Southern Skies, Holleroo, Thaw Out, Outlandish, Vestival & More May Knoxville Live Music Events & Festivals
- Jared Hagemann
- Apr 26
- 4 min read
Updated: May 4
May is upon us! Check out these festivals with live music and other stuff happening during everyone's favorite fifth month of the year.
We'll continue to update this article throughout the month as new information and events are announced.
THAW OUT MUSIC FESTIVAL
May 3
Thaw Out returns for another year, this time taking place at Chapman Ford Crossing Plaza in South Knoxville off Chapman Highway. Parking is available there but free shuttles will be running from all day from Gate 21 Plaza on campus.
Tickets are:
$57 for general admission
$80 for VIP, which gets you a special viewing area, express entrance, and air conditioned bathrooms
$135 for Ultra VIP, which includes all the VIP stuff along with a "skydeck rooftop", and an exclusive bar.
The exact schedule has not been released yet, but here are the artists with their music:
OUTLANDISH ADVENTURE FESTIVAL
May 2 & 3
Outlandish is a festival celebrating the great outdoors in Knoxville, hosted at Ijams Nature Center.
The variety of events ranges from live music hosted at two locations to a paddle with a movie projected, bike competitions, a highline tight rope, climbing competitions, and a whole lot more stuff that you'll have to check out for yourself.
(Most of the event takes place on Saturday, May 3rd except for the movie paddle)
As for the live music, here's that schedule with samples of their music:
11AM - Day and Age
2PM - Drums Up Guns Down
3PM - Mal Nombre
6:30PM - French Toast
7:25PM - High Heat
8:15PM - Circus Under the Moon
8:30PM - FERD
1PM - School of Rock
4PM - Good Guy Collective
5PM - The Late Shifters
MAIFEST
May 9 & 10 & 11
Hosted by Schulz Bräu Brewing Company, Maifest is a yearly celebration of spring based on German traditions.
The festival runs each day open to close with lots of events and live music.
The announced live music is:
May 9: 7PM Matt Tolentino
May 10: 7PM Lynn Marie and the Nashville Polka Guys
May 11: TBA
SOUTHERN SKIES MUSIC & WHISKEY FESTIVAL
MAY 10
Hosted by Dogwood Arts with music curated by the Dirty Guv'nahs, Southern Skies returns for the fourth year to World's Fair Park.
This year, Charley Crockett headlines the festival with support from Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies, The Dirty Guv'nahs, Willow Avalon, Devon Gilfillian, and Southern Avenue.
Also returning is the Tennessee Whiskey Experience, a separate ticketed with tons of whiskey and stuff. (We recommend using a rideshare, taxi, or designated driver if you're going to experience this)
Tickets are:
$70 for general admission (kids under 10 are free)
$175 for VIP (includes separate viewing area, bars, a festival merch package, and air conditioned bathrooms)
$55 for the Whiskey Experience (Two Sessions: 12:30PM - 3:30PM & 4:30PM - 7:30PM)
A $10 add-on gives you a ticket to the OneKnox soccer match the day before (May 9th) at the new Covenant Health Park in the Old City (this is a great deal if you've been wanting to go to the stadium and/or a soccer match)
Convinced? Grab your tickets here!
Here's the schedule of live bands & samples of their music:
12:30PM - Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies
1:45PM - Southern Avenue
3:15PM - Devon Gilfillian
4:45PM - Willow Avalon
6:15PM - The Dirty Guv'nahs
8:15PM - Charley Crockett
VESTIVAL
May 10
Hosted by the Vestal Arts and Heritage Association, Vestival is a music and arts festival celebrating the South Knoxville community of Vestal and held this year at the Sustainable Future Center and the South Knoxville Community Center.
Every year there's live music, art exhibits, crafts, demonstrations, and more.
One band we know will be performing is the Knox County Jug Stompers at 2PM on Saturday.
We'll update the schedule when more information is released, but, in the meantime, here's this year's flyer.
HOLLEROO
May 17
Holleroo is a yearly street festival hosted in the Happy Holler neighborhood on the block with Central Flats & Taps, Central Cinema, Zero/Zero, XYZ, etc.
This street fair features more than just live music: there's also a soap box derby, food, vendors, and other stuff.
If you're reading this before May 1st, there's still time to sign up for the soap box derby! Sign up here!
The full schedule and lineup will be announced soon, but in the meantime here are the artists who have been revealed:
Free Market Square Shows
Outside of the festivals, the City of Knoxville is hosting some fun free shows on Market Square throughout the month. Learn more here!
May 6 - Jazz - Margherita Fava and the Knoxville Jazz Workshop
May 13 - Jazz - Greg Tardy Quintet
May 15 - WIMZ Garage Band
May 20 - Jazz - TBA
May 27 - Jazz - TBA
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