Tennessee

Country, Blues, Rock n Roll

PLACES TO GO

Brownsville

Pivotal to the blues scene, Brownsville celebrates its musical heritage at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, featuring the Tina Turner Museum and annual festivals that resonate with soulful blues rhythms.

Bristol

Bristol holds a storied place in US culture as the official birthplace of Country Music. Visitors can explore its legacy at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which highlights the recording of the 1927 Bristol Sessions and their enduring impact.

Nashville

One of the few world cities whose name is synonymous with a scene, Nashville is “Music City” for a reason. Home to the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium and other iconic venues, it’s a lure for fans of country (and most other genres) the world over.

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Bristol rhythm & roots reunion

Almost a century after the historic 1927 Bristol Sessions sparked the rise of country music, the Reunion honors Appalachia’s musical legacy with multiple stages and a diverse lineup over three glorious days.

Pilgrimage music & Roots Reunion

Inspired by friendship as a celebration of Middle Tennessee, make this Pilgrimage for a lineup of rock, bluegrass, gospel and more on a historic horse farm with acoustic sets, artist mashups, and a kids’ stage just 30 minutes south of Nashville.

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival

Held each June on a farm an hour southeast of Nashville, Bonnaroo showcases top performers from rock and jazz to hip-hop amid a 100-acre entertainment village offering nonstop attractions (and fully focused on sustainability too).

Americana Fest

With more than 165 showcases across Nashville, the hardest part of attending AmericanaFest is in choosing what to see as thousands of artists, fans, and industry pros descend on the city each year. The line-up i always exciting – past artists have included Jewel, Patty Griffin, and Glen Hansard.

Cooper-Young Festival

For 36 years the Cooper-Young Festival has drawn thousands of visitors to Memphis’ Midtown neighborhood for a celebration of the district’s vibrant arts, culture, and heritage – with more than 435 artisans, live music, and crafts.

Exit 56 Blues Fest

Celebrate the legacy of Blues legends Hammie Nixon, Yank Rachell, and “Sleepy” John Estes at this free annual gathering hosted by the Delta Heritage Center that features live performances, crafts, car shows, and a BBQ eating contest.

FOOD & DRINK

Jack Daniel's Distillery

As a global behemoth, it can be easy to overlook Jack Daniel’s place as the oldest registered distillery in the US and indeed the rich history of Tennessee whiskey. Put that right with a distillery tour in the scenic town of Lynchburg.

Livingston's Soda Fountain & Grill

Nostalgia is exactly how it used to be at this charming, vintage soda fountain whose menu of classic American eats and shakes is a warm recreation of a somehow more innocent age.

Arrington Vineyards

As befits a vineyard co-owned by Kix Brooks, there are wine tastings but also copious amounts of live music amid the rolling hills of Tennessee, offering a relaxing countryside escape.

The Dancing Bear lodge & Appalachian Bistro

From the proximity of the Great Smoky Mountains and the stomach-filling menu of dishes rooted in Appalachian ingredients and traditions, the Dancing Bear is one of a kind.

Charlie Vergos' Rendezvouz

Flavour is everything at an eatery celebrated for its unique ‘dry-rubbed’ Memphis barbecue. That has drawn in visitors from around the world since 1948, but they also come for its deep roots in the local music scene.

The Loveless Cafe

Loveless by name but soulful by nature, for more than 70 years this legendary joint has developed a cult following for its Southern cooking – ham, pulled pork and barbecue fare – and justifiably iconic homemade biscuits.

Sweet P's Barbecue

With a simple business aim – to satisfy barbecue cravings – this family-run venture offers a casual and affordable dining experience, complete with live music events that celebrate Tennessee’s rich cultural heritage.

THINGS TO DO

Birthplace of County Music Museum

Almost a century ago the “big bang of country music” defined a sound. The recordings laid down in the 1927 Bristol Sessions, from artists including The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, are celebrated here even as they still influence today’s music.

Stax Museum of American Soul

A glorious celebration of Stax Records, a Memphis icon and a label that shaped both soul music and society. Hundreds of hits flowed from legends like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes, making Stax a beacon of integration, embodying the spirit of the 60s.

Beale Street Historic District

At the very heart of downtown Memphis, Beale Street has been a musical hothouse for more than 150 years, nurturing legends like W.C. Handy and B.B. King, and this vibrant stretch of nightclubs and restaurants celebrates the legacy of the blues.

Sun Studio

Literally where the sound of history was made, this legendary recording studio is where iconic artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis laid down hit after hit. Visitors can experience the raw energy that defined American sound.

Graceland

You can’t help falling in love with the life and times of Elvis as you explore Graceland Mansion, Presley’s iconic home, with an interactive iPad tour hosted by John Stamos and an exhibition including his custom jets.

National Museum of African American Music

Celebrating the profound influence of African American artists on over 50 music genres, this museum offers rich interactive exhibits and educational programs.

Ryman Auditorium

Known reverentially as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” the Ryman has hosted artists from Elvis and B.B. King to Harry Styles and the Foo Fighters – take a tour to learn its storied past.

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

Dubbed “the house that holds the music”, this offers exhibitions, tours and vast collections of artifacts and interactive exhibits that trace country music’s evolution and influence – plus of course its Hall of Fame.

Grand Ole Opry

If country music has a heartbeat, you’ll feel it pounding at the Grand Ole Opry – for a century offering iconic live music performances that showcase new stars, superstars, and legends of country music.

Tina Turner Museum

Simply the best way to celebrate, understand and appreciate Anna Mae Bullock – or Tina Turner as she became. Sited in the restored school where she once studied, the memorabilia and displays showcase the life of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

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Country, Blues, Rock n Roll

Tennessee