The 10 Best Bars in the Nashville Area With Live Music

Nashville is well known for being Music City, and with such an emphasis on new and old artists, there are plenty of venues to enjoy music firsthand.

Get tickets to see your favorite artist or an up-and-coming band while having a drink or two at these spots around Nashville.

The Best Bars in Nashville With Live Music

Acme Feed + Seed

Take a walk to lower Broadway to experience this unforgettable renovated venue.

Acme Feed + Seed had a previous life as many businesses but is now home to a multi-level restaurant and live music venue.

In a building with such rich history, today it’s making history of its own as a popular spot for locals to go and enjoy a great meal plus live music any night of the week.

Dine from the rooftop and enjoy views of the city, or step inside and be blown away by the talent on stage.

No matter what reason you stop into Acme Feed + Seed, you’ll end up staying for a drink and the live band on stage.

• Location: 101 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201

Bourbon Street Blues + Boogie Bar

You’ll see the glowing neon sign before you see the door of this famous Nashville venue.

Bourbon Street Blues + Boogie Bar is impossible to miss as they celebrate Mardi Gras 7 nights a week.

Twinkling lights are strung from wrought iron balconies in the alleyway of this music venue.

You’ll also find cajun cuisine and live blues bands that will have you feeling like you’ve been transported to New Orleans.

Rooted right in the popular Printers Alley, this bar has been a go-to for 25 years of blues music and celebrating the New Orleans spirit right in Nashville.

Bourbon Street Blues + Boogie Bar is a vacation any night of the week.

• Location: 220 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201

The Electric Jane

Modern-day dining meets nightclub at this live music venue.

The Electric Jane is a sleek and modern space where you’ll find modern cuisine and the same live music and energy as many other Nashville venues.

This space is perfect for grabbing a cocktail with a friend at the end of a long day and enjoying a show.

Plus, they serve one of the best brunches around, and who doesn’t want to listen to a live band while eating breakfast? The Electric Jane is the perfect mix of modern music and is unforgettable.

• Location: 1301 Division St, Nashville, TN 37203

Fox + Locke

Just a short drive south of the main city of Nashville you’ll find this must-see live music venue in Franklin, TN.

Fox + Locke was originally founded in 1947 and remains a go-to spot for live music and comfort food.

Here you’ll find plate lunches of BBQ foods, cold beer, and live music frequently in a renovated grocery store.

You’ll get a true down-home feel with the Americana decor that fills this space, but the variety of live musicians that perform throughout the week is what will keep you coming back.

Fox + Locke is well worth the short trip outside of Nashville.

• Location: 4142 Old Hillsboro Rd, Franklin, TN 37064

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar

This massive space is owned by none other than Jason Aldean himself and spans 4 floors of bar space and live music performers.

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar is the ultimate Nashville bar experience with multiple levels, a rooftop bar, and tons of live musicians.

While many come for the food, you’ll most likely stay for the party. Every night of the week, this space is filled as people gather to listen to live bands from up-and-coming Nashville artists.

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar is an unforgettable live music bar perfect for any night of the week.

• Location: 307 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201

Layla’s Honky Tonk

This cozy bar is filled with license plates and has a true down-home feel right in the middle of Nashville.

Layla’s Honkey Tonk is a lively and intimate spot on Broadway where you’ll find live bluegrass each night of the week and great bar food to go with the drinks.

This is a no-frills space that feels like a bar back home but with the added bonus of great musicians.

Here many famous names plus up-and-coming artists perform nightly, making Layla’s Honkey Tonk one bar you have to stop and see.

• Location: 418 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Skull’s Rainbow Room

In Printers Alley, you’ll find this famous spot for crafted beverages and live shows every night.

Skull’s Rainbow Room will transport you back to the 1940s with its speakeasy decor, burlesque shows, and elevated atmosphere.

Here you’ll find a collection of crafted drinks and high-end dishes that will only add to your experience.

Jazz lovers will be impressed with the nightly performers and live brass instruments.

Plus, they offer burlesque shows every weekend for a different type of live entertainment. Skull’s Rainbow Room takes you back to another era, one you won’t want to leave.

• Location: 222 Printers Alley, Nashville, TN 37201

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

You won’t miss this bright purple building that stands out among the other bars on Broadway.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is a well-loved and well-known spot for live music throughout the years and has a long history with famous musicians.

This historic watering hole got its start in the 1960s, and many of the early customers are recognizable, like Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.

Sharing an alleyway with the Ryman, it’s in the perfect spot to stop in and grab a drink while listening to whatever the new artist is performing.

Tootsies Orchid Lounge is a honkey tonk and a piece of Nashville history you won’t want to miss.

• Location: 422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

The Twelve Thirty Club

This restaurant and music venue is a multi-story spot for good times and live music throughout the week.

The Twelve Thirty Club is an unforgettable Nashville experience with a terrific selection of drinks, a rooftop bar, and tons of live music.

Here you’ll be impressed with four levels that each have their own vibe and atmosphere, perfect for any outing and any group.

Live bands and featured artists can be found on each floor, so you can see multiple shows without ever leaving the building.

The Twelve Thirty Club is a one-of-a-kind and unforgettable live music bar experience.

• Location: 550 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

3rd + Lindsley

Here you’ll find a bar and grill perfect for a weeknight meal and catching a show. 3rd + Lindsley is a live music venue that doubles as a bar and restaurant.

You’ll find nightly shows with a very eclectic lineup of artists and diverse types of music.

Some nights you’ll hear the sounds of R&B singers, while other nights, guitar solos will fill the space.

3rd + Lindsley is the perfect spot for great live music, drinks, and spending time with friends.

• Location: 818 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210

Final Thoughts

Be sure you don’t miss out on the true music scene in Nashville, and with so many bars across the city with live music, you won’t have to.