16 Best Places for Live Music in Nashville
They don't call it “Music City” for nothing. Chords and bars and riffs waft through the streets of Nashville at any given hour; it's hard to go anywhere without hearing the faint traces of harmony—everywhere, really. Whether you plan to visit big icons like the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman Auditorium or kick it at a smaller singer-songwriter venue such as the Listening Room Cafe, music should be a part of your itinerary—that’s why you came to town. It’s not all country music, yes, here’s rock, soul, gospel and jazz, but give country a try: Nashville may surprise you either. We think these are the best spots in Nashville for live music.
Read our complete Nashville travel guide here.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
GettybarThe Station Inn
The Station Inn isn't just Nashville's best bluegrass club; rather, it's the country's best. If you want to hear fast pickin', down-home excitement every night, played by many of the genre’s best musicians, high-tail it here. The drinks are cheap, and the cinder-block building might not gleam like its high-rise neighbors, but everything about the Station Inn is true-blue Music City. You never know who will show up for the Sunday Bluegrass jam, but you do know it’ll be a night to remember. Come and explore the Nashville music scene beyond the honky tonks.
Chris HolloactivityGrand Ole Opry
Chances are, you've heard of The Grand Ole Opry, and with good reason. The historic live broadcast changed locations a few times and moved to its current location—and first dedicated space—at the Opry House in 1974, after more than 30 years as a resident of the Ryman Auditorium. Famously, it has no bad seats, balcony, or floor. The biggest names in country music headline and even make surprise appearances here regularly, but it's still open to fresh up-and-coming talent. To get the full depth and breadth of the Opry experience, book one of the backstage tours before you see a show. They’re chockful of facts and artifacts.
Courtesy Ryman AuditoriumactivityRyman Auditorium
No other Nashville venue can quite compare to the legendary nostalgia at the Ryman Auditorium. For more than a century, the converted tabernacle has been filling its pews and placing on the pulpit the biggest names in music—from Chris Stapleton to the Foo Fighters. This is where Amy Grant & Vince Gill host Christmas at the Ryman each holiday season. There's Opry at the Ryman, Bluegrass Nights in the summer, and Sam's Place in winter months. Watching the reverence performers have for this space is one of the joys of seeing a concert here.
Courtesy The Listening RoomactivityListening Room Cafe
The Listening Room Cafe has moved three times since its founding in 2006. While consistency of address isn’t a strong suit, the quality of the singer/songwriters has remained a constant. The newest iteration isn’t fancy, but it is big—both the stage and the venue—with plenty of parking and close to downtown. It's no frills, but that’s the point: just the songs without backup singers or light shows.
Diane KangactivityRobert’s Western World
$Lower Broadway is lined with honky tonks, all-day and all-night watering holes, and dance halls that make Nashville Music City. While some have expanded into bachelorette-pleasing cover bands and rock sing-a-longs, Robert’s Western World has remained a legit place to hear Western swing from the best musicians in the city. Come here to kick up your heels, drink PBR, eat a fried bologna sandwich, and have a good time. It’s perfectly acceptable to wander from stage to stage (Layla’s Honky Tonk, the only woman-owned bar on Lower Broad, is another good choice.) As is the case at all honky tonks, don't forget to tip—both your server and the band.
Courtesy Third and Lindsleyactivity3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill
The exterior may look unassuming, heck the interior does, too, but this is a place locals rely on for great live music seven days a week. Monday nights are legendary: that’s when the Time Jumpers, a Western Swing group, takes the stage. The Timer Jumpers can include music legends such as Vince Gill, you just never know who will show up. Other nights are regular multiple-act shows sponsored by local radio stations, largely country and Western and bluegrass as well as some rock and roots. The small stage and intimate environment lend themselves to singer-songwriters and bands that like the audience to get up and dance. Development in the neighborhood may see the venue move locations in 2024.
Grace BotoactivityThe Basement East
Known as "the Beast" locally, the Basement East is the much larger sister venue to longstanding rock venue the Basement. But with capacity for 575, it's still a place to see acts like Yo La Tengo or Lee Ann Womack up close. Surprise appearances by musicians like Alice Cooper aren't out of the question, either. Compilation tribute concerts and secret shows pop up regularly. The popular Chivanada food truck sells empanadas during shows.
activityCannery Ballroom
The three stages of Cannery Hall (formerly The High Watt, Mercy Lounge and Cannery Ballroom) have been closed for complete gut rehab and are scheduled to reopen in early 2024. These retrofitted brick buildings are beloved by Nashvillians as the places to see non-country acts in Music City. Lizzo played here months before she played the Ryman, for instance. Each venue (now called Row One, The Mil and Mainstage) is standing-room only, and the renovations provide improved sightlines, not to mention better access to the bars and the bathrooms. What’s unlikely to change is access to rowdy, loud, rock, pop, and alternative acts at the city’s largest independent venue.
Grace BotobarThe Bluebird Cafe
Lots of Nashville music royalty got their start at the Bluebird (like Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks), and it has remained relevant ever since. The listening room-style venue is owned by a non-profit, and all of the ticket proceeds go to the talent. One of the best parts about visiting is that you never know who might pop in to reminisce. It’s essential to jump on tickets when they drop online—usually at 8 a.m.—because seating is limited to just 90, and it's obvious why they go so quickly. If you miss out, it is possible to stand in line for last-minute openings. In fact, that line is a Nashville tradition.
NickLeTellier/Brooklyn BowlactivityBrooklyn Bowl Nashville
The Germantown outpost of this New York venue harmoniously offers bowling and concerts in the same space. First-rate sound equipment makes it possible to watch and hear the show up close to the stage, from above in the balcony or on a screen as you bowl a strike. The vibe is modern and universal, as you’d expect from a New York transplant, and offers a bar and bowling lanes on each level. Unlike the Eastside Bowl, where there is bowling in the same building, but is not actually visible from the music venue, at Brooklyn Bowl the lanes and the venue are together. You can see the concert on screens over the bowling alley. If you are at the show, you can occasionally hear some pins drop, but thanks to good acoustics, the noise isn’t really a distraction. Wander as you like throughout the space, your tab at the bar will move with you to any one of the bars.
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The Wash at Eastside Bowl
The Wash at Eastside Bowl is housed in a renovated Kmart store, completely renovated with a decidedly retro vibe. That means it has room for almost everyone in its music venue/bowling alley/bar/restaurant/arcade—and in a laid-back, but also high-energy spot. The 750-person capacity venue has a private balcony area for high rollers, but the essence of The Wash is a music-brings-everyone together ethos. It particularly shines during industry events like AmericanaFest. Peep the décor details, like the bowling-pin patterned wallpaper and 1960-style light fixtures. It's a standing-room only venue, so you come to dance and get as close to the stage as possible, not to sit. Some artists may ask that temporary seating be brought in, but for the most part you’ll be standing in a crowd.
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Tim Williams/AnalogactivityAnalog
Enter the stairwell to get to Analog through the iron gates off of West End Avenue. Despite the venue's location at the Hutton Hotel, it feels like a little bit of a secret—not a speakeasy, but just a local’s favorite. The upstairs rooms are furnished with communal tables and comfy chairs and booths, and surrounded by velvet curtains and bejeweled chandeliers. If you had a rich eccentric aunt with a music venue in her house, it might look like this. Sit back in a velvet chair, sip a crafted cocktail in a real glass and watch a singer-songwriter or poetry reading just feet away from the stage. Certain shows sell out and command some standing-room audience members, and the energy is always enthusiastic and appreciative, but this isn’t a get-jostled-and-have-beer-spilled-on-you kind of joint.
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Honky Tonk Tuesday Nights at American Legion Post 82
The unassuming American Legion Post 82 in East Nashville transforms on Tuesday nights into a Western Swing extravaganza. If you are looking for a place to wear fringe and practice your dance moves to classic country, this is it. The aesthetic is that of a VFW Hall or American Legion Post, with practical décor to serve veterans at hosted community events. A light-up American flag backdrop and a band and patrons dressed in their Western Swing best make up Honky Tonk Tuesdays, where dance lessons by Laura Mae typically start at 7:00 p.m., and the free show starts at 8:00.
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesactivityNashville Palace
Yes, Nashville is Music City in all genres. But, if you’re in town for line dancing and classic country music, Nashville Palace is the seven-day-a-week option for honky tonking well away from Broadway. Since 1977 this has been the go-to for country music thanks to its big dance floors and proximity to the Grand Ole Opry—lots of country stars cut their teeth here. And while both the city and the music industry have changed, Nashville Palace hasn’t much; its straightforward, basic décor includes some twinkling lights; the musicians are the focal point. It may not be fancy, but it's a reliable for those whom Broadway has become too flashy, crowded, and loud.
EMILYDORIO/Blue RoomactivityThe Blue Room
Tucked in the back of Jack White’s Third Man Records empire, this minimalist jazz club feels exactly like what you’d expect of someone cool and quirky and connected opening their private listening room to you. Maybe because that’s what happened here: the space used to only be available for private events, but is now open to the public Thursdays through Saturdays. Like the White Stripes musician himself, the venue’s reputation is for serious musical chops, with some offbeat touches (like the faux elephant head mounted on the wall). Seats at tables are adequate and comfortable on a regular night and can be reserved in advance for large parties. On a regular night, you’ll have good sight lines and room to eat and drink at the table. During some shows, the venue is standing-room-only, and it can be very crowded if the act is a popular one.
The CountrypolitanactivityThe Countrypolitan
Housed in a former bank building at the corner of Printers Alley, The Countrypolitan is the live music venue inside the hotel by the same name. Because The Countrypolitan is inside a hotel lobby, it has plush seating like upholstered bar stools and banquettes. There's lenty of places to put down your drink and get up and dance, or just sit and enjoy; while popular, it isn’t usually so crowded that you can’t maneuver around. Music usually starts at 6:00 p.m. and 9 p.m., so it is easy to go catch an act and a drink before heading out, or to make a stop here after something else. Nikki Lane, acclaimed singer-songwriter and musician in her own right, has an outpost of her High Class Hillbilly vintage shop in the hotel—a great place to find a Nashville-specific look for heading out on the town.
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