Merry Christmas from all of us at the Chattanooga Market!

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Our 2008 season is over, and we went out with a bang during the Holiday Market finale.  Check out some wonderful images from this festive event on our Google Photos web gallery.

The Chattanooga market will return in April, 2009 - stay tuned for more details!

Eric Brace is frontman and principal songwriter for the acclaimed roots-rock band Last Train Home, and half of the Eric Brace & Peter Cooper duo. For more than a decade, LTH has toured the country and racked up great reviews for its seven CDs and its recent live DVD.
Initially from Washington D.C., where he was the nightlife columnist and arts reporter for The Washington Post, Eric is now a proud resident of East Nashville, where he and his band moved in 2004. Since relocating to Music City USA, Last Train Home has continued to impress, appearing on the CBS’s “Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” the syndicated public radio program “Mountain Stage,” and on stage opening for the likes of Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton.
Besides his own compositions, Eric has written songs with some of Nashville’s finest, such as Jim Lauderdale and Walter Egan. He recently formed the Red Beet Records label, releasing two compilation CDs of music from East Nashville as well as Peter Cooper’s debut “Mission Door.”

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The Sweet Georgia Sound is a 20-member ensemble that has played in the Chattanooga area since 1994. SGS plays a variety of listening, dance, and ballroom dance music that includes classic and modern big band, swing, Latin, and waltz tunes.

In the Chattanooga area, Sweet Georgia Sound has earned the respect of accomplished ballroom dancers. However, Sweet Georgia Sound is also known for its ability and willingness to customize the musical program to meet the needs and preferences of its audience. Songs are selected and tempos are adjusted in order to accommodate the dancing abilities of those in attendance.

The Sweet Georgia Sound has played for listening audiences, as well as for weddings, picnics, military reunions, and major charity events.

The Uptown Big Band, Chattanooga’s classic salute to the Big Bands of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, will be performing at the Chattanooga Market this weekend.

The band, under different names, has been featured at Riverbend, Downtown Chattanooga Rhythm and Noon Concert Series, SwingFest, the Saturday Concert Series at the Chattanooga Public Library and other venues for many years.

Originally formed by musically inclined employees of Unum Group, the ensemble now is a stand-alone group made up of talented musicians from the region. The band is under the direction of Jim Ransom, a long-time music educator.

This Sunday, come down to the First Tennessee Pavilion to get into the holiday spirit.  It’s a family event benefiting the Why Know organization - the 2nd annual “Gingerbread Lane”.  Middle and high-schoolers have been busy creating gingerbread houses that will be on display (available for purchase too!) eager to win the popular vote.

Santa will be there as well, with photos to boot.  Face painting, bounce house - additional family fun for a small donation to Why Know.

Of course, our 100+ vendors are geared up with extra handmade merchandise ready to sell for the gift giving season.  There are only 2 more Market opportunities for buying locally made art, jewelry, gourmet foods, soap, paintings and so much more that Chattanooga Market has to offer.  Local is Better!

Why Know Abstinence Education, Inc. is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Why Know’s mission is to build healthy teens by providing knowledge, support and life skills to achieve a life of excellence. Why Know serves 57 schools in Hamilton, Catoosa, Dade, Gordon, Walker and Whitfield Counties. Its curriculum is used in 40 states and 11 countries. Since Why Know’s inception, the local teen pregnancy rate has decreased 72 percent. For more information about Why Know, visit www.whyknow.org or call 423.899.9188

Tim Thompson captures the prestigious 2nd Place title in the International Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at the famous Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield Kansas, September 2007!

As a professional musician working in a competitive industry, Tim Thompson has learned to play his strengths in more than one area of the business. Not only is he considered a guitar virtuoso and talented singer/songwriter, he’s also a much sought after and very busy independent producer and session player. Thompson is a popular performer and is seen playing often at Nashville’s famous Bluebird Cafe. He has been featured twice in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine in the last two years as well as Taylor Guitar’s Wood And Steel, and also had his arrangement and performance of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” used in the movie, Casper’s Haunted Christmas along with artists Ricky Van Shelton and Deana Carter. Thompson has contributed several articles to Mel Bay and Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, and also released a jazz guitar DVD for Mel Bay. While in Nashville, Tim wrote for a publishing company for three years.

Tim is currently engineering and performing on a Chet Atkins Tribute Album featuring Mark Knopfler, Brent Mason, Richard Smith, Charlie McCoy, Paul Franklin, Pat Bergeson and Doug Jerningan.

Thompson’s endorsements include the following companies; Aphex, Elixir, Taylor Guitars, Batson Guitars, Peavey, Creation Audio Labs, Visual Sound, Fred Kelly Picks, Neck Up, G 7th and George L.

Tim is also available for songwriting workshops, guitar clinics and in-store performances.

Born and raised in Chicago, Larry has had a long career as lead guitarist for a variety of groups. Heavily influenced by Dave van Ronk, John Fahey, and Martin Simpson, Larry embarked upon a solo career as a composer and performer on the acoustic guitar ten years ago. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Larry released Cobb Lane in 2000, and just released his second CD, Music for the High Country - The Soundtrack of Blowing Rock. The music is a blend of original compositions, as well as traditional classics, arranged in Larry’s unique style, encompassing both his solo acoustic guitar, and his outstanding chamber ensemble, known as the Acoustic Earth Orchestra. Music for the High Country has been endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce of Blowing Rock, NC as their official soundtrack. Larry teaches in Birmingham, Alabama where he resides with his wife Kathryn and their dogs, Dipstick and Murphy.

Larry has been a guest artist with Alasdair Fraser, Michael Manring, and Ken Bonfield, and participates in Ken Bonfield’s Artistry of the Guitar program. He has been teaching the guitar for the past 25 years.

This Sunday, at Chattanooga Market, you’ll find a fabulous showing of antique dealers from Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. If you’re a collector, decorator, or just appreciate these old time finds, come to the First Tennessee Pavilion early!