particularly when meeting a group or arriving before the bar service begins.

Open Chord distinguishes reserved tables from general admission on applicable shows. Current performance notices specify that reserved tables are sold online and that general-admission seating is first-come, first-served. Read the particular show's options before assuming a ticket reserves a table or chair.

The OC Café offers food alongside the bar's craft-beer taps and cocktail selection. It is part of the performance venue rather than a promise that the instrument shop provides meal service throughout its opening hours. Plan a meal around the event's venue hours.

The performance page is the reference for show-specific age limits and admission products. A show marked all ages should not be used to infer the policy for every other date. Contact Open Chord before the show if you need a particular seating accommodation or details about the entrance and parking approach.

Choosing a Room by Listening Style and Evening Plans

If you want to combine dinner and drinks with entertainment in a single Old City stop, Barley's Taproom offers the restaurant menu alongside the music calendar. The 21-and-older rule after 9 p.m. means you should check the clock and the event's additional restrictions before bringing a younger guest.

If you prefer a pub setting in Old City with a walk to other dining or art stops, Boyd's Jig & Reel at 101 South Central Street gives you that format. The address places you in the district where Wagon Wheel and other music venues share the blocks.

If you want reserved table seating for a particular show or plan to browse a music shop before an amplified concert, Open Chord Music on Kingston Pike combines both purposes. The shop hours are separate from the venue's event schedule, so confirm the doors time and the seating option for the show you're attending. The café and bar operate around performances rather than offering meal service throughout the instrument shop's daytime hours.

Each room publishes its own calendar, so check the artist, date and admission details before you finalize your plans. A meal reservation does not necessarily include admission to a separately ticketed performance at Barley's, and a reserved table at Open Chord is sold online rather than included with every general-admission ticket. Contact the venue for the show you're attending if seating, parking or entrance details affect your visit.

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