With the arrival of spring comes the return of free live music to Market Square! The City of Knoxville and the Central Business Improvement District (CBID) are happy to launch another season of Jazz Tuesdays and Variety Thursday concerts, beginning the second week of May. 

It gets started with a performance by the Knoxville Symphony Chamber at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. 

Jazz Tuesdays, co-sponsored by Prestige Cleaners, will kick off with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, performing from 8-10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. The remaining Jazz Tuesday concerts, at 8 p.m. each week from May 19 to Aug. 25, will feature the Marble City 5, led by trumpeter Vance Thompson. 

The Variety Thursdays concert series will run through June 25. From 7-9 p.m. (unless otherwise noted in the schedule below) on consecutive Thursdays, get a sampling of genres from classical music to Southern rock to swing and Americana. 

All concerts are free - and that even includes parking, which is free after 6 p.m. at the City-owned Market Square, State Street and Locust Street garages. 

There will be no alcohol or food sold on Market Square during the concerts, apart from what is available on the patios of surrounding restaurants. But concertgoers are invited to bring chairs or blankets to sit on the Square and enjoy the shows. 

Please like and follow the Special Events Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CityofKnoxvilleSpecialEvents, to stay updated on the bands and on any cancellations due to the weather. 

Here is the schedule for Variety Thursdays: 

May 7: Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra (7:30 p.m.) 
May 14: Homemade Wine 
May 21: FourKast 
May 28: Jazz Time Swing Ensemble 
June 4: The Coveralls 
June 11: Old City Buskers 
June 18: Knoxville's Finest Band 
June 25: Kelsey's Woods