going to Nashville

[Guitarded]

My little girl (she will always be Daddy's little girl - even though she is a beautiful, independent woman) is getting married in Nashville in October... I will finally get to go to Nashville!! :D :D As some of you are probably tuned in to places, clubs, etc related to music and guitar in this fine city of musical renown, what are some of the clubs, venues, whatever, that are of the 'you-don't-want-to-miss-this!' variety in and around Nashville?
Appreciate the guidance, guys...

[dannopelli]

Opryland/Grand Ole Opry.

Gruhn Guitars, on Broadway. Then catch some BBQ and blues up the street on Broadway.

Ryman Auditorium.

There is some SERIOUSLY good golfing there too.

That's a start. (Maybe I should have put Gruhn Guitars first?)

[dannopelli]

Opryland/Grand Ole Opry.

Gruhn Guitars, on Broadway. Then catch some BBQ and blues up the street on Broadway.

Ryman Auditorium.

There is some SERIOUSLY good golfing there too.

That's a start. (Maybe I should have put Gruhn Guitars first?)

I almost forgot, Gibson is down there too.

[olectric]

there are always great shows at 3rd and lindsley, 12th and porter, the rutledge, exit/in, mercy lounge, and cannery ballroom.

all of those places have websites and/or myspace pages; check their schedules for who's playing while you're in town.

lower broadway is something you have to check out if you've never been, too.

[EL-Dougie]

Nashville ideas, based on our recent trip there...

Acoustic guitar singer/songwriters at the Bluebird cafe - tiny room, quiet crowd - advance reservations required but Sun Mon Tues may be first come status - 2 different shows nightly.

Douglas Corner Cafe, Mercy Lounge, Exit/In, Basement, 3rd & Lindsley have eclectic line-ups of rock, blues, etc.

Station Inn for Bluegrass.

See a band called Hillbilly Casino for wild rockabilly with an edge - free at Layla's Bluegrass Inn on Lower Broadway once a week - other shows as scheduled elsewhere - see their website or MySpace for details.

Check schedule at Ryman Auditorium & Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

Go to Country Music Hall of Fame if you have any interest in the music - great museum with interactive audio and visual exhibits and a ton of cool guitars to see on display too.

Thinking of buying a fine acoustic ? Make a private appointment at Guitar Gallery outside of town, not a walk-in at Gruhn. You own the room and have at least an hour alone to play hundreds of spectacular guitars. See the website for accurate, current inventory.

A good independent "record store" is Grimey's New and Pre-loved Music, and they often have free in-store performances, too. Located next to the Basement rock lounge.

If you are free Sunday morning, go to 10am Cowboy Church at Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubador Theatre near the Opry - it is free, serious but not really preachy, and sort of cool musically - it will definitely be my most memorable Easter Service for the rest of my life. There's also a free midnite jamboree show there every Saturday night after the Opry, which can be good depending on who shows up to play.

On a recent week-long trip to Nashville (our first), my wife and I saw a bunch of performers on Lower Broadway at Tootsie's, Legends, Robert's, Layla's, and the like, all on the same block next to Gruhn's, and saw full performances by Hillbilly Casino and Southern Culture on the Skids at the Mercy Lounge, Americana Rock bands Hank Sinatra, Ted Wulfers, The Victrolas and Eric Wilson & Empty Hearts at Douglas Corner Cafe, Rodney Crowell, Will Kimbrough, Minton Sparks, Elizabeth Cook and Tim Carroll at TPAC, Kathy Mattea, Riders in the Sky, Taylor Swift and the Wrights at the Ryman, 4 incredible shows over 2 nights at the Bluebird, 16 acts from the front row at the Grand Ol Opry on a Friday night, and the Time Jumpers at the Station Inn (with Tim O'Brien and Vince Gill sitting in with this great Texas Swing band who play there every Monday for the past 8 years or so). That was just the night life - we never came up for air, and had the trip of a lifetime. And we are in our mid-50's, not some young party animals (HA!).

Many folks recommend eating at Jack's BBQ on Lower Broadway, but I don't know what all the hype is about. There's a million good restaurants there - this was a dive with OK food and a great location.

Check the Nashville Scene magazine online and All the Rage magazine too - good reviews and advance concert info. Just be bold and make some plans - most require advance tickets of some kind, but not all. And pick up a tour book guide at Borders or wherever while you are in the planning and info gathering stage - always worth it if you are planning out a few days and value recommendations...

Good luck, and have a BLAST !

Doug in CT

[picnic]

Head south on Franklin Rd to The Factory Mall. Look for Artisan Guitars in one of the out buildings. Nicest people in the world and a candy store of acoustics. Great restaurant in the mall, but I forget the name.

Leiper's Fork if you are into antiques.

Loveless Cafe for the blue plate special and some unique gifts.

[Guitarded]

thanks a ton, guys!... I am ready to rumble!!...
we, too, are in our 50's... just means we enjoy the good times all that much more... and I am indeed going to be shopping for a nice acoustic box... (one of these days, I may even get my Kevin Ryan dream - sigh!)

[EL-Dougie]

thanks a ton, guys!... I am ready to rumble!!...
and I am indeed going to be shopping for a nice acoustic box... (one of these days, I may even get my Kevin Ryan dream - sigh!)

Then you must get in touch with Robin at Guitar Gallery and make an appointment at her "shop". No Ryan when I was there in April, but she does have them in (new and pre-owned) from time to time and I saw that a Ryan Mission GC just sold after being listed for two weeks or so. One thing I realized was that although I may have a specific guitar in mind, once you are there and presented with the chance of a lifetime to play incredible acoustic guitar after guitar, it becomes a tone session and you really get to compare them in an undisturbed, silent environment. I went thinking of one specific guitar, which was sold to an international buyer three days before my arrival. Instead of thinking I missed out and anything else would be a consolation candidate, I found the guitar of my dreams which I did not realize until I played it - a one of a kind Galloup Hybrid in Brazilian Rosewood which just shimmered and sustained forever in my hands. I had always wanted a fine Brazilian but was intimidated by not being able to really demo any side by side - our trip to Nashville presented me with the opportunity and I managed to pull the trigger before we left town. You owe it to yourself to spend some time there - it is truly an undiscovered acoustic buyer's nirvana waiting to happen. No pressure to buy, you can play anything she has in stock, inventory and prices on the website so you make a list of things you would want to check out and just go for it... www.guitargal.com

Good luck ! Doug in CT

[Guitarded]

very good advice!... thanks hugely!... I didn't realize that White House (Guitar Gallery) was that close to Nashville... for me, that is definitely on my list!...
thanks again, everyone

[Guitarded]

to all the guys who contributed their suggestions for Nashville sights and sounds... thanks hugely!!... I followed up on quite a few and had a blast!... the highlight had to be one Monday night at The Station Inn getting blown away by The Time Jumpers with their part time Jumper Vince Gill sitting in on rhythm guitar and some vocals... caught the Opry the following night and the guitar player for Dierks Bentley was playing an Andy... you really can hear the tone!... thanks again, boys... and you have given me enough to do for the next trip back too...