All American Sports Bar

941 N.W. Broad St., Murfreesboro 896-9661

A favorite local sports bar.

Bean Central

2817 West End Ave. 321-8530

Watch for the Middle Eastern ensemble, The Perfumed Garden, at this West End cybercafé, which uploads live music as well.

Belcourt Theatre

2102 Belcourt Ave. 383-9140

Featuring great foreign, indie and classic films as well as great bands like Yo La Tengo and The Sea and Cake.

Bell Cove Club

151 Sunset Dr., Hendersonville 822-7074

The late Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, played gigs here right up until the end.

Bellevue Station Cafe

7490 Old Harding Rd. 646-4667

Renovated service station is said to be one of the coziest new listening rooms in town.

Bluebird Cafe

4104 Hillsboro Rd. 383-1461

Nashville’s world-famous songwriter hangout, where the tunes you hear on country radio almost always get their dry run.

The Bluegrass Inn

418 Broadway 726-2799

This very cool Lower Broad honky-tonk hosts everyone from hillbilly pickers to avant-garage guitarists.

Blues Hideaway

2275 Murfreesboro Rd., Ste. 100 360-7380

A truly authentic hole-in-the-wall.

Bluewind

The Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd., Bldg. 11Y, Franklin 599-4995

Live jazz club in Franklin’s hip renovated bedding-factory space. Watch for free screenings of Hitchcock films and other classics.

Boardwalk Cafe

4114 Nolensville Pk. 832-5104

The music ranges from polka to blues on the weekend; the beverage of choice is beer.

Bongo After Hours Theatre

2007 Belmont Blvd. 385-0575

Kenny Bernstein’s always got something happening at this tiny space above the city’s premier bohemian hangout. Original theater pieces are also performed here.

The Boro Bar & Grill

1211 Greenland Dr., Murfreesboro 895-4800

Murfreesboro bands pay their dues at this legendary dive, which boasts some of the rowdiest audiences in the area.

Bourbon St. Blues & Boogie Bar

220 Printers Alley 24-BLUES (242-5837)

Featuring some of the blues circuit’s hottest acts: Big Jack Johnson, Kenny Neal, Rufus Thomas, et al. A recent national award-winner for Blues Club of the Year.

The Broken Spoke Songwriters Saloon & Cafe

Ramada Inn, 1412 Brick Church Pk. 226-3230

Long-running hotel-lounge honky-tonk.

Bunganut Pig

1143 Columbia Ave., Franklin 794-4777

1602 W. Northfield Blvd., Murfreesboro 893-7860

Cozy bar reminiscent of an English pub.

Cafe 123

123 12th Ave. N. 255-2233

A great room for jazz.

The Chute Complex

2535 Franklin Rd. 297-4571

One of Nashville’s oldest and most popular gay nightspots.

Commodore Sports Bar and Grill

Holiday Inn, 2613 West End Ave. 327-4707

Stocked with 27 TVs and two big-screens, a sports fan’s heaven.

The Connection

901 Cowan St. 742-1166

A gay dance club.

Conrads

Holiday Inn, I-24 at exit 78-B, Murfreesboro 896-2420

Experience the ultimate in karaoke.

Courtyard Cafe

867 Bell Rd., Antioch 731-7228

Great Italian eatery and after-hours hangout.

Denim & Diamonds Entertainment Complex

950 Gallatin Rd., Madison Sq., Madison 868-1557

Multi-venue entertainment complex.

Douglas Corner Cafe

2106-A 8th Ave. S. 298-1688

One of the city’s friendliest neighborhood listening rooms, located across the street from Zanies comedy club.

The End

2219 Elliston Pl. 321-4457

An indie-rock club that draws a number of cool acts to town.

Exit/In

2208 Elliston Pl. 321-4400

This world-renowned venue’s quarter-century history includes everyone from Steve Martin to The Police. Check the names on the wall.

F. Scott’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar

2210 Crestmoor Dr. 269-5861

Cool jazz every night.

The Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar

210 Printers Alley 251-9002

Live country in the heart of Nashville’s legendary Sin City.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

111 10th Ave. S. #310 259-7468

Largest draught beer selection in Nashville.

The Foxhole Club

101st Airborne Restaurant, 1360 Murfreesboro Pk. 361-4212

Duck! This dance club in a military-themed restaurant complex near the Nashville International Airport routinely rattles with the roar of planes zooming overhead.

Gecko’s Grill and Pub

579 Stewarts Ferry Pk. 871-9500

Where life’s a beach.

Graham Central Station

128 2nd Ave. N. 251-9593

Massive multilevel entertainment facility catering to singles and Second Avenue partiers.

Guido’s N.Y. Pizzeria

416 21st Ave. S. 329-4428

In this Vandy-area hangout’s teensy basement—which looks to hold about 30 if you don’t breathe—bands crowd onto the little stage and play their hearts out.

Hall of Fame Lounge

Legarde Twins Theatre, Best Western, 1407 Division St.7 256-4255

Live music and songwriters’ night five nights a week.

Heavenly Grounds

5751 Old Hickory Blvd., Hermitage 872-0013

While the singers tune up, have a cup.

Indienet Record Shop

1707 Church St. 321-0882

Formerly Lucy’s Record Shop, the city’s legendary underage punk club, Indienet has managed to retain much of its predecessor’s teenage following—although the vibe is considerably different. Records are still sold in the front.

Johny Jackson’s Soul Satisfaction

209 10th Ave. S. 259-4875

Get up for the down stroke at this long-running weekend dance institution, which recently moved to Jody’s from its longtime home at 328 Performance Hall. Host Jackson spins the ’70s funk platters that matter, alongside groovy slides of Pam Grier at her foxiest.

Kijiji Coffee House

1413 Jefferson St. 321-0403

Jazz, gospel, poetry, R&B.

La Cantina

209 10th Ave. S. 259-4875

Hepcat swing music and acoustic rock are a perfect fit with the airy, window-filled space of this Cummins Station saloon. Home of monthly art openings, as well as Johny Jackson’s Soul Satisfaction (see below). Now under new ownership.

Legends Corner

428 Broadway 248-6334

Country music on Lower Broadway, between the Ryman and the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Lobbies bar

Renaissance Hotel, 611 Commerce St. 255-8400

Live jazz for weary travelers.

Long Hollow Jamboree & Restaurant

3600 Long Hollow Pk., Hendersonville 824-4445

Non-smoking, non-drinking, family-oriented establishment.

Mulligan’s Pub & Restaurant

117 2nd Ave. N. 242-8010

Erin go bragh! Hoist a Guinness and sing along lustily with Irish drinking songs at this downtown slice of the Auld Sod.

Mustang Sally’s

1800 Dickerson Rd. 227-6005

DJ and live music.

Nashville City Limits Restaurant & Lounge

13012 Old Hickory Blvd. 641-2800

Hearty steaks, chops and ribs served with live music.

Nashville Nightlife Breakfast & Dinner Theater

2620 Music Valley Dr. 885-5201

Country music reviews and an Elvis tribute.

Pub of Love

123 12th Ave. N. 256-5683

Nashville’s coziest place to imbibe.

Robert’s Western World

416 Broadway 244-9552

Favorite dive bar by night, boot store by day.

The Seanachie Irish Pub & Restaurant

327 Broadway 726-2006

A little wedge of the Emerald Isle, in the heart of Lower Broad. Traditional Irish folk music, to chase away the devil.

Sebastian’s

109 Maple St., Murfreesboro 895-8922

The ’Boro’s hip new listening room on the downtown square has become the epicenter of the vaunted Murfreesboro pop scene. If Self, Fluid Ounces, or Boo Boo Bunny is playing, expect to stand elbow-to-elbow.

The Sherlock Holmes Pub

2206 Elliston Pl. 327-1047

Homesick Brits congregate here for darts and pints—not necessarily in that order.

Sophie’s

3424 Lebanon Rd., Hermitage 885-5296

Classic and Southern rock on weekends.

Springwater

115 27th Ave. N. 320-0345

Our choice as the city’s coolest dive bar—a shack adjoining Centennial Park where many of Nashville’s most distinctive and original talents play. Don’t miss the Saturday-night Working Stiffs Jamboree, home of Tom House, Ann Tiley & Ricky Lee, various incarnations of Lambchop, John Allingham, Rob Stanley and others.

The Station Inn

402 12th Ave. S. 255-3307

This wonderful bluegrass and folk club near Cummins Station has perhaps the warmest vibe in town; we’ve heard of people visiting this cheery, unpretentious listening room and deciding to move here. Then again, maybe it’s the music: Steve Earle, Junior Brown, Gillian Welch, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, etc. A perfect place to take out-of-town guests who want to hear some real country music.

The Sutler

2608 Franklin Rd. 297-9195

Located a few doors down from the Melrose Bowling Lanes, this is one of Nashville’s coolest and most intimate clubs. Recent shows range from indie rockers to alt-country acts, with Steve Key booking lots of neo-folk troubadours here.

Texas Troubadour Theatre

2416 Music Valley Dr. 885-0028

Filling your one-stop country needs.

3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill

818 3rd Ave. S. 259-9891

The oddly shaped room is hell to navigate, but that’s because it’s so often crowded. Blues singers like Tracy Nelson and Earl Gaines rock the house on a regular basis, and on Sunday nights WRLT-100.1 FM broadcasts a first-rate live radio show from the club featuring national touring acts.

328 Performance Hall

328 4th Ave. S. 259-3288

Old warehouse converted into a concert hall with an undeniably industrial feel.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

422 Broadway 726-0463

Hank Williams and Patsy Cline hung out here; so did U2 and The Clash. Small wonder: This legendary honky-tonk has survived both feast and famine as a constant reminder of Nashville’s roots. It’ll take you all night just to read the walls.

12th & Porter Playroom

114 12th Ave. N. 254-7236

A modest, candlelit supper club that remains one of Nashville’s premier rock clubs, suitable for chamber playing or full-tilt boogie. Booker John Bruton’s bringing some first-rate shows here, from the Waco Brothers to Sloan.

23rd Psalm CafE and Restaurant

2203 Buena Vista Pk. 259-2323

Ben Houston’s coffeehouse is more than just a java mill—it’s a de facto civic center where city leaders and law officials periodically gather for informal public meetings. It also offers lots of gospel, contemporary Christian and singer-songwriter material.

Wildhorse Saloon

120 2nd Ave. N. 902-8200

Gaylord’s multimillion-dollar country-dance club boasts a gigantic dance floor, wall-sized video screens and frequent live sets by new country stars.

Windows on the Cumberland

112 2nd Ave. N. 251-0097

A none-too-well-kept secret, this peaceful, intimate listening room offers respite from the bustle of Second Avenue—as well as a great view of the Cumberland.

Wolfy’s

425 Broadway 251-1621

If Tom Wolfe ever gets around to his Nashville novel, he’d be a fool not to use Bob Wolf as a character. The boisterous barkeep and Lower Broad denizen knows everybody on the strip, as well as all the ward-heelers and beat reporters.