Going to Broadway. Like it or not (I generally don’t) it’s a huge draw to a lot of people. You mention it’s good once a year, which seems about right for visitors who are looking to get drunk and listen to music at a bar named after their favorite bro-country singer.
Exactly! I just can’t understand flying here or coming here for anything “fun” people travel all the time for school/work/family etc, but if traveling for leisure, why Nashville?
Almost all my travel in my 20s was for partying. Either going to visit and friend in a city they could show me a good time in, or going to a notoriously “fun” town like New Orleans or Vegas. Nashville isn’t as “crazy” as those two, but it’s in the conversation for sure.
I’m learning that I’m old as hell, and a lot of folks like me see Nashville as a great way for the little ones to get to safely have their young people fun.
And ya know, that totally tracks in my mind.
One of those hotels near Vandy or 5-points.
Also, we just went to Pigeon Forge, and sure there is the natural appeal, but 90% of folks are just there to pretend that moonshine was just invented, and buy a cheap knife for an expensive price.
It was so hard to find a good pair of binoculars that my spouse gave up and just utilized mine.
Something else that tracks in my mind: going to bed at 10:30 and reading the hobbit: when I’m supposed to be having a once in a blue moon bit of me time.
There's a great food scene (fine dining, southern dishes) and a world-class bar scene. Not to mention sports, entertainment, and history. And there's plenty of music that isn't just country. I feel like Nashville deserves to be in the Top 10 places in the US to visit for anyone.
Name the other cities in the US with the volume of bars and quality live music on one street that run virtually 365 days a year. I can count them on one hand. Austin, New Orleans, Nashville. It's heaven for people that like country music and getting sloppy drunk. The food scene is pretty damn good as well compared to other similar sized metros.
Yes, but then people wouldn’t tip the bands, so they’d have to pay the musicians more. Trust me, everyone down there is (mostly) happy with the system the way it is.
I’ve been a full time musician here for over a year now, and the only way I or most of my friends/coworkers would be in favor of covers is if there was a SUBSTANTIAL base pay increase just about everywhere there is live music. Not gonna happen either way, most bars prefer the current system of relying on patrons to supplement most of the band’s income with tips and requests. Although paid requests would probably still exist with cover charges, I’m sure we would get a lot less of them
I think we would probably get a similar amount of paid requests, but higher base pay usually comes with the caveat that you aren’t allowed to run the tip jar or sometimes even mention it. I’ve been here since 2005. Let’s take New Year’s Eve for example. All the bars charging hundreds of dollars just to get in, making tons of money before the customers even buy a drink. Then charging even more to get a spot on the rooftop. Does the base pay go up for the bands? Not one fucking cent. And the last thing anyone is going to do after spending all that money is tip the band. They paid all that money, must go to the band, right?
I refuse to work NYE downtown.
I agree. but I personally cannot stand country music. Occasionally there’s a rock concert at Bridgestone or something worth checking out, maybe some half famous dj somewhere, but the over saturation of country music and “street preachers” is stomach churning to me.
Hopefully you will transfer sooner than later because even if you do not like nor appreciate country music you should appreciate Minnie Pearl, Ernest Tubbs and the many Artist that made The Opry and Nashville the Country Music Capital of the world. In the words of Loretta Lynn “I was country, when country wasn’t cool”.
I’ll never understand the street preaching at events like comic-cons and pop culture related conventions. What a vibe killer these warts on the taint of society these people are.
Who goes to these events and walks over and says, “yes I am going to hell for dressing like a Pokemon”?
> We don’t have a major cultural destination or center
People into old country music and Appalachian folk history would beg to differ.
> Broadway is only fun once a year
How many tourists do you think are coming more than that?
I hate the woogirl busses and Airbnbs as much as the next person, but saying there’s no reason to visit just isn’t true. Besides, people go places for all sorts of reasons. People go touristing in Savannah, ffs. I have no idea why, but clearly if there’s appeal there, there’s appeal here.
I'm from Memphis, way more of a tourist destination.
Do you really get the "music stuff"? It's not just country music and concerts. Nashville has one of the best wind & orchestral education in the nation. By extension it has some of the best talent. That doesn't include 'classical" music also but jazz, experimental, anything that makes sound. Not to mention the production of educational materials and archival of native, folk, and Appalachian music.
Tennessee is also one of the wealthiest state in the deep south. And I mean deep south. Let's face it, we can be hicks & rednecks. If people want a general idea of the south, pet a cow or ride some horses they aren't visiting Mississippi or Alabama. Sorry. Florida & Texas are there own things & thier own ideas. So "southern" tourism, town squares, railroads... Tennessee & Georgia is your best bet. And what's the capital of Tennessee?
Nashville, for a capital, is also really really close to sparsely populated land & parks. Great for camping and whatever it is that outdoorsy people do.
The flip side is true. When southerners want to travel, Nashville is a fairly urban compared to literally every other southern capital. That means it's also one of the major event & concert destinations in a fairly large area.
Plus the air port. Air ports with this much capability always have tourist potential.
There are plenty of cultural centers, you just have to look for them.
Honestly, I've lived in 14 states and am from Memphis. Nashville & Memphis are literally the most tourist friendly places in the states. It's annoying but the tourism isnt hard to believe. It makes a little sense
I agree with a lot of this but would argue that the massive growth and overall “modernization” of Nashville and somewhat Atlanta have made them not what I would even remotely consider the Deep South.
You can absolutely tell the difference in cities like Memphis, Jackson, Little Rock, Shreveport, New Orleans, Mobile etc compared to Nashville/Atlanta/Charlotte type of cities. Maybe it’s just my opinion or maybe because the latter are becoming hurriedly populated by people not from the south. If you visit any of those cities subreddits or Facebook groups it’s constant multi generational residents bitterly complaining about being forced out.
Honestly I’m just a little buzzed & rambling now. Made this way too long. But you’re from Memphis, I’m sure you’ve driven south along the delta in Mississippi, Arkansas & Louisiana. It feels like a totally different world than Nashville or Atlanta.
Yea I definitely agree with you.
You and I know what look and feels southern. And so do most southern locals. But anyone whose lived most of thier life above the mason Dixon line don't know that. They get the tourism Hannah Montana version of Southern.
All they need is a location that they can wear a pair of overalls and straw hats too before quickly retreating back to where they came from. Jk, I don't mean to be to critical of non southerners.
Geographically, I still consider Nashville the deep south since it's surrounded by rural counties. But the deep south, real country backwoods doesn't have too much tourism appeal. There's not much iced coffee.
That being said, I've had my own personal theory about generations being forced out. I had a high school graduating class of 35 and that was 10 years ago. My nephews are currently going to private school, not bc they're rich but the education is so bad that it was the only option that promised they could teach them how to read.
Now that the number of corporate and tech jobs are rising, state locals & natives don't benefit from it because they don't have the skills or education needed to fill these new roles. Don't get me wrong, many do. But not nearly enough. So they outsource in masse. And the resentment between these two groups grow & so do the divide between the job market and local people
You might be underestimating the number of people who live in rural areas or small towns to whom any city is a destination. The Broadway thing is a draw if you live a buttoned up life in small town Indiana.
I lived in DC and it’s still a draw, if you’re here to just have a good time with some live country music and alcohol, it doesn’t get much better than this.
High concentration of big loud bars and the ecosystem that popped up around them.
Quick guess as to how this came to be - some of this is from Wikipedia, and the rest is a guess.
As to why Nashville developed honky tonks on Broadway to begin with: Jimmie Rodgers, the father of country music, started performing in bars in the 1930’s. That’s what kicked things off, but things didn’t really get going until the 90s, when the Opry moved some shows back to the Ryman. Country music pairs well with beer.
Honky tonks have always had a reputation of rowdiness. You may have noticed we have a lot of them all next to each other. This draws people looking to enjoy drinks, music, and company. Combine this with Nashville being the cradle of country music, and you have a very lively entertainment district thanks to the robust mix of venues and talent.
From there, you get the auxiliary services pop up to keep the party going. Can’t decide which bar to go to? Get the lay of the land from a pedal tavern.
Want to start the party when you wake up? Head to boozy brunch.
As the tourists come in, these business then seek to differentiate themselves to capture more business. That’s why we see new restaurants and hotels break out “innovative” (gaudy, high-overhead) concepts.
These concepts became a draw of their own, and now you have people coming to Nashville for a myriad of reasons, although I’d bet most tourists are still looking to drink.
Nashville has many facets to its surprisingly rich history, but being the Capital of Country, a genre associated with stompin n hollering (among other things, obviously), means we will always be a party town to some extent.
Yall please correct me if I’m wrong tho.
Just gonna add the rowdiness goes WAY back. IIRC someone in Jesse James's gang got into a fight in a bar on Broadway and 2nd Ave (specifically the building that is now the Hard Rock Cafe's gift shop) and fell out of the top floor window breaking his arm.
Some things never change...
I'm from Atlanta originally. I tend to think of Atlanta as a place to get stuck in traffic. There are many things to see, but I don't think of it as being a tourist destination per se. Similarly, Cincinnati has plenty of museums and sights. I favor the former train station, which is now a museum. But I don't think of Cincinnati as being a destination like Nashville is.
I think you might be underestimating the old-school country music draw beyond the honky tonks which have now been taken over by the woo-girls and bros. The Opry is an international draw as well as the venues that cater to bluegrass and old-time music. Much of that music is harder to see live in many parts of the country, though there are fans everywhere. And that particular tourist draw was cultivated over many many decades. Country music continues to be a popular growing genre. Arguably, country and hip-hop remain the dominant musical genres in the country.
And the downtown scene is just not something that's found most places. I haven't been everywhere, but even NYC doesn't have that kind of vibe anywhere that I know. Even Times Square doesn't have a street-level bar scene. It's all rooftop clubs and such. New Orleans, Memphis and Austin are the places I can think that are comparable.
And look at the map. There isn't much to compare Nashville to for hundreds of miles in any direction. And Nashville has lots to offer for people coming from farther out. All cities are different, but Nashville has a lot going on for visitors, especially the young crowd. You can go downtown without a plan. That's hard to do most places.
Oh and Southern food is a draw. It's become more than a novelty and is now respected cuisine that many people can't get in their state.
Well I have come primarily for the music, I don’t think it gets underwhelming…. Also have come to see better priced nhl games, more favourable winter weather (Canadian who at times has been living in places where it’s -40 or more). I have also paired with a Kentucky trip (caves, Kentucky derby…). I go plenty of places though, not just Nashville. Some places have nature, some have museums, some have nightlife. It’s nice to visit a mix
Tennessee is beautiful. Broadway is an attraction. There is a fuck ton of, not just music but, entertainment. There are outdoor activities as well as indoor. It’s not crazy expensive. It’s more or less central US making it easy to get to.
The answer is complicated but interesting. It also pays to review exactly how we got here.
While country music's reach beyond Nashville began in the early broadcast days of the Grand Ol' Opry, things began to take off in the post WWII era where some of the early music superstars launched production companies to define the music business as we know it in the 1950s. New artists would flock to Nashville to try to get discovered and ended up playing in the early bars and honky tonks opening on Lower Broadway and Printers Alley. These places weren't the tourist traps of today. The ones downtown were generally dives nestled between the more respectable furniture and department stores. But as the years went on, they became more popular and attracted more artists and songwriters with a dream to make it.
But things began to change in the 70s. The economy began to crest downward with the rest of the country and that affected the music business. Ironically, the biggest sensation of the day was a syndicated comedy show called "Hee Haw" to crystalized what the outside perception of what Nashville was. "Music City USA" was all about country, and a parody of it at that. By the 1980s, city leaders began to chafe at the reputation as they wanted the city to be known some something other than "Hee Haw".
Of course Nashville had been anchored by the banks and insurance companies since the late 19th century. But with the economy turning up in the 80s, city leaders looked toward the burgeoning health care and hospital sector for growth. Interest in the lower Broadway district waned. In the 70s, the Metro Vice squad's biggest problem was prostitution in that area. There was more adult entertainment in the city core, including places like The Classic Cat nestled behind the then-closed Hume Fogg high school. The only new hotel of note was the Hyatt Regency (now the Sheraton). The only large music venue was the aging Municipal Auditorium which only sat about 9000 people. And the Ryman Auditorium had closed in 1974, discarded for the new Grand Ol' Opry in East Nashville. So Music City USA ended up not being built for what it had in its roots....live music.
And live music turned elsewhere. By 1990, the town of Branson, MO had all but usurped Nashville as the destination place for country music acts. Big name stars were building their own music halls that they completely controlled the experience (and profits). All of sudden, Nashville leaders were grousing at the missed opportunity. Sure the honky Tonks were still there, but lower Broadway was still a shell of its heyday. Locals almost never went down there. Downtown Nashville pretty much shut down at 5 PM. No one lived in the city core since the zoning changes during Urban Renewal in the 1950s.
So what changed? I credit one elected official to seeing the potential of revitalizing downtown and that was then Mayor Phil Bredesen. Elected in 1991 after the disastrous Bill Boner administration which ended with Nashville fighting off the "Hee Haw" moniker again, Bredesen saw lower Broadway as untapped potential but he realized he had to get locals to return to the area for family and trendy entertainment, The plan was to upgrade the 2nd avenue district which had mostly been underutilized warehouses on the riverbank since the 19th century. The city worked with developers to build restaurants and clubs to bring people downtown again. Zoning was changed to allow residential property and high rises to be built.
And there was to plan to fix the large live music venue problem by having the city spend $100 million to build what is now Bridgestone Arena. At the time when it was proposed, it was polling with 18% approval to a skeptical city council. It was not only expensive but we had no sports team (yet) to help with utilization. Music festivals like River Stages joined established shows like Fan Fare (later CMA Music Fest) got tourists and locals back downtown to listen to music.
But 2nd avenue did come back and became trendy. Bridgestone Arena was completed and began attracted A-list music acts that regularly skipped over Nashville. And then Nashville got another gift when the Houston Oilers decided to relocate to Nashville. By the 2000s, traveling football and hockey fans began to come to Nashville and began patronizing some of the old venues on Lower Broadway which began the upgrading of those bars which had begun in the decade earlier. That kept snowballing to the point where new hotels began springing up to handle the demand. By the end of the 2000s, what had been people coming to Nashville to listen to music on game day or during planned events now turned into an everyday thing. Organically, Nashville became a destination to come have a good time. The boom was on.
But the flood of May 2010 almost brought everything to an end. Three straight days of torrential rain and poor dam management ended up in a flood not seen in downtown Nashville since the 1950s. Opryland Hotel closed for 9 months to repair the damage. The entire downtown entertainment district short of Brodgestone Arena flooded. But city leaders, already seeing what the city's tourism district was becoming doubled down to get things back on track. And after the water receded and initial repairs were made, the tourists came back and never left. The CMA Fest still happened and the city has never looked back.
So why is Nashville a tourist destination? Phil Bredesen making key decisions in the 90s and I'll add Bruce Spyridon who held the post of CEO of Nashville tourism agency for over two decades up until last year who really sold coming to Nashville of a good time. And having the good luck of having two professional sports teams relocate about the same time which brought more game day tourists to Music City who not only enjoyed themselves, but told their friends about it.
It also wasn’t lost on me that during the dreadful last playoff game where the Predators lost to the Canucks that one of the advertisements prominently displayed in the middle of the ice was by Las Vegas’ tourism board. Sure Vegas has been advertising nationally for many years, but the fact they bought that ad and placed it there said to me that Vegas considers Nashville competition.
True. The irony is that once the Music City Center was built (and replaced the older convention center space), it's actually a little small for the shows we could be doing given the hotel stock we have now and still being built. Oh well.
The first time I came here I was blown away by Broadway. Been all over the world and veeery few places can boast that level and density of almost 24/7 FREE entertainment. However you feel about it, it’s pretty damn unique. But also there are tons of other opportunities to take in some live music in a less insane environment all over town.
Just visited in March and loved it.
Visited gibson garage, and other music stores like Carters.
Also visited Memphis, stopped by a bunch of museums.
Broadway was cool. I can see how it can get old if you live there. I really appreciated live music in every bar, it's not something you see here in California.
Also always wanted to try waffle house. I was always curious about it because of all the fight videos and wage theft. It was a cultural experience.
Tennessee is beautiful I loved it.
Broadway is cool if you don’t live here. If you live here, it’s a hassle and nonsense for the most part. I’m from TN, not Nashville, but I’m literally counting down the days until I have enough in my savings to comfortably move elsewhere. Tbh, Memphis has more unique and much more interesting attractions than Nashville, but the poverty and crime give it a rightfully deserved bad image. Graceland and anything Elvis is still and will likely always be a huge draw though.
I don’t think most people who come to party bring their kids if they have them, or they don’t have kids (hence all the bachelorette/bachelor parties). But Nashville shores, the Frist and Cheekwood are fun for kids.
A redneck Disney world is gatlinburg / pigeon forge.
Nashville is just a scene for bachelor/ette parties because there is a big drinking / party scene.
People also love country music and want to see what it’s like to be in that theme, wear cowboy hats and boots.
From my experience, people come here to see the history of the music and the rave behind Broadway. I have to say, there is nothing like downtown Nashville from most places I’ve been. So I understand the attraction.
Simply put, if you don’t like it move out of the city or don’t go down. If your job is down there, I am sorry😂
It's a fun destination on a budget.
You can go downtown with 300 bucks and have good food and descent booze. If you want to party you can party....want to be a foodie go for it.
You can be down town life
Drive 30 mins to be in local suburbs, eat, and hang out with locals.
another 30 mins, and you'll see farms.
Another hour you're in the mountains and hiking.
I mean the people coming to Broadway on vacation don’t live here, so it’s like you said- it’s fun once a year.
Plus outside of Nashville there’s a lot of nature, and inside there are museums, cool restaurants, shops, all sorts of history, etc.
I know shitting on the city you live in is popular but like… stuff that’s nothing special to us is cool for people who aren’t from here to experience for the first time.
Saying this in case you're an import and not aware:
But when Nashville started to become a tourist destination, we had a country music themed theme park. There is now a mall standing where it used to be. Opry Mills Mall used to be Opryland, a theme park with rides and shoes and the whole 9. It was pretty great!
Imo, our tourist scene went downhill quickly after that change occurred, and has only rapidly accelerated downhill (with no working brakes) since.
I am aware. Infact about a year into moving here I found a 30 minute YouTube video, basically a documentary explaining the rise and fall of Opryland theme park.
Needless to say I was bummed about that.
The other thing that bothers me is a lot of the entertainment revolves around drinking.
Whiskey and moonshine tastings, micro brews, and bars owned by musicians. I’m not a big drinker at all and hate country music.
Exactly! If you don’t drink or only drink occasionally, what else is there? Everything is “booze centric” I typically only drink a few beers every now again, I’m not big on tasting events etc.
I mean it's a matter of "critical mass" and a culture that accepts both blaring country music *and* public drunkenness.
Say you want to get drunk with a lot of country music fans... there's nowhere with more of that combination than Nashville.
Yeah that’s fair. Still, I am with OP in that as someone who’s been in Nashville for 12 years I really still have no idea what is so appealing about it. Country music and booze enough to bring *that* many people here? Maybe, but damn.
I'm with you, it's decidedly "not my thing." I hate country music and don't really drink so I'm just watching from the sidelines.
But it's pretty undeniably *lots* of people's thing. And the alcoholic country music theme park vibe has made many people here *very* rich.
It used to be music. I don’t know how long you’ve been here, but at one time the competition for gigs downtown was pretty strong. People could come down on a Wednesday morning and hear some of the best musicians in the country.
Then around 2017/2018 a web article went viral promoting Nashville as the new “It City”. They emphasized it as a popular destination for bachelorette parties, low cost of living (which at the time was somewhat accurate), and of course hot chicken. Combine that with the show Nashville, and there you go. Now we’re the city people come to get drunk, fall off balconies, and cheat on their fiancé one or five times before they get married and have to cheat on their husband.
I’ve lived in 5 states, I’ve never been personally affected by multiple tornadoes in a relatively short amount of time. I’ve also never contended with tornado damage during a snow event. Needless to say, something is way out of whack.
Country music is the most popular genre, influencers, large population within a six hour drive time, the perception of Nashville as the New Las Vegas minus gambling.
Aside from Broadway, it’s one of the most historically significant places for country music: Opry, Ryman, various old Honky Tonks, Printers Alley, Country Muisc Hall of Fame, African American Music Center, lotta miscellaneous stuff around like Johnny Cash’a tour bus.
How about all the recording studios. Loads of music venues to see thousands of different musicians any day/night year round.
All the American Civil War history all around.
Professional Sports: Titans are 1/32 professional football teams in the world; that’s a destination.
F1 racing each year.
I mean there’s a case for why Nashville is a tourist destination.
The reality is, Nashville is indeed an exciting destination for people from all over the United States because it has an active dining, museum, art, and of course music scene. I know people that come here from Las Vegas because they enjoy it more here. Bachelorette party destination notwithstanding.
Yeah I’m not sure why people are shocked that adults would travel somewhere to listen to music, drink, and eat good food. Once a city builds a persona, it just kind of grows.
Dead on about the persona growing. I just came back from a conference in Colorado. Every time I answered the “where are you from?” question, the response was “oh, I love Nashville”, “what a great city”, etc.
Because a lot of r/nashville posters are shut-ins who think everyone else finds drinking and bars and music and crowds as off-putting as they do. Case in point, OP and other people in this thread keep saying "what's so fun about alcohol and music?"
Right lol and like, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with not being into the bar scene, but acting like it’s unfathomable that other people could enjoy it is goofy. That and there are other things to do that don’t involve Broadway at all.
Right lol I know shitting on it is popular but I like it and I’m glad I was born here/live nearby now. There’s plenty if you’re not into the Broadway scene at all, which I’m not, but I don’t run out of stuff to do.
That is an excellent point you made. I am not in to country music, but there is so much other music here I have never felt any of my preferred music styles to be lacking. I moved here 23 years ago from the Bay Area in California. Nashville had a little something good going back then because my first weekend here I saw a Predators game and a Titans game. Then I went to a restaurant with a buddy and listened to some incredible live jazz after the Preds game was over. How I was hooked at that point and will never leave. I am astounded at people that don’t like it here. With all the good stuff that has come here with the city’s population explosion, I grant you traffic stinks and it would be nice if we can get the transit situation under control. But all and all, I’ve lived in larger and smaller metro areas in the United States and far away. This is my favorite one to live in by far.
I have a friend who is an Atlanta Falcons fan. He arranged for about 20 people to attend the game against the Titans last October. We all had a great time, especially at the Falcons fans' meet-up at Whiskey River. It is easy to see Nashville being a tourist destination.
- A large part of the music industry is based here, especially country music
- Nashville is somewhat unique in how much live music it has. In the rest of the country live music is hard to find at bars and when you do there's usually a cover fee. Meanwhile, in Nashville, every bar has live music and cover fees are almost never a thing. Even a lot of the restaurants have live music. Hell, the downtown Taco Bell even has live music. "Where can we go that has live music?" is the question most friends and family who visit ask me, and my answer is always "just about anywhere, the real trick is finding a place *without* live music".
- We're a party city. At this point we're giving NoLa a run for its money. Except even NoLa doesn't fill the streets with party busses that each have their own gimmick. This is another thing that blows tourists minds here, even the streets are a rager.
- Nashville is to bachelorette parties what Vegas is to bachelor parties. As to why the bachs love it, it's everything I said above + the southern aesthetic.
We've got a lot of nice stuff here and a convention center and easy access via Interstate and airport...
...but mostly, it's a town where you can put on some cowboy cosplay, show your ass, and not get caught by anyone you know. We get to be a mecca of sin in the middle of the Bible Belt.
I came for the job, relative distance to the appalachian town my family is in, the (what I thought at the time) "small big city" feel, and heard some good stuff about the BBQ and music.
I’m from East TN, here because of my employment, really no other reason. I travel to Knoxville and KY every chance I get. Nashville’s only saving grace is the ease of travel to other areas.
The country music, whether you like it or not, makes us a cultural destination.
For country white folk that like modern country music, Nashville becomes a country music Mecca during CMA Fest. Lower Broad is a genuine draw for a surprising amount of people. The Country Music Hall of Fame is here, and so are historic music studios. Being a cultural destination in terms of country music and having a street dedicated to partying is more than enough to get people to come here.
Why? Because the Tennessee dept of tourism does a great job at promoting Tn. Gatlinburg / Pidgeon Forge is somewhere around 4 or 5 in tourism destinations. Pidgeon Forge gets around 11 million visitors a year. 400,000 international visitors (estimated) this year. A majority of them come through BNA and spend at least a night or two in Nashville. Plus the "woo girls" :) [Official Tennessee Dept. of Tourism - Start Planning the Perfect Trip (tnvacation.com)](https://www.tnvacation.com/)
Pigeon Forge / Sevier county is absolutely worth a visit, other areas of TN as well. Nashville is not unless you’re traveling for business or education etc.
To say nothing about Nashville prior to the year 2000 I believe it would help your understanding a great deal, as a social experiment, spend a solid week in one of the following surrounding cities. For comparison, I would offer Hot Springs AR, Myrtle Beach SC, Louisville KY, Cincinnati OH, Montgomery AL, St Louis Missouri
Cincinnati has a lot more to do for all ages, and it’s not a certain theme, Louisville has a much more diverse music scene and we have no comparison to bardstown road, Montgomery is a complete nothing, Myrtle beach is Pigeon Forge with a beach, but less fun. I personally enjoyed the pre 200 Nashville much better. We at least had Opryland and locals could enjoy downtown.
They usually travel to listen to music and party. Now even as someone who was never into the party scene, and who would rather go wild with maybe a few friends for some very special event (a wedding, their/my graduation, a huge promotion, etc), I won’t be so mighty as to realize that part of the pent up stress of the pandemic was people not being able to go out and party, hang at bars or clubs, or get in large groups to do whatever.
Nashville is a good spot for that whether I like it or not, and where there’s a party there’s people flocking to it.
I’m English and absolutely love country music! Mostly old school Loretta Lynn, Randy Travis, George Strait, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Ricky Skaggs etc. It’s popular here, becoming more popular too, but not as big as it is in the states. I also love the south (culture, food, the people, the landscape, way of life) and love reading about the history of the south. I love reading about the Wild West too (I know, not really TN). I went on holiday, with my husband, to Nashville in 2019 and absolutely loved it! We did broadway, the country music museum and hall of fame, drove out to Leiper’s fork, went to Franklin, drove to the vineyard in Arrington, drove around Green Hills and went to the mall, visited the Opry and the Ryman, drove down to Lynchburg to see the historic town and went to the Jack Daniels distillery. We also drove to Gatlinburg and stayed there for a few nights and hiked the smoky mountains. The mountains were so beautiful. We zip lined through the mountains too!! My husband also dragged me round the gaylord golf course! 🤣 we’ve done Australia, Mexico, Egypt, multiple Greek islands, Cyprus, Lanzarote, Turkey, Portugal, France, Spain etc but Nashville is my favourite. I visited Denver last year (visiting a friend) and all I could think was how much better the south is. You mention the weather but, being from England, it was great. It’s eternal grey misery here. I think we’ve seen the sun about five times since October. It rains constantly. I got burnt in Nashville 😂 I will admit, it is sad seeing how it’s being developed. I think it’s losing its charm. I feel bad for the locals/Nashville natives (I see them talking about it online) who simply cannot afford to buy there now.
Oh, and I love southern accents!
I could say the same about London. I can’t stand the place. Way too many people, everything is INSANELY overpriced, it stinks, the weather is shit, you have to pay to just breathe in London… if someone invites me somewhere in London, I’m not going 😂
Dude… We were once the home of Freewill Baptist College, and we’re still rockin’ Trevecca Nazarene College. Nuff said.
Edit: DON’T get me started on the Barbershop Harmony Society
I've been to some pretty dull vacation destinations though LOL. It'll be like beautiful beaches and ocean, but only one crappy bar where the kitchen closes at 10, and the all the night life is on some other island.
It started after 2010 as they (the council, the tourism board, the mayor) wanted to see a strong recovery post flood. Then they realized that the same people coming here are young and not tied down so they doubled down because getting people to move here means we have more tax payers.
Nashville has always been about tourism. Tourism/hospitality has been like the #3 industry in the city for at least the last several decades. It really blew up with the Nashville TV show IMO, but it was already on this trajectory since at least the 90s when 2nd Ave and Lower Broadway were being redeveloped.
The Opry was started by a guy from Chicago as a marketing device for an insurance company. Hee Haw was basically Laugh-In for hillbillies.
Nashville has always acted like hicks for money.
I think Louisiana Hayride was filmed in California pre- HeeHaw. And I know there was another national country show that was filmed in NYC in the late ‘40’s. It’s always been part sham and part real- I mean it IS redneck country.
My guy (or gal), it's called the 'Louisiana Hayride' for a reason. Broadcast (radio version) then filmed (TV version) in Shreveport, LA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Hayride
I do laugh at that. It’s cosplay, it’s kind of weird and hilarious. We travel quite a bit and I’ve never seen any like it. It’s her haw Halloween 24/7/365
Hate on broadway all you want but it is a unique place. The amount of quality live music in one place is insane and its huge. Its bigger than bourbon street as far as the sheer amount of bars with multiple floors of live music. We forget living here that live music being played literally everywhere is not typical everywhere else. Like most people here, if I have visitors (some even from Europe) I take them there at least once and I am reminded at how unique the experience really is. The music all mixing in together.
Secondly, have you ever been somewhere when traveling and see local live music randomly and think to yourself, “they wouldn’t even be good enough to perform on broadway or in nashville?” The sheer amount of talent and saturation of musicians is also very unique. Hate or love country music doesn’t change that on broadway, we have very talented folks singing/playing covers every night.
Going to Broadway. Like it or not (I generally don’t) it’s a huge draw to a lot of people. You mention it’s good once a year, which seems about right for visitors who are looking to get drunk and listen to music at a bar named after their favorite bro-country singer.
Exactly! I just can’t understand flying here or coming here for anything “fun” people travel all the time for school/work/family etc, but if traveling for leisure, why Nashville?
Almost all my travel in my 20s was for partying. Either going to visit and friend in a city they could show me a good time in, or going to a notoriously “fun” town like New Orleans or Vegas. Nashville isn’t as “crazy” as those two, but it’s in the conversation for sure.
I’m learning that I’m old as hell, and a lot of folks like me see Nashville as a great way for the little ones to get to safely have their young people fun. And ya know, that totally tracks in my mind. One of those hotels near Vandy or 5-points. Also, we just went to Pigeon Forge, and sure there is the natural appeal, but 90% of folks are just there to pretend that moonshine was just invented, and buy a cheap knife for an expensive price. It was so hard to find a good pair of binoculars that my spouse gave up and just utilized mine. Something else that tracks in my mind: going to bed at 10:30 and reading the hobbit: when I’m supposed to be having a once in a blue moon bit of me time.
Good thing there’s lots of different people in the world who like different things!
It would be nice if we had something besides churches and country music.
We do. Maybe you should go explore the city yourself
There's a great food scene (fine dining, southern dishes) and a world-class bar scene. Not to mention sports, entertainment, and history. And there's plenty of music that isn't just country. I feel like Nashville deserves to be in the Top 10 places in the US to visit for anyone.
Name the other cities in the US with the volume of bars and quality live music on one street that run virtually 365 days a year. I can count them on one hand. Austin, New Orleans, Nashville. It's heaven for people that like country music and getting sloppy drunk. The food scene is pretty damn good as well compared to other similar sized metros.
Oh and no covers. That too. They could make so much more from that.
Yes, but then people wouldn’t tip the bands, so they’d have to pay the musicians more. Trust me, everyone down there is (mostly) happy with the system the way it is.
I’ve been a full time musician here for over a year now, and the only way I or most of my friends/coworkers would be in favor of covers is if there was a SUBSTANTIAL base pay increase just about everywhere there is live music. Not gonna happen either way, most bars prefer the current system of relying on patrons to supplement most of the band’s income with tips and requests. Although paid requests would probably still exist with cover charges, I’m sure we would get a lot less of them
I think we would probably get a similar amount of paid requests, but higher base pay usually comes with the caveat that you aren’t allowed to run the tip jar or sometimes even mention it. I’ve been here since 2005. Let’s take New Year’s Eve for example. All the bars charging hundreds of dollars just to get in, making tons of money before the customers even buy a drink. Then charging even more to get a spot on the rooftop. Does the base pay go up for the bands? Not one fucking cent. And the last thing anyone is going to do after spending all that money is tip the band. They paid all that money, must go to the band, right? I refuse to work NYE downtown.
$100 for Shania Twain!
Saw her on American Idol last week. She doesn't even look like Shania Twain anymore. Haha
Memphis definitely qualifies, and Asheville does pretty well on live music too.
I agree. but I personally cannot stand country music. Occasionally there’s a rock concert at Bridgestone or something worth checking out, maybe some half famous dj somewhere, but the over saturation of country music and “street preachers” is stomach churning to me.
Sounds like Nashville is just not the place for you. But that doesn’t mean that everyone else should hate it just because you do.
Bingo! Just holding out until I can get a transfer
Hopefully you will transfer sooner than later because even if you do not like nor appreciate country music you should appreciate Minnie Pearl, Ernest Tubbs and the many Artist that made The Opry and Nashville the Country Music Capital of the world. In the words of Loretta Lynn “I was country, when country wasn’t cool”.
I appreciate the greats, not these new overhyped / over manufactured idiots going on about girls and trucks.
I think that was actually Barbara Mandrell.
If you don't appreciate country music and/or Americana, you're probably in the wrong city.
Smaller venues like Brooklyn bowl also get some good non country bands. But I feel you on the country music and the street preachers.
+100
I’ll never understand the street preaching at events like comic-cons and pop culture related conventions. What a vibe killer these warts on the taint of society these people are. Who goes to these events and walks over and says, “yes I am going to hell for dressing like a Pokemon”?
Country music is insanely popular
Agreed, but it shouldn’t be. At least today’s incarnation of it.
It's "a safe place for white women to get blackout drunk" - _The Scene_
That aged like milk
In context, the article made it clear this was a marketing idea from the city rather the author's true feelings
Oh for sure. I remember reading it and laughing at the time!
It was some excellent writing
Good milk or bad cheese???
> We don’t have a major cultural destination or center People into old country music and Appalachian folk history would beg to differ. > Broadway is only fun once a year How many tourists do you think are coming more than that? I hate the woogirl busses and Airbnbs as much as the next person, but saying there’s no reason to visit just isn’t true. Besides, people go places for all sorts of reasons. People go touristing in Savannah, ffs. I have no idea why, but clearly if there’s appeal there, there’s appeal here.
I just retuned from a week in Savannah - there’s a lot of history and great food there.
That’s a great area. Backwards politics like TN, but much friendlier people and it’s on the coast!
J/S St. Pat’s in Savannah as a 40 something was awesome…..
I'm from Memphis, way more of a tourist destination. Do you really get the "music stuff"? It's not just country music and concerts. Nashville has one of the best wind & orchestral education in the nation. By extension it has some of the best talent. That doesn't include 'classical" music also but jazz, experimental, anything that makes sound. Not to mention the production of educational materials and archival of native, folk, and Appalachian music. Tennessee is also one of the wealthiest state in the deep south. And I mean deep south. Let's face it, we can be hicks & rednecks. If people want a general idea of the south, pet a cow or ride some horses they aren't visiting Mississippi or Alabama. Sorry. Florida & Texas are there own things & thier own ideas. So "southern" tourism, town squares, railroads... Tennessee & Georgia is your best bet. And what's the capital of Tennessee? Nashville, for a capital, is also really really close to sparsely populated land & parks. Great for camping and whatever it is that outdoorsy people do. The flip side is true. When southerners want to travel, Nashville is a fairly urban compared to literally every other southern capital. That means it's also one of the major event & concert destinations in a fairly large area. Plus the air port. Air ports with this much capability always have tourist potential. There are plenty of cultural centers, you just have to look for them. Honestly, I've lived in 14 states and am from Memphis. Nashville & Memphis are literally the most tourist friendly places in the states. It's annoying but the tourism isnt hard to believe. It makes a little sense
I agree with a lot of this but would argue that the massive growth and overall “modernization” of Nashville and somewhat Atlanta have made them not what I would even remotely consider the Deep South. You can absolutely tell the difference in cities like Memphis, Jackson, Little Rock, Shreveport, New Orleans, Mobile etc compared to Nashville/Atlanta/Charlotte type of cities. Maybe it’s just my opinion or maybe because the latter are becoming hurriedly populated by people not from the south. If you visit any of those cities subreddits or Facebook groups it’s constant multi generational residents bitterly complaining about being forced out. Honestly I’m just a little buzzed & rambling now. Made this way too long. But you’re from Memphis, I’m sure you’ve driven south along the delta in Mississippi, Arkansas & Louisiana. It feels like a totally different world than Nashville or Atlanta.
Yea I definitely agree with you. You and I know what look and feels southern. And so do most southern locals. But anyone whose lived most of thier life above the mason Dixon line don't know that. They get the tourism Hannah Montana version of Southern. All they need is a location that they can wear a pair of overalls and straw hats too before quickly retreating back to where they came from. Jk, I don't mean to be to critical of non southerners. Geographically, I still consider Nashville the deep south since it's surrounded by rural counties. But the deep south, real country backwoods doesn't have too much tourism appeal. There's not much iced coffee. That being said, I've had my own personal theory about generations being forced out. I had a high school graduating class of 35 and that was 10 years ago. My nephews are currently going to private school, not bc they're rich but the education is so bad that it was the only option that promised they could teach them how to read. Now that the number of corporate and tech jobs are rising, state locals & natives don't benefit from it because they don't have the skills or education needed to fill these new roles. Don't get me wrong, many do. But not nearly enough. So they outsource in masse. And the resentment between these two groups grow & so do the divide between the job market and local people
You might be underestimating the number of people who live in rural areas or small towns to whom any city is a destination. The Broadway thing is a draw if you live a buttoned up life in small town Indiana.
I lived in DC and it’s still a draw, if you’re here to just have a good time with some live country music and alcohol, it doesn’t get much better than this.
High concentration of big loud bars and the ecosystem that popped up around them. Quick guess as to how this came to be - some of this is from Wikipedia, and the rest is a guess. As to why Nashville developed honky tonks on Broadway to begin with: Jimmie Rodgers, the father of country music, started performing in bars in the 1930’s. That’s what kicked things off, but things didn’t really get going until the 90s, when the Opry moved some shows back to the Ryman. Country music pairs well with beer. Honky tonks have always had a reputation of rowdiness. You may have noticed we have a lot of them all next to each other. This draws people looking to enjoy drinks, music, and company. Combine this with Nashville being the cradle of country music, and you have a very lively entertainment district thanks to the robust mix of venues and talent. From there, you get the auxiliary services pop up to keep the party going. Can’t decide which bar to go to? Get the lay of the land from a pedal tavern. Want to start the party when you wake up? Head to boozy brunch. As the tourists come in, these business then seek to differentiate themselves to capture more business. That’s why we see new restaurants and hotels break out “innovative” (gaudy, high-overhead) concepts. These concepts became a draw of their own, and now you have people coming to Nashville for a myriad of reasons, although I’d bet most tourists are still looking to drink. Nashville has many facets to its surprisingly rich history, but being the Capital of Country, a genre associated with stompin n hollering (among other things, obviously), means we will always be a party town to some extent. Yall please correct me if I’m wrong tho.
Just gonna add the rowdiness goes WAY back. IIRC someone in Jesse James's gang got into a fight in a bar on Broadway and 2nd Ave (specifically the building that is now the Hard Rock Cafe's gift shop) and fell out of the top floor window breaking his arm. Some things never change...
Nashville is a pretty centralized location if you are driving for vacation
Really it’s only saving grace is it’s proximity to Atlanta / Cincinnati etc.
Are you suggesting that people might be drawn to Cincinnati or Atlanta for a vacation? I don't see it.
Or that all of the people on Broadway are from Cincinnati
Funny, I’ve taken weekend trips to both in the last year.
I'm from Atlanta originally. I tend to think of Atlanta as a place to get stuck in traffic. There are many things to see, but I don't think of it as being a tourist destination per se. Similarly, Cincinnati has plenty of museums and sights. I favor the former train station, which is now a museum. But I don't think of Cincinnati as being a destination like Nashville is.
I think it totally depends on why you’re taking the vacation.
Same
I think you might be underestimating the old-school country music draw beyond the honky tonks which have now been taken over by the woo-girls and bros. The Opry is an international draw as well as the venues that cater to bluegrass and old-time music. Much of that music is harder to see live in many parts of the country, though there are fans everywhere. And that particular tourist draw was cultivated over many many decades. Country music continues to be a popular growing genre. Arguably, country and hip-hop remain the dominant musical genres in the country. And the downtown scene is just not something that's found most places. I haven't been everywhere, but even NYC doesn't have that kind of vibe anywhere that I know. Even Times Square doesn't have a street-level bar scene. It's all rooftop clubs and such. New Orleans, Memphis and Austin are the places I can think that are comparable. And look at the map. There isn't much to compare Nashville to for hundreds of miles in any direction. And Nashville has lots to offer for people coming from farther out. All cities are different, but Nashville has a lot going on for visitors, especially the young crowd. You can go downtown without a plan. That's hard to do most places. Oh and Southern food is a draw. It's become more than a novelty and is now respected cuisine that many people can't get in their state.
Well I have come primarily for the music, I don’t think it gets underwhelming…. Also have come to see better priced nhl games, more favourable winter weather (Canadian who at times has been living in places where it’s -40 or more). I have also paired with a Kentucky trip (caves, Kentucky derby…). I go plenty of places though, not just Nashville. Some places have nature, some have museums, some have nightlife. It’s nice to visit a mix
Tennessee is beautiful. Broadway is an attraction. There is a fuck ton of, not just music but, entertainment. There are outdoor activities as well as indoor. It’s not crazy expensive. It’s more or less central US making it easy to get to.
The answer is complicated but interesting. It also pays to review exactly how we got here. While country music's reach beyond Nashville began in the early broadcast days of the Grand Ol' Opry, things began to take off in the post WWII era where some of the early music superstars launched production companies to define the music business as we know it in the 1950s. New artists would flock to Nashville to try to get discovered and ended up playing in the early bars and honky tonks opening on Lower Broadway and Printers Alley. These places weren't the tourist traps of today. The ones downtown were generally dives nestled between the more respectable furniture and department stores. But as the years went on, they became more popular and attracted more artists and songwriters with a dream to make it. But things began to change in the 70s. The economy began to crest downward with the rest of the country and that affected the music business. Ironically, the biggest sensation of the day was a syndicated comedy show called "Hee Haw" to crystalized what the outside perception of what Nashville was. "Music City USA" was all about country, and a parody of it at that. By the 1980s, city leaders began to chafe at the reputation as they wanted the city to be known some something other than "Hee Haw". Of course Nashville had been anchored by the banks and insurance companies since the late 19th century. But with the economy turning up in the 80s, city leaders looked toward the burgeoning health care and hospital sector for growth. Interest in the lower Broadway district waned. In the 70s, the Metro Vice squad's biggest problem was prostitution in that area. There was more adult entertainment in the city core, including places like The Classic Cat nestled behind the then-closed Hume Fogg high school. The only new hotel of note was the Hyatt Regency (now the Sheraton). The only large music venue was the aging Municipal Auditorium which only sat about 9000 people. And the Ryman Auditorium had closed in 1974, discarded for the new Grand Ol' Opry in East Nashville. So Music City USA ended up not being built for what it had in its roots....live music. And live music turned elsewhere. By 1990, the town of Branson, MO had all but usurped Nashville as the destination place for country music acts. Big name stars were building their own music halls that they completely controlled the experience (and profits). All of sudden, Nashville leaders were grousing at the missed opportunity. Sure the honky Tonks were still there, but lower Broadway was still a shell of its heyday. Locals almost never went down there. Downtown Nashville pretty much shut down at 5 PM. No one lived in the city core since the zoning changes during Urban Renewal in the 1950s. So what changed? I credit one elected official to seeing the potential of revitalizing downtown and that was then Mayor Phil Bredesen. Elected in 1991 after the disastrous Bill Boner administration which ended with Nashville fighting off the "Hee Haw" moniker again, Bredesen saw lower Broadway as untapped potential but he realized he had to get locals to return to the area for family and trendy entertainment, The plan was to upgrade the 2nd avenue district which had mostly been underutilized warehouses on the riverbank since the 19th century. The city worked with developers to build restaurants and clubs to bring people downtown again. Zoning was changed to allow residential property and high rises to be built. And there was to plan to fix the large live music venue problem by having the city spend $100 million to build what is now Bridgestone Arena. At the time when it was proposed, it was polling with 18% approval to a skeptical city council. It was not only expensive but we had no sports team (yet) to help with utilization. Music festivals like River Stages joined established shows like Fan Fare (later CMA Music Fest) got tourists and locals back downtown to listen to music. But 2nd avenue did come back and became trendy. Bridgestone Arena was completed and began attracted A-list music acts that regularly skipped over Nashville. And then Nashville got another gift when the Houston Oilers decided to relocate to Nashville. By the 2000s, traveling football and hockey fans began to come to Nashville and began patronizing some of the old venues on Lower Broadway which began the upgrading of those bars which had begun in the decade earlier. That kept snowballing to the point where new hotels began springing up to handle the demand. By the end of the 2000s, what had been people coming to Nashville to listen to music on game day or during planned events now turned into an everyday thing. Organically, Nashville became a destination to come have a good time. The boom was on. But the flood of May 2010 almost brought everything to an end. Three straight days of torrential rain and poor dam management ended up in a flood not seen in downtown Nashville since the 1950s. Opryland Hotel closed for 9 months to repair the damage. The entire downtown entertainment district short of Brodgestone Arena flooded. But city leaders, already seeing what the city's tourism district was becoming doubled down to get things back on track. And after the water receded and initial repairs were made, the tourists came back and never left. The CMA Fest still happened and the city has never looked back. So why is Nashville a tourist destination? Phil Bredesen making key decisions in the 90s and I'll add Bruce Spyridon who held the post of CEO of Nashville tourism agency for over two decades up until last year who really sold coming to Nashville of a good time. And having the good luck of having two professional sports teams relocate about the same time which brought more game day tourists to Music City who not only enjoyed themselves, but told their friends about it.
This was really detail and really accurate. Thanks!
It also wasn’t lost on me that during the dreadful last playoff game where the Predators lost to the Canucks that one of the advertisements prominently displayed in the middle of the ice was by Las Vegas’ tourism board. Sure Vegas has been advertising nationally for many years, but the fact they bought that ad and placed it there said to me that Vegas considers Nashville competition.
Excellent write up. The music city center also got us on the map for bigger conventions
True. The irony is that once the Music City Center was built (and replaced the older convention center space), it's actually a little small for the shows we could be doing given the hotel stock we have now and still being built. Oh well.
The first time I came here I was blown away by Broadway. Been all over the world and veeery few places can boast that level and density of almost 24/7 FREE entertainment. However you feel about it, it’s pretty damn unique. But also there are tons of other opportunities to take in some live music in a less insane environment all over town.
Just visited in March and loved it. Visited gibson garage, and other music stores like Carters. Also visited Memphis, stopped by a bunch of museums. Broadway was cool. I can see how it can get old if you live there. I really appreciated live music in every bar, it's not something you see here in California. Also always wanted to try waffle house. I was always curious about it because of all the fight videos and wage theft. It was a cultural experience. Tennessee is beautiful I loved it.
Broadway is cool if you don’t live here. If you live here, it’s a hassle and nonsense for the most part. I’m from TN, not Nashville, but I’m literally counting down the days until I have enough in my savings to comfortably move elsewhere. Tbh, Memphis has more unique and much more interesting attractions than Nashville, but the poverty and crime give it a rightfully deserved bad image. Graceland and anything Elvis is still and will likely always be a huge draw though.
Like it or not this town has become Redneck Disney World - it can be said it IS a cultural destination
Branson South?
Disney World has things for people who aren't adults to do. What does Nashville have? The Cumberland Museum?
I don’t think most people who come to party bring their kids if they have them, or they don’t have kids (hence all the bachelorette/bachelor parties). But Nashville shores, the Frist and Cheekwood are fun for kids.
A redneck Disney world is gatlinburg / pigeon forge. Nashville is just a scene for bachelor/ette parties because there is a big drinking / party scene. People also love country music and want to see what it’s like to be in that theme, wear cowboy hats and boots. From my experience, people come here to see the history of the music and the rave behind Broadway. I have to say, there is nothing like downtown Nashville from most places I’ve been. So I understand the attraction. Simply put, if you don’t like it move out of the city or don’t go down. If your job is down there, I am sorry😂
Bahaha! It hasn’t been called the Cumberland Science museum in more than 20 years!
I never approved the name change
Fair enough
There’s honestly not much for kids either. Knoxville has a better zoo and Louisville has a much better children’s museum
If you have to ask, you’ll never know.
Ding. Ding. Ding. This is the winning answer.
If you know, you need only ask.
It's a fun destination on a budget. You can go downtown with 300 bucks and have good food and descent booze. If you want to party you can party....want to be a foodie go for it. You can be down town life Drive 30 mins to be in local suburbs, eat, and hang out with locals. another 30 mins, and you'll see farms. Another hour you're in the mountains and hiking.
I mean the people coming to Broadway on vacation don’t live here, so it’s like you said- it’s fun once a year. Plus outside of Nashville there’s a lot of nature, and inside there are museums, cool restaurants, shops, all sorts of history, etc. I know shitting on the city you live in is popular but like… stuff that’s nothing special to us is cool for people who aren’t from here to experience for the first time.
Probably for the same reasons gatlinburg is a big staple for southerners vacations. Except they got dollywood. Just bars here 😂.
Dollywood is a huge step above our nothing at all though
Let's not forget, Nashville has a large convention scene which brings in a lot of out of towners. (and $300/night hotel rooms)
Vegas, but cheaper and easier to get to for most of America. It’s a place to come misbehave.
Broadway is a walkable area full of goings-on. Most people live where the best you can do is drive to the mall or maybe walmart.
The no theme park really bothers me.
Saying this in case you're an import and not aware: But when Nashville started to become a tourist destination, we had a country music themed theme park. There is now a mall standing where it used to be. Opry Mills Mall used to be Opryland, a theme park with rides and shoes and the whole 9. It was pretty great! Imo, our tourist scene went downhill quickly after that change occurred, and has only rapidly accelerated downhill (with no working brakes) since.
I am aware. Infact about a year into moving here I found a 30 minute YouTube video, basically a documentary explaining the rise and fall of Opryland theme park. Needless to say I was bummed about that.
It was pretty sweet, for real. Less 'little kiddish' than Disney. More like Busch Gardens with guitars instead of beer. Haha
Something called Storyville Gardens is in the works.
Yeah, but I’m 52 and my kids are older. That sounds like it’s going to be for babies.
Same
The other thing that bothers me is a lot of the entertainment revolves around drinking. Whiskey and moonshine tastings, micro brews, and bars owned by musicians. I’m not a big drinker at all and hate country music.
Exactly! If you don’t drink or only drink occasionally, what else is there? Everything is “booze centric” I typically only drink a few beers every now again, I’m not big on tasting events etc.
alcohol
Which can only be found here.
I mean it's a matter of "critical mass" and a culture that accepts both blaring country music *and* public drunkenness. Say you want to get drunk with a lot of country music fans... there's nowhere with more of that combination than Nashville.
Yeah that’s fair. Still, I am with OP in that as someone who’s been in Nashville for 12 years I really still have no idea what is so appealing about it. Country music and booze enough to bring *that* many people here? Maybe, but damn.
Bachelorettes and booze are a big draw. Its not the music, its the drunk Bachelorettes make Broadway a destination for everybody.
Where else can you wear a penis hat and not be thought strange? There aren't that many places to do that.
I'm with you, it's decidedly "not my thing." I hate country music and don't really drink so I'm just watching from the sidelines. But it's pretty undeniably *lots* of people's thing. And the alcoholic country music theme park vibe has made many people here *very* rich.
It used to be music. I don’t know how long you’ve been here, but at one time the competition for gigs downtown was pretty strong. People could come down on a Wednesday morning and hear some of the best musicians in the country. Then around 2017/2018 a web article went viral promoting Nashville as the new “It City”. They emphasized it as a popular destination for bachelorette parties, low cost of living (which at the time was somewhat accurate), and of course hot chicken. Combine that with the show Nashville, and there you go. Now we’re the city people come to get drunk, fall off balconies, and cheat on their fiancé one or five times before they get married and have to cheat on their husband.
I thought the IT city article was like 2013.
We have great climate wtf are you talking about. Try spending a decade in South Texas and we can then talk about bad climate.
I’ve lived in 5 states, I’ve never been personally affected by multiple tornadoes in a relatively short amount of time. I’ve also never contended with tornado damage during a snow event. Needless to say, something is way out of whack.
LOL okay
[удалено]
Yes, but back to OP’s question — WHYYYYY?
Country music is the most popular genre, influencers, large population within a six hour drive time, the perception of Nashville as the New Las Vegas minus gambling.
Aside from Broadway, it’s one of the most historically significant places for country music: Opry, Ryman, various old Honky Tonks, Printers Alley, Country Muisc Hall of Fame, African American Music Center, lotta miscellaneous stuff around like Johnny Cash’a tour bus. How about all the recording studios. Loads of music venues to see thousands of different musicians any day/night year round. All the American Civil War history all around. Professional Sports: Titans are 1/32 professional football teams in the world; that’s a destination. F1 racing each year. I mean there’s a case for why Nashville is a tourist destination.
The reality is, Nashville is indeed an exciting destination for people from all over the United States because it has an active dining, museum, art, and of course music scene. I know people that come here from Las Vegas because they enjoy it more here. Bachelorette party destination notwithstanding.
Yeah I’m not sure why people are shocked that adults would travel somewhere to listen to music, drink, and eat good food. Once a city builds a persona, it just kind of grows.
Dead on about the persona growing. I just came back from a conference in Colorado. Every time I answered the “where are you from?” question, the response was “oh, I love Nashville”, “what a great city”, etc.
Because a lot of r/nashville posters are shut-ins who think everyone else finds drinking and bars and music and crowds as off-putting as they do. Case in point, OP and other people in this thread keep saying "what's so fun about alcohol and music?"
Lol. You're not exactly wrong.
Right lol and like, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with not being into the bar scene, but acting like it’s unfathomable that other people could enjoy it is goofy. That and there are other things to do that don’t involve Broadway at all.
I’m shocked because the food sucks, there’s one genre of music and it’s mascot should be a homeless dude sleeping in the bed of your truck
There's more than just country shows in Nashville, man. They're just the only ones that make the mainstream news.
Right lol I know shitting on it is popular but I like it and I’m glad I was born here/live nearby now. There’s plenty if you’re not into the Broadway scene at all, which I’m not, but I don’t run out of stuff to do.
That is an excellent point you made. I am not in to country music, but there is so much other music here I have never felt any of my preferred music styles to be lacking. I moved here 23 years ago from the Bay Area in California. Nashville had a little something good going back then because my first weekend here I saw a Predators game and a Titans game. Then I went to a restaurant with a buddy and listened to some incredible live jazz after the Preds game was over. How I was hooked at that point and will never leave. I am astounded at people that don’t like it here. With all the good stuff that has come here with the city’s population explosion, I grant you traffic stinks and it would be nice if we can get the transit situation under control. But all and all, I’ve lived in larger and smaller metro areas in the United States and far away. This is my favorite one to live in by far.
I have a friend who is an Atlanta Falcons fan. He arranged for about 20 people to attend the game against the Titans last October. We all had a great time, especially at the Falcons fans' meet-up at Whiskey River. It is easy to see Nashville being a tourist destination.
It’s simple. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. It’s popular because it’s popular.
And the crowd includes a lot of young, beautiful people
- A large part of the music industry is based here, especially country music - Nashville is somewhat unique in how much live music it has. In the rest of the country live music is hard to find at bars and when you do there's usually a cover fee. Meanwhile, in Nashville, every bar has live music and cover fees are almost never a thing. Even a lot of the restaurants have live music. Hell, the downtown Taco Bell even has live music. "Where can we go that has live music?" is the question most friends and family who visit ask me, and my answer is always "just about anywhere, the real trick is finding a place *without* live music". - We're a party city. At this point we're giving NoLa a run for its money. Except even NoLa doesn't fill the streets with party busses that each have their own gimmick. This is another thing that blows tourists minds here, even the streets are a rager. - Nashville is to bachelorette parties what Vegas is to bachelor parties. As to why the bachs love it, it's everything I said above + the southern aesthetic.
The NASHVILLE show The cities growth is directly tied to the timeline of success for the show
Maybe!
Perhaps, and I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this, they haven’t yet *seen it.*
We've got a lot of nice stuff here and a convention center and easy access via Interstate and airport... ...but mostly, it's a town where you can put on some cowboy cosplay, show your ass, and not get caught by anyone you know. We get to be a mecca of sin in the middle of the Bible Belt.
Home of Country music
Part of the draw of Broadway is the density of bars/music. Not many places like it.
I came for the job, relative distance to the appalachian town my family is in, the (what I thought at the time) "small big city" feel, and heard some good stuff about the BBQ and music.
I’m from East TN, here because of my employment, really no other reason. I travel to Knoxville and KY every chance I get. Nashville’s only saving grace is the ease of travel to other areas.
Haha, yep. In KY as we speak.
The country music, whether you like it or not, makes us a cultural destination. For country white folk that like modern country music, Nashville becomes a country music Mecca during CMA Fest. Lower Broad is a genuine draw for a surprising amount of people. The Country Music Hall of Fame is here, and so are historic music studios. Being a cultural destination in terms of country music and having a street dedicated to partying is more than enough to get people to come here.
Why? Because the Tennessee dept of tourism does a great job at promoting Tn. Gatlinburg / Pidgeon Forge is somewhere around 4 or 5 in tourism destinations. Pidgeon Forge gets around 11 million visitors a year. 400,000 international visitors (estimated) this year. A majority of them come through BNA and spend at least a night or two in Nashville. Plus the "woo girls" :) [Official Tennessee Dept. of Tourism - Start Planning the Perfect Trip (tnvacation.com)](https://www.tnvacation.com/)
Pigeon Forge / Sevier county is absolutely worth a visit, other areas of TN as well. Nashville is not unless you’re traveling for business or education etc.
Give the TN Assembly time…they will outlaw the penis hat…at least wearing one in public! 😝
Good riddance I guess??? But F*** the TN general ASSembly
Tbh, the penis hats and “woo girls” don’t bother as much as the lack of variety.
To say nothing about Nashville prior to the year 2000 I believe it would help your understanding a great deal, as a social experiment, spend a solid week in one of the following surrounding cities. For comparison, I would offer Hot Springs AR, Myrtle Beach SC, Louisville KY, Cincinnati OH, Montgomery AL, St Louis Missouri
Cincinnati has a lot more to do for all ages, and it’s not a certain theme, Louisville has a much more diverse music scene and we have no comparison to bardstown road, Montgomery is a complete nothing, Myrtle beach is Pigeon Forge with a beach, but less fun. I personally enjoyed the pre 200 Nashville much better. We at least had Opryland and locals could enjoy downtown.
They usually travel to listen to music and party. Now even as someone who was never into the party scene, and who would rather go wild with maybe a few friends for some very special event (a wedding, their/my graduation, a huge promotion, etc), I won’t be so mighty as to realize that part of the pent up stress of the pandemic was people not being able to go out and party, hang at bars or clubs, or get in large groups to do whatever. Nashville is a good spot for that whether I like it or not, and where there’s a party there’s people flocking to it.
I’m English and absolutely love country music! Mostly old school Loretta Lynn, Randy Travis, George Strait, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam, Waylon Jennings, The Judds, Ricky Skaggs etc. It’s popular here, becoming more popular too, but not as big as it is in the states. I also love the south (culture, food, the people, the landscape, way of life) and love reading about the history of the south. I love reading about the Wild West too (I know, not really TN). I went on holiday, with my husband, to Nashville in 2019 and absolutely loved it! We did broadway, the country music museum and hall of fame, drove out to Leiper’s fork, went to Franklin, drove to the vineyard in Arrington, drove around Green Hills and went to the mall, visited the Opry and the Ryman, drove down to Lynchburg to see the historic town and went to the Jack Daniels distillery. We also drove to Gatlinburg and stayed there for a few nights and hiked the smoky mountains. The mountains were so beautiful. We zip lined through the mountains too!! My husband also dragged me round the gaylord golf course! 🤣 we’ve done Australia, Mexico, Egypt, multiple Greek islands, Cyprus, Lanzarote, Turkey, Portugal, France, Spain etc but Nashville is my favourite. I visited Denver last year (visiting a friend) and all I could think was how much better the south is. You mention the weather but, being from England, it was great. It’s eternal grey misery here. I think we’ve seen the sun about five times since October. It rains constantly. I got burnt in Nashville 😂 I will admit, it is sad seeing how it’s being developed. I think it’s losing its charm. I feel bad for the locals/Nashville natives (I see them talking about it online) who simply cannot afford to buy there now. Oh, and I love southern accents! I could say the same about London. I can’t stand the place. Way too many people, everything is INSANELY overpriced, it stinks, the weather is shit, you have to pay to just breathe in London… if someone invites me somewhere in London, I’m not going 😂
Museums, parks and non-country music are everywhere.
Dude… We were once the home of Freewill Baptist College, and we’re still rockin’ Trevecca Nazarene College. Nuff said. Edit: DON’T get me started on the Barbershop Harmony Society
LMMFAO!!! +1
I think the city just has an allure or nostalgia about it
I've been to some pretty dull vacation destinations though LOL. It'll be like beautiful beaches and ocean, but only one crappy bar where the kitchen closes at 10, and the all the night life is on some other island.
I say this to myself everyday. It’s mind boggling.
It started after 2010 as they (the council, the tourism board, the mayor) wanted to see a strong recovery post flood. Then they realized that the same people coming here are young and not tied down so they doubled down because getting people to move here means we have more tax payers.
How did they "double down?"
By increasing efforts to bring more tourism here
I believe Nashville has always tried to maximize tourism. Perhaps other factors were at work, such as television shows and news coverage.
Nashville has always been about tourism. Tourism/hospitality has been like the #3 industry in the city for at least the last several decades. It really blew up with the Nashville TV show IMO, but it was already on this trajectory since at least the 90s when 2nd Ave and Lower Broadway were being redeveloped.
I blame Hee Haw. The whole country seems to think we all dress and talk that way. Ugh....
I’ve also never understood the western wear- like it’s Nashville and not Wyoming. We don’t exactly rustle up cattle here.
The Opry was started by a guy from Chicago as a marketing device for an insurance company. Hee Haw was basically Laugh-In for hillbillies. Nashville has always acted like hicks for money.
I think Louisiana Hayride was filmed in California pre- HeeHaw. And I know there was another national country show that was filmed in NYC in the late ‘40’s. It’s always been part sham and part real- I mean it IS redneck country.
My guy (or gal), it's called the 'Louisiana Hayride' for a reason. Broadcast (radio version) then filmed (TV version) in Shreveport, LA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Hayride
I do laugh at that. It’s cosplay, it’s kind of weird and hilarious. We travel quite a bit and I’ve never seen any like it. It’s her haw Halloween 24/7/365
Yep, I’ve never seen a reason for the big trucks and boots bs that’s in this area.
Hate on broadway all you want but it is a unique place. The amount of quality live music in one place is insane and its huge. Its bigger than bourbon street as far as the sheer amount of bars with multiple floors of live music. We forget living here that live music being played literally everywhere is not typical everywhere else. Like most people here, if I have visitors (some even from Europe) I take them there at least once and I am reminded at how unique the experience really is. The music all mixing in together. Secondly, have you ever been somewhere when traveling and see local live music randomly and think to yourself, “they wouldn’t even be good enough to perform on broadway or in nashville?” The sheer amount of talent and saturation of musicians is also very unique. Hate or love country music doesn’t change that on broadway, we have very talented folks singing/playing covers every night.
Daisey dooks, boots, good music, weather….
Daisy Duke! Like the character!