Nashville’s Hidden Gems

Great Music Tucked Away

Happy Monday, Belles & Beaus!

Today we’re going to take a step away from the usual life update, and take a little time travel back in time to Saturday afternoon and evening. I will say now that this is not a sponsored post. I’ve told you all many times I just like writing about things I enjoy and these two are some of them!

When most people think of Nashville, a few things probably come to mind like the Opry, the Tennessee Titans, the Predators, Music City, and the Home of Country Music. All of these are pretty much true. The heart of downtown Nashville almost centers itself around the mother church of country music, the Ryman Auditorium. From there you find the bars and other places that have music spilling out of them. This is where you will find the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.

Ernest Tubb Record Shop

The Ernest Tubb Record Shop used to have multiple locations in the area, but now the shop located at 3930, 417 Broadway here in Nashville, is the only one and just celebrated it’s 71st year on Broadway. They have began renovating and are currently in the ending stages of the reno which has included opening the back of the store more and adding a stage for their “Shake & Howdy” meet and greets that take place in store.

This is why I headed downtown on Saturday. Dallas Wayne was performing in store at two. My friend, Christian, turned me on to the store when we were doing a bit of walking downtown one weekend and now works there. She had sent me a text and told me to come if I wasn’t up to anything. I’m absolutely glad I did! Hearing him tell stories about artists that I grew up on – such as Willie Nelson and Jeannie Seely – was interesting. Plus his music was absolutely amazing as well.

His latest album, Songs the Jukebox Taught Me, Vol. 2, can be found in the store for purchase. I regret not having picked up a copy but I know I’ll most likely be back in the store soon enough so I can get one the next time I’m in. The store’s rich history can be seen throughout on the walls. Despite the small vinyl collection, it’s definitely more than just a simple tourist stop. Here it is truly about celebrating the music that has given Nashville it’s nickname. Plus you never know who’s going to stop by for an impromptu Shake & Howdy. Charles Esten seems to do it all the time and I miss him!

The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree

Saturday night brought more music with the heat still sitting in the 80s after the sun had gone down. For those of you who don’t know, the Opry is played live on the radio at 650 – WSM (AM station) station every time a show is going on. Following the second show of the Opry on 650 – WSM is the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. The show boasts the title of being the second longest running radio show in history.

The show is recorded live starting at 10pm at the Texas Troubadour Theater in the Music City Valley Village at 2416 Music Valley Drive. Originally the show was done in house at the record shop until it moved to it’s current location. Here, you feel as if you are walking into the mother church at the Ryman or attending a show at the Opry as all of the seating is – if you’ve been you guessed it – church pews.

This Saturday’s treat? Well if you weren’t randomly checking on Instagram, it was Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top Express. And I learned a little bit of history from Bobby that night. I had no clue that Bobby and his brother were the original singers for “Rocky Top” when they performed as the Osborne Brothers. He closed the show with that one and I can’t help but get excited every time I listen to them perform it. They most definitely have become one of my fast new obsessions with bluegrass.

Every Saturday night is a different artist and the show is absolutely free! You can find more information about artists who will be performing here and access the information from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop itself as they also have it posted in shop! But you can definitely count on me going whenever I can for a little bit a music to touch the soul!

If you want to check them out on their social media accounts, the Ernest Tubb Record Shop can be found on Instagram and Facebook. But definitely do yourself a favor and go down to give them a visit because you can learn a great deal about the history of country music in the walls of the shop!