Nashville, the cradle of country

If there’s a relevant place related to country, we’re talking about Tennessee’s capital city, Nashville, surrounded by Cumberland River. So much so that, Nashville is known as the Music City, so apart for a big country music influence, a strong and healthy record industry is also present in this city.

Both American and international cinema and TV studios have been inspired in this city: back in 1975 ‘Nashville’ was released in all theaters, winning an Oscar Academy Award for the best original song and other four nominations for the best picture, director, best supporting actress and best supporting actor.

‘Nashville’ was also a succesful TV musical drama show about the life and times of various country singers carving out a niche on Tennessee’s state capital. This TV series, broadcasted in 6 seasons from 2012 to 2018, was starred by Connie Britton along with other country artists and from other musical styles.

For instance, today we’re going to tell all our readers why this city has a special magnetism for all country music lovers, so let’s use our imagination to do a guided tour through all Nashville, are you ready?

 

Dreaming a perfect day in Nashville: the best country places

We are clear that Nashville is called also as ‘Music City, U.S.A.’, a term coined by the announcer David Cobb during a local radio broadcasting in the 50’s, and now an official city nickname seconded by special musical events that are already rooted in the American history like the Grand Ole Opry and thanks to some local record labels that became global, as for example Sun Records.

But much before of this rising, Nashville had the ‘Athens of the South’ moniker for its excellent educative institutions as the universities of Vanderbilt and Nashville and their neoclassic architecture. Then, Nashville is nowadays a thriving city in another economic áreas such as book publishers, banking, healthcare and transportation that are a big contribution as well.

In Nashville everyone can enjoy the city with several leisure choices: music spectacles, renowned picture galleries, gastronomy, local shopping and sports and professional events… But we started talking about music, so we will keep this plan, not for nothing it’s considered the Country Music World Capital City.

A good way to start your day would be paying a visit to the Ryman Auditorium, also known as the ‘The Mother Church of Country Music’. This place was, and still is, a must-stop for all wholehearted country music fans and artists, helping the city of Nashville to its becoming as a legendary musical destination.

 

 

Since 1892, the Ryman Auditorium has been chose by music icons such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Van Morrison or Minnie Pearl for their shows in Nashville. Still today all visitors can make a guided tour of this auditórium with 2.362 seats, visit the museum annex or assist to their live spectacles. 

Close to Ryman Auditorium you will find the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, completely dedicated to this music genre. During your visit, while listening to the best country songs ever made, you will take a walk through the origins and a much better understanding of the capital importance of country music for the United States.

But Nashville is, after all, a Music City, so more than 120 different places are available to enjoy some great live music all day and night long: pop, rock, gospel, americana, bluegrass, jazz, classic music, modern Christian music, blues and soul. Most of these locals are placed on Broadway and the 2nd Avenue.

 

 

Western style, art and cuisine

Still walking up and down Broadway Avenue, in the downtown, you will arrive to the Tenneessee State Capitol Building, the official state parliament building, and a nice stop to rest a little bit.

The Cumberland River shores also will keep our attention, and who knows if suddenly an old wooden steamboat will appear, making us feel for a few seconds like Tom Sawyer in one of his adventures.

Nashville streets’ sound like guitar strings but also you can hear the unmistakable stepping of a cowboy boot and see many people showing their unique cowboy style. One thing you should do before or after visiting Nashville is visit Corbeto’s, of course. As it’s traditional in many clubs and bars in this city, people will start dancing between the tables, even following some basic line dance steps with their western boots and clothes.

Fine arts and visual arts are another hot spot in Nashville. For example, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts is located inside a beautiful art déco style building, which is curating new travelling art exhibitions every two months.

 

Also the Cheekwood Art Museum and Botanical Garden deserves a visit, with a complete art gallery. But there’s quite more scattered small studies and galleries all over the city, which makes Nashville a pilgrimage place also for all art fanatics.

Regarding to culinary tourism, Nashville’s gastronomy gets an A and is on trend right now. The online magazine Bon Appetit Y por lo que respecta a la comida, la gastronomía de Nashville tampoco decepciona: está de moda en la ciudad. La revista Bon Appetit described Nashville as ‘the most delicious and awesome southside US city’, and quite a significant number of chefs are exploring their kitchens. All tastes will be satisfied with the quantity of culinary styles available, from the classic Southern dishes to the avantgarde cuisine.

Some of the main Nashville quarters, where you will find the best music, gastronomy, nightlife and unique businesses are 12South, Hillsboro Village, East Nashville and Gulch.

And to be immersed in this special environment and have an unforgettable experience, don’t forget your cowboy boots, a western leather belt or any of our clothes and accessories available at Corbeto’s Boots. And why not, boast around Nashville citizens of your personal cowboy style and tell them where do you get these awesome products…