This month’s pick to click: The Levitt Amp Maryville Music Series
By Lee Zimmerman
Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, so it ought to come as no surprise that all of us seem to have one. And when it comes to choices of entertainment that appears to be particularly true.
My dear mother used to say that some people’s taste resides only in their mouth, which I always interpreted as a put down of sorts. On the other hand we all know what we like, so tastes can vary, no matter what they originate from.
I feel fortunate to have a forum where I can personally share a pick for a special event each and every month, one that I believe is well worth recommending. Hopefully it will serve to spotlight a performance (or performances) that ought to prove especially interesting and engaging. Whether you agree or not is of course up to you, but I’ll do my best to draw on my creativity and credibility to make my choices both interesting informative.
We’re fortunate that here in Blount County we have a lot of choices to choose from.
So with the challenge that comes with making an initial recommendation, I’ve opted for an obvious one, on which I believe we can all agree.
It’s called the Levitt Amp Maryville Music Series and it’s coming to Maryville’s Jack Green Park with a series of summer shows taking place from June 4 through July 30 at 7 pm.
And did we say free?
The Levitt AMP Maryville Music Series, presented by Downtown Maryville Alliance, will indeed bring us free, live music to the Charles West Amphitheater at Jack Greene Park, located along the Maryville-Alcoa Greenway and steps from historic downtown. It revives a once-popular musical tradition known as a Foothills Fall Festival. The series will feature live music in an open-air setting, transforming the park into a gathering place for families, students, residents, and newcomers alike, and include both local and regional artists. Sponsored by the Downtown Maryville Alliance, its goal is to revitalize Maryville’s downtown as a warm, vibrant and unique gathering place for the entire community.
It’s funded by a joint partnership between the Levitt Family Foundation and the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, with support from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Suffice it to say, these folks are taking this initiative seriously. We ought to as well.
Upon announcement of Maryville receiving the Levitt Family Foundation grant, dozens of emails from interested and talented bands came through to us,” Amanda Gillooly, Executive Director of the Downtown Maryville Alliance, said. “We are so fortunate to have such an incredible talent pool locally and within driving distance to choose from! With those submissions, as well as a recommendation list of hundreds of bands who have previously played at a Levitt Music Series, our team had many, many options to consider and weigh in on. Thankfully, we have resources in our community who have previously seen many of these groups perform live and could vouch for their talent and interaction with the crowd. Diversity of genres is also very important to the Levitt Family Foundation, and to us, so we guided our selections on curating a mix of musical styles, group size, as well as local, national, and internationally touring artists. We wanted the line-up to be diverse enough to offer something for everyone, while also authentically reflecting our community.”
Amanda was kind enough to name your’s truly as one of those who offered input.
That said, the line-up is as follows:
The Young Fables are a Country Pop and Roots duo originally from right here in Maryville. They’re comprised of vocalist Laurel Wright and guitarist songwriter Wesley Lunsford. Known for blending timeless storytelling with contemporary pop sensibilities, the duo have built a sound rooted in emotional honesty, lyrical depth, and melodic clarity that resonates with local, national and international audiences alike.
The brain-child of bassist Scott Mulvahill and vocalist Laura Berens, Slap Dragon met and began writing songs together in the summer of 2023. Their soulful vocals and acoustic instrumentation — aided and abetted by some of Nashville’s finest musicians — combine for a fresh, funky irresistibly joyful sound that is equal parts bluegrass, disco, and R & B. Having performed at Bonnaroo, the duo gained traction online with a recent Instagram clip that surpassed 260k views. Their debut album, Mission Statement, will be released later this month.
The Sensational Barnes Brothers combine the sounds of stirring soul and gospel, bringing to mind the tradition started by Stax Records in the ‘60s while delivering a fresh, contemporary feel. They draw from their reverence for their roots, as drawn from their initial performances in their family living room which subsequently led to the recording of their debut album. Describing themselves as “Sensational” seems to be no exaggeration.
Milk Man & The Big Band hails from Knoxville, and is known from their vibrant blend of rock, blues, R&B and jazz. Founded in 2021, the band is helmed by songwriter Dino “Milk Man” Nassios whose affection for the Beatles and Paul McCartney is readily obvious in the band’s riveting original material and there imaginative covers. Their’s is a show one will likely not soon forget,
An acclaimed singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist widely regarded as one of the most respected voices in contemporary American roots music. His numerous awards — including multiple Grammy and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame nominations, a 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association, Songwriter of the Year awards from both ASCAP and NSAI and his upcoming induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame — testify to his talents. A local legend of sorts, he shares deep roots in country, bluegrass, folk, and Americana.
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Chatham County Line has built a devoted local following courtesy of their imaginative blend of bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll. They’ve released a continuing series of critically acclaimed studio albums, topped the Billboard Bluegrass Chart four times, collaborated with the likes of Judy Collins, Sharon Van Etten, and Norwegian star Jonas Fjeld, earned two gold records in Norway (where they were also twice nominated for the Spellemannprisen, Norway’s equivalent of a Grammy), and shared bills with everyone from Guy Clark and Lyle Lovett to Steve Martin & Martin Short and The Avett Brothers.
Mississippi bluesman Cedric Burnside is considered by many to be a new Blues legend in his own right, and rightfully so. The grandson of R. L. Burnside, who helped to define the Hill Country Blues sound of Mississippi’s northern region, Cedric combed those influences and the music of earlier generations, to become a highly revered prime mover in the development of modern blues music.
New Orleans soul/rock powerhouse ensemble J & The Causeways’ debut album, Motions, conjures a universal theme of togetherness and compassion courtesy of lyrics and melodies that celebrate tenderness and transcendence. In so doing, they share a similarity to other renowned soul acts like St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Brittany Howard while also establishing an indelible bond with their audiences.
Now only 17 years old, East Tennessee-based mandolinist, singer, and songwriter Wyatt Ellis is widely regarded as one of today’s most exciting young talents in bluegrass and country music. At age 13, he made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, and returned the very next year for an official debut with his own band. His debut album, Happy Valley, a collection of original instrumentals written at age 11, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart, and led to him being featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit. Having appeared with any number of admiring superstars, he continues to blend talent, authenticity and humility in equal measure.
