 |
|
Nashville isn't called "Music City, USA" for nothing. If you want to see live music during Fan Fair week, it isn't all at the fairgrounds...
|
Above: Montgomery Gentry at 100 Oaks Shopping Mall
|
|
The easiest way to get the lowdown on the regular music venues is to buy Sunday's "The Tennessean". The entertainment section lists most of the music venues in town - not just the Country ones, either. You're also likely to be politely accosted by someone during the week who'll be handing out flyers for more impromptu performances, often at places that are a little more off the beaten track. The city boasts a number of excellent live venues and, during Fan Fair week, there are often free shows in the unlikeliest of places. Keep an eye out for adverts in shop doorways as Tower Records and Ernest Tubb Records have both staged live shows in the past. I remember standing amongst the CD racks watching Jo Dee Messina a couple of years ago! At the opening of a new motorbike store in the 100 Oaks Shopping Mall, there was a live stage show featuring Montgomery Gentry in 1999. |
Above: Victoria Shaw at The Bluebird Cafe |
Above: Ronna Reeves at Caffe Milano |
There are two recommendations that I would make to anyone visiting Nashville at any time of the year: The Bluebird Cafe and Caffe Milano. The Bluebird has a World-wide reputation for truly good music, with some of Music City's top songsmiths using it as a barometer for their new material. If you can get yourself down passed Hillsboro Village on 21st Avenue, The Bluebird is a must. A reservation during Fan Fair week is usually a good idea. Show up without one and you'll have to queue and hope that there's room. The Bluebird seats around 100, with limited standing room at the bar. Caffe Milano provides for a variety of musical tastes, although the menu is Italian. The Milano has a purpose-built stage at one end of the restaurant and is larger than The Bluebird. It also has a city centre location, on 4th Avenue. Again, during Fan Fair week, a reservation is a good idea. |
|
There are a number of famous music venues in The District area of Nashville that you'll probably recognise too. On Broadway, there's Robert's Western World (probably best known now for spawning BR5-49), Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Legends Corner and The Bluegrass Inn, all of which are open almost throughout the day. A little farther along, in Printers Alley, you'll find Barbara's, and on Second Avenue, there's the Wildhorse Saloon. The other place to go for live music is, of course, the Opryland complex. Here you'll find a whole host of venues like the Texas Troubadour Theatre, Nashville Palace and Nashville Nightlife, which cater for all tastes with music variety shows, tributes and showcases. And I haven't even mentioned The Grand Ole Opry itself! The World's longest running radio show is broadcast on Friday and Saturday nights. Reserved tickets are virtually mandatory during Fan Fair week. |
Fan Fair-related Activities | Fan Club Parties | Home Page