There’s nothing like live music. And the Great Smoky Mountains has venues for every genre. Here are some of our favorites spots.
The Island
Whether it’s the best Bluegrass in front of Ole Smoky Moonshine, some Jimmy Buffet tunes at Margaritaville, or your favorite rock covers at Mellow Mushroom, the Island has a wide range of live music offerings for you to enjoy. Check out our events calendar to find out who is playing when and where.
With St. Patrick’s Day this Sunday, Tuatha Dea will be performing two sets during the day, at 1:00 p.m. and again at 4:00 p.m. The band combines primal rhythms, melodic and ethereal ballads, and screaming guitar riffs with an Appalachian/Celtic vibe. Embracing their heritage, Tuatha Dea meshes the music of Scotland and Ireland with their blend of rock, mountain drumming, and Appalachian blues. This is used to create a unique sound with universal appeal.
Check out their video for “Open Letter to You.”
The Schedule
On Saturday, March 16, Ole Smoky Moonshine Stage is hosting Bluegrass bands Corey Zink & Company at noon and Laney & Bishop at 5 p.m.
Check out the Island’s calendar of events anytime for live music information.
Find The Island at 131 The Island Drive in Pigeon Forge.
For more about the Island, read our blog post.
Anakeesta
A mountain playground for all ages, Anakeesta has zip lines, personal roller coaster, treehouses, garden walks, incredible scenery, fresh-made foods, and music!
Anakeesta is excited to announce visitors to the park will enjoy our new park band as entertainment in the upcoming season!
Anakeesta’s house band is the Brad Hudson Band.
The band has recorded with the likes of country music star Dolly Parton and Jeff and Sheri Easter, as well as being a well-known entertainment group around East Tennessee.
Visitors can enjoy the band’s musical talents Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Black Bear Village.
Read more about Anakeesta in our blog post. Check out Anakeesta’s live webcam.
Smoky Mountain Brewery
with locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, has live music usually Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays. Check out the entertainment calendar to see who is playing when.
Both locations are open until 1 a.m. The kitchen closes at midnight Fridays and Saturdays and at 11 p.m. the rest of the week
Find the Gatlinburg location at 1004 Parkway, 865-436-4200; Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountain Brewery is at 2530 Parkway.
Tom and Earl’s
Tom and Earl’s Back Alley Grill in Gatlinburg has live music Fridays and Saturdays. Check Facebook for more events. Go for the music and the unique food and atmosphere.
From saucy wings, cream corn fritters and freshly made pork rinds to the Burning Bear Burger, the Sloppy Jethro and Build Your Own Bologna sandwich – the menu is fun and delicious.
Tom and Earl’s is located at 651 Parkway, #110, Gatlinburg.
One local place owned by locals in Sevierville is called Bluff’s. With live music, 36 beers on tap, two bars and an outdoor patio with a game area, Bluff’s is Fun with a capital F. It’s college game day central and family wing night enjoyment.
Peacefulside Social
This brewery and craft kitchen offers live music every Friday. Located in beautiful Townsend, TN, Peacefulside Social offers flavorful plates, its own craft beer, uncluttered mountain views, fresh air and fun.
Rich in history, and archaeologically dating back to 2000 B.C., Townsend is known as “peaceful valley”- the Cherokees named it long ago. The first English settlers arrived here in the 1700s.
Townsend is known best for its pristine mountain views, along with festivals throughout the year. Townsend is one of the smallest of the Smoky Mountain towns – a tiny outpost with about 500 residents and frequently referred to as “The Quiet Side of the Smokies.”
Find Peacefulside Social at 7967 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy in Townsend. Read more about Townsend in our blog post.
Puckett’s Grocery
Puckett’s in Pigeon Forge is a unique place for live music but definitely worth a regular trip to listen. Yes, it’s the same Puckett’s name as the little grocery store in the village of Leipers Fork, Tennessee. Pigeon Forge Puckett’s opened in 2019 as a place for good food and great music.
The Warman Trio – a 50s-style family band – is playing Friday, March 15. Check them out here.
The Warman Trio is a father and two daughter retro style family band that adds their own personal flair to the rock’n’roll & country hits from the 1950’s & 60’s. The father, Rick, takes lead as front man. Meanwhile Presley Jewell slaps doghouse bass and Jessica is an energetic show on drums and percussion.
Regular Performances
The Warman Trio has logged hundreds of shows since they started in 2018, performing regularly in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas of East Tennessee as house band at Pucketts Restaurant, as well as other local venues such as theme parks, festivals, fairs, and many more.
Their most notable performances have been opening for 15 time GRAMMY Award Winner, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder; Grand Ole Opry Star, Mark Wills; and Country Music Star, Suzy Bogguss.
Check out Puckett’s Grocery’s full music schedule here.
Authentic comfort food classics, like the meat & 3 specials and the famous slow-smoked BB is offered in a laid-back and downhome atmosphere.
Find Puckett’s at 2480 Parkway Pigeon Forge
Ole Red
Ole Red in Gatlinburg has live music seven days a week on a Nashville-class stage. And so it should be since Ole Red gets its name from country music star Blake Shelton’s breakout hit “Ol’ Red.”
There are plenty of cocktails and unique food options too – many named for the local attractions: Clingman’s Dome Burger for example.
Check out the music calendar here. You never know when a celebrity guest might show up to play as well.
Ole Red is located at 511 Parkway, Gatlinburg
Hard Rock Cafe
The Hard Rock in Pigeon Forge features 12,000 square feet of stylish space. This includes seating for more than 400 guests, private event space for up to 450, an outdoor dog-friendly patio, a live music stage, and a Rock Shop.
Offering a unique look at the history and future of music, Hard Rock has three unique dining areas featuring memorabilia from three of our favorite music legends: Dolly Parton, Jimi Hendrix, and Taylor Swift. There are hundreds of collectible items on display in the cafe, including frayed pants worn by Shania Twain, one of a kind Hard Rock x Orange County Choppers Motorcycle, and a three-tier skirt with rhinestones worn by local legend Dolly Parton.
International Women’s Month
Hard Rock Pigeon Forge is celebrating International Women’s Month with female musicians all of March.
Nashville-based singer/songwriter, Emma White is performing Friday, March 15. White combines the soulfulness of R&B with the storytelling of Country, to create a sound all her own. Garnering 20 million streams independently, she’s been featured by NPR, Forbes, Billboard and landed a spot-on Rolling Stone’s list of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know.”
Check out the events calendar.
Find the Hard Rock Café at 2050 Parkway, Pigeon Forge.
Tom & Earl’s Back Alley Grill
Tom and Earl’s Back Alley Grill in Gatlinburg has live music Fridays and Saturdays. Be sure to call first if you’re going for the music. But you might want to go no matter what for the unique food and the atmosphere.
Denver Evans plays at the Grill Fridays and Saturdays.
Denver Evans began his music career at age 12, learning to play piano, and within a year, he was performing with his father’s band around East Tennessee. In 1994, he started touring the country with different road bands, getting his feet wet for bigger and better things to come. Within three years, Denver moved to Nashville and landed a keyboard playing position with country singer, Trini Triggs, who was signed with Curb Records.
Then, in September of 2014, he began performing as the house entertainment at Tom & Earl’s Back Alley Grill. Check out his music and deep country voice in this video from his Facebook page.
Tom and Earl’s is located at 651 Parkway, #110
Check out these links for more music in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Book a Cabin
When you’re ready to tempt your taste buds and treat your ears, you’ll need a place to stay.
Book yourself a cabin in Pigeon Forge so you’ll be close to both Sevierville and Dollywood for these great music. Some of our cabins close to Pigeon Forge even offer a view of the Dollywood Fireworks! Also take a look at our pet-friendly cabins.
All of our cabins come with fully equipped kitchens, and many of our cabins come equipped with gas or charcoal grills so you can recreate some of the tasty flavors you sampled during your trip. Get ready for a full-flavored Smokies Vacation you won’t forget!
Be sure to check out all of our vacation guides for planning your Smoky Mountain getaway. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest area information!
