The Caverns by Michael Weintrob
As a wise man once said—geology rocks.
With that said, it’s time to get away from the concrete jungle, dig a little deeper, and keep Middle Tennessee in tune as Monteagle Mountain brings even more bass to its base, kicking off its new season of PBS’s Bluegrass Underground.
From deep inside Cumberland Caverns to its current home (since 2018) at The Caverns in the base of Monteagle Mountain, near Pelham, the Bluegrass Underground concert series has undergone a few formations throughout its incarnation (this season will be its 11th).
The subterranean musical adventure series has featured both long-established and emerging artists across a broad spectrum of American roots genres over its Emmy-winning years since 2011, and is ready to welcome audiences back with open arms and an open cave mouth.
It’s a soundscape two years in the re-making—the nature-made venue took the opportunity to get its hands dirty outside in the would-be downtime, swiftly assembling a tremendous outdoor amphitheater in only six weeks during a cavernous two-year pandemic pause halting shows inside of the Caverns.
But now the cave is ready for the return of more rocky-topped tunes.
The Del McCoury Band gets things underway underground on March 5, before the official PBS series begins. The “most awarded band in the history of bluegrass” is in fine form, having just released fresh cuts with the album Almost Proud in February. On March 6, The Mavericks (noted WMOT cave-circuit faves), joined by Sweet Lizzy Project, jump in with music for all occasions. As a Caverns post puts it, to miss them would be a crying shame.
Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional take hold with their Surviving the Truth tour March 11 and 12 before Bluegrass Underground gets underway the following week for three days of PBS taping, March 18–20.
This three-day event features bona fide Western-swing stalwarts Asleep at the Wheel, bluegrass phenoms Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, two-time Grammy-winning producer and country-rock legacy artist Shooter Jennings, alternative rockers Moon Taxi, blues innovator Buffalo Nichols, breakout songwriter Katie Pruitt, Southern gothic songwriter Adia Victoria, emerging Americana sensation Brit Taylor (if you can relate to Brit’s “Waking Up Ain’t Easy” you might want to make a day and an overnight stay of it), Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa, bluegrass-meets-hip-hop act Gangstagrass, bluegrass collaborative Watkins Family Hour and three-time Grammy-nominated indie folk duo The Milk Carton Kids.
These Bluegrass Underground shows are sold out, but will be available to view across the nation upon the PBS season premiere in fall 2022 (seen on WNPT in Middle Tennessee).
“At last, we’re getting back to what we do best: capturing magical performances in a magical subterranean setting,” says Bluegrass Underground creator and co-producer Todd Mayo. “As the second-longest-running music series on American television, we’re grateful for our longtime partnership with PBS and WCTE. Together we’re able to bring television viewers a diversity of roots music from one of the most iconic music destinations in the world, The Caverns in Grundy County, Tennessee.”
Boy Named Banjo and Tenille Townes hit the venue on March 26 and then Aaron Lewis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, J.J. Grey and Mofro, and other bright spots await in the surrounding months. So, boasting all of this and then some—stone-cold Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke cut their own groove April 15–16—it’s safe to say this polished place has emerged from its hibernation fit as a fiddle.
Accordion-ingly, the weird word-crimer Weird Al Yankovic rounds out the rave in the cave for the month of May, further inviting cave-dwellers to make a day of mineral enrichment. He’s underground for a weekend stint on his (oh-so-easy-to-remember, rolls-right-off-the-tongue) Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour days before it surfaces at the Ryman. Maybe Daniel Radcliffe will even stop in to brush up on his studies of the star (no yanking here—Radcliffe will portray Yankovic in a soon-to-be Roku TV biopic).
The Caverns music hall is accessible to those with disabilities or mobility concerns. Food, beverages and other unique items are available for purchase and, yes, the inside area is also equipped with restrooms.
Ticket costs and packages vary significantly (options range from general admission and reserved to cave tours, vehicle hookups and hotel stays in either Monteagle or Manchester). Cave tour tickets can be redeemed for up to one year after purchase. Many concert packages come with posters and other one-of-a-kind designed memorabilia offerings. Review individual show information and reserve tickets at thecaverns.com.
The Caverns is located at 555 Charlie Roberts Rd., Pelham, Tennessee. For more information, call 931-516-9724 or visit thecaverns.com or bluegrassunderground.com.
