They don't call it Music City for nothing. Nashville is truly the place to be if you are a lover of music, whatever the style. Whether you're an aspiring singer or songwriter, an aficionado of live music in intimate settings, a student of country music history, or a star-struck fan eager to discover more about the lifestyle of your favorite artist, you can find plenty in Nashville to meet your desires. By the way, for insight into Nashville's development as a music capital, check out our History chapter. If you're a tourist in Nashville, you've probably been keeping your eyes peeled for a glimpse of a country music star as you stroll down Music Row. You might spot someone ducking into a studio or driving by, but you're probably more likely to bump into your favorite star in an ordinary place like the post office, the mall, or the grocery store. Running into a music star is just about an everyday occurrence here in Music City.
The main sections of this chapter are as follows:
Of course, as we've said elsewhere in this book—and as we'll continue to emphasize—one of the aspects that many newcomers find surprising about Music City is the sheer diversity of its output. While country music remains by far the most visible (or should we say audible?) style, you can find an eclectic selection that includes about any kind of music you might possibly want to hear. This really isn't a new development, as a quick study of the recording industry will attest. Nashville actually had a thriving rhythm-and-blues scene well before the city became known as the country music capital of the world. From the early days of the city's recording industry on up to today, a stunning array of non-country artists—including Burl Ives, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, James Brown, R.E.M., Leontyne Price, Neil Young, REO Speedwagon, Johnny Winter, Carol Channing, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, the Allman Brothers, B. B. King, Dave Brubeck, Joe Cocker, Dean Martin, and Yo La Tengo—have recorded albums here. While many of these artists have drawn upon country influences on their Nashville records, others have not, simply recognizing the wealth of talent and facilities available here. More and more people, perhaps, are realizing that, regardless of category, good music is good music, and music is an international language Nashville speaks fluently.
Price Code
Use the following as a guide to the cost of an adult admission to an attraction. Keep in mind that children's admission prices are generally lower (usually about half the cost of adult admission), and very young children are admitted free to most attractions. Discounts for senior citizens, students, and groups are usually available.
$ | Less than $8 |
$$ | $8 to $15 |
$$$ | $15 to $25 |
$$$$ | More than $25 |
BARBERSHOP HARMONY SOCIETY, 110 Seventh Ave. N., Nashville, TN; (615) 823-3993; barbershop.org; free. Founded in 1938, the society preserves and promotes barbershop quartet singing. Barbershop quartets began in America at the turn of the 20th century, and today the society has about 25,000 members and about 2,000 quartets. It has more than 820 chapters in the United States and Canada, with an increasing number in other countries. The new location houses the society's headquarters staff, Harmony Marketplace retail gift shop, and merchandising operations. It is also the home of the Old Songs Library, the world's largest privately held collection of sheet music, containing 750,000 sheets and 125,000 titles from the heyday of Tin Pan Alley.
Structurally Sound
Once you arrive, you may recognize the eye-catching and memorable structure as the new home of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. But there's more to it than that. It's no accident that the dark, narrow windows on the sweeping facade resemble piano keys. That's just one of many elements that the Hall of Fame's designers incorporated into the modern building as symbols of country music.
Recognizing that country music is an art form whose roots stretch from farms and factories to churches and prisons to country stores and urban bars, the designers, Tuck Hinton Architects, used a variety of materials and included many symbolic representations throughout the attraction. Some symbols, like the windows, are obvious. Others are more subtle. Seen from above, the building's curved facade and drum-shaped segment resemble a bass clef, while the front wall's slanted end is a nod to late-1950s Cadillac tail fins.
A not-so-obvious symbol is the hall's riveted-steel structure and Mississippi yellow pine flooring in the conservatory, which allude to early-20th-century bridges and factories. Suggesting an Appalachian stream, or perhaps the flow of artistic inspiration from the Hall of Fame's legendary members, water from a fountain cascades alongside a long staircase; at the bottom, the stream ends in a “wishing well” pool in the spacious conservatory, a space designed to symbolize the “front-porch” origins of country music.
There are several other symbols, but perhaps the most apparent architectural expression of country music is the building's Hall of Fame drum or rotunda, which acknowledges the beloved anthem “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Around the exterior circumference of the silo-like space are slabs of Crab Orchard stone, designed to represent notes from the famous Carter Family song. Atop the drum is a tower/steeple/chandelier modeled after the WSM-AM 650 radio tower, a tribute to the station's role in the creation of the Grand Ole Opry and the popularization of country music worldwide. Inside the rotunda, which has an almost sacred feel, are additional reminders of the unbroken circle, or continuity, of country music, from its earliest days to the present.
For more on the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, see the listing later on.
COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM, 222 Fifth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 416-2001; countrymusichalloffame.org; $$$$. Located at Fifth Avenue S. and Demonbreun Street, Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum takes up an entire city block and boasts more than 40,000 square feet of exhibit space devoted to the history of country music. As you walk through the museum, you'll view music memorabilia, hear clips of country recordings past and present, and learn about the music and its stars. Exhibits are arranged in a chronological fashion, beginning with the roots of country music and continuing to the present. You could spend hours observing the museum's amazing collection of memorabilia, which includes Mother Maybelle Carter's 1928 Gibson guitar, a rhinestone-studded stage suit worn by Hank Williams, matching duds worn by the Dixie Chicks, and even San Quentin Penitentiary parolee Merle Haggard's letter of pardon from California governor Ronald Reagan. Also on view are copies of every gold and platinum country record.
After the museum, your final stop will be the round, 4,500-square-foot Hall of Fame, where bronze likenesses of the dozens of Hall of Fame members are on display. Live entertainment at the museum includes songwriter performances and occasional appearances by big-name country acts. Also on-site is a gift shop. Two-day tickets, group discounts, and package tours that include a stop at historic RCA Studio B are available. The museum is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. (For more about the museum, see the Close-up “Structurally Sound.”)
GRUHN GUITARS, Inc, 2120 Eighth Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 256-2033; guitars.com; free. A must-stop for guitarists or serious music fans, world-famous Gruhn's is Nashville's largest guitar dealer. The store specializes in high-quality new, used, and vintage guitars, banjos, and mandolins, with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to as much as $150,000. Gruhn's has a strong celebrity clientele, but owner George Gruhn is quick to note that his store has “plenty of things that mere mortals can afford.” Instruments range from new Martin and Gibson guitars to pre-World War II Martin and Gibson acoustics and 1950s and 1960s electric guitars. Gruhn's is open Mon through Sat.
HATCH SHOW PRINT, 224 Fifth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 577-7710; hatchshowrpint.com; free. In business since 1879, Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest letterpress poster print shops in America (see our Attractions chapter for more information). The shop is best known for its posters of early Grand Ole Opry stars. Today Hatch is owned and operated by the Country Music Foundation, which operates the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum (see listing above). The shop still produces its trademark posters and other designs. Its 14-by-22-inch posters advertising local rock bands and would-be country stars can be seen in window displays around town. Hatch sells samples of its posters in the shop. You can drop by daily.
Where Elvis Music Hits & Others Made
Elvis did most of his work in historic RCA Studio B. He recorded 262 songs at the legendary studio, almost 70 percent of his entire list. Known as the “Home of 1,000 hits,” Studio B is located on the corner of 17th Avenue on Music Row. The studio was built in 4 months for $37,515 at the request of Chet Atkins and Steve Sholes for the RCA Victor record label. In his autobiography, Atkins said the studio plans were drawn up on a napkin.
Opened in November 1957, Studio B is a simple single-story building. The area of the studio and control room has a second story that contains an echo chamber. The place was called Studio B because there was also a Studio A. Not beautiful by any stretch of the imagination, Studio B was known for its distinctive acoustics. The walls were designed in an accordion shape, changing angles every 4 feet in an attempt to make the room as “dead” as possible. The walls are covered in 1-foot-square acoustic tiles all the way to the ceiling beginning 3 feet from the floor. Instead of using carpet as in most recording studios, Studio B had tile so the sound would bounce naturally throughout the room. The result was excellent natural sound.
Elvis’ first Studio B session was June 10, 1958, and his last on June 10, 1971. Those sessions yielded a string of top hits including “How Great Thou Art,” “A Big Hunk of Love,” “It's Now or Never,” “Crying in the Chapel,” “Little Sister,” and “(You're the) Devil in Disguise.” He also used Studio B to record the soundtracks for a number of his movies. Because atmosphere was important to Elvis, he had red, green, blue, and white lights installed around the ceiling when he was recording one of his Christmas albums. In order for it to be released in time for the holiday season, it was recorded in July. Not filled with holiday spirit in the middle of summer, the crew strung lights, put up a Christmas tree, and turned the air-conditioning as low as it would go to create the festive Yuletide feeling. To this day, the lights remain.
Likewise, when Elvis was taping “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” the glaring studio lights weren't conducive to a romantic tune. Elvis had all the lights turned off so it was almost pitch black in the studio. With only six people in the room with him—two guitars and the Jordanaires singing backup—Elvis did the song in one taping.
Initially, Chet Atkins would try to attend Elvis's recording sessions. But Chet couldn't stay up all night like Elvis so he'd usually just come in, say hello, and go home to bed while they recorded all night. Studio B had an inexpensive record player on a studio counter where Elvis could listen to demos. During one demo, the needle tracked across the entire record, scratching it. Elvis got so angry, he kicked the counter, breaking the barn-board door. Out of stubbornness, neither Elvis nor Atkins would agree to pay for repairs. The cabinet door remains broken to this day.
Studio B's fame rests not only on the many hits recorded here, but also on its role in creating what came to be known as the Nashville Sound. By the time the studio opened, rock ‘n’ roll's popularity had drawn many young fans away from country music. In response, Atkins and other Nashville producers and engineers experimented with making records in a smooth, pop-oriented style aimed at an adult audience. The sophisticated Nashville Sound lessened the use of steel guitars and fiddles, adding mellow strings and vocal choruses.
The outside of the building contains a souvenir from a newcomer to town, Dolly Parton. A subtle difference in the bricks on the building's exterior is a reminder of Dolly's recording visit. The story goes that she was so excited to be recording at the studio and so thrilled to be driving a new car that she accidentally ran into the building.
In 1977, RCA closed Studio B. A few years later, the studio was donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. RCA donated the studio's equipment. In 2002, Studio B became part of a partnership with the Curb Family Foundation, the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, and Nashville's Belmont University. Today, Studio B is a tourist attraction, as well as a working studio and learning laboratory for Belmont students. A video shows some of the greats who recorded at the studio.
For more on Studio B, see the Attractions section in this chapter.
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Grand Ole Opry star Trace Adkins proposed to his now wife while making his Opry debut.
HISTORIC RCA STUDIO B, 1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37246; (615) 416-2001; studiob.org; $$$$. Visitors to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum can purchase a pass for $39.95 that that allows them access to RCA Studio B on Music Row and to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. (A ticket to the Hall of Fame is required.) The legendary facility is Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio. More than 1,000 top 10 hits, including tunes by Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and the Everly Brothers, were recorded at the studio from 1957 to 1977. Tours are offered daily and depart from the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum (see Hall of Fame listing in this chapter).
JOHNNY CASH MUSEUM, 119 Third Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37201; (615) 256-1777; johnnycashmuseum.com; $$$. Walk through the “Man in Black's” fascinating life at the Johnny Cash Museum, which opened in 2013. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the museum boasts the world's largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia, mostly the collection of one man—museum founder Bill Miller. Visitors can listen to Cash music from various decades and see clips of him in movies and TV shows. Exhibits highlight different periods in Cash's life including his hardscrabble childhood days in Dyess, Arkansas; Air Force years; famous prison concert tour; and marriage to June Carter. A wealth of items in the museum range from a young Cash's Future Farmers of America card to the stone wall from Cash's lakeside room in his Hendersonville house. The lakeside room was where Cash filmed his heart-stopping “Hurt” video and where he hosted “guitar pulls” with famous friends like Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson. Open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MUSIC CITY WALK OF FAME, Nashville's Music Mile on Demonbreun Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, Nashville, TN 37219; visitmusiccity.com/walkoffame; free. The Music City Walk of Fame on Nashville's Music Mile is a landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have made significant contributions to preserving the musical heritage of Nashville and have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration. Inductees are announced throughout the year and honored at a special ceremony with a permanent platinum-and-granite, star-and-guitar sidewalk marker. Inductions are held twice a year. Created in 2006, the Music City Walk of Fame got a $2.5 million makeover in 2015.
Players Behind the Music
With a slogan of “Come see what you've heard,” the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum re-opened in early 2013 after being displaced by the construction of the Music City Center. Originally dedicated in 2006, the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum honors the players—whether stars, session pickers, or sidemen—from all genres of music.
The museum is the brainchild of Joe Chambers, a guitar store owner, who said the idea had been brewing for about a decade. When Chambers found out that Jimi Hendrix's apartment from his seminal years in Nashville had been razed, he decided that Nashville should not lose another piece of music history.
“I looked all over the world. There was no musicians’ museum anywhere in the world,” Chambers said. “I thought it was time there was one.”
The museum is divided into cities that have a history of recorded music—Nashville, Memphis, Detroit, Muscle Shoals, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. One of the instruments that Chambers is most proud of owning is the cigarette-burned old piano that he bought for $200 from CBS Records. It was on this piano that Billy Sherrill and co-writers worked out arrangements for such legendary hits as “Stand By Your Man,” “Almost Persuaded,” and “The Most Beautiful Girl.”
Chambers’ extensive collection includes:
“I fell in love with Nashville the first time I came here,” said Chambers, who arrived in 1978. “The more that I lived here, the more I learned about how many great musicians have been through here and started here. It's really a secret. I hope the museum helps show that it isn't a secret any more.”
For more on the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, see the Attractions chapter.
RYMAN AUDITORIUM AND MUSEUM, 116 Fifth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219; (615) 889-3060; ryman. com; $$. Home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, the Ryman is one of Nashville's most famous historic attractions and, today, is one of the city's most popular concert venues. Exhibits and information on the history of the building and country music are displayed on the main floor. Exhibits include memorabilia and photographs of such Opry stars as Kitty Wells, Hank Snow, and Ernest Tubb. Among the other attractions are interactive videos narrated by Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, and Little Jimmy Dickens; life-size bronze statues of Minnie Pearl and Roy AcufF; and a gift shop with a selection of recordings and souvenir merchandise. (See our History and Attractions chapters, along with the live-music listings in this chapter, for more on the Ryman.)
TRINITY MUSIC CITY U.S.A., 1 Music Village Blvd., Hendersonville, TN 37075; (615) 822-8333; trinitymusiccity.com; free. In mid-1994 California-based Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased the late Conway Twitty's estate, known as Twitty City, and turned it into Trinity Music City U.S.A. Free tours of the Trinity Music Church Auditorium, WPGD Studio, and Twitty mansion are available at designated times throughout the week. The gardens, gift shop, and Solid Rock Bistro are open daily. The state-of-the-art virtual-reality theater features free films shot in the Holy Land. Worship services are held in the auditorium Sun at 10:30 a.m. At Christmas, visit Trinity Christmas City with over a million sparkling lights on 30 acres of beautifully decorated grounds.
WILLIE NELSON AND FRIENDS MUSEUM, 2613 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214; (615) 885-1515; willienelsongeneralstore.com; $. This museum and gift shop is in Music Valley across from the Gaylord Opryland hotel. There are lots of exhibits on Willie Nelson, including awards, guitars, clothing, and other personal items. Other displays pay tribute to Patsy Cline, Elvis, and other stars. The gift shop has all sorts of souvenir items, including lots of T-shirts and sports merchandise. The museum is open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with extended hours during the summer.
Several companies provide guided tours around Nashville. Depending on the type of tour selected, tickets generally range from about $40 for a short, basic tour to upwards of $105 for a tour that includes dinner on the General Jackson showboat. The typical tour, however, costs around $50 and lasts about 3 hours.
GRAY LINE OF TENNESSEE, 186 N. First St., Nashville, TN 37213; (615) 883-5555; graylinetn.com; $$$$. This tour company offers about 15 tours. The most popular is the “Discover Nashville” tour, a sightseeing trip that takes you to the State Capitol, Parthenon, Music Row, and other areas and wraps up with a stop at a Broadway-area honky-tonk. The “Homes of the Stars” tour includes a drive past the former or current homes of Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, the late Tammy Wynette, and others.
NASHTRASH TOURS, P.O. Box 60324, Nashville, TN 37206; (615) 226-7300, (800) 342-2132; nashtrash. com; $$$$. Combining big hair, gossip, a pink bus, and “fancy cheese hors d'oeuvres,” NashTrash Tours offers what is definitely the wackiest tour of Nashville. This 1-hour, 45-minute musical-comedy excursion, hosted by the Jugg Sisters—Sheri Lynn and Brenda Kay—promises “a hilarious, trashy journey through Music City.” In addition to dishing out the dirt on country stars, the Juggs make time for makeup and styling tips and casserole recipes.
They take you to lots of local country music “scandal spots,” including the Davidson County Jail, the legendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, the Ryman Auditorium, Printers Alley, Music Row, and the guitar-shaped pool where Elvis was said to have gone skinny-dipping.
Tours are available daily, usually at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Be sure and call ahead of time so you'll have a seat. The Juggs's Big Pink Bus departs from the north end of the Farmers’ Market on Eighth Avenue N. next to the Bicentennial Mall.
SEGWAY OF NASHVILLE TOURS AND TRANSPORTATION, 119 Third Ave. S, Nashville 37219; (615) 244-0555; segwayofnashville; $$$$. Segway of Nashville offers customized tours, as well as team building, commercial rentals, special events, and Segway service. See Nashville up close and personal on this unique two-wheeled personal transportation device. Riders must be at least 14 years old and minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Riders must sign a liability release, must be able to step on and off the platform and maintain normal balance at all times, must have use of left hand, and must wear comfortable walking-type footwear and dress for the weather. Top weight is 250 pounds. Helmets are required and furnished. Cost is $75 per person for a 2.5-hour tour. Tours offered daily during daylight hours.
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Upon her induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 1999, Trisha Yearwood was presented with a necklace belonging to her idol, Patsy Cline.
ERNEST TUBB RECORD SHOP, 417 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 255-7503; etrecordshop.com. Ernest Tubb founded his downtown store on Commerce Street in 1947. Today the downtown store is at 417 Broadway. It specializes in early and hard-to-find country recordings but also stocks the latest country hits, so you'll find CDs and cassettes by everyone from Hank Snow, Webb Pierce, and Johnny Bush to George Strait and Alan Jackson. The store also has recordings by small-label artists such as Mike Snyder and Johnny Russell. Hours of operation vary. The Midnight Jamboree at Ernest Tubb's Record Shop takes place Sat night at the Music Valley Drive location (2416 Music Valley Dr., 615-889-2474).
GREAT ESCAPE SUPERSTORE, 5400 Charlotte Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37209; (615) 385-2116; thegreatescapeonline.com. A bargain hunter's paradise for more than 20 years, Great Escape offers tens of thousands of used CDs, cassettes, albums, comic books, computer games, and other items. Collectors will find some vintage recordings here. Most CDs cost $6 to $9, while most tapes and records range from 99 cents to $3.99. The store pays cash or store credit for used products. Bring a photo ID if you have products to sell. Other shop is located at 111 North Gallatin Pike, Madison (615-865-8052). (See the Shopping chapter for more.)
GRIMEY'S NEW & PRELOVED MUSIC, 1604 Eighth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 254-4801; grimeys.com. This little Berry Hill shop is well known among local rockers for its great collection of indie rock. If you're a vinyl aficionado, you'll want to check out the store's extensive collection, which includes many new releases on vinyl. The store also sells a lot of soul, funk, electronica, and hip-hop. You'll find just about everything here but mainstream country. Most used CDs are priced at $8.99. If you have music to sell, the store will pay you up to $5 in cash or $6 in trade; be sure to bring a valid ID if you want to sell your stuff. Grimey's also presents artist in-store appearances, promotes local concerts, and sells tickets to select area shows. The store has a good website that provides music news, CD reviews, audio samples of new releases, and more. The store is open daily.
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You can listen to several months’ worth of performances of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop's famous Midnight Jamboree online at the show's website, www.etrecordshop.com/mj.htm.
PHONOLUXE RECORDS, 2609 Nolensville Rd., Nashville, TN 37211; (615) 259-3500. Phonoluxe sells used CDs, cassettes, albums, videos, DVDs, and laser discs. For music lovers on a budget, it's a must-stop. CDs are priced from $2 to about $10, and albums start at $1 and go all the way up to $200 for some of the rare, autographed recordings. Phonoluxe sells current and out-of-print recordings. The store pays cash for your used products (up to $5 per CD); just bring a photo ID. In business since 1987, the store is located between I-440 and Thompson Lane. Call for hours.
THIRD MAN RECORDS, 623 Seventh Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 891-4393; thirdmanrecords.com. Founded by musician Jack White, Third Man Records opened in Nashville in 2009. The facility is a record store, record label offices, photo studio, dark room, and live venue with analog recording booth. The name “Third Man” refers to White's fondness for the number three. Most of the records are recorded, printed, and pressed in Nashville and produced by Jack White. The Third Man Novelties Lounge in the store contains a collection of vintage novelty machines.
Places to Hear Live Music
Music is woven into the very fabric of Nashville; it seems to be everywhere here, as befits a town called “Music City.” You're likely to find someone singing out on the street at any time of the day or night. While you may expect buskers to congregate along the Second Avenue entertainment district, they'll also entertain you while you wait in line at the Pancake Pantry. You're even likely to be serenaded at the airport. Live music is such an integral part of this town that you'll find it almost everywhere, from bars, restaurants, and coffeehouses to grocery stores and bookshops, street corners, and churches.
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Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens's first radio job was to crow like a rooster to open the morning program.
The revitalization of the downtown area—especially in “the District,” which is the name given to Second Avenue, Printers Alley, and lower Broadway—has provided a wealth of entertainment opportunities for tourists and locals and given more performers a place to play. In many cases there is no cover charge, which means you can hop around from one establishment to another without spending a fortune. Often these performers are playing for free, so if you like what you hear, drop a bill into the tip jar or in the hat if one is passed around.
The Larger Venues
Tickets for shows at these venues are available by calling Ticketmaster at (615) 242-9631, or by calling the venue box office.
ALLEN ARENA, DAVID LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY, 1 University Park Dr., Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 966-1000; venues.lipscomb.edu. This 5,500-seat theater opened in October 2001 on the campus of David Lipscomb University. The arena is located on the campus's south end near the tennis courts and softball field. While the arena is used primarily for university sporting events, quite a few concerts have been held here. Lipscomb is a Church of Christ—affiliated school, so most of these shows have been of the Christian music variety—bands like dc Talk, Jars of Clay, and Third Day. However, the occasional up-and-coming country artist plays Allen Arena, too.
LP FIELD, 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213; (615) 565-4300; titansonline.com. The 67,000-seat home of the National Football League's Tennessee Titans also plays host to occasional outdoor concerts. Formerly known as the Coliseum, LP Field is the site of the nightly big-name concerts held during the CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair (see the Annual Events section of this chapter for more on that). Tickets to Coliseum concert events are generally sold through Ticketmaster.
CURB EVENT CENTER, 2002 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212; (615) 460-8500; belmont.edu/curbeventcenter. Belmont University's 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex opened in late 2003. The facility includes a 5,000-seat arena, which presents occasional concerts and other entertainment events. Amy Grant and the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats were among the first entertainers to perform at the facility. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Parking is in the attached garage or along nearby streets.
BRIDGESTONE ARENA, 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 770-2000; bridgestonearena.com. Although it features ice hockey and other sporting events, the Bridgestone Arena was designed primarily for concerts. Extra care has been devoted to the acoustical systems, and the sound is exceptional. The arena, which contains more than a million square feet of total space, seats as many as 20,000 for an in-the-round concert and 18,500 using its 40-by-60-foot proscenium stage. Since its opening in 1996, this venue formerly known as the Gaylord Entertainment Center has hosted the likes of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, the Rolling Stones, the Dixie Chicks, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, and Mary J. Blige. Last-minute ticket buyers can take comfort in the fact that 20 box-office windows are available to speed the process.
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Did you know that airmail originated in Nashville? In 1877 John Lillard had the first airmail stamp issued—for balloon service. Although that idea never got off the ground, Lillard was vindicated when the first practical airmail service—on an airplane—departed from Nashville on July 29, 1924.
GRAND OLD OPRY HOUSE, 2804 Opryland Dr., Nashville, TN 37214; (615) 871-6779; opry.com. The Grand Ole Opry is the show that started it all, and this is where it has happened since the Grand Ole Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium in 1974. A typical Opry performance features a mix of country music legends, today's top stars, and up-and-coming new artists. More than just traditional country, the Opry features bluegrass, gospel, Cajun, western swing, country-rock, and comedy. The lineup is released a couple of days before showtime. It's not unusual, however, for a special guest to drop by for a duet or surprise appearance during these unrehearsed performances. The schedule of showtimes varies and is subject to change, so it's a good idea to call ahead before planning a visit. Tickets range from $40 to $70. Tickets are sometimes still available just before showtime, but since shows often sell out, you might want to order them in advance if you're planning to visit on a specific day.
MARTHA RIVERS INGRAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Blair School of Music, 2400 Blakemore Ave., Nashville, TN 37212; (615) 322-7651; blair.vanderbilt.edu. Inaugurated in January 2002, the stunning Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts is a dramatic addition to the Blair School of Music. Its superb acoustics and state-of-the-art stage equipment make it an ideal setting for symphonic, operatic, or chamber orchestra events. The Ingram Center seats around 600; parking is across the street at the Capers Garage.
NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, 417 Fourth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37201; (615) 862-6390; nashvilleauditorium.com. Once Nashville's premier entertainment venue, 9,600-seat Municipal Auditorium, which opened in 1962, has taken a backseat to some of the newer and larger venues around town. But it still plays host to a wide range of performers. Municipal Auditorium occasionally holds trade shows and family shows, religious crusades, rodeos, circuses, and truck pulls.
RIVERFRONT PARK, 100 First Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37201; (615) 862-8400 (Metro Parks office); nashville.gov/parks. Riverfront Park is the site of various seasonal concerts and events, some free and some with an admission charge. The 5-acre park, across the Cumberland River from the stadium, includes a tiered grassy hill that approximates an amphitheater. General capacity for concerts is 10,000.
RYMAN AUDITORIUM, 116 Fifth Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219; (615) 889-3060; ryman.com. If any venue qualifies as Nashville's music mecca, it is the Ryman, former home to the Grand Ole Opry. Construction began on the historic, 2,362-seat former tabernacle in 1889, with significant financial support from steamboat captain Thomas G. Ryman, who had recently “found” religion and banned drinking and gambling on his boats. It opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. The auditorium, though built for religious services, soon became well known for hosting lectures and theatrical performances.
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Grand Ole Opry star Billy Grammer developed the Grammer guitar, one of the finest flat-top guitars on the market.
Through its early history, in addition to legendary preachers, the stage was graced by speakers and by performers. After Thomas Ryman's death in 1904, the building was renamed in his honor From 1943 to 1974 it was the home of the Grand Ole Opry. After the Opry moved to Opryland in 1974, the Ryman was neglected for years, but it reopened in June 1994 after a full restoration Now it is noted for its excellent acoustics.
Today's Ryman is a fully functioning performing arts center that features concert-quality sound and lighting and has radio and TV broadcast capabilities. The main floor and balcony seat about 1,000 people each. The Grand Ole Opry returns to the Ryman for special engagements. See the Attractions section of this chapter for information about Ryman exhibits and tours.
TENNESSEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (TPAC), 505 Deaderick St., Nashville, TN 37219; (615) 782-4040; tpac.org. TPAC (pronounced tee-pack) is mainly devoted to productions like its Broadway series and those of its resident groups. TPAC is occasionally the site of a pop or rock concert as well as private shows. TPAC consists of 4 venues: 2,408-seat Jackson Hall, 1,003-seat Polk Theater, 1,668-seat War Memorial Auditorium, and 288-seat Johnson Theater.
WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, 301 Sixth Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37243; (615) 782-4030; wmarocks.com. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, the historic War Memorial Auditorium was dedicated in 1925 to honor the state's role in World War I and commemorate the Tennesseans who fought and died in the war. From 1925 to 1980, the auditorium was home to the Nashville Symphony. The Grand Ole Opry also called it home from 1939 to 1943. Minnie Pearl, Bill Monroe, and Ernest Tubb were all inducted into the Grand Ole Opry here. Today, the 2,000-seat auditorium is a popular performance venue. Artists who have performed here include Ray Charles, David Bowie, the Eagles, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, Mumford and Sons, Dolly Parton, Jack White, and many more. In the upper level of the auditorium is an eclectic private room called the Attic Lounge where a series of short films feature discussions with emerging artists and touring musicians.
Smaller Venues
ARRINGTON VINEYARDS, 6211 Patton Rd., Arrington, TN 37014; (615) 395-0102; arringtonvineyards.com. Owned by country music artist Kix Brooks (of longtime duo Brooks & Dunn), winemaker Kip Summers, and entrepreneur John Russell, Arrington Vineyards is located about 30 miles south of Nashville. The wine is now shipped in 35 states and is also served in restaurants in New York City, New Orleans, and Nashville. Opened July 1, 2007, Arrington Vineyards offers award-winning wines, beautiful rolling hills, wonderful sunsets, and free live Music in the Vines concerts. Bring a picnic dinner, buy a bottle of wine, get comfy on a blanket, and listen to some wonderful music. Music in the Vines is hosted every Sat during Apr, plus Fri, Sat, and Sun evenings during the summer. Check the website to verify dates and times.
B.B KING'S BLUES CLUB, 152 Second Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37201; (615) 256-2727; bbkings. com/nashville/. B. B. King's presents nightly live blues, R&B, jazz, and, occasionally, rock acts. Most of the entertainment is local or regional, but the club features a nationally known performer about twice a month. The cover is $5 to $10. Expect to pay about $20 to $25 for special ticketed events. B. B. King's serves dinner daily. Barbecue, ribs, catfish, fried chicken, and burgers are on the menu.
THE BELCOURT THEATRE, 2102 Belcourt Ave., Nashville, TN 37212; (615) 846-3150; belcourt. org. The historic Belcourt Theatre is a nonprofit venue that features concerts, films, and events. The 340-seat Hillsboro Village venue features a variety of music, including jazz, blues, and symphony concerts. The theater sells alcoholic beverages and snacks. Purchase tickets at the theater's website, by phone, or at the theater's box office. Shows often sell out quickly.
THE BLUEBIRD CAFE, 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 383-1461; bluebirdcafe.com. You can't talk about songwriter venues in Nashville without mentioning the Bluebird. And you can't talk at the Bluebird without someone hushing you. That may be an exaggeration, but only a slight one, because here the song is meant to be the focus, not background music for conversations. Insiders know that “Shhh!” has become a motto of the famous listening room. A casual look around the 8-by-10-inch photographs covering the walls will tell you why: Practically anybody who's anybody in new country and acoustic music has played here. Some, like Garth Brooks, played here as unknowns and went on to become superstar recording artists, while some have made their names as songwriters who pen hits for other people. Kurland sold the Bluebird in 2008 to the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
The songwriters in-the-round format, in which four songwriters sit in a circle and take turns playing their own songs, was pioneered here by Fred Knobloch and Don Schlitz, and it's a tradition that continues most nights. Reservations can be made for shows Tues through Sat. Shows on Sun and Mon are first come, first served. The evening show begins at 9 p.m. Tues through Thurs and 9:30 p.m. Fri and Sat. The cover is generally $7 to $12, and each seat at a table also has a $7 food and drink minimum. There's no cover for the early show, which starts at 6:30 p.m. and usually features up-and-coming songwriters. The early show each Mon is open-microphone (for more info on that, see the Open Microphones section later in this chapter).
BOURBON STREET BLUES AND BOOGIE BAR, 220 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37219; (615) 242-5837; bourbonstreetbluesandboogiebar.com. Bourbon Street features live blues music 7 nights a week in an appropriately dark New Orleans–style atmosphere. The club frequently brings in national acts. The cover is $10 to $20 with an occasional exception for special engagements. The kitchen serves Cajun American cuisine.
DOUGLAS CORNER CAFE, 2106-A Eighth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 298-1688; douglascorner.com. A favorite with Nashville's top songwriters, Douglas Corner is a cozy, laid-back little club that features songwriters, artists, and bands 6 nights a week. In-the-round performances, featuring a selection of songwriters who take turns performing their tunes, are a highlight. The cover charge varies; on weekends, it's typically around $10. On various nights, there will be a 6 p.m. show, when admission is free. Douglas Corner has open microphone on Tues nights (see the subsequent Open Microphones section for details).
THE END, 2219 Elliston Place, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 321-4457; endnashville.com. A longtime fixture on Elliston Place, this hole-in-the-wall club is known for booking independent rock acts. We used to visit back in our ‘80s big-hair days, when the club was known as Elliston Square and the whole area was called the “Rock Block.d” The vibe hasn't changed much since then. The club is still cramped, the music is still loud, and the sound sometimes isn't so good, but if cutting-edge, indie rock is your scene, this is the place. The End has bands 6 to 7 nights a week. The cover charge is usually $5 to $15. The club sells beer and wine.
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Before stardom, Grand Ole Opry star Alan Jackson delivered mail to the Opry House.
EXIT/IN, 2208 Elliston Place, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 321-3340; exitin.com. After more than 3 decades, the legendary Exit/In is still alive and kickin’. The club is one of Nashville's oldest music venues, having first opened in 1971. Longtime patrons have fond memories of many fine performances at the Exit/In. The club is essentially just a big room with a capacity of 500 people, a stage in the front, and a bar in the back. Who needs anything more? The show schedule is inclined toward rock and alternative country with a lot of artist-showcase concerts. The cover varies; it's generally $7 to $10 but sometimes can be as much as $75 or more for prime shows.
LAYLA'S BLUEGRASS INN, 418 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 726-2799; laylasbluegrassinn.com. Sandwiched between Second Fiddle and Robert's in downtown Nashville is Layla's Bluegrass Inn, a cozy club that offers traditional bluegrass and much more. Sure, bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley has graced Layla's stage, but so have other musical styles such as Hank Williams III and the Drive-By Truckers. Check out Layla's music schedule and you'll see a wide range of music and performers. Layla's has plenty of seating and bunches of dancing room. When folks get hungry, they stroll outside for an all-meat hotdog or Polish sausage from a friendly vendor. As for those license plates decorating Layla's, if you've got one handy, take it in and swap it for a cold brew. Then your license will become part of the growing decor.
LEGENDS CORNER 428 BROADWAY, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 248-6334; legendscorner.com. Album covers of country greats plaster the walls at Legends, a popular honky-tonk at the corner of Fifth and Broadway. The bar features a variety of local talent and no cover charge. It's popular with tourists as well as locals who want to kick up their heels on the dance floor or just sit at the bar and drink a beer.
LONG HOLLOW JAMBOREE, 3600 Long Hollow Pike, Goodlettsville, TN 37072; (615) 824-4445; $. Long Hollow Jamboree is a drive out in the country to hear some old-timey music and eat old-fashioned home cooking featuring “meat and three”—usually fried chicken, fish, or roast beef with choice of three veggies, plus bread. What started as a jam session at a neighborhood grocery store in the 1970s is still going strong with loyal fans. The place is rustic and weather beaten with well-worn booths and long cafeteria-style tables and chairs. It is sure not slick or modern but it does offer live music and dancing with a packed dance floor. A smoke- and alcohol-free venue, Long Hollow welcomes all ages. Country music on Tues and Sat nights from 5 to 11 p.m. but call to be sure.
NASHVILLE PALACE, 2611 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214; (615) 885-1540; nashville-palace.com. It's become a part of modern country music lore that Randy Travis had a gig frying fish here and singing on the side when he was “discovered.” The Nashville Palace features live country music every night and offers a full menu with sandwiches, salads, steaks, chicken, catfish, ribs, and more.
ROCKETOWN, 601 Fourth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37210; (615) 843-4001; rocketown.com. This youth-oriented nonprofit entertainment venue is the culmination of a longtime dream for Christian music superstar Michael W. Smith, who wanted to create a safe place for teens to congregate and have fun. Rocketown provides a skate park, classrooms, 3 stages for live entertainment, snack bar, recording studio, and photography, art, and dance studios. Rocketown serves about 800 kids each week. The club presents a mixture of music styles, including rock, pop, hip-hop, punk, and Top 40. About half of the bands featured are Christian oriented. The staff keeps an eye on the goings-on, keeping age-appropriateness in mind. Parents or guardians often hang out at the coffee club while the younger set attends a concert or burns off energy in the skate park.
ROBERT'S WESTERN WORLD, 416 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 244-9552; (615) 244-9552; robertswesternworld. com. You can buy a pair of cowboy boots while you listen to bluegrass and honky-tonk music at Robert's. There's live entertainment day and night—from 11 to 3 a.m. Stars occasionally show up to hang out and often end up taking the stage for a song or two. Famous faces who've visited Robert's include Merle Haggard, Kid Rock, Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton, and Tracy Byrd. There's no cover charge. Everyone is welcome to attend the Sunday Morning Gospel Fellowship at 10:30 a.m. on Sun. The service features traditional gospel music with prayer and nondenominational spiritual messages.
SECOND FIDDLE, 420 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 251-6812; thesecondfiddle.com. Step into the Second Fiddle between Tootsie's and Layla's and step back in time. Dozens of old radios and musical instruments line the walls of this large bar. Look for a guitar signed by Mother Maybelle Carter, the Carter family, and Johnny Cash. Bunches of Grand Ole Opry memorabilia help provide the country decor. Celebrity performers have been known to walk through these doors, including Tim McGraw, Kix Brooks, David Frizzel, Tracy Byrd, and Trick Pony. If the place looks familiar, it has shown up in music videos and album shots. McBride and the Ride filmed a video here. Second Fiddle was the setting of “40 Greatest Drinking Songs” with Wynonna Judd. Pam Tillis used shots of the honky tonk for an album.
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Once a nightclub bouncer, Garth Brooks calls his Grand Ole Opry membership the pinnacle of his career.
STATION INN, 402 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 255-3307; stationinn.com. The Station Inn is one of our favorite places to hear live music. A Who's Who of bluegrass have played at the homey (and homely) little club that's almost hidden away down on 12th Avenue S. The club occasionally features country, Americana, and folk performers. Vince Gill has been known to drop in, too. We like to get there early so we can claim a couple of the old worn-out vinyl seats that line the back wall (they're said to have come straight from Lester Flatt's original tour bus), then settle in for an evening of good music. The Station Inn features live bluegrass nightly. The cover charge generally varies from $12 to $20, depending on the band. There is no cover on Sunday, when an open jam session takes place.
TEXAS TROUBADOUR THEATRE, 2416 Music Valley Dr., #108, Nashville, TN 37214; (615) 889-2474; etrecordshop.com. The 500-capacity Texas Troubadour Theatre takes evident pride in the fact that it is an extension of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop—the legendary Tubb was known as “the Texas Troubadour.” A popular event is the continuation of the weekly Midnight Jamboree radio show, which Tubb started the night of May 3, 1947, the same date he opened his first record shop in downtown Nashville. The Midnight Jamboree, which airs on WSM-AM 650 each Saturday after the Grand Ole Opry, is the second-longest-running radio show in history, taking a backseat only to the Opry itself. After more than 50 years of the show, it continues its tradition of free admission, even when a star such as Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, or Marty Stuart is in the lineup. That's the way Ernest Tubb, who started the show as a way for new artists to get on the radio, always wanted it. The other regular program at the Troubadour is Cowboy Church, a free, nondenominational, come-as-you-are service every Sun at 10 a.m. The Troubadour, which is across from Opryland in the Music Valley area, also features theatrical productions such as A Tribute to the King (Elvis).
3RD AND LINDSLEY BAR AND GRILL, 818 Third Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37210; (615) 259-9891; 3rdandlindsley.com. This club, a half mile south of Broadway, boasts live blues, R&B, rock, and alternative music 7 nights a week. It's popular with Nashville's session musicians and singers and is a good spot to catch some local favorites. The cover charge varies according to the band but is usually about $10 to $20. The grill serves lunch and dinner, including prime rib, fish and chips, and red beans and rice. Rhythm City Church is held every Sunday at 11 a.m.
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Ex-Marine and country music superstar George Jones once experimented with rockabilly music under the name “Thumper Jones.”
TOOTSIE'S ORCHID LOUNGE, 422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 726-0463; tootsies. com. You can't miss Tootsie's—it's the pale purple club on Broadway. In the old days this was where legendary songwriters like Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson gathered to drink and write. Much of the lounge's history is reflected in the photos on the walls. There's a stage downstairs and another upstairs, where you can walk out into an alley to the side door to the Ryman Auditorium (you can't get in that way, but many legendary stars have been known to come out that door and into Tootsie's). Both stages feature live entertainment day and night; there isn't a cover charge. Tootsie's is worth a visit for anyone who wants to soak up a little of Music City's music history.
THE WILDHORSE SALOON, 120 Second Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37201; (615) 902-8200; wildhorsesaloon.com. The Wildhorse is one of the top tourist attractions downtown in the District. This state-of-the-art music club, which opened in June 1994, is host to a continuing parade of country events. The Wildhorse presents house bands, booked from all over the United States, every night except during tapings. Regular admission is free until 6 p.m., then $6. Free admission with a room key for guests of any Marriott hotel. Concert tickets cost about $20. (See our Nightlife chapter for more on the Wildhorse.)
Open Microphones
Several area clubs have open-mic nights. Here are some of the more highly regarded open-microphone venues in Nashville.
THE BLUEBIRD CAFE, 4104 Hillsboro Rd., Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 383-1461; bluebirdcafe.com. Open-mic night at the legendary Bluebird is Mon at 6 p.m. If you're interested in playing, get there at 4:30 p.m., sign a slip of paper, and put it in the basket. A drawing determines the order of performers, and unfortunately, not everybody generally gets a chance to play before time runs out at 9 p.m. If you do get on stage, you can play a maximum of 2 songs or 8 minutes, and your songs should be originals. Now relax and play, keeping in mind that if you do screw up, nobody will boo you. Just about everybody else in the audience is a songwriter, and they know what it's like. And while you should enjoy yourself, forget those dreams of being “discovered” at an open mic. It just doesn't happen that way anymore, but it's a great way to work on your musical- and vocal-presentation skills. By the way, if you're one of the unlucky ones who doesn't get to play, you're guaranteed a spot the next open-mic night you attend. For more information about the Bluebird, see the listing earlier in the Smaller Venues section of this chapter.
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Garth Brooks played Douglas Corner as a songwriter and held his first fan club party at the venue performing with his band to a jam-packed crowd. He presented the owner with the printing plate used to make the Fan Fair posters for the event. That plate still hangs in Douglas Corner today.
DOUGLAS CORNER CAFE, 2106-A Eighth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 292-2530 (recording to sign up); douglascorner.com. Douglas Corner's open mic starts at 8 p.m. Tues. You can reserve your spot in line by calling the listed number between 2 and 6 p.m. the same day you wish to attend. Calling Douglas Corner's main number won't do you any good. If you forget to call, just show up, and your name will be added to the end of the list. Depending on how many people are waiting to play, you'll get to do 2 songs.
March/April
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Blind since birth, Grand Ole Opry star Ronnie Milsap played the violin by age 7, piano by age 8, and guitar by age 12.
TIN PAN SOUTH, Ryman Auditorium and various Nashville venues; (615) 256-3354, (800) 321-6008; tinpansouth.com. One of Nashville's treasures is its talented songwriting community. Nashville songwriters pen hits that are heard and loved by millions around the world. In addition to countless country songs, numerous pop hits—such as Eric Clapton's Grammy-winning song “Change the World,” written by Music City's Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Tommy Simms—came from the pens of Nashville tunesmiths. We are fortunate that, on just about any night of the week, we can head out to a club like the Bluebird Cafe or Douglas Corner and hear great songs performed by the talented individuals who wrote them.
For about five days and nights at the end of March, Tin Pan South offers the chance to catch a bunch of top songwriters performing their hits acoustically in an intimate club setting. The Nashville Songwriters Association International sponsors this event, the nation's only festival celebrating the songwriter and the song, and writers from around the country join in. Tin Pan South takes its name from Nashville's songwriting predecessor, the famous Tin Pan Alley in New York. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (615-255-9600, www.ticketmaster.com) and at the door if tickets aren't sold out. Ticket prices vary. Shows usually begin at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
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Richard Florida's book Who's Your City? describes Nashville as “home to much of the world's best studio talent and has eclipsed even New York and L.A. as the place for music writing, recording, and publishing.”
FRANKLIN JAZZ FESTIVAL, Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Franklin, TN 37064; (615) 791-1777; franklinjazzzfestival.com. The Annual Franklin Jazz Festival at the Factory at Franklin showcases the area's hottest jazz musicians as well as players from around the world. Along with fabulous music, the jazz festival features arts, crafts, food and drinks.
May
MUSICIANS CORNER, Centennial Park, 2500 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 862-8400; musicianscornernashville.com. Musicians Corner presents free weekly lawn parties throughout May and June from noon to 5 p.m. Events feature performances by emerging and established artists, a beer garden, food trucks, local artisans, and family-friendly activities.
June
BONNARO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, Manchester, TN 37355; (931) 728-7635; bonnaroo.com. Outdoor music festival aficionados may want to know that Bonnaroo—a massive 4-day music and camping festival—takes place just down the road at a 700-acre farm in Manchester, about 60 miles southeast of Music City. Since Bonnaroo was first launched in 2002, it has become one of the nation's premier music events, drawing almost 100,000 avid music fans from around the country. The artist lineup is heavy on “jam bands”—artists known for their improvisation in a variety of roots music styles. Performers have included Bob Dylan, the Dead, Widespread Panic, Trey Anastasio of Phish, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, and Alison Krauss. There are multiple stages, as well as a central area featuring around-the-clock entertainment activities and food and beverage concessions. A Comedy Theatre and a Cinema feature brand-new independent films. Tickets, traditionally available only online at the Bonnaroo website, are about $300 for a 4-day pass, which includes camping and parking. Special VIP packages can cost as much as $1,600. An important note: Traffic surrounding the festival can be a nightmare, so do your research and plan a good route—preferably something other than I-24, which has been known to back up for hours during this event.
It's a Grand Ole Cast
How many of these names do you recognize? Those of you who are die-hard country music fans probably know them all. As of early 2015, this was the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. The names are followed by the year they joined. The cast changes from time to time, as new members are added and others choose to drop out for a while. New members are invited to join on the basis of their contributions to country music and whether they are available to perform from time to time during the live radio broadcast.
Trace Adkins, 2003; Bill Anderson, 1961; Dierks Bentley, 2005; Clint Black, 1991; Garth Brooks, 1990; Jim Ed Brown, 1963; Roy Clark, 1987; Terri Clark, 2004; John Conlee, 1981; Charlie Daniels, 2008; Diamond Rio, 1998; Joe Diffie, 1993; the Gatlin Brothers, 1976; Vince Gill, 1991; Tom T. Hall, 1980; Emmylou Harris, 1992; Jan Howard, 1971; Alan Jackson, 1991; Stonewall Jackson, 1956; Hal Ketchum, 1994; Alison Krauss, 1993; Little Big Town, 2014; Patty Loveless, 1988; Loretta Lynn, 1962; Barbara Mandrell, 1972; Martina McBride, 1995; Del McCoury, 2003; Reba McEntire, 1986; Jesse McReynolds, 1964; Ronnie Milsap, 1976; Montgomery Gentry, 2009; Craig Morgan, 2008; Lorrie Morgan, 1984; Oak Ridge Boys, 2011; Old Crow Medicine Show, 2013; the Osborne Brothers, 1964; Brad Paisley, 2001; Dolly Parton, 1969; Stu Phillips, 1967; Ray Pillow, 1966; Charley Pride, 1993; Jeanne Pruett, 1973; Rascal Flatts, 2011; Riders in the Sky, 1982; Darius Rucker, 2012; Jeannie Seely, 1967; Jean Shepard, 1955; Ricky Skaggs, 1982; Connie Smith, 1971; Mike Snider, 1990; Ralph Stanley, 2000; Marty Stuart, 1992; Mel Tillis, 2007; Pam Tillis, 2000; Randy Travis, 1986; Travis Tritt, 1992; Josh Turner, 2007; Keith Urban, 2012; Carrie Underwood, 2008, Ricky Van Shelton, 1988; Steve Wariner, 1996; the Whites, 1984; Trisha Yearwood, 1999.
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“Nashville Sound” refers to a style of smooth, heavily produced country music in which piano, strings, and backing vocals are more prominent than traditional fiddle and banjo. The style was popularized in the late 1950s and 1960s by producers Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley. Patsy Cline's recordings are among the most popular examples of the famous Nashville Sound.
CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL/FAN FAIR, various downtown Nashville venues; (800) CMA-FEST; cmafest.com. Country music fans have traditionally been a loyal bunch, and country artists bend over backward to show their gratitude during this annual celebration designed to honor music fans. The bond between country fans and their favorite artists is a unique one in the music industry. You wouldn't find many famous rock bands standing in a booth all day to sign autographs for their fans, but country artists do just that. In 1996, for example, Garth Brooks made a surprise visit to the 25th annual Fan Fair and signed autographs for 23 consecutive hours—reportedly without a bathroom break! Since its inception in 1972, Fan Fair, organized and produced by the Country Music Association, has become a tradition for country fans and Nashville's music industry. Autograph sessions take place indoors at the Music City Center, morning and afternoon concerts are staged at Riverfront Park, and headline concerts are presented each night at the LP Field. Various other activities, including fan-club parties and other celebrity events, take place at venues all over town. Typically, more than 200 country music artists participate.
Most major artists participate in the event, although not all stars attend each year. Net proceeds from the festival are used to advance the growth and popularity of country music. For more information, or to register, call the number listed.
JEFFERSON STREET JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL, Bicentennial Mall, 600 James Robertson Pkwy., Nashville, TN 37243; (615) 726-5867; jumpnashville.com. In the mid-1900s, Jefferson Street was nationally known for its jazz, blues, and R&B music. As part of an effort to revitalize the historic street's culture, the Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership began presenting this annual music festival in 2000. The event is usually held around Juneteenth, the June 19 celebration of the ending of slavery.
During the festival, nationally known and local jazz and blues acts perform on the stage throughout the day and late into the evening from noon to 10 p.m. Performers have included DeFord Bailey Jr., Tyrone Smith, and Marion James. It's a family-oriented event, complete with food and merchandise vendors and activities for children. Admission is $15.
July
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Kitty Wells, the first female country singer to become a major star, was also one of the rare country stars actually born in Nashville. She earned the title “Queen of Country Music.”
UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS CANNONSBURGH VILLAGE, 312 S. Front St., Murfreesboro, TN 37133; (800) 716-7560; unclemacondays.com. Grab your banjos and shine your dancin’ shoes for the annual Uncle Dave Macon Days in Cannonsburgh Village in historic Murfreesboro. Considered one of America's premier summer festivals, the family-oriented event was established to honor the memory of Uncle Dave Macon, who lived near Murfreesboro and is considered one of the first Grand Ole Opry superstars. A master banjo player and performer, he died in 1952 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966. Uncle Dave Macon Days is one of the very few old-time music competitions in the country. Cannonsburgh is an authentic pioneer village with more than 20 restored log structures. Living-history demonstrations take place during the weekend. A Motorless Parade brings horse-drawn buggies and carriages along a route on Saturday morning. Murfreesboro is 30 minutes southeast of Nashville on I-24.
October
GRAND OLE OPRY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, Grand Ole Opry House, 2802 Opryland Dr., Nashville, TN 6779; (615) 871-6779; opry.com. Grand Ole Opry fans gather each October to celebrate the birthday of America's longest-running radio program. The 2-day party is held in mid-October and includes concerts, a Grand Ole Opry performance, and autograph and photo sessions with the stars. Various ticket packages and group rates are available. Call the number listed for more information. For more on the Opry, see our History chapter as well as other entries in this chapter.
DOVE AWARDS, Allen Arena at Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 242-0303; doveawards.com. The Gospel Music Association's annual Gospel Music Week traditionally includes the presentation of the Dove Awards, when trophies in more than 35 categories are bestowed upon the industry's best. The show is televised nationally. Some tickets are available to the public; contact the GMA at the number above, or visit the website for more information.
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Experts say the Ryman Auditorium's acoustics are second only to the Mormon Tabernacle, surpassing even Carnegie Hall.
November
CMA AWARDS, Bridgestone Arena, 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 244-2840 (Country Music Association); cmaworld.com. The Country Music Association Awards are the industry's most prestigious honors, and the annual star-studded ceremony is the biggest night of the year for Nashville's country music industry. The ceremony is held in early November in Nashville and is televised live on ABC. Awards are presented in more than a dozen categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. Winners are determined by the CMA membership. Some tickets are usually available to the public. For more information call the CMA or visit their website.