Amidst the rumble of Neyland Stadium on a Saturday (a rare sight or sound in the springtime), Knoxville is keeping its natural buzz going through a number of venues, each hosting lively performances or gatherings of creators. From authors pinging ideas off of one another to handmade crafts and plant life sprouting from the soil, there’s a lot of spring already in full swing, gearing up for a summer season that may be busier than what we’re used to.
Grits & Greens – Preservation Pub (April 30, 9 p.m.) The southern rock music scene has been in bloom for the last few years. What sprouted on college campuses in the SEC is now flowering into its own self-sustaining ecosystem, with fresh acts popping up at a rapid pace. Grits & Greens, a wash of acid rock and sweaty barroom blues, is a natural continuation and productive evolution of that revival of eternal sounds. This show is $5 to $10 after 7 p.m.
Art Source 2026 – University of Tennessee Downtown Gallery (April 30 – May 2, check hours) Every day, instructors across our sprawling surrounding county pour into students with the hope that they’ll unlock a creative segment that most people don’t take the time to cultivate. It’s not often that those instructors get to flex their own muscles, which is why the Art Source exhibition is so crucial. In it, teachers from Knox County schools will put their portfolios on display to show the source of their curriculum and get back into the swing of their passion.
Beer & Blooms – Muse Knoxville (May 1, 6 – 9 p.m.) Muse Knoxville presents this annual, adult-oriented event to give the grown-ups a chance at their own fun night on the town. Here, flowerpots can be decorated to adorn your garden at home, a real-life beer scientist will walk you through the chemistry of the perfect brew, or you can craft a terrarium for creepy crawlies to sit on your mantle. Food and local beer tastings will also be available. Tickets are $20 for members, $25 for non-members and $17 for non-drinkers.
The Troubadours Tour – The Church At Sterchi Hills (May 1, 7 – 11 p.m.) The trio of John Mark McMillan, Josh Baldwin, and Matt Maher has been redefining Christian music through the avenue of its folk beginnings. Their Troubadours Tour is a reflection of that intentional intimacy. In the church setting, chords and roundtable discussions masked as lyrics will ring out with intentionality. Tickets are $95 for adults, or free for children.
Plant Sale – Crafty Bastard Brewing (May 2, 1 – 4 p.m.) The springtime sprucing up of the gardens is here, and so is this annual sale hosted by one of Knoxville’s many brew houses with a cult following. From flowers to homegrown vegetables, the plant sale is set to carry a number of different ways to spice up your backyard soil and make for a summertime spent in the foliage.
Knoxville Book Festival – Knoxville Convention Center (May 2 & 3, multiple times) This festival is a relative newcomer to the Knoxville circuit, but in only its second year the Knoxville Book Festival may be poised to grow into a community staple soon enough. For two days, book lovers from across East Tennessee will descend upon the convention center, pouring over novels and volumes of literature of all flavors as well as participate in writers workshops, panels and other stimulating programming. Single day passes start at $22.50, with weekend passes at $33.75.
Appalachian Spring – Bijou Theater (May 3, 2:30 p.m.) Who says classical music can’t ring out with the charm of mountain life? Martha Graham’s 1944 epic, Appalachian Spring, brings the eloquence of symphony into the valleys of home and is only accentuated in its more modern flourishes. Headed up by dynamic, well rounded performers and conductors here in Knoxville, one of the region’s favorites is coming back to life in an invigorating way.
Retropolitan Craft Fair – Mill & Mine (May 3, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.) Over 50 local vendors and artisans will bring their displays of creativity to sell to patrons in one of Knoxville’s most lively and lived-in concert halls! Come shop for everything from clothing and jewelry, household items and even decorative and fashion-forward items for a shopping experience that tackles personal use while keeping the pocketbook swimming in local channels.
Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts, and culture in and around his hometown. Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at delahoussaye1267@gmail.com or by text at 865-919-5059 with your story idea.
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