Being Music City, Nashville keeps live music fresh during the warmer months by offering up a diverse menu of outdoor live music events ranging from bluegrass and jazz to a lineup of local indie and Americana artists.
With something for every palate, our roundup includes a variety of music styles—but most importantly, we’re uncovering the dreamiest places to catch live music in picturesque settings. From vineyards and moonlit parks to a botanical garden, here are 5 places to watch live music outdoors in Nashville.
Popular among locals, Nashville’s bluegrass music series features local musicians live under the full moon at Percy Warner Park. Running from May-September, Full Moon Pickin’ Parties make the most of the city’s best weather and allow for picnics, chairs and dogs. Post up with your family (including your beloved furry friend) and indulge in fare from your favorite local food trucks.
Pickin’ parties take place under the full moon, and you can find those dates here. Tickets for adults are $25 and for youth (ages 7-17), $10. Head to Percy Warner Park Equestrian Center for an unforgettable experience under the stars and let the roster of bluegrass bands sweep you into another place and time.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is the place to be on Thursday nights. Every Thursday night from May through October, experience live music among art installations and beautiful botanical gardens.
Bar stations offer wine, beer, and other beverages, and on Thirsty Third Thursdays, Cheekwood features specially ticketed Cocktail Crawls throughout the gardens. Hop from bar to bar to try four signature cocktails as part of this special event.
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Join Arrington Vineyards for free live jazz and bluegrass bands every Saturday and Sunday from April to October. You’ll find “Jazz on the Hillside” and “Bluegrass at the Barn”, and each week Simply Living Life serves up food that pairs impeccably well with wine.
Complete your experience with one of the vineyard’s bottles of wine or try a sampler to do your own tasting. Picnics are welcome and make for an Instagram-worthy spread with a backdrop of vines and jazz musicians. You can’t get more picture-perfect than that!
No reservations are required and entry is free, however you can learn more and see the lineup of jazz and bluegrass bands here.
With happenings in June and September, Musicians Corner is one of the best outdoor live music events in the city. This free concert series takes place in Centennial Park and will host a September Sundown series each Thursday and Friday though October 1. To finish with a bang, the September Sundown series ends with a special 3-day weekend music series September 23-25, as part of Americanafest.
Musicians Corner is home to Kidsville and the MC Pub, providing local craft beer and a fun and festive place for your kids to hang out.
Learn everything you need to know about Musicians Corner, and watch virtual past performances here.
Downtown Nashville’s open-air venue is one of the greatest additions to the city. Located right off the Cumberland River and in Riverfront Park, Ascend is an unbeatable setting to watch your favorite bands, even offering a lawn area if you prefer lounging on a picnic blanket or bringing your own chairs.
With the amenities of any large venue, Ascend is a premiere event space with a calendar of top artists of every genre. Head to Live Nation’s calendar to see who’s coming this Summer/Fall season.
Okay Nashville locals, let us know—where is your favorite place to grab a pint and watch live music outdoors? If we missed your go-to spot, let us know in the comments! Be sure to check out all of our blogs to learn more about what’s current in Music City.