HottFest

HottFest was initially just an idea. Conceived in 2004 over countless beers, and many discussions with Knoxville bands, HottFest would become a reality in 2005.

That year, the HottFest line-up consisted of mostly local bands, the bulk of which had worked with Don Coffey Jr. (Superdrag) at his Independent Recorders. Coffey states, "As bands would come and go at the studio, I'd ask them about it. I didn't have a name for the festival, no sponsors, no place to actually put it on, and no idea how I could pay the bands." Coffey settled on the Corner Lounge, his local watering hole, and enlisted the help of pals, Tim and Susan Lee, to help with promotion and production. "The first HottFest was built by a small group of dedicated people, in cooperation with fine rock bands, who genuinely thought Knoxville needed something like this." Coffey says.

In 2006 Coffey tried to "grow" HottFest. With an expanded number of bands and an additional day, 2006 included bands from Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus, and Chapel Hill. The second HottFest brought in sponsors as well. Coffey says he learned a great deal the second year. "I learned a lot, the biggest lesson I guess was that it's not hard to make it happen once. It's very difficult to sustain it." He insists that's what will make 2007 the best one yet. "This is our third year, we know what works and what does not, and why. I'm very excited!"

The third HottFest installment will take place August 23, 24 & 25 and will feature an astounding 27 bands including an all ages show on Saturday afternoon.

Please visit our MySpace site which is updated regularly:Hottfest on MySpace