For the Music Lover

Music City earns its nickname day in, day out, every day of every week. Beginning with the studios and songwriters on Music Row, music flows through this city like the twisting curves of the Cumberland River. From Country to Classical and Rock to Pop, Nashville’s music offerings are nearly unlimited.

When you think Nashville, chances are you think of the neon wonderland of Honky-Tonks, dives, and classic Nashville institutions found on Lower Broadway and Second Avenue. In so many Nashville neighborhoods, you’re certain to find the venue or bar with the right band to make your night memorable.

Along Broadway, the big names of country music have their names in lights. These massive, multi-level complexes dot the landscape and give you plenty to choose from. You can learn to line dance at the Wildhorse Saloon (120 Second Ave. North) and watch up and coming stars on the enormous stage. Nudie’s Honky Tonk (409 Broadway) is always a favorite of locals and visitors, offering burlesque on Monday and Wednesday nights.

On the smaller size, Legends Corner (428 Broadway) and Crossroads (419 Broadway) allow you to get up close and personal with the stars of tomorrow. Remember, though, to bring your dollar bills

to tip the musicians, especially if you have a request!

Walk down the crowded sidewalks on a warm night and let the music wash over you like a wave. Ask a local and they’ll tell you this: pick your bar by the band you like the sound of. You’ll be drinking the same bourbon anywhere you go, so you might as well love the band you’re hearing!

In Printer’s Alley, you’ll find a different flavor of Southern culture at Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar (220 Printers Alley). Look no further than Skulls Rainbow Room (222 Printers Alley) for the best in jazz. If jazz is your mood, Rudy’s Jazz Room (809 Gleaves St. in The Gulch) is another Nashville classic.

Farther afield from Lower Broad, you’ll find such storied venues as Exit/In (2208 Elliston Place) in Midtown. Monday nights light up at Midtown’s Winners Bar (1913 Division Street) with the weekly Whiskey Jam. Also on Monday nights at The Listening Room Cafe (618 Fourth Ave. South), check out the Song Suffragettes. This group of young female artists creates a rotating weekly cast of talent waiting to be heard and get that big break.

If Country Music is your religion, trust and believe that you need to tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (222 Fifth Ave. South) and the world-famous Ryman Auditorium (116 Fifth Ave. North). There’s no venue on earth like the Ryman, especially when the Grand Ole Opry comes home for two months in the winter. During the rest of the year, you can find the Opry at their usual home, The Grand Ole Opry House (2804 Opryland Drive), and take a backstage tour to immerse yourself in the history and culture of country.

If classical music is more your speed, look no further than Schermerhorn Symphony Center (1 Symphony Place), home of the Grammy Award winning Nashville Symphony. Under the baton of Maestro Giancarlo Guerrero, the Symphony plays both classical and pops concerts and gets to be the best house band in town for stars of both pop and country when they get to headline the Schermerhorn.

Looking to take home some music memories? Nashville is home to some fantastic record stores, featuring both new and pre-owned wax. McKay’s can be found in West Nashville (636 Old Hickory Blvd.), and East Nashville is home to both Grimey’s (1060 East Trinity Lane) and The Groove (1103 Calvin Ave.). Grimey’s often features in-store performances that line up with new album releases and you’re never sure who you might run into!

If you’re coming to town in the Spring or early Summer, chances are good you’re here for Tin Pan South Week or CMA Fest. Tin Pan South (March 24-28) is all about the songwriters, the men and women who craft the lyrics and melodies you’ve been singing along with for years. This event spreads out through venues across the city and keeps its patrons on their toes.

CMA Fest, though, is the biggest week in Nashville when it comes to music and will be June 4-7 this year. The biggest names are in town to perform and make appearances at stages all over town, including huge headliners at Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater.

From the smallest dive to the stage of Bridgestone Arena, Nashville’s music scene has something to offer for everyone. The only disappointment is that you can’t see it all. You’ll get the chance to say you knew them when or, just maybe, you’ll get to tell your friends you met a superstar.

This is Nashville, and music is what we do.