The great thing about Nashville? There's a live music venue on every corner. The not-so-great thing about Nashville? There's a live music venue on every corner—but that music isn’t to everyone’s taste. But never fear, there are plenty of rock, R&B, jazz, and pop singers to fill the city’s alternative music venues. It’s called “Music City,” not “Country City” after all.
Here, the five decidedly un-hillbilly spots that embody Nashville’s diverse music scene.
Two Old Hippies
Don’t be confused by the racks of boho blouses and vintage guitars at this boutique in the Gulch district. If you’re looking for entertainment with a rock sensibility, you’re definitely in the right place. The Two Old Hippies stage is known to host a wide array of special guests, like award-winning songwriter Shelly Peiken. She recently gave a reading of her book, Confessions of a Serial Songwriter, peppered with acoustic renditions of her top hits, including Christina Aguilera’s “What a Girl Wants” and Meredith Brooks's “Bitch.”
Woolworth on Fifth
In the 1960s, the Woolworth department store found itself in the front line of the Nashville civil rights movement, when students staged sit-ins to protest unjust discrimination at the lunch counter. Today, reopened as a full-service restaurant in February, Woolworth on 5th is open to all, offering live entertainment full of soul. Start upstairs and enjoy fried chicken and collard greens while watching vintage footage of Otis Redding projected above the kitchen. Then head downstairs to the New Era Ballroom to see local legends like Regi Wooten play their take on old-school rhythm and blues.
Third Man Records
Since heading to Nashville to record the 2007 White Stripes album Icky Thump, rocker Jack White has been a Music City mainstay. The downtown headquarters for White’s Third Man Records label also features a record store and novelty shop, along with a live stage that has hosted acts like folk-punk band AJJ and alternative rockers Redd Kross. No worries if there isn’t a show scheduled when you visit. The shop’s Record Booth (circa 1947) lets visitors dub their own voice straight to a 6-inch record for just $20.
Rudy's Jazz Room
Located in The Gulch, just a few minutes from Broadway, Rudy’s doesn’t play favorites when it comes to jazz, with vintage swing from Megan and Her Goody Goodies, latin jazz from Giovanni Rodriguez, and everything in between, depending on the night. It’s also the perfect late-night alternative for the honky-tonk adverse, staying open till midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 1 a.m. on Thursdays, and 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
The 5 Spot
You’ll pay anywhere from $2 to $20 at The 5 Spot in East Nashville, but the cult-like following (thanks in part to the T.V. show Nashville) is proof it’s worth the cash. The club is known for its commitment to Music City’s wide variety of musical interests, whether it’s an ‘80s dance party or an in-house residency featuring Americana singer/songwriters Darrin Bradbury, Jon Latham, and Nick Nace. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Jason Eskridge headlines the bi-monthly Sunday Night Soul, sprinkling in R&B originals with funky covers for a set that is guaranteed to have you groovin’ on the dance floor.
