Chattanooga has a deep Irish-music history if you know where to look. From early pub sessions to brewery gatherings and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, this city has quietly carried the tradition for decades.

But like many traditional music communities, Chattanooga’s Irish session scene has ebbed and flowed over the years. In 2025, longtime Chattanooga creative and musician Courtney Cochran began working with local fiddler and teacher Tom Morley, Gary Scheufler and others to give the community a more consistent place to gather, play and grow. Together, they founded TradChattanooga, building on the work of the musicians who had kept Irish traditional music alive in Chattanooga long before either of them decided it needed a name.

TradChattanooga exists to support Irish, Scottish and other Celtic traditional music in Chattanooga: not just the tunes, but the people and culture around them. It is a place for anyone who loves the music and wants to help it stay alive, welcoming and rooted in respect for the tradition.

Since June 2025, we have hosted two sessions a month at Wanderlinger Brewing Company, creating a steady home for the local trad community. We draw on resources such as The Session, neighboring regional sessions and, most importantly, the knowledge of experienced local musicians to keep the music strong, the standards clear and the door open to anyone willing to learn.