Downtown Nashville – Historic Venues – You Me and the Dock
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Tony Scopel Posted onJune 22, 2014June 5, 2019 Comments are off 3560 Views
We caught the shuttle from our hotel into downtown Nashville. The shuttle driver gave us a quick history lesson about earlier Nashville before dropping us off on the corner of 4th and Broadway. Honky Tonk Central; Music City U.S.A. and professed home to Blue Grass lies next to the Cumberland River in the northwestern portion of the Nashville Basin. We traveled down Broadway between 3rd and 5th Avenues where a lot of the historical live music venues bring back Nashville’s past.
The following photo essay will capture your attention and speak louder than words. Each photo will have a small amount of information that will explain some of the picture’s happenings and events.
This picture is looking towards the Cumberland River Basin. The AT&T tower stands watch over downtown Nashville. There are plenty of venues to visit up and down Broadway’s historical entertainment district. The Second Fiddle is one on the many Honky Tonk’s that line Broadway’s street. Every day there is a new band, single or dual artists trying to be discovered. Some of the bars have their stage set up where you can see which band is playing from the front window. After visiting Nashville’s Crossroads Music City, just step next door to the Record Shop and pick up a few Earnest Tubb’s original records. The Music Hall of Fame inductee died in September 1984. The world famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge cannot be missed. It’s purple painted trademark building stands heads above any of its neighbors. It sets just behind the Ryman Auditorium (more on the Ryman in an upcoming article). The venue/bar seems to look as it might have over 50 years ago. Tootsies celebrated its 50th Anniversary November 2010.
Tootsies’ back alley door is directly across from the Ryman Auditorium’s (the original Grand Ole Opry) rear stage door. It has been rumored that after the entertainer(s) leave the Ryman stage, they would go out the backdoor of the Opry and enter Tootsies backdoor and enjoy a few cocktails; and on occasion perform.
Tootsies walls are plastered with pictures of country western and blue grass iconic legends. Most, if not all of them performed here at one time or another. Tootsies stage has given so many country western stars their first performances in the nostalgic city. They include, but limited to Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Roger Miller, The Stage is a popular hot spot for visitors, as well as the local party scene.
The Stage is a venue that is located on Broadway between 4th and 5th Avenues. They say its a little bit Texas and a whole lotta Nashville. The Stage is not only a popular place to visit, but famous for many reasons. There has been videos, commercials and movies filmed in the rustic venue. Tim McGraw and Gwenyth Paltrow’s upcoming film, “Love Don’t Let Me Down” includes parts that where filmed inside The Stage. This is a must see place when you visit downtown Nashville.
These guys entertain the never ending crowds at The Stage with their musical talents. And they showed every bit of it.
This part of Nashville holds many country star’s secret lives. Fame and fortune doesn’t come without a history. If only these city streets and honky tonk’s walls could talk. It would make the living blush and the dead turn over in their graves. Nashville is a city that doesn’t sleep. Broadway, not to be mistaken for New York’s Broadway, always has something going on. You never know who you might run into on any given day.
Author: Anthony Scopel
Photographer: Maureen Scopel
YMATD