Nashville, Tennessee: In the Moment

Can't get enough of Music City

Nashville, Tennessee
Music, whiskey, history, football (go sports!), shopping, culture and more… dive into everything you need to know before planning your Music City escape.

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The first time I found myself in Nashville, I knew I’d love it, but I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I did. I tend to gravitate away from metropolitan cities—open and natural landscapes are where I feel most free. Where I feel like I can breathe. But this was different. Nashville is different and no city has ever gotten me more in my feels than Music City. At first glance, Nashville looks like any other city with the wide highways, billboards amassing the view and tall skylines. Another cement city. And then you see the neon that lights up Broadway. But it’s not just Broadway which can get old quickly. It’s the people, the culture, the values… the energy of it all. A shared passion floods Nashville as the streets fill with the sounds of good old country music and its storytelling essence. Coming from all over the world, artists walk from one honky tonk to another with their instruments hanging over their backs and a passion to share their music. Determined to sing and determined to make people feel with three chords and the truth.

Nashville of course, can be overwhelming during peak tourist season. Line after line at each honky tonk on Broadway, streets so packed you can barely walk, price hikes on everything from accommodations, to Uber rides, food and drinks… Which is exactly why visiting in the colder months gives you the kind of authentic experience you miss out on in the summertime. For one, you’ll get to explore each bar more intimately, get to talk to the bands, ask to hear their original music instead of cover songs, and visit them again the next night. You can take tours and visit museums more easily without having to worry about everything booking up and selling out… you can see more, do more, explore more, and truly dive into the culture and the city in just a few days, not that a few days is ever enough.

With that, let’s get into a few of my favorite things about Nashville.

The Music

Gosh, the music. Every genre has its own community… right? Maybe, but not like this one. There’s something about country music and the community that brings it together. You can hear it and feel it with every note—it’s roots run deep and at the center of it all, country music and the values of the community that is so loyal to it stem from the values that are ingrained in Southern culture. It's more than just a few strums on a guitar or the beat of the drum or the unique draw in the vocals. It’s a feeling that strikes you right in the core. A sort of magic that fuels every line and every note. The shared stories, the shared experiences and how each lyric finds a home, speaks to and connects with everyone in their own kind of way. It’s the relatability of it all, the way it tells a story you can feel yourself in. And that’s what music should be… it should strike some emotion within you, move you, make you feel, make you cry. Happy or sad.

Alright now, enough of that. Back to Nashville. Of course, you’ll find music in every little honky tonk bar (if you know, you know) and Broadway will satisfy almost all of your music needs. Country, pop, rock, house, blues… you can find it all. Whenever anyone asks me what’s the best honky tonk to go to, my answer is always the same. You just have to pop into every single one and see what calls you in, at that moment. Nearly every bar has at least two or three floors and there’s a band performing on each, so be sure to go in, explore and discover all the talent, because there’s talent absolutely everywhere. A lot of the artists go from one bar to another, playing in different places each night or they have a few places they perform at regularly so if you feel drawn to a certain band, ask them where they’ll be playing the next night. As for me, I always find myself back at Tootsies Orchid Lounge. Tootsies has three floors but the main stage never disappoints. If you’re looking for country music on loop and craving that classic ‘90s variety, get cozy in the low lit, old school bar and enjoy those singing cowboys, I know I sure do.

But ultimately, my absolute favorite bar is far from Broadway. Iconic in itself, classic to its core and as authentic as it gets, Losers Bar & Grill in Midtown is so good, it makes closing time hurt. From the talent, to the energy, to the aesthetic, if you’re looking for a real dive bar, Losers is the real winner. Now, don’t head over there and ask to hear anything but country, this isn’t crowd-pleasing Broadway. In collaboration with Losers you’ll find Riley Green’s new bar Duck Blind. The two create the perfect balance of new and old. Losers’ old school arcade backroom and Duck Blind’s sports themed spot—but what they share is not just a front door, they share that real country gold. And if you’re lucky enough to make it to Midtown on Wednesday nights, Raised Rowdy hosts a lineup of some of Nashville’s most talented at Duck Blind at 7 P.M. every week. Just walk right in, have a seat and enjoy. So, whether you’re looking for a live band to sing and dance along to all night or looking for an intimate vibe and sitting in on those occasional writer's rounds, Losers and Duck Blind host some of the best singer and songwriters Nashville has to offer.

Speaking of writer's rounds and the best Nashville has to offer, I’ve been lucky enough to attend both of the coveted Nashville listening rooms—The Listening Room and The Bluebird Cafe. Hosting some of the best singer and songwriter’s in the world The Listening Room offers a unique Nashville experience where you have the privilege of hearing some of country music's great hits, soon-to-be released songs, and not yet picked up songs that make you wonder how no one has yet to snatch them, all from the talented writers themselves. Order a drink, sit back and get ready to laugh and maybe even cry as you listen to the artists share their stories, what made a song come to be, and the journey it has taken.

The Listening Room Stage

Ah Bluebird… It isn’t easy to get a hold of a spot at the world-renowned listening room. Tickets go on sale before each week and tend to sell out within two minutes, but if you’re lucky and patient you can secure a spot by waiting outside a couple of hours before the show starts, and it’s most definitely worth the wait. When you walk into the Bluebird Cafe there’s an energy that immediately suspends you somewhere in between space and time. You can feel the magic of all the artists that have walked in before that very moment, their signed pictures lining the wall against the church pews. You can feel the creation, the passion, the emotion. The stories told and made into music, the aspirations and dreams, the legacies and history. From the outside, the place looks uninspiring… just another building off a long cement road, but from the moment you walk in, goosebumps flutter your skin and tears swell in your eyes (or maybe it’s just me). Fairy lights dangle from the wall, a neon sign with the Bluebird logo hangs over the stage and people gather eagerly awaiting to become a part of history. It’s an overwhelming feeling for such a small space that hosts fewer than 100 people. Lights off, keep quiet… because once the music starts, you’re transported. Whether you’re sitting in on writer’s night, in the round with iconic storytellers behind the hits, or witnessing the up-and-coming artists on open mic night, every performance is intimate, vulnerable and raw… an experience you can’t ever forget.

Moments at The Bluebird Cafe

The Whiskey

Now, this can’t be a Nashville piece without a little whiskey. If you’ve read Something About the in Between, you already know I love a good whiskey. I wasn’t always this cool, but with age, I learnt how to appreciate the subtleties and the complexities of that golden hued liquid. Of course, Tennessee is home to Tennessee Whiskey and if you’re also a whiskey lover, visiting some of the most legendary distilleries where the original charcoal filtered recipe stems from is a must.

Known for taking the Tennessee Whiskey distillation process worldwide, Jack Daniel’s himself founded his distillery not far from Nashville, in the charming Southern town of Lynchburg. So, if you’re looking to escape Nashville for a day and be immediately transported to a quintessential Southern Americana small-town where everyone knows everyone, then put a little roadtrip to Lynchburg on your radar. Now, I know what you’re thinking—you won’t necessarily be renting a car during your trip or you definitely don’t want to miss out on taste testing all the whiskeys while you’re there because you have to drive. Good thing I’m here to solve all your woes. No designated driver needed, you can count on the Tennessee Whiskey Tours to easily take you from Nashville to Lynchburg, Tennessee, where you can visit the home of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Ready to pick you up from Downtown Nashville, enjoy the hour and a half long ride in a cozy tour bus where you can take in the Tennessee views or easily unwind after a late night out on Broadway. The Jack n’ Back tour not only offers a look into the local culture and heritage of the small town, but also the iconic legacy and distinctive craftsmanship that the distillery offers. From a spiced drink to keep you company during the tour of the distillery, to a look into the production line and the historical JD property, the tour is everything you need to sip, learn, and be transported, all complete with a whiskey tasting featuring the best they have to offer. When that’s all done and before you head back to Nashville, you’ll have time to visit Lynchburg's city center which has withheld much of its 19th century characteristics and rustic charm and truly feels like a snapshot of 1800’s Southern life.

Jack Daniel’s Distillery captured by Willow Creatif

Oh but there’s more… The debate on who really created the charcoal filtered Tennessee Whiskey is everlasting, and you can explore both contenders while visiting. Just north of downtown Nashville in Germantown, you can find Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. Established in the 1800’s but shut down during prohibition, the great-great-great grandchildren of Charles Nelson revived the original Tennessee Whiskey recipe just ten years ago. Delve into their heartwarming story and history with an intimate tour of the family-run distillery and of course, at the end of the tour, sit down and turn your senses on. The whiskey tasting goes beyond a few sips of some of the Nelson Brother’s best recipes, from their rye (my personal favorite), to their reserve bourbon, their cask finished whiskey and of course, the Original Tennessee Whiskey. You’ll really have the opportunity to peel the layers back and pick out the unique notes and flavor profiles with each dram.

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery

The Day Plans

Now that whiskey tours are on your radar and on the itinerary, let’s talk about things to do during the day. For starters, you can explore some of the art-filled museums the city has to offer. There’s so much history that has built up country music to what it is now and you can easily spend a day immersing yourself in it all at the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you’re a lover of Johnny Cash, who isn’t? then be sure to visit the Johnny Cash Museum right off broadway. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance because they tend to go quick!

If you find yourself in Nashville on a Sunday, you can’t miss catching a football game at the Nissan Stadium, whether you’re a football fan or not. Don’t bother getting your tickets in advance, you can easily score $10 tickets right before the game starts—thanks to the Nash Uber driver for the hot tip. All you need to do is walk over the pedestrian bridge just South of Broadway and get your game face on.

Last, but most definitely not least… the shopping. Now, a quick google search will tell you to head over to 12th South for all your shopping needs, and although you might find some cool stores there, the only spot that really takes me back to 12th is Savant Vintage. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, it’s a hoarder's dream come true, and it’s got some of the best thrifting treasures you’ll ever find. Thank you for my gorgeous, customized vintage J. Crew leather jacket. Another quick google search will send you to 21st Avenue South for your shopping needs, but I wouldn’t bother unless it’s a weekend, because on the weekend, you can find the Hillsboro Vintage Market that has the coolest curation of tee’s, crewnecks, jackets and denim. But, my favorite place to walk around and shop, has to be the Gulch. While 12th and 21st are just long strips you can explore in no time, you can easily get lost shopping around in the Gulch. While you’re there, be sure to pop into The Gibson Garage. As if it’s a museum in itself, you get to appreciate some of the most iconic guitars, delve into Gibson’s history, test out a guitar for yourself, shop some exclusive merch, and if you stick around a while, you’ll get to listen in on performances Live from the Garage, because of course it wouldn’t be Nashville without some live music right in the shop itself.

The Culture

I think, more than anything, what really reeled me in when I first visited Nashville, was the culture—the kindness and respect that’s rooted in Southern values. There’s something to it, forging connection and community, small town charm even in the midst of yet another cement city. Nashville holds its own identity, unique to any other city I’ve ever visited. Coming from a place that is cold and can be quite pretentious, I was struck by the way everyone looks you in the eye and says hello as they pass by or are always ready and excited to share their recommendations or where they’d be that weekend, inviting you to come by. And the talent… it does something to you energetically to be surrounded by that much talent. Quite literally. It ignites a fuel in you to see how driven and passionate people are. How these artists are quite literally chasing their dreams relentlessly and are doing so amongst so many people chasing that same dream. It’s admirable to watch them do so with such grace, empathy and support for one another. Just like a family, because that sense of community is unwavering amongst all the competition.

Magnetic, eclectic, charming, passionate, artistic yet simultaneously grounded, welcoming, intimate, down-to-earth, friendly, old fashioned and a little bit rebellious… Nashville is everything all at once. But there’s so much more, more than what I could touch on here. The food, Printers Alley, the speakeasy’s, the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry (of course)… There's so much to say and to explore, so much so that Nashville will warrant another visit, and of course, another dedicated piece. But until then, I’ll keep yearning for Nashville and reliving every moment, every chord and every note in my daydreams. After all, Nashville is the city of music and storytellers, and I’m a bit of both.

Yours,
Melody