America’s #1 Comedy Club Guide
America’s #1 Comedy Club Guide
Tennessee’s comedy culture is a dynamic blend of Southern charm, sharp wit, and diverse talent. From the lively streets of Nashville to the mountain towns of East Tennessee, the state offers a rich and growing stand-up scene.
Nashville stands out with its mix of comedy clubs, open mic nights, and improv theaters, drawing both seasoned headliners and up-and-coming comics. Memphis adds its own flavor, combining soulful storytelling with bold, edgy humor. Knoxville and Chattanooga boast growing comedy communities, where local talent thrives and regional showcases highlight unique voices.
Throughout the state, comedy festivals, pop-up shows, and grassroots events create spaces for laughter and connection. The comedy culture here is welcoming and inclusive, blending traditional Southern storytelling with modern stand-up styles. Whether in an intimate club or a packed theater, Tennessee audiences are known for their enthusiasm and appreciation, making the state a rising hub for comedic performance in the South.
Bristol, TN’s comedy scene is currently centered around a standout venue, the Blue Ridge Comedy Club, which has become a hub for both visiting comedians and local talent. The club offers a tight, intimate space where you can enjoy touring stand‑ups, open mic nights, improv/trivia hybrids, and interactive shows. There’s a clear investment in community—the club runs workshops, classes, and weekly opportunities for newcomers to take the stage.
The atmosphere is warm and approachable; audiences are up close, the vibe is casual, and there’s a lot of support for rising comedians. Shows run throughout the week, with open mic being a staple mid‑week, and bigger stand‑up headliners or themed nights on weekends.
What sets the scene apart is its eagerness to experiment—improv nights, alternate formats, and mixed showcases keep things fresh rather than sticking rigidly to one comedic style. Overall, Bristol’s comedy feels energetic, growing, and rooted in a real sense of local participation and creative risk.
Blue Ridge Comedy Club is a vibrant entertainment venue located in Johnson City, Tennessee, offering an intimate and welcoming space dedicated to stand-up comedy. Known for its relaxed atmosphere and community feel, the club features a rotating lineup of local talent, regional favorites, and nationally touring comedians.
With shows held regularly, audiences can expect a diverse mix of comedic styles, from observational humor to high-energy performances. The venue is thoughtfully designed to create a personal and engaging experience, with excellent sightlines and acoustics that make every seat feel close to the action.
Blue Ridge Comedy Club also hosts open mic nights, workshops, and special events, supporting the growth of comedy in the region. Whether you’re a die-hard comedy fan or just looking for a fun night out, this club offers laughs, entertainment, and a chance to discover fresh voices in a cozy downtown setting. It’s a must-visit stop on Tennessee’s comedy map.
Address: 560 English St, Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 841-8217
Website: Blue Ridge Comedy Club
Hours: Contact the club to confirm.
Chattanooga’s improv and sketch comedy scene is lively, welcoming, and full of spontaneous energy. Anchored by Improv Chattanooga and its home space on Rossville Avenue, performers regularly experiment with long‑form narrative shows, improv game hybrids, and themed sketch jokes that vary wildly from one night to the next.
The community loves novelty—shows like “Improv vs. Stand‑Up,” soap‑opera style episodic scenes, and even audience‑driven mad‑lib storytelling add playful twists. Free monthly improv shows at the downtown library offer low‑barrier entry for both performers and newcomers. Pop‑ups and intimate events at venues like The Chattery and Barking Legs Theater mix sketch, improv, and storytelling in unexpected formats.
Open mic stages scatter throughout the city—in neighborhood bars, music venues, and coffee shops—providing ongoing labs where new voices sharpen their voice. Chattanooga’s scene feels thick with support and experimentation—balancing polished moments with raw, improvised joy, and keeping laughter fresh, local, and always a little unpredictable.
The Comedy Catch is a cornerstone of Chattanooga’s entertainment scene, delivering top-quality stand-up comedy in a fun and inviting atmosphere. Located in the heart of the city, this well-established club features a rotating schedule of nationally touring comedians, regional favorites, and rising local talent.
With decades of experience bringing laughs to the community, The Comedy Catch offers a professional yet laid-back environment that keeps audiences coming back. The venue boasts excellent seating, clear sightlines, and great sound, making every performance feel up close and personal.
In addition to its weekend headliner shows, the club also hosts open mic nights and special events that spotlight fresh voices and emerging acts. A full-service bar and food menu round out the experience, making it perfect for date nights, group outings, or a casual evening of laughter. The Comedy Catch continues to be a go-to destination for unforgettable comedy in Chattanooga.
Address: 29 Station St, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Phone: (423) 629-2233
Website: The Comedy Catch
Hours: Contact the club to confirm.
Nashville’s improv & sketch comedy scene is energetic, growing, and quite layered—blending long‑standing clubs, new experimental spaces, and a strong spirit of collaboration. Venues like Third Coast Comedy Club offer a home for improv, sketch, and variety shows nearly all week, giving locals places to both watch and perform.
Nashville Improv specializes in audience‑driven improv, with shows built around games, suggestions, and sometimes musical improv as well. There are also frequent open mic nights around the city—spots like The East Room, and various back‑rooms, bars or small theaters—where sketches, new material, and improv games get trialed.
The newer, smaller venue “The Lab at Zanies” adds to the texture: it’s more intimate, better suited for riskier or edgier work. There are classes and workshops available too, helping emerging performers sharpen both timing and structure. Nashville combines polished sketch/improv formats with grassroots experimentation, making for a comedy ecosystem that feels both vibrant and welcoming.
Zanies Nashville is a legendary comedy club and a staple of the city’s vibrant entertainment scene. Located just minutes from downtown, this iconic venue has been delivering nonstop laughs for decades, hosting a mix of nationally acclaimed comedians, TV personalities, and up-and-coming stand-up stars.
Known for its intimate layout and electric energy, Zanies offers audiences a front-row experience no matter where they sit. The club features shows nearly every night of the week, ranging from big-name headliners to themed events and local showcases.
With a full bar and casual food options, it’s the perfect spot for a night out with friends, a unique date, or simply a place to unwind with great comedy. The welcoming vibe, professional production, and consistent lineup of top-tier talent make Zanies a must-visit destination for comedy lovers. As one of the South’s premier comedy venues, it continues to set the standard for live stand-up in Nashville.
Address: 2025 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Phone: (615) 269-0221
Website: Zanies Nashville
Hours: Contact club to confirm.
Tennessee’s improv and sketch comedy scene is vibrant, diverse, and growing across multiple cities, each adding its own flavor to the mix. In Nashville, venues like Third Coast Comedy Club and Nashville Improv offer a steady lineup of long-form improv, sketch revues, and audience-driven shows, backed by training programs and collaborative writing groups.
Chattanooga brings a scrappier, experimental energy—Improv Chattanooga regularly stages unique formats, while local spaces host mashups blending sketch, improv, and storytelling. In Knoxville and Memphis, comedy thrives in smaller theaters, coffee shops, and bars, where troupes perform original sketches and quick-fire improv games, often themed or interactive.
Open mics across the state serve as proving grounds for new talent, and annual festivals bring performers together to share styles and push boundaries. The scene is welcoming and creatively bold, supported by community-driven venues and fueled by performers eager to test new material, make people laugh, and keep the art form evolving.
