First Night Knoxville 2012

First Night Knoxville is a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year's Eve community celebration of the arts. At least half of this year's artists will be selected via Sonicbids. The promoters accept a huge range of musical acts as well as comedians, jugglers, magicians, and other children's acts. Selected acts receive a $150 stipend, festival passes, and may receive additional compensation./n/nFirst Night Knoxville is a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year's Eve community celebration of the arts. At least half of this year's artists will be selected via Sonicbids. The promoters accept a huge range of acts including acoustic, adult contemporary, alternative, Americana, children's music, classic rock, country, cover bands, electronic, folk, funk, hip hop, jazz, Latin, pop, soul, singer/songwriter, rock and non music performers such as comedians, storytellers, magicians, dance groups, and puppeteers. Knoxville-based artists can submit for $5, all others $10. If you submit to the Knoxville-based Artist package and you are not from Knoxville, you will not be considered and not be provided a refund.



Selected artists receive:

• Artists receive a $150 stipend
• Complimentary passes to the festival


• Nationally touring acts or artists with a proven draw may receive additional compensation.

The First Night celebration began in Boston in 1976 and has grown to an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of celebrants each year. Since then the event has expanded to over 100 cities in 30 states across the country, as well as internationally into Canada and New Zealand. Knoxville's First Night celebration began in 2007 and is centered around downtown's Market Square. All venues are within walking distance of one another, and at midnight a ball drop and fireworks take place in the center of the square.



The line-up of featured acts includes musicians, storytellers, magicians, dance groups, and puppeteers. All genres are considered - the more unique, the better! Children's programming is also a component of the festival. Previous performers have included Those Darlins, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Jill Andrews, Biz Cirque, firebreathers, magicians, street performers, aerialists, slam poets, comedians, and more.