In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Barking Legs
1307 Dodds Ave
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37404
United States

Nicholas Edward Williams

Nicholas Edward Williams is a multi-instrumentalist and storyteller who is dedicated to “playing it forward” by preserving the songs and styles that have shaped our country: ragtime, Piedmont blues, traditional folk, old time and early country. Williams has spent the last 15 years touring around the US, the UK, Western Europe and Australia, blending the roots music spectrum in his own style. He’s opened for Taj Mahal, The Wood Brothers, Dom Flemons, CAAMP, John Paul White, Town Mountain, John Craigie, Rachel Baiman and Lucy Daucus, and has performed at festival stages on three continents. William’s debut record As I Go Ramblin’ Around made the International Folk Radio DJ Charts in 2019 with the #6 Top Album, #7 Top Song. His critically acclaimed sophomore release Folk Songs For Old Times’ Sake unveiled in November of 2021 and has been heralded by the likes of Grammy-winning musician David Holt who said: “With tasteful guitar arrangements and a voice that draws you right in, Nicholas’ recordings roll along like a mountain stream.

Rachel Blackmon

Rachel Blackmon s a singer, songwriter, violinist, and aspiring multi-instrumentalist. Her primary musical passion is to create songs for the Church that deepen and empower worship through Scripture framed in melody and lyric. She also loves writing songs that fit within the broader singer-songwriter category, and released three indie pop singles in 2022. Her hope is that, regardless of genre, every song she writes would give expressive language to the hearts of those who listen and draw them into a deeper understanding of themselves and the world we share. Rachel is a member of the band As Isaac, having traveled within the US and around the world leading worship and playing music for the past twelve years. For the past three years she served as the worship pastor at The Mission Red Bank. She also regularly plays violin with friends and artists in Chattanooga and enjoys recording on different studio projects around town, as she hopes to see the community of artists in Chattanooga well supported and interconnected. Over the years she’s played with artists like Kim Walker-Smith, Caleb Culver, Leeland, and The Gray Havens and has opened for Kristian Stanfill, The Vespers, and Audrey Assad. Recently she’s loved supporting her Chattanooga friends Eleventh Hour Worship, In The Company of Wolves, and Angel Snow. She’s married to the love of her life, Nick, who is genuinely the staunchest supporter of her art. Together they welcomed their daughter Sylvia into the world in August 2023 (who just happens to be the most adventurous band baby there has ever been) and are enjoying learning life as a family at home and on the road.

YGTUT (Kevin Adams Jr.)

YGTUT, born Kevin Adams Jr., is an American rapper, singer, and record producer born and raised in Chattanooga, TN. His father is a Baptist preacher and his mother a gospel singer. Adams grew up attending church and would often play the organ or drums after service. He first started rapping in his early teen years after his father brought him to a studio. In 2010, he began attending Middle Tennessee State University where he met fellow recording artist, Isaiah Rashad, and the two formed an artist collective called TheHouse. Both artists eventually dropped out to move back to Chattanooga to focus on music full time. He first garnered significant interest in late 2014 by releasing a series of tracks which would form the basis of his first mixtape, Preacher’s Son, released in January 2015. The album featured guest appearances and production work from several members of TheHouse including Isaiah Rashad, Michael Da Vinci, and Ktoven. Another House member and Sessions alum, Swayyvo, played saxophone on the mixtape. The album received a favorable review from Pitchfork. Since then, he has released numerous tracks, some featuring Isiah Rashad, signed with Same Plate and Sony Music in June 2018, and was featured on a 2021 Isaiah Rashad track, Chad.