Nashvile Tennessee! Where music legends live forever
I travelled with American Airlines in their Premium Economy on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the long haul flight to Philadelphia connecting on to Nashville and this was a fantastic experience! The spacious seat design with plenty of leg room, good seat recline for a snooze, upgraded meal service, up to date entertainment system with all the latest movies and a plethora of TV box sets, games and more! The cost to upgrade to Premium Economy starts from as little as €200 each way and it is well worth it.
Arriving in Nashville we used the Lyft App to get around (Similar to Uber). Incredible value for money, never waited more than 4 mins for a car. We stayed at the Hutton Hotel Nashville. This is a lovely hotel in a great location just 1 block off Broadway and only 6 mins drive from Down Town. The rooms are spacious and modern with the public areas having a boutique hotel feel. The manager said that renovations will be done later this year on a floor by floor basis to keep the rooms fresh and up to date. We sampled the lively nightlife on the first night, visiting several Honky Tonk bars along Broadway. The entire Broadway strip was hopping until the small hours of the morning and this was on a Monday night!
Our first tour took us to the RCA Studio B and we stood where Elvis Presley recorded more than 240 songs, where Dolly Parton made "I Will Always Love You" and where the Everly Brothers recorded "All I Have to Do Is Dream". You can feel the history within the walls and our guide was so knowledgeable about the artists and their music recorded there.
Our next tour was of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This is where we got to see all the clothes, props, awards, videos etc that the top artists from across the country, pop and rock music scene from across the decades. Going way back to the the sounds from the late 1800's right up to the current era. This was a great way to spend an afternoon learning how music evolved across the last 150 years.
On day two, we got to visit and tour the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium. This is a renowned concert hall of country music, rock and roll, current pop music, blues, jazz and everything in between. Megastars have played here from Elvis and Johnny Cash, to Foo Fighters and Tom Jones, Harry Styles to Lizzo, it's a place for everyone.
On our second evening we were off to the world famous Grand Ole Opry! This was an evening of legends and live music like no other. We had VIP access to a bar in the auditorium called The Circle. You get free premium drinks, hors d'oeuvres and you get to meet a performer on the night with a private chat, ours was Jeenie Seely! She has played at the Grand Ole Opry more than 5000 times over a career spanning 55 years. The show was incredible and they showcase new up and coming artists too so who knows, we could have seen the next Taylor Swift!
After the Grand Ole Opry, we decided to sample a small bar recommended to us called The Local, just a few minutes from our hotel. Here is were locals hung out for music and drinks and it was very busy until around midnight with locals on the stage playing their own music.
On day three we got to take in a private tour of a Plantation Home from the 1800's. We learned about the history of the families that lived there. Their rise and fall through good times and bad and how the plantation was one of the first to develop wine in the area. Had some wine tasting and pairing with local food. Our private tour of the home also cast back the time of slave ownership right through to the emancipation of African Americans in the area.
Our next stop was the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum and our private tour guide was Jay McDowell of BR-49 fame. His knowledge was unreal! He made the tour incredibly interesting, the intricate details of each area really came to life under his expert knowledge. The stories about the artists that were imparted by them, their instruments and some of their awards hung on the walls, their clothes and their song books right there to see really made this experience one to remember.
We spent the rest of the day in the sunshine on one of the many rooftop bars dotted along Broadway, singing to well known songs and just enjoying the amazing atmosphere Nashville exudes.
This evening, our last in Nashville, we got to experience the Listen Room for music and dinner. A really intimate venue where the focus is solely on the music, everyone is quiet to allow the artists create a beautiful atmosphere and to connect with the room. The venue promotes long time musicians and up and coming musicians, providing them with an excellent platform to get their work out into the world. This was a lovely evening with good food too.
One thing you'll notice in Nashville, is the friendliness of the locals. They're interested in knowing where you're from and they want to make sure you're having a good time!
If you're planning a trip to Nashville, get in touch and I will create a bespoke itinerary for you.