by Jeanne Brei
If cities had a soundtrack, Nashville’s would be a mix of music’s past, present and future that’s a little bit country, bluegrass, rock, pop, Americana, gospel, classical, jazz and blues, all blending and overlapping in perfect harmony.
Running smack in the middle of downtown Nashville is Lower Broadway where honky tonks play world-class live music 365 days of the year and never charge a cover. In the area “North of Broadway” are historic buildings reimagined into music attractions, boutique hotels, art galleries and chef-driven restaurants, and “South of Broadway” are newly constructed hotels, eateries, music venues and attractions. Either direction, there is plenty of fun around Nashville’s incredibly walkable downtown area.
Acme Feed & Seed, Nashville’s iconic, century-old building, located in the heart of downtown, provides locals and visitors an elevated downtown experience while honoring the much-loved character of Lower Broadway. The first floor is an updated take on the classic honky-tonk, offering street-food inspired cuisine, craft beer, and live music featuring a rotating selection of Nashville’s diverse musical landscape—where every genre is represented. The second floor features a lounge with seasonally-inspired handcrafted cocktails, a menu of shareable dishes and is home to Acme’s sushi bar. The third floor encompasses The Hatchery, the largest one-level private event and music venue on Lower Broadway. On Acme’s rooftop (pictured above), guests enjoy an open-air bar with views overlooking the neon lights of Broadway, Nissan Stadium and stunning views of the Cumberland River.
Also on lower Broadway country music superstar Alan Jackson is “Keepin’ it Country” with AJ’s Good Time Bar. Voted the number one honky tonk in Nashville by Billboard Magazine, the bar plays the kind of country music that made Nashville famous. Just steps away from the historic Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame, this venue features three multi-faceted floors and a roof top bar with the most stunning view of the city.
Housed in the oldest building on Broadway, this historical venue was once, among other things, a civil war hospital, Nashville’s first used record store, and the home of the famous Bullet Records (a record label started in 1946 to record the stars of The Grand Ole Opry). Today each floor offers a unique look into Alan’s career and personal life while featuring some of the best live country music in town, a great place to watch the game, and a stage where anyone can shine like a star when they sing karaoke.
Acme Feed & Seed, 101 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201 . Telephone: 615-915-0888. For more info, visit www.acmefeedandseed.com/
AJ’s Good Time Bar, 421 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. Telephone: (615) 678-4808. For more info, visit www.ajsgoodtimebar.com
This story originally appeared in the July/August issue of Exhibit City News, p. 83. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecnflipbook_julyaugust_2019_web
