Greenville Scene

World Grotto
16 Market Sq
Knoxville, TN 37902
Contact Kim
crepnbuty@hotmail.com
(865) 226-2962
www.worldgrotto.com
myspace.com

World Grotto knows how to turn a routine rock show into an exciting, memorable event. There is a medium sized outdoor patio that greets you at the entrance. This is a great spot to hang out and watch the night life on Knoxville’s Market Square, an apparently new development that attracts the young professional crowd. When you walk into the venue, you will see a small bar, tables for seating/socializing, and an art gallery. Everything is clean and hip.

The performance space is downstairs. A modest stage in front of a faux rock wall with a movie screen in the middle sits at the far end of the long performance hall. Two tiers of pillowed Moroccan benches line both walls in front of the stage. The entire downstairs has a unique aesthetic; cave-like ceilings, multi-colored lanterns, textured walls, and sparkly floors. The bathrooms are spick and span, with troughs for sinks (and tampons provided in baskets in the girl’s bathroom – a rare convenience). Basically, the performance space looks like a fancy opium/hookah bar, sans opium and hookahs. And that’s just for patrons of the bar.

Bands are treated like royalty: three green rooms (plus a private one for…) stocked with refillable beer buckets, cheese bowls, pretzels, peanuts, fresh fruits, crackers, etc. The sound guys and employees are all very cordial and accommodating, which is more than a lot of clubs can say about their staff.

Overall, this bar is one of the best in the South. It really does not get much better. It is clean, aesthetically pleasing, it pays well, and the people are super nice. The only small complaint we have is that to load in you have to drive down a very narrow alley and haul your equipment down a flight of stairs (and then back up after the show). Other than that, it is perfect.

Tuesday nights are “Indie Night” and beyond that they have a range of bands perform. Capacity is around 200+ for the main stage area.

Free drinks for musicians? Big ole tub of cold, free beer

Similiar bars: Gottrocks

Who should try to book a show here? Everyone, from jam to metal

Built in crowd? No