Coffee shops and Music Venues in TriCities? (Knoxville, Johnson City: chapel, restaurant)

[catholicblock]

Hello,
I just moved to the TriCity area from Chapel Hill, NC(originally from Brooklyn, NY). I was told that Johnson City has a couple music venues, so we went to The Hideaway in downtown JC and it was OK.

Do you guys know any venues in the area that play indie rock and such? I know Asheville has a good scene but it's 1.5 hr drive :/

Also, are there any nice little cozzy coffee shops in TriCities other than Starbucks?





Thanks!

[jabogitlu]

One thing JC is sorely lacking is that 'comfy coffee shop.' We had the one in front of the ETSU Kroger but it recently closed. The other branch is still open but it's in the mall hardly comfy.

As for music venues, yep. Indie rock? a few. That's a pretty wide category and few venues are dedicated solely to one genre here (a product of serving a wide customer base with few competitors). Check out the Acoustic Coffeehouse (Walnut Street) on a weekend night, also Halo's (downtown) usually has someone jamming away, though it's better in the summer cause they use the outdoor patio.

Tune into 101.5 as they always have a list of area music. Also check out NETN's arts-alternate, The Loafer. (Welcome To The Loafer OnLine! (http://theloaferonline.com/Pages/mainfr.html - broken link)) The website is GOD-AWFUL, but the information in the mag is great. If you prefer not to download the zip file, you can pick up a paper copy at lots of locations (off the top of my head - Johnny Brusco's, Pizza Inn, Texas Roadhouse, Mr K's Books)

All the venues in JC are very intimate. The TRI doesn't have anything that equates to the Valarium in Knoxville or the Orange Peel. (Not sure what would equate over in Chapel Hill. I've actually never been there, lol.)

Also, not really sure about Kingsport or Bristol. Maybe someone else has some suggestions? I think Kingsport has a new place called The Bus Pit that has music. Lots of great things are happening in downtown Kingsport, and 12 Bones or Fire Bone or whatever it's called recently won a national award for its barbecuing.

BTW Welcome to the Tri-Cities. We're a little different than most other metro areas, but you might come to appreciate that.

[campergirl]

Hi there. There is Java J's in downtown Bristol, VA. They seem to be pretty popular. I found a myspace for them...
Java J’s Downtown on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

[rccrain]

Java Rush
2304 Browns Mill Rd Johnson City, TN 37604

My favorite coffee in the TriCities. I don't think it does music though???

[mbmouse]

Kafe Blue in Kingsport is my favorite coffee shop even though it is a restaurant too, had a neat sofa area, several folks with laptops and such. However, they have closed down the current location two weeks ago so they can move across the street (Broad St.) to a new, bigger location which will also include a wine lounge on an upper floor. I believe they are planing on having more of a coffee lounge area in the new place too. They usually have Jazz on Thursday/Friday nights. So not sure if that is one of your music choices and they won't be open again until April.

[campergirl]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Kafe Blue in Kingsport is my favorite coffee shop even though it is a restaurant too, had a neat sofa area, several folks with laptops and such. However, they have closed down the current location two weeks ago so they can move across the street (Broad St.) to a new, bigger location which will also include a wine lounge on an upper floor. I believe they are planing on having more of a coffee lounge area in the new place too. They usually have Jazz on Thursday/Friday nights. So not sure if that is one of your music choices and they won't be open again until April.

That sounds like a great place! One thing I miss since moving here from St. Louis is Jazz.