Eight incredible music experiences in Nashville

The finest honky tonk on Broadway – if not the entire world. The walls are lined with cowboy boots, there are fried bologna sandwiches on the grill, and a beer won’t set you back more than a few bucks. As well as all-day music from some of the greatest traditional country music artists in town, expect the occasional superstar to appear unexpectedly. Lana Del Rey recently jumped onstage to sing a cover of Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man, while Kacey Musgraves and Post Malone have also performed unannounced sets. 

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History oozes from the walls of the Ryman; originally built as a church in the 1890s, entertainment’s biggest names like Charlie Chaplin, Houdini, Bob Hope and Hellen Keller went on to grace its stage. From 1943 – 1974 it was the home of the legendary Grand Ole Opry (which we’ll get into in a min). Nowadays, you’ll find the likes of the Foo Fighters and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings gracing the stage, plus acts like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Ziggy Marley and Burning Spear all coming up over the next few months. And beyond that, you can embark on museum tours and a VIP experience to make your time there that much more memorable.

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Jack White’s treasure trove isn’t just a record store, but a veritable Willy Wonka wonderland for cratediggers and indie enthusiasts. As well as vinyl and plenty of White Stripes merch, you’ll find a booth where you can record your own 7”. You can also take tours of the direct-to-acetate recording room and record label offices every Friday afternoon. Check out what gigs are on at the on-site Blue Room - you might be surprised to find some seriously massive acts passing through. 

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Venture to the suburb of Madison for this super friendly, 1970s-styled bar with nightly live music, that’s a favourite of some of the city’s biggest musicians on their nights off. Expect the unexpected; as well as bluegrass and Americana, you’ll hear greasy garage and rock’n’roll, and you can play pool and get stuck into the jukebox in between sets. Bliss. 

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Grand Ole Opry celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year, marking it as a stalwart of the past, present and future of country music. The world’s longest-running radio programme has introduced country music to fans worldwide, hosting iconic moments with artists, celebs and politicians alike. Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline all cut their teeth on the airwaves of this iconic station, and you can celebrate its rich history by paying it a visit this year, where star-studded performances and surprise guests will pay homage to the Opry’s legacy with some of its most exciting shows to date.

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Open since 1982, the intimate Bluebird Cafe is where local songwriters – and seasoned stars – come to try out new material and perform their biggest hits. The writers tell the story of why they wrote the song and the meaning behind it before playing it acoustically. The intimate storytelling atmosphere is unmatched. Sit back and listen to acoustic numbers in this tiny space, and maybe you’ll chance upon the next big thing; Taylor Swift was offered her first record contract after performing here at just 14 years old. 

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Since 1971, the Exit/In has been the place to see and hear live music in Nashville – so much so that it was recently granted a place on the National Register of Historic Places. The biggest names in the business have played this 500-capacity room, from REM and Muddy Waters to Paramore and Steve Martin. Impeccable sightlines and a serious soundsystem make it worth a visit, even if you haven’t heard of the band on the bill. 

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Nashville is packed full of museums that sound as good as they look. The Country Museum Hall of Fame and Museum offers an incredible look at the music that made this city world famous, with everything from Elvis’s gold-plated Cadillac to Shania Twain’s leopard print outfit from the That Don’t Impress Me Much video on show. The National Museum of African American Music celebrates gospel, blues, funk, jazz, doo-wop and so much more, while the Johnny Cash Museum looks at the life and story of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. You can also take a backstage tour of the 1970’s built Grand Ole Opry or check out the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, which places session players centre stage. 

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