Born & Raised Productions, which has produced several concert series in and around downtown, from Pretentious Glass to the Sunset on Central series, has announced The Outpost Outdoors Concert Series beginning September 10 and running through October 22nd on each Friday night. They are pairing the announcement of the series with the announcement they will establish a permanent indoor venue, The Outpost, adjacent to the series site at 808 State Street, between Central and Cumberland and directly behind the First Horizon Building, one block from Gay Street. The venue will open in 2022.
I spoke to Garrett Thomson and Kent Oglesby, owners and operators of Born and Raised, and they said the new venue, once completed, will seat 450 patrons, filling a void between clubs and theatres in the city. The artists in the outdoor series are representative of the kinds of acts you might expect in the new venue.
Originally announced as an event space, the two said they intend to make it the “best sounding room in Knoxville.” It will be “tailored to be the best listening room in the city.” Born & Raised will program the space and may use the exterior space again in the future, though the focus will be on The Outpost. Garrett added, “This is what we’ve been working toward since we started.”
The outdoor series will feature touring bands as well as local favorites and the site will be set up with the amenities you’d expect at a great outdoor concert experience, with food trucks, vendors, artwork, two outside bars and a VIP area. The spot is virtually surrounded by parking garages offering free parking nights and weekends.
Scheduled performers for the fall series include Aaron Lee Tasjian (Glam Country), Dolly Parton Night (a tribute featuring all-star local musicians), The Suffers (brass-driven, knock-your-socks-off soul), The Weeks (southern indie rock), The Foxies (power punk trio), Hey Steve (new wave punk), and Willie Nelson vs. Waylon Jennings (house band Jubal, with all-star local special guests).
Born & Raised has dedicated a portion of the proceeds to Keep Knoxville Beautiful, Dogwood Arts, First Tee of Knoxville, Knoxville Botanical Gardens, and Tennessee Tailgating for a Cause. Supporting the event are sponsors First Century Bank, Grayson Auto, Fox and Fogarty, InsureFit and Cherokee Distributing.
Tickets are available starting this Friday, July 23 at 10:00 am and cost $15 in advance and $20 the day of the event. Season tickets are available for a reduced price and VIP tickets may also be purchased. You will find all the information regarding the events, including more details about the artists, as well as tickets here.