9 Real Country Music Experiences in Nashville

The District is a downtown area holding most of the city’s famous live music scenes, most notable being 'Honky Tonk Highway', located on Broadway between 1st and 5th Avenue. Here, you’ll find a row of pumping honkytonks where music flows from 10am until 3am every day. At night, a stream of neon lights floods the street and crowds flock into one of the many happening bars.

Downtown Nashville hosts endless amounts of bars and venues featuring great live music, some of the most famous being Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the legendary Grand Ole Opry and The Nashville Palace. Remember to leave tips in the music jars as you may be in the presence of a future music star.

East Nashville exudes its own quirky character with charming bars, a vintage aesthetic and a laidback, diverse community. You’ll find a lot of young creatives call this neighbourhood home, which is reflected in the ever-growing population of cool, craft cocktail bars. Whilst East Nashville is the less obvious pick for nightlife in the city as opposed to Downtown, a night out in the area arguably offers a more authentic, laidback experience of Nashville’s thriving music and nightlife scene.

Popular places include Jane’s Hideaway, where you can dine on re-invented Southern classics whilst listening to the latest bluegrass and Americana, and The 5 Spot, which has been visited by Lady Gaga and featured on the TV show Nashville.

Jefferson Street was the focal point for jazz, blues and R&B from the 1940s through the 1960s. Then, the neighbourhood faced a near downfall when it was halved and its communities separated. However, since the area’s restoration in 1994, its jazz roots have enjoyed a thriving resurgence.

The most obvious examples of the rejuvenated jazz scene in Nashville are between Jefferson Street and Germantown. The tucked-away Nashville Jazz Workshop, not far from Cumberland River, is a lovely place to visit for an evening of pure, classic jazz. Jefferson Street is also home to the annual Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival, which celebrates the profound impact African-American music has had in the US and across the world.

If you believe the bright lights above Robert’s Western World, this bar is 'Honky Tonk Heaven', and arguably, it is. Found in Downtown Nashville on bustling Broadway, the bar is your prototypical honkytonk, infused with neon lights and classic country music.

Whether you’re a lover of country music or not, a night out here is lots of fun and a real experience of Nashville hitting it hard. Make sure to try their legendary bologna sandwich. Robert’s Western World certainly keeps to the saying, 'keep the beer cold and the music old' with its authentic performances of classic country tunes.

The Bluebird Cafe, as seen on the TV show Nashville, has become a sort of celebrity in itself because of the show’s huge following. The café, in Green Hill, is one of the best listening rooms in the city; visitors can enjoy fantastic acoustic music performances in an intimate setting. The famous 'in the round' showcases feature singer-songwriters across multiple genres, including country, blues, bluegrass and folk music.

The café also serves hearty food and drinks, so you can indulge while enjoying the music. It’s a good idea to reserve a table as the café is always busy and notoriously known for long queues.

The Basement East has a friendly vibe where you can enjoy great music by local bands. Come here to see new musical talents get their chance to perform in front of a crowd. Found in East Nashville, the young and exciting atmosphere is indicative of the club’s status as a breeding ground for talented musicians.

Nicknamed 'The Beast', the venue is best for music lovers who want a relaxed setting where they can really take in live music ranging in genres from pop to rock to country and beyond. Grab a craft beer and enjoy live music on an impressive sound system.

Of all the dive bars in Nashville, and there are many, The Station Inn provides some of the best live music in the city, served up in a homey atmosphere of dangling golden lights and friendly faces. Excellent live music is played every night by authentic bluegrass bands.

Whilst the setting isn’t anything to boast about, its simplicity is perhaps what gives this place character and the music played speaks for itself. This unassuming bar offers a fun environment and is often said to be the shining beacon of The Gulch. The bar functions on a first-come first-serve basis so be sure to get there early to get good seats.

If you’re looking for a classic honkytonk experience that lasts the whole night long then get yourselves down to The Stage on Broadway, where 'the whisky’s on ice and the music’s on fire'. Proud of its neighbourhood dive bar roots, this country-styled venue has 3 whole floors dedicated to toe-tapping live music from a multitude of artists.

The Stage on Broadway’s calendar is bursting at the seams with events and country fans far and wide flock here for the Kowboy Karaoke. When you need a little fresh air, head on up to the rooftop terrace where you can be serenaded by yet more vocalists with an ice-cold beer in your hand and plenty of incredible skyline views to gaze upon.

Acme Feed & Seed draws in tourists and locals with its attractive views and delectable food and drink. The venue has stories of fun with each offering a different experience.

The top floor is a nice place for a drink as the sky lights up in shades of pink and orange. The wooden deck is particularly pleasant to lounge on in the spring and summer months. The third floor offers an event space for special events so check for any during your visit. There are even games, a sushi bar and TVs, which are found on the second floor. To keep in with what Nashville is known for, the first floor is a honkytonk bar that serves food.