An undeniable benefit of living in Nashville is the amount of musical talent that seems to emanate from every corner of the city—including both superstars of Opry fame and emerging, independent artists. While the honky tonks on Broadway swing all year round and the historic Ryman Auditorium is a perennially classic venue, Music City really shines during summer festival season.

Nearly all of Nashville’s outdoor music events are appropriate for all ages, open to the public, and dog-friendly. The whole town is buzzing as it prepares for that special time of year when the food trucks come out, the beer is cold, and the music can’t be beat. 

Live On The Green - Downtown

Photo courtesy of Live on the Green

A staple of the new Nashville music scene is the annual Live on the Green music festival sponsored by beloved local radio station Lightning 100. This free festival is held Downtown at Public Square Park (otherwise known as the lawn outside the city’s historic metropolitan courthouse), and the event runs Thursday nights Aug. 9, 16, and 23 as well as Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.

Smaller stages throughout the event host local, emerging artists and past mainstage headliners include such notables as Sheryl Crow, Jenny Lewis, Ben Folds, and Nashville’s own Moon Taxi. While all shows are free and open to the public, Live on the Green does offer VIP options for those looking to pay a little extra for shaded lounge areas, side-stage views, and complimentary food and drink. This year’s lineup is set for release on June 21.

Musicians Corner - West End

Photo courtesy of Musicians Corner

For the low-key local looking for a free, all ages spot to hear live music, Musicians Corner is the place. Located in the shadow of the historic Parthenon in Centennial Park—a mainstay of Nashville’s West End neighborhood—the event takes place every Friday (5 p.m.-9 p.m.) and Saturday (noon-6 p.m.) in May and June.

This year a host of multi-genre bands, songwriters, and musicians will grace the stage. Along with a main stage, there’s an acoustic stage also sponsored by Lighting 100. This year’s headliners include Joseph, The Weeks, and Ben Sollee. Emerging local talents Liza Anne, Josh Gilligan, and Sister Kit are also set to perform. On June 7 Musician’s Corner will also play host to the kickoff performance of the Nashville Symphony’s Community Concerts Series.

Full Moon Pickin’ Party - Bellevue

Photo courtesy of Full Moon Pickin’ Party

One of Nashville’s best kept secrets is the Full Moon Pickin’ Party. A favorite among bluegrass and folk lovers, this seasonal event takes place once a month during, you guessed it, the full moon—specifically, May through October from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Friday closest to the full moon. The event, which takes place at the Warner Park Equestrian Center in Bellevue, is a jam-focused small festival complete with food trucks and a main stage featuring local talent. 

Funds from ticket sales benefit Warner Park, and there’s a discount for “pickers”—those who arrive bearing banjos, mandolins, fiddles, guitars, dulcimers, and a host of other instruments listed on the Pickin’ Party website will only have to pay $5 to enter. While the $25 general admission is surely a deterrent for some music fans, the experience is worth it. There are few things more authentically Nashville than an expert bluegrass jam hosted in a stable under the full moon. 

Larger Festivals

Photo courtesy of CMA Fest

Any conversation about Nashville’s summer music scene would be remiss if it didn’t mention two of the region’s largest music events: CMA Fest and the Bonnaroo Music Festival in neighboring Manchester. With massive stars and even more massive crowds, the effect these festivals have on the local culture and economy is unrivaled.