Just over an hour from Murfreesboro, The Caverns has turned its unlikely natural concert venue into one of Tennessee’s most distinctive music destinations. Located in Pelham, beneath the Cumberland Plateau, the venue frequently brings world-class live music into its cave, while also offering an outdoor amphitheater, cave tours and camping.

The result is a concert experience that can be considerably different from a night at a traditional music hall. This fall’s schedule brings a wide-ranging collection of artists to The Caverns.

LEVEL UP
Sept 11 & 12

LEVEL UP brings her high-energy EDM show to The Caverns for an unforgettable two-night rave in a cave, billed as Celestial Caverns.

LEVEL UP, a.k.a. Sonya Broner, feels most at home behind the decks. Originally a battle DJ under the mentorship of the legendary Rob Swift, she later dove into music production after discovering dubstep and has since refined her sound, taking fans on an immersive ride through heavy bass along with her own flips of classic dance and emo anthems.

The Sept 11 and 12 shows will each feature special guest DJs.

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Phantogram
Sept. 17

Phantogram, the duo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, has spent more than a decade building a sound that refuses to sit neatly inside one genre.

Since the 2010 debut Eyelid Movies, Phantogram has combined electronic, rock and pop influences and collaborated with artists ranging from Big Boi and Miley Cyrus to the Deftones, The Flaming Lips and Tom Morello, accumulating more than a billion streams.

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Pokey LaFarge
Sept. 26

Pokey LaFarge brings his retro blend of Americana, blues and swing to the underground on Sept. 26 as part of his 2026 tour. LaFarge’s latest album, Rhumba Country, draws from country, rock ’n’ roll, R&B, rock steady, mambo and tropicália.

The Illinois-born singer-songwriter developed the album in part while working on a farm in Maine, with songs inspired by everything from farming and love to music from around the world. The result is an upbeat, colorful record that LaFarge describes as being in “technicolor.”

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Hannah Harper & Mo Pitney
Sept. 27

Country music gets its turn Sept. 27 when Hannah Harper and Mo Pitney share the underground stage.

The Missouri-born Harper recently became the first female country singer to win American Idol since Carrie Underwood with her powerful, roots-driven voice and takes on motherhood, while country powerhouse Pitney brings traditional country influences to the one-night performance full of heartfelt songwriting and timeless twang.

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CaveFest
Oct. 10–11

The fifth annual CaveFest returns this October with music both above and below ground. The 2026 lineup is headlined by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project, Rising Appalachia and Keller & the Keels, with a long list of additional performers and special sets.

Among the unusual programming are a John Prine 80th Birthday Celebration, a Bristol Sessions 100th Anniversary Celebration, Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project performing Old & In the Way, “Queen of CaveFest” Lindsay Lou performing Sublime’s Sublime, and Airshow performing Phish’s Billy Breathes, along with a Bob Weir tribute.

CaveFest also includes camping, cave tours, kids’ activities, workshops, open jam sessions, cave yoga and a sound bath. Two-day tickets include camping; 12 and under are admitted free.

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STS9
Oct. 16 & 17

The electronic/jam instrumental collective Sound Tribe Sector 9 returns to The Caverns for two nights, Oct. 16 and 17. The Atlanta-based group formed in the late ’90s and has become a favorite on the festival circuit. STS9’s return continues The Caverns’ tradition of bringing improvisational and electronic music into its underground concert hall; the shows are standing-room only.

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The SteelDrivers
Nov. 13–14 and 20–21

Few artists are more closely associated with The Caverns than The SteelDrivers, who return for a four-night “Four of a Kind” residency Nov. 13–14 and Nov. 20–21.

The band’s relationship with playing Tennessee caves dates back to the first Bluegrass Underground performances (at Cumberland Caverns in McMinnville) in 2008. Rather than simply repeating the same concert four times, a Caverns spokesperson reports, each night of the residency will offer something a little different. The shows will feature tiered, first-come, first-served seating.

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And that’s only part of what is on the calendar. The Caverns also has upcoming performances from artists including Rodrigo y Gabriela, Parcels, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Palace, Big Gigantic and others.

Plus, for something beyond a conventional concert, the venue periodically turns its underground space over to special events, including the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular (March 2027), which combines Pink Floyd’s music with lasers, lighting, video and special effects. Other unusual offerings include movie and live-screening events such as Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 23) and Napoleon Dynamite (March 2027).

For schedules, tickets, cave tours and information on upcoming events, visit thecaverns.com; many shows offer available camping, hotel and transportation add-ons.