If you love live bands, especially when they’re picking some spirited bluegrass music, The Caverns is an absolute must. This unique and spectacular music venue in Grundy County, TN, is a fantastic setting to hear the best in live bluegrass and other music. Here’s a closer look at this underground wonder.

What to Know About The Caverns

What’s So Special About It?

The Caverns is a world-class music venue located in a massive underground cave system—with over 8,000 linear feet of mapped caves. One of the largest of these, the Big Mouth Cave, is now a modern concert hall that seats 750 with additional standing room for 250 more.

With naturally amazing acoustics, the concert area offers one of the most unique settings for live music in the world. The Caverns are close to Nashville, Memphis, Asheville, and Birmingham, ideally located for enjoying live bands as well as the area’s natural wonders, such as South Cumberland State Park. 

What Kind of Live Bands Do They Host?

The Caverns is nationally famous for Bluegrass Underground, the award-winning PBS television series. However, the venue offers live bands that span other genres, including honky-tonk, gospel, and classic folk.

Purchase a Stay-and-Cave ticket package, which allows you to enjoy both the amazing shows and the awe-inspiring grandeur of the caves themselves. Bands that have played in The Caverns include greats such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter, Keb ‘Mo, and Steve Earle. 

What Should You Know Before You Go?

The Caverns offers year-round packages of tickets, lodging accommodation, and concerts. Plan to visit if you’re in town for a nearby festival or having a mini-break in Nashville or Memphis.

Their website answers the most common questions about this unique attraction. Be advised that the venue is around 59 degrees Fahrenheit all year, so bring a light coat to stay warm. The cave is disability-accessible, serves food and beverages, and welcomes service animals. 

As the annual Bigfoot Blues Festival attests, the bluegrass scene is thriving in Tennessee. The Festival takes place every October and offers camping and parking on-site. Featuring an impressive lineup of live bands and solo artists, the Bigfoot Blues Festival is a definite destination for a bluegrass enthusiast’s bucket list. If you’re attending the festival, you can ride their shuttle to The Caverns to see additional live music. Call (931) 488-8652 for more information or visit their website to see lineups for future festivals.