There is only one place on Earth to increase the number of Taylor Swift fans. Nashville (Image: Getty Images)
Well, we should all be in the Nashville era. In case you missed it, Taylor Swift's two-year global ERAS tour takes over the world, with country music on the rise, especially in the UK. So, the growing number of fans is only one place to go to Nashville, Tennessee.
Music City is, as is known, a growing metropolitan city currently undergoing radical change. The infrastructure project includes a new stadium for state NFL teams hoping to host the Super Bowl.
Nashville also has seemingly endless, living music bars scattered around town. There is also a clear and collaborative effort to keep up the old traditions well as they continue to grow.
Nashville has seemingly endless live act music bars scattered around town (Image: Getty Images)
And growth is what “quick” movements have done in recent years.
The star's influence is seen throughout Nashville after the idol moved there full time in her early teens to pursue her musical dreams – Centennial Park (she's located at the Taylorswife Education Center, from the bench singing in the “Invisible Strings” of her folktale album to the Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville. I didn't think I'd ever seen it in my wild dreams, but if there's a blank to fill, country music fans know well how to organize it.
Grand Ole location
Now in its 99th year, the world-famous Grand Oreoplee (the world's longest-running radio show) has put Nashville on the map.
The Lyman Auditorium, located in the middle of downtown, has seen anyone in the world music superstars perform there, but before moving to his new home in 1974, he was Opry's original host.
The new building is modern and suited to current environments, including neon-filled stages perfect for the 21st century, as well as shopping complexes and outlet malls, but Opry pays homage to the previous home in one or more ways.
Guests sit on a church-style wooden pue, like the Lyman Auditorium, with design and layout almost carbon copy of the previous home. And then there is a six-foot circle of wooden floorboards filmed from Lyman set in the middle of the stage, with performances such as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Harry Houdini, Bob Hope, and Charlie Chaplin.
On my visit, the debut act shut out one of their biggest hits. Vince Herman, the lead singer of the Bluegrass Band Leftover Salmon, managed in one sentence, summarised Opry and the whole of Nashville in a complete summary.
“These are brand new good old days,” he roned to the 4,000 people attending, sucking up the incredible vibe with a two-and-a-half-hour, eight-act show, each available from just $50.
Modern acts and good old pricing summarise that well.
The Lyman Auditorium, located in the middle of downtown, was the original host of Grand Oreoplee (Image: Getty Images)
I'm on Lyman's stage (Image: Michael Ham)
Must-see for Music City
While in Nashville, Broadway is where you go to live music. This singular street, packed with neon clad honky tonk bars after the honky tonk bars, is overflowing every night, and people are poured into the roads after listening to live country music of all styles until early.
At the top of my list is a saloon-type bar with the appearance and feel of a watering hole from any of your favorite Westerners, and The Saloon-type bar, a typical honky tonk joint that brings great food. While you're there, check out our aptly named $6 recession special, consisting of fried bologna sandwiches, moon pie, potato chips and a refreshing can of Pabst Blue
Ribbon lager.
Tootsies is another classic Broadway experience that will blow away more country classics.
And there are plenty of bars owned by famous music stars like Morgan Warren, Luke Combs and Garth Brooks, offering showbiz style on historic streets.
If the live music scene fills the evening, and if you do, there's still enough to fill your days. The outstanding Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has doubled its size in 2014 with a $100 million expansion. The building is essentially the complete history of the genre, detailing in detail the roots of African-American folk music. From memorabilia to all the famous country music stars in American history, including Swift, the Carter Family, Hank Williams, Shania Twain, Loretta Lynne, and the current sensation köves.
A little further away is the Interactive National Museum for African Americans (NMAAM). This is another great place to absorb how the music scene is intertwined in America. From Nmaam, you can take an incredible tour and explore how the “mother church” of country music has turned out. Walking to the stage where you can smell the wooden feet lined up on the food stalls is a humble experience
Looking out from the artist's perspective, watching the flow of light through the stained glass window at the back of the room gives us even more appreciation for the history of the famous theatre.
Famously known is the historic Studio B Tour, located far from the Broadway bar. Here you can see the spots and piano where Elvis recorded hits like Heartbreak Hotel.
Funky W rooftop bar proof I sampled punchy negroni (Image: W Hotel)
Where to stay
The W Hotel in the Gulch area was the perfect base. There are plenty of shops, bars and breakfast spots, and a 15-minute walk from Broadway and the middle of downtown.
The modern and spacious rooms have probably the most comfortable hotel beds I've ever slept with, but the fantastic coffee shop in the lobby means your day can get off to a fast start. There is also a gym and a fantastic L-shaped outdoor pool. This is perfect for waking up on a hot summer Nashville afternoon or an as active autumn morning as me.
Modern and spacious rooms have the most comfortable hotel beds I've ever slept in (Image: W Hotel)
Where to eat
Like most American cities, Nashville cuisine has an impact from around the world. One of the best places I visited was a bad idea of East Nashville. Bad idea? That was nothing.
Newly located at the New York Times' Best Restaurants in America 2024 is incredible until around 10pm until service switched to a late-night family-style shared menu.
It is set to what could potentially become a bar in Batman's Gotham City (although the AT&T building in downtown, it is called Batman's building by locals thanks to its looks). But the suspected star of the show was a scalloped crepe.
There are food options everywhere during the day, but you don't have to go further than Hatty B for the best fried chicken. If you have six different levels of spice, there's something for everyone.
I was fearless and encouraged by “hot” which was delicious, but our server knew too well and warned us on a “clock-up” level.
Howdy Y'all
Hospitality in the southern part of Nashville was always on display. People were always ready to stop and chat on early morning walks around town. Usually, the dog is towed.
People from all over the United States come here on one of a weekend filled with sports and music. Or they moved here to dream, and as the locals told me, “here is a talent for pouring your water more than most other cities in America.”
I was totally fascinated by my time in Nashville. And if so many of us do, the world will be a little better and brighter. Nashville is a love story of music and food. As Taylor says, are you ready?
Book a holiday
British Airlines flies directly from Heathrow to Nashville. ba.com
In April, both Iceland Air and Aer Lingus will begin non-stop routes from Reykjavik and Dublin due to connections from the UK airport. Visit icelandair.com and aerlingus.com
Rooms at the W Nashville Hotel start at around £270 per night. Marriott.com
More information on visitmusiccity.com
