Rock & Rockabilly Shows

Please help us expand this list by suggesting a notable show or share a story about any of these shows if you were there.

We’re also seeking digital copies of photos, tickets, and posters & flyers to better illustrate this archive.

Please call us at 865-337-7723 or email contact@knoxhistoryproject.org. Thank you. 

The Stray Cats, Hobos, Sept. 12, 1982. Ok, the Cats are a little difficult to categorize by genre The Stray Cats (who up to this point had gained greater popularity in the UK and in the summer of ’82 were playing the likes of Roseland Ballroom in NYC and the Hollywood Palladium in LA) were somewhat indignant at having to play this tiny Knoxville venue and refused to perform an encore. The club owner employed some coaxing to get them back on stage.  Since he didn’t have a ticket, Jack Neely recalls watching the band for a few minutes from the sidewalk through an open door. Only five months later, the Stray Cats returned to Knoxville to play at UT Alumni Gym in Feb. 1983. (PJ) See gallery for more images.