An Alternative Music Guide to Nashville, According to Local Expert Steve Schnur

Located on Elliston Place near Centennial Park and Vanderbilt University, Exit/In is a 200-capacity venue that gained its reputation in the 1970s as a place where something wild would happen almost every night. Legend has it that American actor Steve Martin once led the entire crowd outside and down the road to buy them all a hamburger. “It’s the alternative to everything else in town,” according to Schnur. Right next to the front door is a list of big-name musicians who’ve played at the venue, including Tom Petty and BB King.

Teased by Schnur as “karaoke with an occasional surprise guest,” Santa’s Pub is an old trailer adorned with festive graffiti and Christmas decor. This no-frills karaoke dive bar will cast you under its spell within minutes of walking in. Known for its cheap beer and relaxed, fun atmosphere, you’ll find a diverse crowd, from bikers to sorority girls.

This legendary venue lies inside an unassuming building among Downtown Nashville’s artsy area, known as The Gulch. Station Inn has a reputation for being a simple place where the Nashville bluegrass community, a group of local musicians who play the blues, convenes. “From bluegrass to gospel, this venue is still standing, and won’t be bullied among its newly construction neighbors in The Gulch,” Schnur adds. And as with so many unpretentious venues in this city, don’t be surprised to see a platinum-selling artist or two in the crowd, or even on the stage.

Kitsch doesn’t even cover The Dive Motel. Located in the fast-developing district of East Nashville, this multipurpose venue is not only home to motel rooms, which speak of a bygone era of Americana with murals and shag-pile rugs, but as the name suggests, it also houses a dive bar decorated in linoleum, chrome and disco balls. It’s a favorite with Nashville residents.

Make sure you book early at The Bluebird Cafe, as it is “one of the most important and iconic venues in the world,” according to Schnur. This unassuming venue, located in a strip mall on the outskirts of town (only a 20-minute taxi ride from Broadway), is the place where songwriters and musicians come to play stripped-back versions of their music. With old and new tunes, the atmosphere is warm and electric.

In 2001, lead singer Jack White from The White Stripes founded his first venue in Detroit. Fast-forward eight years and the second Third Man Records opened its doors in Nashville, located in the hip Gulch district. Meander through its record store, photo studio and the world’s first live venue that records directly to acetate. Tours of the space run on Fridays and Saturdays at 2pm.

The Ryman Auditorium, according to Schnur, is “the best venue in the world, hands down.” Highly valued by the city of Nashville, it has been included in the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the heart of Downtown, this beautiful 2,362-person Victorian-Gothic-style venue has seen performances from musical legends like Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, Tammy Wynette, Foo Fighters, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams, Neil Young, Bill Monroe and Patsy Cline. Recently, it branched out and hosted its first-ever hip-hop show, courtesy of Wu-Tang Clan. Musicians have praised the venue’s acoustics, calling them the best in the world.