bluegrass underground

This has been a definite bucket list item. I have spent the night in the cave and taken the wild tour with cub scouts, but never attended a concert. After missing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band this summer, I decided I needed to somehow get to a concert this year. Wow! Kenny Loggins, Gary Burr, and Georgia Middleman, who make up Blue Sky Riders, were phenomenal. How will it ever get any better? I love the acoustics and just being at a concert in a cave was about as unique as I can imagine.

On vacation from the UK, arrived without booking but still managed to get two tickets. Huge space to hold a concert and the music was superb, not to mention the acoustic. Really glad we went.

I absolutely loved Bluegrass Underground. My husband and I took our 8 &4 year olds, and it was awesome. The kids loved playing in the dirt; it was very dirty/dusty. The tickets are high but worth it. It’s hard for us to justify going often, but the acoustics are phenomenal!! I loved the show and the atmosphere. It was very laid back, and everyone was really nice to us. If someone you love is playing there, it would be hard to ever see them at a better venue.

Ok let me first say the show and the surroundings would have been a wonderful experience BUT.... At the cost of 140.00 for two tickets it is absolutely not worth it when you cannot get a seat even with a distant view.The seats are suppose to be general admission or bring your chairs which we did and we arrived early to be told we could not take our chairs in and I saw two "special" people sitting in theirs as we left ALL of the good seats had a "reserved" tag on them so I guess tourist do not qualify for special treatment. The only seat available to us was behind the camera crew and you could not see anything from there, we sat for 20 minutes and gave up and left. They had oversold the show and then proceeded to line up chairs in the back ( and the floor rolled downhill so the chairs did too making it impossible to see over the camera crew which also had to stand) about 30% of the people were standing on the slopes of the ground which as a 63 yr. old woman with bad knees can NOT do. They rip you off with the upfront notice of no refunds because they already know what it is going to be like. I would never go back again I can pay that price and hear bluegrass in a venue with SEATING. We were also stopped at the bottom of the hill and shuttled up to it only to discover there was PLENTY of parking at the top and when we came out guess what they were all filled so I guess you also have to know someone to be allowed to park at the top so as a result or that as we left early guess what no shuttle to take you back had to walk.

My husband and I went there for the first time to see Jason Isbell. We bought the combo tour and concert tickets. I recommend doing this because they will do the tour before the show. Get there early so you can go down in the first tour. After the tour, you are allowed to go to your seats. As for the tour, very interesting and beautiful. But wear comfortable shoes. You will have to climb stairs and walk on a gravel road. The concessions are basic: sodas, hotdogs, BBQ sandwiches, chips and candy. They are not disappointing, especially after the tour. You will need a jacket. They say that it stays 56 degrees year round, but it felt colder. We will definitely go back. After all, where can you listen to a concert in a cave?

Really, one of the most unique and intimate music venues out there. Musicians and fans alike have this on their bucket list. We went in March of 2013 and got to see Old crow Medicine Show, Andrew Byrd, Johnnyswim, and the Steeldrivers. The format of featuring four different acts each day for the taped shows allows you to really sample different music and broaden your horizons. We loved it so much, we booked for the entire 2014 weekend as soon as it became available. I'm bringing my 9 year old son along as this is a family friendly environment and a truly great place to see live music and experience a unique concert environment.

At Christmas 0f 2013, my fiance bought tickets for me and her brother for a March 9, 2014 show. Today we were informed that we had been "bumped". I don't know how they can do this unless someone with more power or money wanted our seats. They said if we rescheduled they would throw in a tour of the caverns. I have already scheduled time off at work and I was truly excited about going. All the shows that weekend are sold out, and there is no one in April that I want to see. What kind of business would do this?

We drove the short 1 hour beautiful drive from Chattanooga to Cumberland Caverns this past weekend for our first visit to Bluegrass Underground. Until we saw the PBS special a few weeks ago we hadn't ever heard of it! This is a must see! if you are within a 2 hour drive it's worth the detour. Put this on your Bucket List! Really, how often do you get to enjoy an incredible Bluegrass show 333 feet below ground in a gorgeous cave? But, Don't let that scare you. I am very claustrophobic and can't visit the nearby Ruby Falls because I am told there is a tiny elevator you must take to get down to the falls. This is nothing like that. You get to casually walk through the very wide opening of the cave and before you know it, you are there. The area where the concert is held is very large. I would guess that there were around 500 people at the concert this weekend. It was sold out and people were begging for tickets on BGU facebook page. This venue allows you to bring your own food and drinks. Many people had picnic baskets. They also have a concession area with BBQ sandwiches, Chili, Nachos, Hotdogs, Drinks, etc.. to enjoy. You can also bring your camera and take all the photos you want. You can get up and down and dance in the aisles if you feel like it. It's very laid back and I dont think there's a bad seat in the house. There's a beautiful Chandelier hanging above that gives just the right light and the temperature stays 58 degrees year round so bring a light jacket if you're cold natured. You also might want to bring a cushion for the seat if hard seats bother you. And I would suggest jeans and tennis shoes or boots. The cave floor of course is packed dirt and at the last portion of the walk down it is quite steep and sandals may not give you the traction you need. I do not believe the concert room is handicap accessible. There is an upper area where you can see and hear the concert but it is still quite a walk to that area. The cost was very reasonable and the concert was right at 3 hours long. You do need to arrive about 45 minutes early just to have time to park, get your armband, walk through the cave, etc.. before the music begins. They open the doors one hour before the show begins. Also, remember that they are on Central Time. (something we forgot). And, don't plan to go early and eat anywhere nearby because there was absolutely nothing nearby that we could find, even in McMinnville. The Saturday we were there, everything was closed in town. We had planned to eat at a local BBQ place but they had decided to not open that day. It's a tiny little town, but has been well preserved.

We just went yesterday. The venue is absolutely gorgeous. The cave is so neat and it's just really a one of a kind place. It was also nice to get away from the stifling humidity outside.As for the acts, it was Carrie Rodriguez and Chip Taylor aka James Voight. I so little of the music. Only *ONE* song was even remotely close to bluegrass! Had we known who was playing beforehand, we may have not gone. I didn't mind most of Carrie's music, but Chip was so long winded and way too Americana for my tastes. Didn't really live up to the hype.Hoping that I get to go again with some good, old fashioned bluegrass music. If they can't deliver that every once in a while, perhaps they should change the name to "Random Americana/Folk/Country Underground".

We did this on Saturday April 27 along with 13 friends. We saw the BOXCARS also Seryn. The Box Cars where excellent - great talents.. Great concert. The idea of creating a Volcano Room including a candelabra is unique to say the least. Just a little damp and chilly so dress warmly.

Good music great location and great value for your money. Plan to go back., just don't stay at the Mcminnville Inn

We saw Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys for some of the best bluegrass music out there. Before the show, MidDay Farm Report defrosted us, then some other locals from the Volunteer String band warmed us up, then a bluegrass singer from Japan, Tomi Fujiyama, got us going for the main event. That being said, we definitely got a great show at the Cave Concert! We didn't know what to expect, and had a wonderful time. Inside the cave, we were impressed by the snack bar and real bathrooms. We didn't know they could do that.Add to that a night at Fall Creek Falls State Park and it made for a fantastic weekend.We will be back! We didn't have time, but you can tour the cave before or after the concert.

Awesome experience, beautiful place, incredible music... a once in a lifetime experience! Getting to see a full concert down inside a beautiful cave will give you chill bumps. The acoustics near match the Ryman Auditorium. The best bluegrass has to offer, and you never know who might just show up. The people that play here truly love what they do and it is obvious. A must see for ANY music lover, not just a fan of Bluegrass... it gives you the opporutnity to experience a new and different kind of music.

You can't believe how good the sound is until you go to a concert. The acoustics are great! The natural rock formations are unbelievable! The atmosphere is wonderful! Even though there are many in attendance, you have the small venue feel. Can't wait to go back!

Bluegrass Underground is a truly unique experience. The drive into Cumberland Caverns is spectacular in the fall, and the view from the gift shop is breathtaking. The acoustics were as great as I'd always heard they were; Ralph's rendition of "Oh Death" gave me chills. All in all a fun day trip, and one I hope to make many times in the future -- especially if the Civil Wars make it to the cave again someday!