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The second best part is that the festival is surrounded by a number of Knoxville’s greatest bars (namely Preservation Pub and World Grotto), so it’s incredibly convenient to pre-game for the event and there’s no question as to where to hold the after party. You can make a day of it.

Check out this year’s lineup. I expect to see you all at the Gin Blossoms on May 17th:

April 12 — Edwin McCain with Antibalas and Low Stars * special 6:15 start time! *

Edwin McCain brings his soulful folk-rock to Market Square this spring for his second Sundown in the City appearance. McCain and his permanent backing band have been touring together since his debut in 1993. McCain became a star with Misguided Roses in 1997. The album's mega-hit love song, "I'll Be," has become a calling card for the Southern troubadour; the single won the distinction of "Best Wedding Song" on The Dr. Phil Show in 2005 after being chosen by more than 1 million viewers. McCain's upcoming album, his first on Vanguard Records, is anticipated this spring. Antibalas is a gritty Afro-beat group from Brooklyn making a name for itself with a horn-driven mix of Latin, jazz, funk and soul. The group represents its name, Spanish for "bulletproof," with hard-line political messages, an aggressively independent sound and a strong touring schedule that has included music festivals at home and abroad such as Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Glastonbury and Coachella and tours through Japan and much of Europe. Antibalas has collaborated with TV on the Radio, Medeski, Martin and Wood, and Baaba Maal. Low Stars is a folky foursome being hailed as the modern incarnation of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Their self-titled debut CD was produced by George Drakoulis (Tom Petty, The Black Crowes) and is available at Starbucks locations.

April 19 — George Thorogood with The American Plague

George Thorogood rejuvenated the blues in the early '80s with smash hits "Move it On Over" and "Bad to the Bone." His rocked-up renditions of classic blues make it into countless commercials and film soundtracks, but the self-deprecating Thorogood still describes his outfit as "The World's Greatest Bar Band." Expect old classics from Thorogood and the Destroyers as well as songs from the band's newest release, The Hard Stuff, when they smoke the Sundown crowd with good old American rock 'n' roll. Local rock heroes The American Plague kick off the night with a healthy dose of homegrown power rock.

April 26 — Scott Miller & The Commonwealth with Anne McCue

One of Knoxville's favorite almost-native sons, Scott Miller returns to the Market Square stage to reprise his raucous live show with his band The Commonwealth. His latest disc is Reconstruction, a live amalgamation of classics from his three Sugar Hill Records recorded at the Down Home in Johnson City. Anne McCue is an Australian-born singer-songwriter in the rock, folk and country traditions. She's toured with Lucinda Williams, played Lilith Fair and just released her fourth record, Koala Motel.

May 3 — The Wailers with Brett Dennen

Simply put, The Wailers are living legends of reggae. The former backing band for international icon Bob Marley has sold over 250 million records, and its members have collaborated with crossover superstars like Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder and Santana. In 1999, Time magazine named The Wailers' classic release, Exodus, Album of the Century. The group is touring for the first time in over a decade with its full original lineup, including the famous horn section that's sure to help you "Lively Up Yourself." Brett Dennen is quickly becoming a songwriter's songwriter. Not yet at the apex of mainstream popularity, the bright-eyed Californian has already found himself standing under a shower of accolades from top-tier performers like John Mayer and Michael Franti. His distinctive charcoal voice, bouncy guitar hooks and well-placed lyrics on the 2006 Dualtone release So Much More give the impression that the twenty-something Dennen is wise beyond his years.

They're bringing sexy back to Market Square! After a smokin' performance here in 2005, spicy New York City quartet Brazilian Girls bring back the party with their frenetic dub and electronica. Vocalist Sabina Sciubba grew up in Rome, Munich and Nice. As a result, she's fluent in five languages—all of which she employed on the band's self-titled 2005 debut. The band's sexy irreverence and mixture of styles ranging from salsa to reggae has made it a live favorite. Before spots at both Coachella and Bonnaroo, Brazilian Girls rock Sundown's crowds with horns, synthesizers and a healthy dose of va-va-voom from their new release Talk to La Bomb. Christabel and the Jons loosen up audience members with sultry old-time jazz as heard on their debut CD, Love and Circumstances.

May 17 — Gin Blossoms with Vertigo

One of the most beloved alternative rock bands of the 1990s, Gin Blossoms won over fans with hits like "Hey Jealousy," "Til I Hear It From You" and "Follow You Down." Their first stint the studio in 10 years resulted in the 2006 CD, Major Lodge Victory. Local alternative collective Vertigo opens the show with a thunderstorm of spaced-out rock that, according to their bio, "pushes the line between fragility and aggression."

May 24 — Corey Smith with Jennifer Niceley

Social studies teacher turned country rocker Corey Smith has built a remarkable grassroots fanbase through live performances highlighted by gritty, tongue-in-cheek sing-alongs and his unique rapport with even the rowdiest bar crowds. He funded his first project, Undertones, by winning an open-mic songwriting competition at Cheetah Marie's Café in Monroe, Georgia. If you haven't heard of Smith, you soon will: he's one of MySpace and iTunes' highest selling unsigned artists. Jennifer Niceley grew up not too far away from Knoxville in the mountain foothills and farmland of East Tennessee. Now based in Nashville, her sweet and haunting voice accompanies a dark and rootsy sound.

May 31 — Ozomatli with Toubab Krewe

The members of Ozomatli met through its members' affiliation with the Peace and Justice Center of Lost Angeles in the mid-nineties. The group's collective progressivism has driven it since then—in its involvement with multiple anti-war and social justice groups and in its music, a Spanish/English mash-up of hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, dub and Middle Eastern funk. Ozomatli has opened for artists as diverse as Carlos Santana and Rage Against the Machine and hit festival destinations like South by Southwest and Coachella. The band's 2005 release, Street Signs, won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album, and the band is currently touring in support of its fourth full-length, Don't Mess with the Dragon. Asheville-based Toubab Krewe comes by its Afro-beat sounds honestly; members studied in West Africa for extended periods of time, immersing themselves in the culture and playing with local masters. The band is quickly becoming a festival favorite, having played Bonnaroo and South by Southwest as well as Langerado.

June 7 — The Avett Bros. with Mad Tea Party

The Avett Brothers mix punk, ragtime and honky-tonk in a blender and turn the knob to "puree," making for one spicy musical smoothie. The trio's live shows are completely unhinged adventures in rowdy old-time string music. Mad Tea Party is an Asheville folk trio with witty lyrics and a big sound, one that proudly showcases the group's R&B, blues, rockabilly, ragtime and circus influences. Its music has been lauded on NPR and shared with crowds at New York City's famous CBGB's.

June 14 — John Butler Trio with Artvandalay

John Butler Trio is the band led by the charismatic Australian whose philanthropic aims almost match his list of musical accomplishments. Shortly after Butler cracked into the American scene with his 2003 release, Sunrise Over Sea, he created the JB Seed, a charity that hooks fledgling Australian musicians up with legal and copyright advice, workshops and networking opportunities with industry professionals. Butler's soulful, honest vocals and expressive guitar work are in full effect on his new release, Grand National. JBT hits the Sundown stage on its way to Bonnaroo. Artvandalay, one of Knoxville's favorite local groove machines, opens the show. Formed in 2003, the group specializes in progressive jams, atmospheric tinkering, and all-out guitar thunderstorms.

June 21 — Drive-By Truckers with Dixie Dirt

Drive-By Truckers' seventh album, A Blessing and a Curse, finds the Southern rock historians delving deeper into themselves, dealing with some uber-heavy subject matter like suicide, heartbreak and the loss of loved ones, and reigning in their sound in favor of tight instrumentation and well-placed vocals. Songs like "Gravity's Gone" and "Aftermath USA" show that the group isn't done having fun. Dixie Dirt rowdies up the crowd with their indie-rock Americana that sounds simultaneously familiar and brand new.

June 28 — Tony Joe White and Dave Barnes

Tony Joe White still cranks out the swamp blues, more than 30 years after his first big hits, "Polk Salad Annie" in 1969 and the Brooks Benton-recorded "Rainy Night in Georgia" in 1970. He's toured with a who's who of the greater rock 'n' roll community, including Credence Clearwater Revival, Eric Clapton and James Taylor, and he's written songs recorded by Tina Turner, Elvis, Ray Charles and Waylon Jennings among others. White's most recent release, Uncovered, finds him collaborating with Mark Knopfler, Michael MacDonald and Eric Clapton and unleashing his signature sound most potently on a definitive recording of "Rainy Night in Georgia." Dave Barnes is a South Carolinian preacher's son and former percussionist who began writing songs and playing shows during his college days at Middle Tennessee. His 2004 debut release, Brother, Bring the Sun, earned props from Vince Gill and John Mayer and got him a gig recording with Amy Grant. Barnes brings tunes from that and his second studio album, Chasing Mississippi, to the final Sundown show of 2007.