The Knoxville music scene has grown exponentially this year. New music venues have been popping up all around town, giving local talent more opportunities to step into the spotlight and showcase their art.
Among the new venues in Knoxville is the Purple Polilla, a small warehouse located off of North Broadway Street that opens its stage to up-and-coming bands. With brick walls completely painted purple, this spot has lived up to its name. Christine Kovacsics and her business partner, Nelson, opened the venue about five months ago with the intention of giving local bands a positive, non-judgmental space to perform.
“Some of our shows feature newly formed or younger bands that are having a hard time booking with other venues, and some feature the best local artists along with bands from all over the country but without a cliquey or judgmental atmosphere,” Kovacsics said. “We’ve noticed that the fans seem really comfortable at the space and go all out during the sets, and a lot of bands have had their first experience of a whole audience moving or crowd surfing to their music here.”
Manhattan3, Mayfest, Suzy Homemaker and Moccasin Cowboy are a few of the Purple Polilla’s regular performers.
“Though it may just look like a purple pawn shop from the outside, once you get into this place you realize that this venue truly is about supporting the bands. It’s a super friendly, non-judgmental environment,” Hayden Bright, the lead singer of Mayfest, said about the venue. “You can be yourself and listen to some dang good music while doing it. We love the Purple Polilla.”
With an abundance of bigger venues like The Mill and Mine and The International, which are typically reserved for more well-known bands, local artists are in need of more locations who are willing to accommodate them.
Now that the Purple Polilla is up and running, local creators now have more opportunities to showcase their talent and hard work. People of all ages have a safe and welcoming place to enjoy a variety of entertainment while local entertainers have a place to gain support and practice performing in front of an audience.
Though the Purple Polilla has already made its mark on the community, the owners have exciting plans for the future.
“So far we’ve been hosting concerts and open mic nights, but are looking to expand into art openings, drink-and-draw events and more,” Kovacsics said.
Currently, the Purple Polilla calls itself a “DIY venue,” so it will book artists who reach out to them on Facebook with proposed dates. They typically only do weekend shows, though they will sometimes do an occasional Thursday night show, and prefer a mix of local bands and touring bands. Artists who reach out to them can provide a tentative schedule and can communicate how they want the show the play out, which gives bands a lot of control and independence that they may not get with a bigger venue.
The Purple Polilla has set a standard for the collaboration of venues and local talent, which is sure to make waves here in Knoxville.
To contact the owners or to find event information, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PurplePolilla/
