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In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

author:The Paper
In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

The Charlie Dennis band performs with renowned country musician Charlie McCoy at the Lyman Auditorium. Ryman figure

In the 19th century, Nashville was known as an important music distribution center in the New World, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers Orchestra completed its first world tour here, with unprecedented pomp and circumstance, helping the then black university Fisk University to raise funds to fund the education of black slaves liberated after the Civil War. By the early 20th century, the appearance of the Grand Opry Theater cemented Nashville's place on the musical map.

Today, thousands of songwriters of all genres come to the city of music for inspiration and await opportunities to be discovered: that is, 365 days a year, you can hear the voices of top singers here. Let's share some of the nashville music venues that are most loved by locals and music fans.

In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

Grand Opry Theatre. Grand Ole Opry House

Grand Ole Opry

When it comes to nashville's musical spectacle, you can't help but pay homage to Grand Opry. Ninety years ago, it began with a one-hour "Barn Dance" performance on local radio ("Barn Dance" is now the longest-running radio show in U.S. history), which is different from the structure of a traditional concert with an opening performer and a lead musician, with at least eight artists in a typical performance, allowing the audience to try out a variety of different musical styles. There are quite a few Legends of American country music who have come out of Grand Opry, such as Clint Black, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels and Emmylou Harris, and of course, many lesser-known but equally talented rising stars.

If you want to enjoy Nashville's classic music experience in a truly dynamic and special perspective, pay for a VIP ride. You can go backstage before the show starts, visit the cast's lounge, and enjoy the first performance on the most famous stage in the city of music. Afterwards, your guide at the Grand Theatre will personally seat you and enjoy the music until the end.

Address: 2804 Opryland Drive; Tel: +1 615-871-6779; Url: opry.com

In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

Lyman Auditorium. Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Ryman Auditorium

The aforementioned Grand Opry is located nine miles east of downtown, where performances were held in the Lyman Auditorium before the theater made its home. In fact, before the Opry Theater was built, the building already had a long and legendary history. Originally a Union Gospel Tabernackle, Lyman Auditorium was launched in 1892 and allowed citizens to participate in large-scale worship services. In 1913, Helen Keller gave a speech here, leaving the auditorium short for the first time.

For more than a hundred years, the Lyman Auditorium endured storms, hosted private affairs, and witnessed Hollywood filming, but eventually fell into disrepair. In the 1990s, the building was extensively renovated, with restored wooden church benches and modern facilities such as air conditioning, transforming it from a historic building into a high-tech concert hall. The acoustics in the auditorium are clear and loud, and the craftsmanship of the architecture and interior decoration is really impressive.

Currently on the website of the Lyman Auditorium, we can find a schedule of performances for the coming months, while various high-level performance programs appear almost every day or two. Many believe that the best time to visit this musical landmark is winter, as the Grand Opry Theater returns to the Auditorium's home stadium each November and January each year, giving visitors the opportunity to participate in two of Nashville's iconic arts events at once.

Address: 116 Fifth Ave N; Tel: +1 615-889-3060; Url: www.ryman.com

In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center is a must-see for music fans visiting Nashville. Rick McBride/TPAC diagram

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Many people come to Nashville with the desire to indulge in a brasserie on Broadway, but don't forget, the city is also the center of classical music! The Tennessee Center for the Arts is the backbone of downtown Nashville's artistic landscape, where you can see a wide variety of theater performances, the vast majority of which are based on musical performances. It is worth mentioning that the Tennessee Center for the Arts is also home to many famous Broadway touring companies, as well as the base of the Nashville Opera, nashville Ballet and the City of Music Drums, a "professional" instrument band made up of high school students and college students between the ages of 16 and 21.

If you want a stylish evening in town, before the show starts, head to the Hermitage Hotel, half a block away, and find Capitol Grille for a comfortable Dinner.

Address: 505 Deaderick St; Tel: +1 615-742-4040; Url: tpac.org

In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

Bluebird Cafe. Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Bluebird Café

For a closer encounter with Nashville music, we recommend the BlueBird Café. The café sits in a low-key high street, but don't be fooled by this humble appearance, as many country music legends have since begun. Stars Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift were both discovered at the Blue Jay, who was only 15 years old at the time.

Although the cable TV drama "Nashville" blackened the BlueBird to the skin, the café is known for its warm and low-key atmosphere. Songwriters who want to take some coveted seat in a café must first perform in full front of about 90 professional listeners through auditions. Usually, at night, three or four artists sing for you, and they use their instruments to create a harmonious sound effect and show the inspiration behind the song.

Please note that bluebirds strictly require audiences to "refrain from making loud noises" during the show. If you want to be noisy, change places.

Address: 4104 Hillsboro Pike; Tel: +1 615-383-1461; Url: bluebirdcafe.com

In Nashville, get up close and personal with music

In the minds of alcoholics, santa's bar is nothing less than the pearl of Nashville. Whiskeyriff diagram

Santa's Pub

Nashville's famous music venues are numerous, and you'll find state-of-the-art equipment, singers waiting to become famous, and cocktails for just $10. However, if you are determined to find a cheap small bar, party, drink some refreshing sweet wine, Santa Claus Bar will be the first choice.

Despite your long-standing reputation, you have to be immersed in the scene to believe that this place is a local favorite! The bar is on the outskirts of the city, in a trailer near the amusement park – I'm not lying to you. Christmas is celebrated all year round, with colorful lights and faded Christmas decorations, and a boss who looks like Santa Claus twins. You'll never see any musical instruments, there's only karaoke machines, but not the vulgar, subtitled karaoke machines at home. Also, the atmosphere and popularity of the pubs is great, hippies mingle with British tourists, university students talk to older same-sex couples, and locals can hear a number of neighborhood gossip in the pubs. Beer starts at two dollars and allows you to smoke – in fact, the service will encourage you to smoke. If you're counting on finding tomorrow's country music superstar at Santa's Pub, sorry, it's probably out of the way, but you can definitely find a good time for music.

Address: 2225 Bransford Ave; Tel: +1 615-593-1872 Url: www.santaspub.com

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