Find Live Music in the Great Smoky Mountains
With a rich history in music, the towns of Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains are filled with music year round – from bands at bars and restaurants and outdoor traveling musicians to festivals, holiday events, dinner theater sand the many shows at Dollywood Amusement Park. Here are some wonderful places to find a good time and great music.
Breweries
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.
Want to some of your own singing? Check out Karaoke on Monday and Tuesday nights in Gatlinburg.
“Described as a cross between a ski lodge and a Bavarian beer hall, the Smoky Mountain Brewery features an enclosed deck overlooking Calhoun’s Village with the Smoky Mountains in the background.”
Locals call on the Brewery for its terrific pizza, delicious burgers and pub fare – check out the food menu.
Find the Gatlinburg location at 1004 Parkway, 865-436-4200; Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountain Brewery is at 2530 Parkway, 865-868-1400.
Grills
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, 865-325-6022.
At Junction 35 Spirits in Pigeon Forge, live music happens most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check out the live music schedule on the bar’s Instagram page.
Longtime makers and runners of spirits, Junction 35 Spirits was born out of a “mission to deliver high quality, unique spirits and unique signature dishes while providing a fun, friendly atmosphere that keeps guests returning.”
Distilleries
Along with live music, visitors can taste the spirits made at the distillery and take a tour. Junction 35 offers a variety of spirits including bourbon, rye whiskey, moonshine, vodka, gin, and rum and has hand crafted a selection of specialty cocktails using our bold spirits to deliver a unique experience with those spirits.
The food menu is just as unique, serving up Tennessee Poutine: Rosemary Fries topped with beef gravy, shredded Deli Brisket and Wisconsin fried Cheese curds; “Not your Sweet Potato Casserole” – Waffled sweet potato fries topped with our marshmallow sauce and candied Pecans; Pimento Dip – Aged Cheddar, Pimento peppers topped with smoked Sausage, served with flash fried Saltine crackers; Smoked wings; Smoked meat BBQ trays; Burgers with pimento cheese, bacon jam, caramelized onions (Junction 35), salmon burger, even The Beyond Burger; and a southern staple – Shrimp and Grits.
Check out Junction 35 Spirits at 2655 Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge, (865) 365 – 1019.
Music Until 1am
Located in Sevierville, Bluff’s is a local place owned by locals. 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.
Wednesdays are Live Team Trivia night followed by live music from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Want to make your own music? Karaoke happens Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 p.m. to midnight.
Find Bluffs at 1548 Parkway, Ste 301, Sevierville, 865-908-1333.
Groceries?
Puckett’s Grocery 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.
Authentic comfort food classics, like the meat & 3 specials and the famous slow-smoked BB is offered in a laid-back and downhome atmosphere.
Check out the music schedule here and find Puckett’s at 2480 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, 865-285-0155.
Blake Shelton’s Ol’ Red
Ole Red in Gatlinburg has live music seven days a week on a Nashville-class stage. 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, 865-325-3101
Pubs and Bars
Shamrock Pub is a 1-minute walk from Gatlinburg Sky Lift Park and has live music and karaoke every night. There’s outdoor seating, a full bar and a menu that includes some Irish favorites such as Cottage Pie and Bangers & Mash. There’s also typical American pub fair – wings, cheese fries, jalapeno poppers, burgers and a hot roast beef sandwich.
Find Shamrock’s at 105 Reagan Dr, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Cliff Top Bar & Grill, located in the adventure that is Anakeesta, offers excellent food, great cocktails and live music on weekend evenings. Part of Cliff Top is The Bar at the Top of the World, where beautiful scenery pairs with a beer or a cocktail – try Karen’s Sweet Tea, and maybe snack on such foods as the southern favorite Fried Green Tomatoes or a ½ pound char-grilled Smoky Mountain burger or BBQ Pork Mac & Cheese Bowl – yum! Check out the rest of the menu.
Find the mountain park of Anakeesta and the Cliff Top Bar & Grill at 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg.
Weekly Music
At Three Jimmy’s Good Time Eatery located at 1357 East Parkway in Gatlinburg, there’s live music, karaoke and open-mic night every week. Three Jimmy’s Good Time Eatery also serves some great food which includes brisket and pulled pork, chicken pot pie, southern fried catfish, along with pizza and wings. With that in mind, don’t forget to check out the menu.
Check out the Facebook page for East Tennessee Music Scene for even more live music in the area.
Additionally, at Dollywood, with the theme park’s namesake as one of the world’s best known country artists, offers musical performances and shows every day it is open. Check out the schedule here. Country, bluegrass, gospel, and more are showcased.
Dinner Theater
Dolly Parton’s entertainment expands out of Dollywood too! Here, you’ll find singing, dancing, pirates, fights, comedy, and live animals of all sorts including buffalo, long-horn cows, piglets and horses. All while you and your family enjoy marvelous, tasty southern, home-cookin’-style meals.
Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Hatfield & McCoy and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show have adventures and fun for the entire family – and music! Check out our blog post for more!
Dance, laugh, sing, eat and enjoy fantastic entertainment while in the Great Smoky Mountains at The Grand Majestic Theater in Pigeon Forge.
Among the musical shows are Soul of Motown – a “fresh and energetic concert-style tribute to Motown legends.”
Other Theater
Featuring Morris “Mo” Cosby, Brandon Godfrey, Dre Hilto, Sean Stewart and CJ Williams, the show pays tribute to some of the greatest vocal groups ever to hit the charts – The Drifters, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and many more.
Hit Parade is a “high energy, singing and dancing sensation showcasing the jukebox hits from the ’50s and ’60s plus a moving tribute to our Military.”
“Rock around the clock” with hits from artists as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Everly Brothers, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley.
FESTIVALS
https://youtu.be/U2oFpSVpt78
Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival in downtown Sevierville is May 20 and 21 this year. The lineup this year includes Leftover Salmon, Kat Wright, Appalachian Road Show and The Jacob Jolliff Band. Check out the rest of the Entertainment Schedule and keep up with announcements here.
The Smoky Mountain Big Foot Festival is May 7 in beautiful Townsend, TN. Live music including Mini Kiss, as well as a 5K run, and plenty of guest speakers are sure to entertain at the second annual festival at the Townsend Visitor Center.
Read more about Townsend in our blog post.
Songwriters
Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival is set for Aug. 18-21. Among those playing are Tony Areta, best known song is “The Dance”, a number-one U.S. country hit for Garth Brooks in 1990 which was nominated at the 33rd Grammy Awards for Best Country Song. He also wrote No. 1 U.S. country hit “Dreaming with My Eyes Open” recorded by Clay Walker. Accordingly, Arata was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012 along with Grammy nominated songwriter Pat Sallis; Victoria Venier; Irene Kelley, an American country and bluegrass musician.
As a songwriter, she has written for Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn, and the Osborne Brothers; and Thomm Jutz has had eight #1 Bluegrass songs recorded by: Terry Baucom, Chris Jones, Irene Kelley, Mac Wiseman/Shawn Camp, Buddy Melton & Milan Miller, Junior Williams, and two #1 Bluegrass/Gospel songs by Dale Ann Bradley &Tina Adair, Terry Baucom. Thomm is the IBMA’s current Songwriter of the Year. And so many more!
Stages are in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge throughout the festival.
Book Your Stay
Ready to book your Smoky Mountain Vacation and find the best, most inspiring musical entertainment?
Then, American Patriot Getaways is here to help. Our professionally cleaned cabins are all over the Smoky Mountains, and we have plenty of cabins close to Dollywood and all Pigeon Forge adventures.
Booking a stay in a private cabin is even better than choosing a hotel! Browse all of our cabins over on our web site or give our friendly Reservations Team a call at (800) 204-5169 and let them help you create the vacation of a lifetime.
We look forward to you booking your mountain vacation with us in the Smokies again soon! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest area news and happenings.
Check out our Smoky Mountain Travel Guide for more adventures. Be sure to check out all our vacation guides for planning your Smoky Mountain getaway.
