July 2026: The WDVX Blue Plate Special

One of the things we have wanted to bring to you via our blog is our experience attending one of the WDVX Blue Plate Specials—honestly, for as long as we can remember. They have hosted performances at Knoxville's Visitor Center on Gay Street for years, and we've always loved hearing who was playing and watching the performances on the WDVX YouTube channel or Facebook page.

But the thing we've always wanted to do most was attend one of the live music events at Barley's. We're not entirely sure why, but it has always felt like the right place to experience a Blue Plate Special-also known as “The Big Plate”. Barley’s hosts The Big Plate every Friday. We haven't been to Barley's Taproom in many, many years, so it was a nice opportunity to take a walk down memory lane and enjoy some live music.

WDVX has been part of the Knoxville community since 1997. What started as a grassroots effort to preserve Southern Appalachian music has grown into a publicly supported radio station with offices in Knoxville and nearby Norris, Tennessee. An interesting side note: according to the WDVX website, the station originally broadcast from a camper at a campground off Interstate 75 (the Fox Inn Campground, to be exact)!

The WDVX Blue Plate Special itself began as a series of short performances recorded in that camper. Today, it has grown into live performances held either at the Knoxville Visitor Center or at Barley's Taproom six days a week. The performances are recorded, allowing listeners to tune in live alongside the in-person audience or watch the sessions later at their leisure.

Since the Knoxville Visitor Center was undergoing renovations recently, and because we had finally decided it was time to experience a WDVX Blue Plate Special in person, we made our way to Knoxville's Old City one Friday afternoon and eagerly awaited the performance. Shows are always held from noon to 1 p.m. Barley's proved to be the perfect setting for our first-ever WDVX Blue Plate Special experience. They were offering a limited menu that day, which made choosing lunch an easy decision.

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But let's back up for a moment.

When we first walked in, we were greeted by a very kind WDVX staff member, Nelson Gullett. Nelson is the Development Director for WDVX. His first question was whether we were there for the show. When we told him we were, he gave us all the information we needed and immediately made us feel welcome—which, we suspect, is simply the WDVX way. We found a booth tucked out of the way where we could spread out, take our time, and stay out of everyone's way.

The band was warming up, and we'll admit that we chose this particular date because the featured artist, Danny Garwood, is a well-known guitar prodigy. It seemed like the perfect performance to attend, and we were not disappointed. The band consisted of three musicians: Danny on lead guitar and vocals, a second guitarist, and a drummer. So simple, yet so effective.

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We were able to enjoy our lunch (the Reuben sandwich with fries—not to be missed!) while taking in the stage and the sounds of a phenomenal blues band. While we really enjoy bluegrass, as we've discussed before, we're also big fans of jazz and blues. This performance reminded us exactly why. And we're not sure why it took us so long to put the WDVX Blue Plate Special on our list of must-visit experiences!

You can find more information about WDVX and the WDVX Blue Plate Special on their website, Facebook page, Instagram page, and YouTube channel.

About the Author:

Kristin is the founder of Chicken Librarian, where she shares real-life stories, seasonal living inspiration, and her love for all things local. A freelance blogger and storyteller since 2017, Kristin chronicles her journey at chickenlibrarian.com, celebrating slower living, community, and the beauty in everyday moments. From exploring small-town bakeries and local shops to life on her farmstead, her writing invites readers to notice, savor, and connect with the world around them.