Hey there, music junkies and adventure seekers! 🎸
You think there’s a cowboy boots-and-country twang vibe to this place? Think again. This town’s groove is as eclectic and smooth as your Spotify playlist. Rock ’n’ roll? Blues? Indie pop? Jazz? They’re all here, and we’re about to let you in on the secrets of musical exploration that are as distinct and diverse as these musical genres. Cut to the chase – we’re going straight to the vibrant heart of Music City. Grab your mug of coffee and lets roll!
Explore Nashville’s Iconic Music Venues
First, a tour of the storied locations that have made Nashville what it is today: a music town like no other. Visit the places where Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Vince Gill, to name just a few of the city’s musical icons, created some of their most memorable works. The Ryman Auditorium, known as the ‘Mother Church of Country Music’. Photo suppliedStep inside and let your bones soak up the history.
And it’s not all big names; swing by the Bluebird Cafe for an intimate songwriter show or go to the Grand Ole Opry – the US’s longest-running radio show – for a live show, or hit the Station Inn down the way for a dose of bluegrass so close to the artists that you’ll see the sweat. For you rock fans, Exit/In was the first club many legends including Neil Young and Tom Petty played.
Attend Live Music Performances
Let us first state the obvious: it doesn’t take long in Nashville to realise that its live music scene is legit. Go seek it in any of the honky-tonk bars or storied auditoriums. Or, find it spilling out of the honky-tonks that turn the bars on Broadway – the epicentre of Music City – into an endless outdoor saloon with a literal beer being spilt. Here, you’ll hear mostly country – some of it classic, some of it not – but sooner or later, a rock hit will come along and give it a push.
Catch an acoustic set at the Bluebird Cafe; find your inner highbrow at the Ryman Auditorium; or explore the city’s smaller dives and dive bars to experience whatever’s cooking – Nashville til you’re full. Live music isn’t entertainment here, it’s survival.
Discover Emerging Artists
Yeah, you can take the corporate studio tours and go to the marquee venues, but if you really want to be exposed to Nashville’s music heartbeat, you need to seek out the emerging artists. This place is a national petri dish for new talent, a confluence of country with pop, rock and hip-hop music.
Find these rising stars at the smaller, classic venues and underground showcases where they’re taking over the stage. Performing at open mics, songwriter rounds or industry showcases every chance they get, these artists are also trackable on social media using hashtags such as #NashvilleMusicScene, #EmergingNashvilleArtists and more.
Immerse Yourself in Music Festivals
Claim your Nashville legitimacy by engulfing yourself in one of its mammoth music festivals. Come June and you can’t miss the CMA Music Festival, country music’s one-stop party. If you vibe on retro rockabilly, however, you should not miss Nashville Boogie Vintage Weekender which goes down in spring every year.
Dance till you drop, spot new talent and feel the buzzing vibe – music festivals are a genre-free space where well-known artists perform next to newcomers. Nashville’s music festivals feature the best acts for every fan of rock ‘n’ roll, country ballads and more.
So go on, check out your airline or hotel schedule, adjust your gears, and tune up those eardrums. It’s time to catch a show, seek out new artists, and dance at a festival. Get ready to learn about the sounds that this soulful, diverse and downright cool town has to offer. Hit the music city, y’all! 🎤🎶
