Outside The End during Nameless Fest IV in 2018
If you’ve been lucky enough to spend time around Nashville music, you’ve probably seen some weird and/or wild shit at The End. Even before it took on its current name and management in the late 1990s, the tiny Elliston Place venue hosted dozens of rock, punk, rap, metal and more shows that had people talking weeks (and sometimes years) later. It’s hosted formative early gigs for local bands who went on to be huge, including Paramore (hear more about that in the inaugural episode of WNXP podcast Music Citizens) and the late, great Diarrhea Planet. Multiple underground festivals have made a home at The End over the years. And it hosted The White Stripes on their first visit to Nashville in 2001.Â
In 2025, amid a general economic slowdown, the venue had a different kind of first. The End had what Bruce Fitzpatrick — venue owner, booker and 45-plus-year Nashville music veteran — calls its worst year in his 27-year tenure, and fell behind on its rent. On Thursday, Fitzpatrick launched a GoFundMe campaign that met its $25,000 goal before the day was over.Â
Crowd surfing during Nameless Fest IV at The End, 2018
The top donation is listed at $2,500 and credited to Big Machine Label Group founder Scott Borchetta — which may be some kind of joke, though far stranger things have happened than it being legit. Still, many of the more than 500 donations are between $10 and $50. Generations of Music City freaks know the value of a spot that’s accessible to up-and-comers, brings in buzzing out-of-towners and will even open its doors for delightfully bizarre one-offs like that NYE Rocky Horror show — and they answered the Twilight Bark.
It’s good news about a thing that’s still troubling. Especially since COVID lockdown, the significant challenges that have always been part of operating indie venues have become increasingly visible, and while this story concludes happily, there’s no guarantee that it won’t happen again, to The End or another venue. The End is still kicking, so take this as your sign to get over there if you haven’t in a minute. There’s a little something for — if not everyone — lots of different folks in the next few days of bookings. Friday night, you have songsmith Carter Davidson headlining; country-rock trio Audawind headlines a three-band bill (plus a comedy set) on Saturday; indie-rockers Dogs Would take the stage on Tuesday; while space-rockers Pyramia settle in on Wednesday. This is also a great opportunity to make plans to get out for 615 Indie Live, which will take over The End and many other indie venues on Feb. 7
