BlueShoe Nashville Guide to Music

Jan. 2008 (on-going): Live acoustic Bluegrass at The Station Inn. See online calendar for artists performing. Located at 402 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203. 615-255-3307. Opens at 7 pm, music begins at 9 pm. See online schedule or call for admission charge (varies by artist).

Feb. 12, 2008, 7:30 p.m.: Nashville Celebrates Elvis. Presented by Belmont University and featuring Pat Boone, David Briggs, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Wanda Jackson, Millie Kirkham, Ronnie McDowell, TG Sheppard, BJ Thomas, Ray Walker of The Jordanaires and Wynonna. Held at the Ryman Auditorium. Located at 116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219. (615) 889-3060

January 1, 2008: If the ghost of Bill Monroe was hovering in the air of the Ryman Auditorium last night, I think it would have grinned. Del McCoury's Band and a brilliant young group from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the Steep Canyon Rangers, offered up a blend of bluegrass tradition and innovation that had the audience enthralled. It was a night of superb pickin'.

The Ryman is known as the Mother Church of Country Music, but the old planks of its stage can boast another historic first: it was the place where bluegrass music was born. As Del McCoury reminded the New Year's Eve audience, it was here that a man named Bill Monroe created a new kind of music. In the 1920's, 30's, and 40's Monroe began infusing Appalachian mountain music with aspects of blues, gospel, and jazz. Much of Monroe's creative process took place at the Ryman where he starred as a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry. Bluegrass historians generally agree that the final ingredient to this new form of music was added on a Saturday night in 1945. That evening, a young man named Earl Scruggs joined Monroe and his band, including guitarist Lester Flatt, on the Ryman stage. When Scruggs stepped up to the WSM microphone and played his 5-string banjo with his innovative three finger roll, bluegrass music as we know it today was born. The audience that night, reputedly, went wild. Sixty-two years later, Monroe's creation seems to be thriving. Del McCoury's rich tenor rang out high and true last night. It was a good way to welcome the new year in Nashville.

January 11-12, 2008: Nashville Sound and Speed celebrates its third annual festival. Located in downtown Nashville in and around the Sommet Center (Nashville Arena), the 2-day Festival includes a concert headlined by Alan Jackson and special guests Taylor Swift and Jason Michael Carroll. Other country artists scheduled to appear at the event include Josh Turner, Diamond Rio, Daniellle Peck, Bucky Covington, and Craig Morgan. The event line-up also features NASCAR racers Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray along with sports car drivers Max Angelelli and Wayne Taylor. The Festival will feature show car and sponsor displays, as well as a charitable auction with memorabilia from the racing and entertainment industries. Fans will also have the opportunity to rub elbows with drivers, team owners, and music artists for autographs, story-telling, and question-and-answer sessions. See BlueShoe's two-night hotel packages for this event are $96.95 per person (tax included).

January 12, 2008: Nashville audition for the first season of "Can You Duet?" An open call will be held at the Wildhorse Saloon on Second Avenue in downtown. The producers of American Idol are teaming up with CMT to produce a televised singing competition that will feature duos only. They're searching, they say, for the next Big & Rich, Kenny and Dolly, Johnny and June Carter Cash, or Brooks & Dunn.

November 1, 2007: The Americana Awards Show is tonight at the Ryman Auditorium and features Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Joe Ely, Todd Snider, Old Crow Medicine Show, Emmylou Harris, Amy LeVere, the Avett Brothers and host Jim Lauderdale.

October 30, 2007: The song has ended, the music goes on: Sunday night Porter Wagoner died in a Nashville hospice. He was 80 years old. This past spring he celebrated his 50th year with the Grand Ole Opry. The rich voice, the rhinestones, the gentility...these defining traits of the legendary Wagoner are well-remembered, but did you know he admired the Grateful Dead (and the admiration was mutual)? Or that he relished new technology and carried an iPod in his inner breast pocket? We mourn the loss of this estimable man . . .

Sept. 1-2, 2007: 5th Annual Music City Jazz, Blues & Heritage Festival. Riverfront Stages, downtown Nashville.

Headlining the two-day festival will be multi-platinum and Grammy nominated R&B artist Brian McKnight. Other artists of national prominence who will perform include Guitars & Saxes featuring Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Golub and Tim Bowman; American Idol finalist George Huff; and Grammy nominated recording artist Jaci Velasquez. Tennessee’s own Kirk Whalum will once again host the festival.

The Grand Ole Opry
Every Friday and Saturday evening year-round. 615-889-3060 for more information. 2802 Opryland Drive Nashville,TN 37214. During the winter months (Nov. to Feb.), the Opry will be performed at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville.

Nashville Artists

Music Clubs

Free events

Musical Venues

Ryman Auditorium
Originally a church, the historic auditorium is still considered by many music aficionadoes as a holy place--for music. 116 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219. 615-889-3060. January to Feb. 25, 2006, the Ryman Auditorium is home to the Grand Ole Opry.

The Grand Ole Opry
Every Friday and Saturday evening year-round. 615-889-3060 for more information. 2802 Opryland Drive Nashville,TN 37214. (Performances take place at the Ryman Auditorium during the winter). You can see the line-up for each week's shows at the Grand Ole Opry's web site.

AmSouth Amphitheatre
(formerly Starwood and First American Center)
3829 Murfreesboro Road, Antioch, TN 615-641-5800

Country Music Hall of Fame
222 Fifth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203. 615-416-2001.

Gaylord Entertainment Center

Nashville Arena
(Gaylord Entertainment Center) 501 Broadway
615-880-2850

TPAC: (Tennessee Performing Arts Center)
505 Deaderick Street 615-782-4000

More Concert Theatres:

Belcourt Theatre
2102 Belcourt Avenue, 383-9140.

328 Performance Hall:
Located at 328 Fourth Avenue South. 615-259-3288

Langford Auditorium :
Vanderbilt University Garland Avenue (off West End Ave.)
615-322-2471

Nashville Municipal Auditorium:
417 Fourth Avenue, North
615-862-6390

Riverfront Park:
(downtown Nashville on First Avenue overlooking the Cumberland River).

Texas Troubadour Theatre:
2416 Opryland Drive
615-885-0028