As the home of country music in America, Nashville should always be high on a music enthusiast’s list of cities to visit.
The capital of Tennessee is in your face country and Americana. There is no escaping the music in Nashville where its citizens proudly boast about the city’s music scene.
And how could they not? The city’s most popular tourist destinations are related in some way to country music. It would be a crime not to visit The Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum, which has a venerable display of country music history. The Belcourt Theatre and Ryman Auditorium (which you can read more about below) are also two of the city’s big tourist attractions.
A stroll down Lower Broadway will put tourists amongst numerous music venues and Honky Tonk bars. This area beholds the greatest part of Nashville’s music history. Locals know the area encompassing Lower Broadway, Second Avenue and Printer’s Alley as ‘The District’.
The area known as Music Row located just to the southwest of downtown Nashville is home to the Christian music scene. With a slew of religious centred record companies the area also houses many gospel music and contemporary Christian music companies around 16th and 17th Avenues South.
But those who dismiss Nashville as a metropolis just for country and Americana music are completely wrong. While music styles make up the backbone and proud history of the city, there is of course much more to the Nashville music scene.
Rolling Stone’s declaration that the city had the best music scene in America in 2011 showcased the diverse artists that were making Nashville their new home. At the time Jack White, Kings Of Leon, The Black Keys, Ke$ha and Taylor Swift had all moved there to live and record music.
There is a jazz community in the urban sprawl that is also worth mentioning. Championed through radio station WMOT-FM there are a variety of local outfits leading the way.
Yet despite this the city is first and foremost renowned and remembered for country music. Take the television series Nashville, which steals the city’s name, for example. The musical drama series pits a young up and coming female country star against an older songstress whose career is taking a downturn.
With the first season airing in 2012 the series uses Nashville and its country music stereotype to gain viewers.
There are many other music styles represented in the city, but Nashville wears its country music tag with pride and that is what has got so many tourists in the city.
What that results in is an almost rare situation where music lovers and tourists don’t have to hunt for the music scene down some dark alleyway. Because as the TV show perpetrates, the city itself breathes music as one does oxygen.
Nashville Festivals/Conferences
Southern Ground Music & Food Festival: Over two days fine food and Americana music are the focus of this event. Presented by Zach Brown Band the festival features ‘super sets and ‘sit in’ performances. The event, which is also held in Charleston, is held in late September every year. In 2013 the lineup consists of Willie Nelson, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, John Fogerty and Jason Mraz.
http://nashville.southerngroundfestival.com
CMA Music Festival: The Country Music Association festival is just as its name suggests. The four-day event draws over 400 artists with performances held at different stages at Riverfront Park and LP Field. An estimation of over 250,000 people attended ticketed and free events in 2011. Ticket holders have over 150 hours of concerts to choose from with artists generally sticking to half an hour-long sets. Artists are not paid for their performances with half the proceeds of the festival going to charity. The festival is held in early June each year.
http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-music-festival/2013/home
Americana Music Festival & Conference: First held in 2000 this event is run over five days in September. Situated across multiple venues in the city the festival hosts performances and panel sessions. Free luncheons, evening parties, networking events, book signings, film screenings and surprise events are put on throughout the event. An awards ceremony is also at the centre of the conference.
http://americanamusic.org
Nashville Record Stores
Third Man Records, 623 7th Avenue S, http://thirdmanrecords.com
While Jack White’s baby is more than just a record store, the label, which was founded in 2001, set up a physical location in Nashville in 2009. The location includes a record store, performance space and business offices. Almost all of the records here are recorded, printed and pressed in Nashville with White as the producer. While most of the musician’s discography is on offer, there are also LPs of the famous studio sessions where artists record covers at Third Man Records.
Grimey’s New and Preloved Music, 1604 8th Ave. S, http://www.grimeys.com
As one of Nashville’s most popular record spots, this store should appease those looking for new indie releases as well as old vintage favourites. Grimey’s is home to an eclectic collection of records, but it is just as famous for its live performances. Many local artists have played sets here over the years. Tickets for select shows around Nashville can also be purchased here.
Ernest Tubb Record Shop, 417 Broadway, http://www.etrecordshop.com
A record store with novelty gifts on the side, upon entrance the souvenirs and Elvis memorabilia is likely to attract your attention. With a very imposing Honky Tonk theme tourists are likely to find a visit here to be at least entertaining. If not that, then vinyl hunters looking for new and old country LPs will find their collection exciting. Ernest Tubb’s has been operating since 1947 so there is plenty of history to back up this mix of novelties and records.
Nashville Music Venues
Station Inn, 402 12th Ave S, http://stationinn.com
With an endorsement from Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, the musician said that this venue is “an old-school bluegrass venue that feels like a rec room”. The Station Inn is the place in Nashville to catch bluegrass tunes. While the building’s aesthetics might be simple its reputation for being the meeting place for the bluegrass community makes up for its looks. While Dolly Parton’s performance at the Station Inn is a highlight of its history, a visit from notable musicians like U2 isn’t forgotten either.
Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave N, http://www.ryman.com
This 119-year-old building is no ordinary establishment. It has been nicknamed by locals as the ‘Mother Church of Country Music’, while others have labeled it in the past as ‘God’s own listening room’. The Ryman Auditorium’s legacy was built in the early days when the Grand Ole Opry staged weekly concerts there and a radio broadcast which consisted of a one hour ‘barn dance’. The Grand Ole Opry concerts and radio show moved in 1974 and the Ryman became vacant. However after irregular concerts in the interim the venue reopened in 1994 as an intimate performance space and a museum. It continues to host a diverse amount of acts with shows from Ellie Goulding, Ryan Adams and Fall Out Boy booked for this venue in 2013.
The 5 Spot, 1006 Forrest Ave, http://www.the5spotlive.com
A venue for up and coming bands this establishment might appear to be just a rock ‘n’ roll bar, but it hosts a diverse range of events including hip-hop dance parties and old-time bluegrass jams. Young punk, indie and rock outfits try to make a name for themselves on Tuesday or Thursday through to Sunday nights. If you’re looking for a cheap night out with great live music than a few hours at the The 5 Spot should hit the mark.
Robert’s Western World, 416 Broadway, http://robertswesternworld.com
One of Nashville’s finest Honky Tonk locations this music venue hosts some of the biggest country acts from around America. But music isn’t the only attraction of Robert’s, while Ke$ha approves of the venue selling boots there is also a gift shop and a dinner menu which includes burgers and fried bologna sandwiches. Located in Lower Broadway there is plenty of country music history to soak up here.
Nashville Acts You Should Check Out
Nikki Lane – Soundcloud
At the ACL festival in 2013 this songstress performed a set with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys fame, which prompted the musician to work with Lane on her upcoming album. The singer made a pit stop at LA before eventually basing herself in Nashville, a fitting choice given the southern swagger of her music.
Penicillin Baby – Soundcloud
Like a cross between Tame Impala and Band Of Horses this outfit sound psychedelic yet southern rock on their track ‘Daddy Drove A Hearse’ below. However on other tracks the four-piece can lean more towards the psych side of things. Head over to their Bandcamp page to sample all of their works.
Caitlin Rose – Soundcloud
This singer-songwriter has made her name through three albums since her debut, Dead Flowers, was released in 2008. March 2013 saw the release of her latest record, The Stand-In, continuing her Americana country sound. In 2012 Rose teamed up with Domino Records for a Record Store day release that included two covers of Arctic Monkeys tracks ‘Piledriver Waltz’ (first used for the film Submarine with Alex Turner providing the soundtrack) and ‘Love Is A Laserquest’ from their fourth album Suck It And See.
