Sounds of Summer Music Festival

Free to the public Summer Concert Series at the Farmer’s Market in Athens, Tennessee.

Experience the Magic of

Sounds of Summer Logo Friendly City Festivals, Athens, Tennessee summer concert series
Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Sounds of Summer at our free outdoor concert series in Historic Downtown Athens, TN. Enjoy live performances from talented artists, and don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket for a comfortable evening under the stars.

The 15th Annual Sounds of Summer concert series will begin June 6 after Moofest and finish with Confederate Railroad on August 15. All concerts start at 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays at the Market Park Pavilion in downtown Athens, Tennessee, except Friday, July 4th. That concert will be at the Regional Park before the fireworks.

Sounds of Summer is a free-to-the-public concert series sponsored by Friendly City Festivals and private donors. 

Sounds of Summer Pavilion - Friendly City Festivals, Athens, Tennessee summer concert series

Admission: Free for Everyone | Plenty of parking | Bring a chair or blanket and ENJOY!

2026 Concert Schedule

June 6th

Cole Sitzler
Cole Sizler from Englewood, TN Sounds of Summer

June 18th

September Song

Andrew and Lindsey Kimball are the husband-and-wife team behind September Song. They perform as a duo for intimate settings or with our full band for larger events playing popular hits from the ’60s to today, spanning country, rock, funk, jazz, and soul.

Sounds of Summer Music Festival - September Song

July 4th

Mendingwall

Mendingwall is a rock & roll band based out of East Tennessee. Brothers John and Joseph Gordon definitely carry some of their upbringing of playing gospel in church into their music. The band prides itself on writing thought provoking, original songs that you just can’t sit still through. Their energetic performances are sure to leave your spirits high.

Mendingwall - Sounds of Summer in Downtown Athens, TN - 2025

July 18th

Dexter Thomas band

The Dexter Thomas Band has a crowd-satisfying mix of ’60’s and ’70’s Rock and Roll, Funk and R&B. The 12-piece band features a dynamic combination of male and female lead vocals, allowing for maximum stylistic diversity.

Nine members of the band have music degrees. Individual members have performed outside of the band both nationally and internationally. The band has opened for such acts as Chicago, Alabama, Bruce Hornsby & The Range, Michael Bolton, Kansas, The Guess Who, Leon Russell, and many others.

The Dexter Thomas Band - Sounds of Summer - Athens, TN

August 8th

Scenic City Sound

Scenic City Sound is a traditional 18-piece big band comprised of talented local amateur musicians. Their repertoire consists of genres from big band classics and swing to rock and roll from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, with selections from Benny Goodman to Guns-n-Roses.

Scenic City Sound Sounds of Summer Athens, TN

August 15th

Confederate RAilroad

Confederate Railroad first rolled onto the national country music scene in the early ’90s with its unique style and sound. Headed by founder and frontman Danny Shirley, the former backup band for both David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck, they got their big break by signing with Atlantic Records. The first single from their debut album (“Confederate Railroad”) was “She Took It Like A Man”. It went to No. 26. 

From rowdy country to raw emotion, a Confederate Railroad concert today covers a wide range of feelings. Young people will be there rocking to “Trashy Women”, while their parents and even grandparents will likely be singing along to “Jesus and Mama.” 

 

Confederate Railroad<br />
Sounds of Summer<br />
Athens, TN