At some point during your travels to Nashville or just doing some general research about the area, you might have seen a mention of Music City once or twice. That’s because Nashville is the place to be when you are interested in seeing some live music. From the powerful stage of the Ryman Auditorium, to buskers out on public benches, you can’t escape the creative energy pouring from all over the city. For this feature list, we are going to take the dramatics down a notch and skip over the massive venues that the area has to offer. Keep reading to find something a little low-key in the realm of live performances. Nashville is home to outstanding musicians from indie to full on famous. You won’t want to miss out on a night of live music, drinks and dancing. Who knows? Your night out at a little honky tonk might end up being the highlight of the entire trip.
Layla’s Honky Tonk
4.6 ★
Truly a Nashville original, Layla’s Honky Tonk on Broadway is memorable for many reasons. First of all, you might crick your neck a little when you look up, there’s license plates lining the entire ceiling and they come from all over the place. Usually featuring Bluegrass bands, this vintage bar is exactly what a non local would imagine when picturing what Nashville is all about. Hank Williams III, Drive-By Truckers and Dean Alexander are a small handful of past features at Layla’s so you know they are ready to have a great time.
Ole Red
4.5 ★
Did the song immediately start playing in your head? If so, you are more than ready to take a visit to Ole Red on Broadway, only a couple of minutes walk from the Ryman Auditorium. Inspired by Blake Shelton’s chart topping hit, there’s always some live music going on, along with a menu full of choices like fried chicken and even “Redneck” nachos. Bragging heavily about their live music selection, Ole Red is the “country” experience that you won’t likely forget anytime soon. Come out sometime and who knows, you might see the next big thing sitting up on the Ole Red stage.
Tin Roof
4.5 ★
For over 20 years, Tin Roof has been an essential part of the Nashville live music experience. With two locations to pick from, you can either add to your Broadway st experience or head over to Demonbreun st and watch some live music that will stick in your memory for many years. Grab some bar food and a spot near the stage for the full experience and be sure to plan to want to stick around all night long. You might end up becoming a regular before you know it. For two decades, Tin Roof has hosted any and everyone who wants to come in from performers to audiences from all over.
Whiskey Bent Saloon
4.5 ★
Another Music City gem located close enough to spit from the Ryman Auditorium, Whiskey Bent Saloon is not easily missed. One look at their spinning neon sign and your curiosity is bound to be peaked. Come in sometime and take photos with the full size stuffed bear, or look around at all the different animal heads mounted on the wall. Smaller and more intimate than a lot of the bigger names in Nashville, Whiskey Bent Saloon will have you hooked from your first shot off their massive whiskey menu. When you want the full Nashville experience, complete with regular acts (some of who have been playing at this bar for many years) you head over to Whiskey Bent for one heck of a low key good time.
The Local Nashville
4.7 ★
Nashville’s west end has been home to The Local Nashville, a cozy venue that has been housing musicians, writers and artists of all kinds since their opening in 2017. Strong drinks and an even stronger community pair nicely with a full menu and a live act showcase every week are all waiting for you on 28th ave. Combine the local artists with the locally sourced ingredients for all of their menu items and this little hole in the wall will have you wanting to come back over and over again. Owned by a songwriter and artist, you won’t have any trouble finding out why anyone who plays an instrument in Nashville wants to come hang out at this venue. While large concerts with all the bells and whistles have their place and are enjoyable, something about a low key venue full of musicians that live in the area just can’t be beat.
Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ
4.6 ★
Live music, great food and a rooftop seating area that gives you a great view of lower Broadway are all pieces of Redneck Riviera, your new favorite bar and barbecue in Nashville. Redneck Riviera is a bar for people who work hard and play harder. Nightly shows vary throughout each month in content but one thing is always true, every act is worth a sit down at this well known restaurant. Check out their nachos platter for something filling and flavorful to pair up with a live show and enjoy a vast menu of drink choices as well. From solo evenings out to date nights and even corporate events, Redneck Riviera Bar & BBQ has everything you need for a perfect visit.
Legend’s Corner
4.6 ★
Classic country music enthusiasts will rejoice during any time spent at Legend’s Corner on Broadway, making a prime addition to the Honky Tonk Highway that we can’t stop talking about. Lining the walls of this exceptional location are the classic vinyl covers from all of country and western music history, and that’s just the beginning. Less than a five minute walk from the Nashville Convention Center, Legend’s Corner is right in the middle of all the bustle you want out of a night on Broadway st. Extra cool points if you can spot the autographed Elvis Presley records on the wall, maybe they are close to the guitar signed by Johnny Cash. Come in and take a seat where country music legends have been known to rest and take a load off with a live show at Legend’s Corner.
The Station Inn
4.8 ★
First come, first serve seating at The Station Inn lets you know that this is the place to be for some live music. Nestled well into The Gulf section of Nashville, The Station Inn hosts a different musical act every day of the week. If you’re lucky, you might be able to join in during an open jam. From Bluegrass to Country and everything in between, this bar does not discriminate when considering who gets to grace the stage. Over the last 40 years, names like Alan Jackson and Allison Kraus are the very tip of a massive musical iceberg that is The Station Inn. Next time you see that there’s some room to sit or stand at this 12th ave location, don’t miss out on a chance to experience one of Nashville’s favorite musical stops.
Jane’s Hideaway
4.6 ★
Comfort food and live music make for one dynamic duo at Jane’s Hideaway on Gallatin Ave here in Nashville. When you combine the consistently awesome house band with their countless slew of visitors, there’s no going wrong with Jane’s Hideaway. Every night at 8 pm, take a seat and enjoy everything from local writers to bands of all types. Grub down on some good southern style cooking and ask about their pie of the day, served with ice cream if you want. Before you know it, you might find yourself hiding out at Jane’s Hideaway every night of the week.
Mercy Lounge
4.6 ★
Comfort food and live music make for one dynamic duo at Jane’s Hideaway on Gallatin Ave here in Nashville. When you combine the consistently awesome house band with their countless slew of visitors, there’s no going wrong with Jane’s Hideaway. Every night at 8 pm, take a seat and enjoy everything from local writers to bands of all types. Grub down on some good southern style cooking and ask about their pie of the day, served with ice cream if you want. Before you know it, you might find yourself hiding out at Jane’s Hideaway every night of the week.
The Blue Room
4.7 ★
What was once known as a location that was only available for commercial use, movies even, The Blue Room on 7th Ave is a weekend treat for anyone visiting Nashville. What feels like a total dream when you walk in, The Blue Room is cast in an indigo glow that feels trance-like upon arrival. Enjoy some live music, trivia, karaoke and more along with monthly movie screenings at this epic spot. Whether you sit inside or out on the patio, a weekend night is well spent at The Blue Room. Try it out for yourself and you’ll see why folks plan their whole weekend around being able to visit this bar.
Brooklyn Bowl
4.7 ★
Pair up some NYC style menu options with a full service bar and mix it up with live music from all over the spectrum and you end up with Brooklyn Bowl on 3rd Ave N here in Nashville. With shows covering every musical genre and tons of party styles, you can always be sure of a unique time at Brooklyn Bowl. Open Wednesday through Saturday, Brooklyn Bowl will serve us a variety of comfort food dishes from their full service restaurant while also maintaining a bowling alley and entertainment venue. You truly have access to the trifecta when considering weekend activities. A visit to Brooklyn Bowl covers all the bases and is sure to keep you talking about the experience for many weekends to come.
Conclusion
Now we know that Nashville is understood to be THE spot for live music here in the United States, but sometimes the hype centered around larger venues can drown out some of the lesser known local gems. For years, this city has seen a number of stages and will continue doing so. Even if you have made your way here to watch one of the sold out shows at the Ryman, you won’t want to miss out on a second of these bars/venues. We hope you have found something worth adding to the list while reading with us at The Nashville Insider. Please feel free to keep coming back for information on the best of the best that our favorite city has to offer! We’re constantly covering more topics and already have a massive selection of articles to answer all your questions about visiting with us in Nashville.
Before you take off to plan your trip, don’t forget to take a moment clicking around the website. If you need a unique, exciting and affordable experience, you will want to consider booking a ride on our bar bike. Eco-friendly, featuring a mobile dance floor and able to fit up to 15 passengers, our #BarBike is another one of Nashville’s top rated experiences. Don’t miss out on the fun and book your ride today! From wedding/bridal showers to team building events, the bar bike is one heck of a way to bond with the people in your life while learning more about this fine city. You never know what your host will be able to share with you about Music City, so don’t skimp out on asking tons of questions.