The Best Small (But Quaint) Places To Hear Live Music

Best Places To See "Live" Music

These are our favorite places in Franklin and Nashville to see live music in an intimate setting where you can get up close and personal with the singers & songwriters...

Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: "About 115..." (you're seated at individual tables, so you can enjoy dinner before the show)
TYPE OF MUSIC: songwriter nights, mostly Country
DANCE FLOOR: no
SMOKE-FREE: yes
COVER: yes, $15 (show only) or $29.95 (includes dinner & show)
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: Saturday Songwriter nights (dinner 7:00PM, show 8:30PM*)
*NOTE: The original Puckett's Gro. & Restaurant (same owner) is located in nearby Leiper's Fork, where they serve up the same type of food and "Live" music on Friday nights.
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: 10.22.05 11.19.04 11.09.04

Check out their menu here

Here's the current schedule (...for both locations*)

Mickey Roo's
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: "About 125 inside then another 140 outside on the patio." -- Roo
TYPE OF MUSIC: songwriter nights & "Live" music, mostly Country
DANCE FLOOR: no
SMOKE-FREE: yes
COVER: no
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: Wednesday "songwriter nites" at 7:30PM; Thursday thru Saturday "Live" music at 8:00PM
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: 06.07.06

Check out their menu here.

See current schedule here. (...needs updated)

Bunganut Pig
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: "72... that's the number you need to have a liquor license. There are only 13 tables, so it's pretty small, but it's really hoppin!" -- Jenna (...best waitress at "the Pig"!)
TYPE OF MUSIC: local artists (soloists, duets & groups of singers & songwriters), weekends typically feature multiple-piece bands (Blues, Rock, R&B).
DANCE FLOOR: yes
SMOKE-FREE: no
COVER: $5 on Friday's and Saturday's only
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: "Live" music 7 nights a week starting around 9:00PM (but Monday nights are reserved for bands auditioning to play at the club)
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: 11.25.00

Check out their menu here.

See current schedule here

Henpeck Market (aka "Henpecked")
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: "about 50 ...with capacity for 100 standing room only" -- Don
TYPE OF MUSIC: Bluegrass, pickin'
DANCE FLOOR: no
SMOKE-FREE: yes
COVER: no, $7.99 for catfish dinner plate
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: 4th Saturday each month (2-hour show starts promptly at 5:30PM)
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: Coming Soon.

Check out their menu here.

See current schedule here

Bluebird Cafe
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: "125... there are only 21 tables available for reservations, plus a few bar seats & benches" -- Website
TYPE OF MUSIC: songwriters, mostly Country
DANCE FLOOR: no
SMOKE-FREE: yes
COVER: no (for early shows at 6/6:30PM - reservations not always needed, but recommended), yes (for late shows at 9/9:30PM, usually $10-$15 - reservations required)
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: "in the round" songwriter nights 7 nights a week, nearly 365 days a year
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: 04.26.05 04.13.05 11.13.04 10.15.01 09.21.01 08.09.01 07.04.07 07.08.07 10.18.07 09.25.08

Check out their menu here.

See current schedule here.

3rd & Lindsley
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: about 150 (approximately 35 tables)
TYPE OF MUSIC: Progressive, AAA, Blues, R&B, Rock & Roll, Alternative, Americana, Soul
DANCE FLOOR: no
SMOKE-FREE: no
COVER: yes, usually $10
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: 2 shows a night 7 nights a week, nearly 365 days a year
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: 08.12.01 05.04.07

Check out their menu here.

See current schedule here.

Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar
ENOUGH SEATING FOR: about 200
TYPE OF MUSIC: Blues, Jazz, R&B, Soul
DANCE FLOOR: yes
SMOKE-FREE: no
COVER: yes, usually $10
NIGHTS FOR MUSIC: 7 nights a week, nearly 365 days a year starting around 8PM
OUR PICTURES & REVIEWS: 07.04.01 09.04.99

Check out their menu here.

See current schedule here.

UPDATE: A couple of other places we haven't been to yet that are also popular spots for live music in Franklin, TN:

• The Listening Room Cafe


• The Pond

[Yes, there are many, many more... but these remain our favorites.]