Live Music for Visitors Under 21
Allow me to guide you to venues where you can listen to music without age restrictions. (Hope this helps if someone in your family or group isn’t a legal adult.)
Under 21 all the time
Okay, there might be a restriction for a special show–but that’s a rarity and should be posted as such on the venue’s event calendar.
Assembly Food Hall
5055 Broadway, Downtown. Basically the artists are playing in a food court so acoustics aren’t ideal but you’re welcome to come and go as you like in this free venue. There’s also a Skydeck but most events are 21+ and many have an admission fee.
Hard Rock Cafe
100 Broadway, Downtown. All ages, all the time. For live music, head upstairs to the Reverb Room. Be sure to check out the cool memorabilia on the walls.
Margaritaville
322 Broadway, Downtown. Because it’s more restaurant than lounge, they welcome all ages. Live music–typically a solo artist dipping into Jimmy Buffett’s catalog a bit–is just inside the front door with more exotically decorated rooms elsewhere.
Taco Bell Cantina
131 2nd Avenue, N., Downtown. I kinda love that we have the world’s only Taco Bell with a performance stage. Typically it’s a solo singer/songwriter trying to make a living so show some respect.
Puckett’s
500 Church Street, Downtown. This family-friendly restaurant offers live music 6 or 7 nights a week. Sets start at 7pm Monday-Thursday; Friday and Saturday, it’s 8:30-10pm. Sunday is the wild card. Pretty good eats all across the menu.
City Winery
423 6th Avenue, S., SoBro. The bookings vary widely: jazz, blues, pop, Americana, stand-up comedy. Almost all events are ticketed so advance planning is a good idea. Avoid sitting at the bar with your under-21 companions and you should be good to go.
6th and Peabody
422 6th Avenue, S., SoBro. It’s a convergence of a moonshine operation and brewery with a nice large patio for cornhole and other games. There’s an outdoor stage with live music during prime hours. Grab food from onsite vendors Duck Tacos or Daddy’s Dogs. A little strange that a moonshine and beer place is touted as family-friendly all the time.
Tennessee Brew Works
809 Ewing Avenue, SoBro. They’re known for their beer (no surprise) but they have a surprisingly good reputation for their food–especially their burgers. The stage is on the main level and performers generally get good reviews.
The Listening Room Cafe
618 4th Avenue, S., SoBro. Our pretend daughter who’s a Vanderbilt undergrad loves the Listening Room. True to its name, it feels more like a small auditorium than a questionable bar. Of particular note is “Song Suffragettes” (pictured at top), the Monday songwriter residency featuring all females. The lobby area aka the Front Cafe usually has a solo artist performing in addition to the main show. Check the schedule for their occasional midday performances.
Martin’s BBQ
410 4th Avenue, S., SoBro. In addition to turning out some of Nashville’s most popular barbecue, they fire up live music in the upstairs beer garden: Sundays, 7pm; Thursdays, 7:30pm; Fridays, 4:30pm (and sometimes 7:30pm); Saturdays, 4:30pm.
Station Inn
402 12th Ave. S., The Gulch. Nashville’s bluegrass mecca, it sometimes slides over to Americana and country. Well-mannered children are welcome with an adult chaperone.
Commodore Grille
2613 West End, Midtown. Live music 6-10pm nightly. Don’t be put off by the fact that this restaurant/bar is off the lobby of the Holiday Inn-Vanderbilt. It’s one of the busiest songwriter showcases in town.
Bluebird Cafe
4104 Hillsboro Road, Green Hills. It’s often tough to get a reservation but most people love this haven for songwriters. It’s fine for teenagers but I don’t think I’d bring younger kids. One caveat: you can’t be seated at the bar if you’re under 21.
drkmttr collective
1111 Dickerson Road, East Nashville. Mom and Dad might not feel at home but this all-ages club pulses with underground sounds including punk, emo, experimental rock, and hardcore that wouldn’t be welcome at some venues.
Rarely restricted
Like the title says, you might find an age restriction every month or so.
3rd and Lindsley
818 3rd Avenue, S., SoBro. People come to this great-sounding club to listen to their stellar line-up of talent. The food’s pretty tasty too.
Plaza Mariachi
3955 Nolensville Road, South Nashville. Looking for a little international flair? The food court of Plaza Mariachi doubles as a performance hall where you might hear a mariachi band, a hip hop crew, or LatinX dance band. A handful of interesting little restaurants there and in the adjoining shopping center.
Rudy’s Jazz Room
It’s all-ages ONLY on Sunday for its weekly jazz jam (but I didn’t want to create a new category just for it).
The majority of honky tonks and similar places around Lower Broadway have a 6pm cut-off for patrons under 21–and most would be categorized as bars rather than restaurants. Redneck Rivera is always 21+.
A few–including Acme, Rippy’s, Tin Roof, Casa Rosa, Ole Red’s, Nashville Underground, Luke’s 32 Bridge, Jason Aldean’s, Garth’s Friends in Low Places–push the time to 8pm or 9pm. But know this: times can fluctuate based on management’s discretion so please check at the door or contact the business in advance to confirm.
Things tend to be a little calmer at the honky tonks off-Broadway and beyond.
TIP: If bringing younger children, please bring earplugs for them because the music is loud!
