Experience Nashville’s Music Scene Like a Local

Nashville: A Global Musical Hub

Nashville is home to a diverse range of genres, including rock, pop, blues, and soul, among others. The city’s bustling nightlife and numerous music venues attract aspiring musicians and industry professionals alike, making it a hotbed for musical talent and creativity.

With its deep musical heritage and dynamic contemporary scene, Nashville continues to cement its reputation as a global center for music and an essential part of American culture. Music City has even gained international traction hosting events such as Bonnaroo, CMA Fest, Live on the Green, and more recently, the TinPan South Songwriters Festival. 

The Scene: An Inside Look

When visiting Music City, guests often ask “where can I see someone famous” or “how to run into a singer in Nashville”.  And we always say –  go where the locals go! We encourage you to take a tour with Joe Nashville for the insider scoop on where to go and who you might see while on your trip to Nashville. As a lifelong Nashville resident with family roots dating back to the 1700’s, Joe knows Nashville and is eager to share the city with you.  

Another “local tip” is to frequent the songwriter cafes; which are the playgrounds to the creatives of the city. If you made it out to TinPan South Festival, you may already be familiar with some of these local “playgrounds” for singers, songwriters, and musicians.

Tin Pan South is probably one of the most “Nashville” things to do in the city. This multiple day festival is highly recommended to locals and tourists alike as an immersive experience that highlights the talent and stories behind the music.

Local Songwriter Cafes

These cafes are where music comes to be alive. From upcoming musicians gaining exposure, to current artists testing out a new lyric, to mega stars showcasing a recent hit or simply giving back to the community that fueled their art – Music come to these spots to both be born and to come alive.

Here is a list of 5 songwriter cafes in Music City where you may just fall head over boots for the rich history and vibrant music scene Nashville has to offer. 

1. Listening Room Café

On the top of our list, we have the iconic Listening Room Café. The Listening Room Cafe was founded in 2006 in historic Franklin, TN. Chris Blair, owner and singer/songwriter himself, decided to open a venue because he was playing his own music around Nashville and couldn’t find a place that he felt had the sound and atmosphere that Nashville artists deserved. The Franklin location quickly became a local favorite pulling in huge songwriters from music row and moved to its current downtown location in 2013. Witness local bands, national legends, and up-and-coming artists at nightly live performances. At this venue, you will not only get to hear original songs, but the story behind them. 

2. Tin Roof

Tin Roof is dubbed as the “live music joint” and is famous for their songwriter rounds where up and coming artists get to showcase their original work.  The Original Tin Roof opened in 2002 near the famed Music Row off Demonbreun with the intention to give musicians a place to play and a place to hang when they weren’t on stage. They were quickly established as “the place to be” for musicians and non-musicians now hosting songwriter rounds, shows, and weekly activities. In 2020, 35 out of the 40 on the Billboard charts for country music, had played at Tin Roof, including  Luke combs and Florida Georgia Line – before they were introduced on the radio (Source: Music Row).

3, Bobby’s Idle Hour Tavern

Neighborhood Bar in Music Row, Bobby’s is an iconic watering hole with live music geared to local songwriters and musicians.  You will find a variety of people and songs at this bar- newcomers enjoying the energy of the music and the old timers watching from a back table, smiling and swaying along to the tunes. Its located in an unassuming part of town alongside some other big names in music and recording history. At Bobby’s, you are likely to run into the people behind the song without even knowing it! 

“It’s quite a legacy. Before you even walk in the door, the big plywood guitar out front tells you that Bobby’s Idle Hour is the place you’ve been looking for, the kind of place that makes you pack up and move to a new city to start your life all over again.” – Margaret Renkl, The New York Times

4. The Local Nashville

The Local features a mellow, speakeasy atmosphere and offers live original music every night of the week. Opening their doors in 2017, this venue has become a staple to local musicians and artists while maintaining an intimate and home-town feel. With their motto, Come a Stranger, Leave a Local hitting close to home, we highly suggest trying out this songwriter café after becoming even more of a Nashville local on one of our tours. The business is open 4:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Sit at a high-top bar, enjoy the show, and fall into the local music scene. 

5. The Blue Bird Café

Last but not least, a fan favorite for tourists and locals alike is The Blue Bird Café. This cafe was established in 1982 and has been going strong ever since. And we mean strong! About 70,000 people visit this quaint café yearly and shows tend to sell out within days of being listed on their website. The 90-seat venue is has hosted some of the most significant songwriters and artists on stage, including: Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kris Kristofferson, Carole King, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Taylor Swift, Townes Van Zandt, Kathy Mattea and many more. The Bluebird was featured on the TV show Nashville and was the subject of the 2019 documentary, Bluebird. So, for all you Nashville newbies, make sure to book ahead if you are wanting to witness the amazing talent and food at this venue. 

In Conclusion

With so much talent in Nashville, the music business continues to flourish for us all to enjoy. It is an atmosphere you do not want to miss while you are here- and a top recommendation on things to do in Nashville. While these are a few of our favorite songwriter cafes, they surely are not the only ones. So be sure to do your research, ask a local, or book a tour with Joe to get the scoop before your trip. To learn more, book your private tour with Joe from Nashville Experience Tours. 

We are proud to be a part of this music community and excited for you to try out a songwriter café/bar for the first (or second… third… or tenth) time. The combination of quality food, entertainment and culture is worth the wait at any of these venues. And hey, you may even see someone “famous” while you are here. Pro-tip: you probably will 🙂