Explore Nashville’s LGBTQ Nightlife

A night out in Nashville goes way beyond a beer and a shot in a Broadway honkytonk. Nashville’s LGBTQ scene offers nightlife options for those who want to dance until 3 a.m., the finest in drag, widely varied options for the music lover, spectacular Sunday nights for the showtunes maven, special events just for the leather lover, and a night of the week for pretty much everyone in between. Just make sure you tip your bartenders, kids!

Beginning in East Nashville with The Lipstick Lounge (1400 Woodland Street), you’ll find a welcoming environment with one of the best weekend brunches in Nashville. Lipstick offers trivia nights, karaoke, live music performances by artists like the astoundingly talented Shelly Fairchild, and some of the best bar food around. It’s hard to miss the bright purple exterior of the building and once inside, you’re already family.

While we’re over in that neighborhood, if dancing is your thing, you need to know about QDP. Queer Dance Party takes place monthly at The Basement East (917 Woodland St.) in East Nashville. The event is generally held every 3rd Friday of the month, but occasionally special events may happen, so check Facebook and Twitter for the latest. Whether you’re into living your gold lamé fantasia, feeling like a leather harness look, or just want to dance the night away in a t-shirt and jeans, QDP is always welcoming, incredibly diverse, and - get this - it normally costs one red-hot dollar to get in the door. Seriously.

Heading over to the Wedgewood-Houston area, you’ll find TRAX (1501 Ensley Blvd.). TRAX presents karaoke nights, is the home for the Satin Dolls drag performers, and is also the home bar to The Conductors, Nashville’s Leather-n-Levis group. With one of the best patio spaces in Nashville, TRAX is the perfect venue for a warm summer night and a drink under the stars with a cigar. Queue up some tunes, hit the pool table, and have a great time with friends new and old.

Pecker’s Bar and Grille (237 Hermitage Avenue) is a real hybrid. You have the parts of Pecker’s that feel like a sports bar. And then you add in karaoke nights. And line dancing nights (with lessons!). And The Peckerettes drag performers. And the fact that it’s the home bar for the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby team’s third half. Oh, yeah, and bingo. Add in another great patio and Pecker’s delivers the goods, no matter what it is you want in a night out.

Canvas Lounge (1707 Church Street), with its technicolor church chandeliers, sets itself apart with Eagle Night, where you can break out the leather and listen to the finest DJs spin until 3 a.m. With theme nights like 80s night, Bear Trap, and twice-weekly karaoke, Canvas Lounge brings in diverse crowds, to be sure, but never fear… you’re all always welcome and you’re certain to have a good time. Whether you’re dancing, drinking, or people watching, Canvas’ cool space will make for a great night out.

A little closer to downtown, you’ll find the side-to-side homes of Play Dance Bar (1519 Church Street) and Tribe. At Play, you’re likely there to watch the Playmates present some of Nashville’s finest drag in the show bar or you’re over in the dance bar, finding yourself on Nashville’s largest regular LGBTQ dance floor. Their

weekly college night allows the 18+ set in for a night on the town and the bar regularly plays host to RuPaul’s Drag Race legends on the mainstage, along with stars from America’s Got Talent, Survivor, and Big Brother.

Right next door at Tribe (1517 Church Street), Sunday Funday starts early and goes right into Nashville’s only Showtunes night. With game nights, Drag Race viewing parties, trivia and karaoke, Tribe offers something for everyone. The bar food is great and so is the people-watching! Tribe’s crowd encompasses just about everyone you can imagine, and they regularly play host to the Nashville Grizzlies Rugby beer busts and banging after-parties when there’s a queer icon performing at Bridgestone Arena.

Also, even though they are special events and don’t take place year-round, we have to make sure you know about ATHENA and Sweet Tea Dance! Sweet Tea Dance takes place in a different venue every month through the spring and summer months in Nashville. Here’s your mood board: Think day drinking. Think sultry Sunday afternoons. Think great DJs. Sweet Tea Dance is a perfect wind-down to a summer weekend. Get out of that air conditioning and get ya some Sweet Tea, hun...tea!

ATHENA is the new kid on the block, bringing an all-out dance / circuit party to Nashville’s Analog at the Hutton Hotel. Thus far, the event has been presented at Pride and in mid-winter, so stay tuned to your social media for future dates and announcements.

Whether your vibe is chill or a sweaty dance-off, Nashville’s LGBTQ nightlife scene will make sure you have a good time, get you a little tipsy if that’s your thing, and make you wonder why your gay bars at home aren’t nearly this fun.