“Upon first listen to the New Binkley Brothers, my immediate thought was ‘There is indeed still hope for country music’. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about that canned crap coming out of Nashville nowadays (pop stars in cowboy hats). I’m talking about honest to goodness southern music which incorporates the gritty, shuffling fiddle of the famed North Georgia string bands of the 1920’s, the driving clawhammer banjo and the mountain harmonies that make your hair stand on end. These boys get it right. Hailing from Chattanooga, TN, this old-timey trio know just when to whoop it up, stomp and swerve out a fiddle tune, as well as break it down with old religious standards. In true southern fashion, these gents perfectly toe that line between saints and sinners; get down and get right and are as refreshing as cool corn liquor on a hot summers night.” –Leo Chancy TN Dept of Transformation

We have over 120 vendors scheduled for the Mother’s Day Market, including approximately twenty antique dealers to benefit the charity of the week (Pennies for Vicki).  All vendor reservations/requests previously received are currently being processed, and you will be notified by email next week with your booth assignment.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Market and selling a unique product or service, we look forward to hearing from you - but it will most likely be June before new booth space becomes available.

Local is better!

For the second week in a row, the Chattanooga Market is officially sold out of vendor booths! With over a hundred craftsmen, artisans, farmers, chefs, florists, sculptors and other local merchants offering their products direct to the consumer, this weekend looks to be a strong one.

With charitable activities benefiting La Paz de Dios, the Latin Fair event will offer a variety of Hispanic foods, music, merchandise and information for the entire community.

This weekend has traditionally been one of the most well-attended and commented-on weekends all year, so bring out the family and enjoy an afternoon of cultural fun, food & festivities.

Local is Better!

La Paz de Dios works toward the inclusion of Hispanics into our community while celebrating their cultural heritage. La Paz was founded in 2004 to be a bridge between the needs of the Hispanic community in Chattanooga and the organizations and agencies that are available to help them.
For more information, visit their website at www.lapazdedios.org

By Abena Williams, WDEF TV:

The kettle corn pops and the lemonade is freshly squeezed, it must be Sunday at the Chattanooga Market.
Shoppers can find all kinds of goodies at the market, from fudge to candles to artwork. Photographer Stephen Cochran is thankful to be back. Cochran says, “I think the people who have taken it over are doing a very good job. The first day has gone rather smoothly.”

Cochran says he was shocked to hear that the market had been sold and would not return in 2008. But shortly after that announcement, Chris Thomas bought the market franchise and now it’s back in business. Turnout on opening day looks good. But some vendors worry about how an unstable economy and rising gas prices will affect shoppers.

Cochran, “It’s going to be hard to do with the prices these days and art has always been a luxury not a necessity.”

This year’s market theme is Local Is Better. Organizers and vendors hope Chattanoogans will take that motto to heart.

Cochran says, “What happens to the market is going to depend on the people in Chattanooga. If the people come and they buy things and not just come and look then it’s going to turn out well.”

Artist Marian Heintz is back for her third year at the market. She says she feels optimistic about the season. “Everything is going up but I just want to keep doing my best so when people do spend their money they’ll spend it with me.”

Heintz says she’s had to make adjustments to keep her business going. Heintz says, “I’ve had to raise prices a little bit and be a little more competitive. A lot of people do this as a hobby, but I do this for a living. Everybody else’s cost of living is going up so is mine. My expenses are going up so we do have to pass that on.”

from the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Chattanooga Market will open its seventh season from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. The openair market features locally grown produce, handcrafted arts, live music and prepared foods.

It will be the first market under new owner Chris Thomas and his staff. Thomas said the theme for the market this year is “Local Is Better.”

In addition to the nearly 100 expected vendors, Sunday’s market will feature twotime Grammy winner Gary Nicholson, Australian Anne McCue and Texan Amy Cook performing throughout the day.

Representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation will be collecting coins for their Coins for Kids program at their booth during the day. Among items for sale Sunday will be handcrafted

jewelry, locally designed and handmade clothing and produce, original paintings and local carpentry. According to Thomas, marketgoers also can find fresh-baked breads, handmade pizza, made-toorder tacos and hometown barbecue.

The EBP stage will feature talent from all over the world every Sunday with everything from Americana music, big band, rock ’n’ roll to dance troupes, he said.

Visit www.chattanooga market.com for more.

The 2008 season opener of the Chattanooga Market, to be held this Sunday, April 27th from noon-5pm, is officially sold out of vendor booths! With over a hundred craftsmen, artisans, farmers, chefs, florists, sculptors and other local merchants offering their products direct to the consumer, this weekend is set to break all records.

Come out with your family and enjoy the live music, great food and top-quality goods & artwork — and be sure to support your local community by purchasing your groceries, gifts and household goods from the Chattanooga Market.

A note to our vendors: you will be notified of your confirmation and booth assignment no later than Wednesday at noon; a complete list of vendors to appear at the season opener will also be posted online.

Local is Better!

The Make-a-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee will be at the Chattanooga Market on Opening Day!

In the face of major illness we are all reminded that waking up each day is a miracle, and it is these children who remind us that life is a gift and love is its substance. They prove to us over and over again that no circumstance or disease can steal away our capacity for joy and wonder. It is in giving that we truly receive.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of East Tennessee granted its first wish in 1988 and has granted over 400 wishes through the services of more than 120 volunteers. Any child 2½ and under the age of 18, who has been determined by a physician to have a life-threatening illness and has not been granted a previous wish, may be eligible. Make-A-Wish® grants wishes to all eligible children, regardless of race, religion, or socio-economic status. Granting a child’s one greatest wish inspires him or her to continue living with exuberance. We feel that the doctors provide the medicine, and we provide the magic!

For more information, please visit www.wishetn.org

Gary Nicholson

Residence: Nashville
Hometown: Garland, Texas
Genres: Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Country, Blues, Rock
Website: www.garynicholson.com

A 2006 nominee for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Gary Nicholson has had more than 350 of his songs recorded, has won 26 ASCAP songwriting awards and is responsible for more than a dozen major hits. Unlike most tunesmiths, he is not bound by musical genre. His songs routinely top the country hit parade. But rock bands, blues artists, folk stars and bluegrass acts have also embraced him as a songwriter.

“I’ve never found it difficult to ’shift gears’ between different musical styles,” Nicholson says. “I let myself be dictated by the needs of the artist or of the writer I’m collaborating with. A lot of these guys are just looking for good lyrics. Songwriting is songwriting. A song is a song.”

Read the rest of this entry →

Artist website: www.annemccue.com

Anne McCue’s career has covered punk, Lilith Fair, Australian awards and Vietnam. She has released her fourth solo album, Koala Motel to critical acclaim and has recently co-produced two albums by other artists - Stephen Rowe and Leila Florentino. She has appeared as guest guitarist/vocalist on albums by Michelle Shocked and Gina Villalobos. Her two most recent albums, including Roll‚ (Messenger Records) was recorded at Dusty Wakeman’s Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, California. McCue and Wakeman co-produced the album. Going in with the philosophy of some of Anne’s favourite three piece bands she played the guitars, Dusty played bass with Dave Raven on the drums. The three jammed on the material, some of which McCue was still writing at the time. Guests on the album are Carl Byron (keyboards and accordion), Eric Gardner (drums on “Machine Gun” and “Tiny Little Song”and Mike Stinson (drums on “I Want You Back”). The album has received critical acclaim from such publications as Billboard, Entertainment Weekly and XM Satellite Radio (Top 5 Album of the Year) and was picked by Bob Harris of the BBC as his favourite album of 2004.
Read the rest of this entry →