When I'm driving Uber, it's one of the most common questions I get: "Where do the songwriters play?" Most people have heard of the Bluebird Cafe, and maybe even the Listening Room — both are ticketed venues where you can hear the writers behind the hits, performed the way they were meant to be heard. But there's a whole other circuit that most visitors never find out about, where those same hit songwriters and the next wave of rising artists show up on any given night — no tickets, no reservations, just Nashville doing what it does.
Their motto says it all: "Come a Stranger, Leave a Local." This is the kind of place where you'll regularly hear songs by Ashley McBride, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Zac Brown, and Lainey Wilson — not from a cover band, but from the songwriters who wrote those hits.
Insider Tip: Wednesday nights bring the Music Row Freakshow, hosted by Terri Jo Box — your best chance to hear major hits performed by the writers behind them. When Terri's in the lineup herself, you're almost guaranteed to hear songs by Cody Johnson, Ashley McBride, and Lainey Wilson. Check @musicrowfreakshow on Instagram the day of to see who's playing.
Save your appetite before you go, because they have some of the best bar food in Nashville. The Fresh Grilled Salmon rivals many fine dining restaurants, the chicken tenders are crispy and not greasy just the way they should be, and the hardest part is deciding which of their gourmet burgers to try — because they're all amazing. I know firsthand!
Whiskey Jam
Downtown Broadway
📍 Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row, 400 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203
🌐 whiskeyjam.com
If you're staying downtown and want to hear local songwriters and up-and-coming artists, Whiskey Jam at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row is a can't-miss. Every Monday and Thursday starting at 8pm, the stage fills with the kind of talent that doesn't stay undiscovered for long.
Insider Tip: Whiskey Jam has become one of Nashville's best proving grounds for artists before they hit it big. Its alumni list reads like a who's who of modern country: Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Maren Morris, Bailey Zimmerman, Chris Stapleton, Old Dominion, Sam Hunt, Jelly Roll, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Megan Moroney, HARDY, ERNEST, and more all played here before they were household names.
If you're looking for a real Nashville music experience without the Broadway chaos, Live Oak is a great spot. Just a short walk from Broadway and close to Music Row, this laid-back bar hosts local songwriter rounds Sunday through Tuesday — original music, not cover songs.
Insider Tip: Live Oak is one of Nashville's best-kept secrets for NFL fans too. Patriots fans take over the top floor and Steelers fans claim the bottom every game day — sound on, jerseys out, full football atmosphere. It's also a solid spot for college football. And if you're feeling spontaneous, Flash House Tattoos operates right inside the bar — walk-in flash tattoos, no appointment needed. Only in Nashville.
The food is much better than you'd expect from a music bar. The street tacos, loaded tots, smash burgers, and fried mozzarella balls are all crowd favorites and my favorite is the chicken quesadilla!
These venues all have one thing in common beyond the great music — they're free. The songwriters and artists you'll hear at these spots are playing to build their following, and that works in your favor. You can walk in on any given night and could end up witnessing the early chapters of the next big country star's career without paying for more than your meal and a few drinks.
For a different kind of songwriter experience, there's the Listening Room Cafe and the Bluebird Cafe which are in a category of their own — intimate, ticketed venues purpose-built for the songwriter experience. Both require advance tickets and sell out regularly, so plan ahead. But if this is your first time exploring Nashville's songwriter scene, the spots above will not leave you disappointed.