The Bijou Theatre is one of Knoxville's principal live music venues, housed in a building that dates to 1817 and has served, over the centuries, as a hotel, a Civil War hospital, and an opera house before becoming a dedicated concert venue. The current theatre space seats around 700 and retains much of its nineteenth-century character — heavy curtains, ornate plasterwork, and a stage that has hosted everyone from Sarah Bernhardt to R.E.M.
The programming leans toward indie rock, Americana, and touring acts that don't fill arenas. It is a good-sized room with decent sightlines and sound, and the Gay Street location puts it in the middle of everything. Check listings when you arrive — there is nearly always something worth seeing.