Live Music

Live Music is a critical part of Nashville. There is country music; but there is much much more! There are three ways we have weaved music into The Fall Convention.

Singer/Songwriters in the Lobby

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. we will have young, up and coming, singer-songwriters performing for us in the lobby of The Hermitage Hotel. The lobby is a wonderful setting for drinks and collegiality. The addition of Nashville music makes it perfect. All these artists need is a simple sound system and eager listeners (who tip) to encourage them to shine. There is no charge for this entertainment.

Live Music after Dinner

Live music after dinner. Here is the full text: When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Nashville make sure you have live music at all your events! After our dinner on Thursday night at the George Jones Museum we will move upstairs to the rooftop bar and patio for cocktails and dancing to the country and rock sounds of the James Carothers band. This band is a great introduction to a traditional Nashville sound; great for foot stomping and dancing. On Saturday night you are in for a real treat in the main ballroom of The Hermitage Hotel. The Scat Band's soulful sound is fantastic! They play the best dance music from the greats of R&B, Motown, Funk and Disco, to Pop and Rock and Roll. Strong musicianship, including a real horn section, is complemented by fantastic harmonies featuring the stellar vocals of Scat Springs. Our Advocates' Society team couldn't resist dancing when we heard this band on our scouting trip to Nashville! 

Optional Activities

Music and its history is part of almost every optional activity offered in Nashville; it has to be! There are two activities where the focus is solely on music:

Music History Walking Tour
This tour is offered on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. It includes a visit to the Ryman Auditorium, the “mother church” of country music as the original home to the Grand Ole Oprey, and the home to performances by most of the famous musicians of our time. The second part of the tour is “all live music”. We will introduce you to a couple of Nashville’s infamous “Honky Tonks” where live music plays constantly. You are welcome to wander down the street until you find “your sound”. It is an easy walk or 5-minute cab ride back to the hotel, so stay as long as you want! The tour is $93 per person.

Ocean Way Studio – Singer/Songwriter Experience
This is offered only on Friday afternoon. It is a special tour of the Ocean Way Studio, one of Nashvile’s most famous music studios, with clients including Celine Dion, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Harry Connick Jr., Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, and Sheryl Crow to name a few. After the tour, you will spend time with one of Nashville’s celebrity singer/songwriters to hear the their passions, stories and, of course, their songs. We won’t know the name of the songwriter until we confirm the event, but we promise that you will recognize the songs that they composed. You can hear the hit songs from the person who created them, and hear the back story to how they were created. As this event involves someone of profile it is more expensive. The tour and show are $383 per person.

Live Music – outside the Fall Convention Program

There are two fantastic places to view live music in Nashville that are not currently part of our Fall Convention program. We did not include them as it is impossible to plan visits to these venues for mid-size or larger groups and it is uncertain as to who is performing until about one month in advance. The performances are only during the evening and thus would conflict with the group events on Thursday and Saturday nights. It is possible that individuals or small groups could attend on Wednesday and Friday nights instead of, or after, their dine around reservations. Please note that these venues require you to be quiet during performances so they are not great venues for collegiality.

If you are interested in trying to arrange a small group to go to one of these venues on Wednesday or Friday night please send me a separate email at: tim.j.costigan@gmail.com and let us know the names of the people in your group. We will attempt to assist you.

The Bluebird Café | http://bluebirdcafe.com/

The Bluebird Café is an iconic live music location in Nashville. It has gained a reputation worldwide for presenting the best original country and acoustic music seven nights a week. Some performers are established singer/songwriters, and others perform hit songs written by other artists. Quiet is requested at all times during a performance. They feature a full bar along with a varied menu of appetizer, hot & cold sandwiches and salads until 10 p.m. The Bluebird Café is an approximately 30-minute drive from the hotel. All reservations must be made through the website: www.bluebirdcafe.com.

Shows on Tuesday to Thursday nights are at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets become available one week in advance online. Shows on Friday and Saturday nights are at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets become available only the Monday prior to the night.

Only 6 tickets can be purchased at one time and there are no guarantees that any will be available when you are on line. Tickets range from $12 – $20.

The Listening Room Café | http://www.listeningroomcafe.com/

The Listening Room Café, has become known as one of the best sounding rooms, with nightly music by the best singer/songwriters in Nashville! On a nightly basis shows range from newer songwriters to #1 hit writers to major label artists. Shows are booked typically one month in advance. Doors open at 4:00 p.m., with music starting at 6:00 p.m. Tickets range from $5-$20 depending on who is playing. A cover charge (minimum spend of $10 per person), must be paid in advance to reserve seats. Quiet is requested at all times during a performance. They feature a full bar and full menu for eating. The Listening Room Café is approximately 10 minutes from the hotel.