There's much with which I agree. I LIVE near Nashville and would recommend taking a pass. Every 'hallowed' music venue is SO self-important they all call themselves 'World Famous Station Inn' or 'World Famous Tootsie's Lounge", etc. There's a 'decent' club scene going on down on the Broadway/2nd Ave. area, but it's pricey, crowded and dangerous...purse snatchers, hustlers, etc. Like another mentioned most of the real music is being played in Austin anyway. No disrespect intended to the New Orleans contingent as I'd go to Bourbon and/or Beale streets LONG before I'd venture down to Broadway. If you go to Austin one needs to go to the 'Blaze Foley' gravesite. Check out his videos on youtube.

It may be I've got the jaded perspective of a music industry pro, but Nashville is a nice place to live near, but I wouldn't want to visit. It's kind of a 'tourist trap', much like Dollywood or Disneyworld. The world has a perception of Nashville that simply doesn't exist. Yes, the Ryman, CM HOF, Tootsie's, etc. are all here, but 'Music Row' has moved to the Gaylord Center and all the 'pickers' have moved to Franklin or Leiper's Fork. There's plenty of music going on in Nashville, but it's all in the studios for the most part. The prospect of stumbling upon some 'undiscovered genius' at a club are slim because asa one comes to town they get snapped up by the labels and the labels wont let them play out locally. And traffic is brutal.

If you DO come to Nashville rent a room @/t Best Western/Music Row Motel on Division Street. There's a GREAT club scene on Demonbreun Street nearby and the motel is reasonable in cost and within walking distance of the Ryman, CM HOF, Tootsie's, Music Row and a short cab ride to the Bluebird Cafe...don't try to drive there...you'll get lost. It's also close to 'Hillsboro Village' w/alot of different stores, coffee shops, Belcourt Theatre, Cotten Music(since 1961), etc. Also, Centenial Park w/t 'Parthenon' as it's centerpiece are very nearby.

Oh yeah, there's the 'Traffic Circle' w/one of the more embarassing public sculptures as it's centerpiece. It's what y'all call a 'roundabout' in the UK. The bronze sculpture features several male and female 'nymphs' w/full frontal...one of the males sports what has been derisively dubbed 'Nelson's Willy' by the locals.

The 'Trashville Tour' is HIGHLY recommended.