There are many great places to hear live music in Rutherford County. Latino, jazz, soul, pop, country, and even classic rock are all part of the vast assortment of venue tastes.
Just like the music itself, each location has its own character. Coffee shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, and even traditional stores are doing their part to print live music to the area. Many of them have a history with Rutherford County, while some are newer.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite places to hear new music. Is your favorite location missing? Let us know by leaving a comment.
Boro Bar and Grill
1211 Greenland Drive
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
http://www.theborobar.com
Hours: Sunday through Saturday, noon until midnight
This is a college dive bar for sure, but one that has been around forever. It has a reputation for great music, with a lot of startups and “hobby bands” playing there. Many musicians have to bring their own sound systems, so the quality of sound does vary.
The Boro offers bar food, along with more than 200 beer options. Skimming the online reviews, one may notice that it’s quite popular in the summer when the doors are open to the fresh air.
Carpe Café
115 Front Street
Smyrna, Tennessee
(615) 984-4040
http://www.carpe-cafe.com/
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Created by the nonprofit Carpe Artista, Carpe Café exists as a fundraising vehicle for
Carpe Artista. It offers training for young people interested in the culinary arts, which is something needed in the area. It’s also an outlet for local musicians and Carpe Artista personnel alike to showcase their talent.
Music is offered monthly at Carpe Café, with showcases happening between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The Front Street Pub
104 Front Street
Smyrna, Tennessee
(615) 355-6880
https://www.facebook.com/TheFrontStreetPub.Est.2021/
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11:00 am until 10:00 pm
Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am until midnight
Formerly known as Ron's Tavern, they offer a bar, food, live music, and karaoke. On Tuesdays, they have a weekly Singer/Songwriter Jam Session. Friday nights are karaoke and on Saturday nights there is live acoustic followed by karaoke.
The schedule for The Front Street Pub features a lot of impromptu performances. It’s best to check their Facebook page for more live music.
Gallagher Guitars
118 North Walnut Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 624-4196
https://gallagherguitar.com/
Music Hours: Friday or Saturday nights beginning at 7:00 p.m.
In the daytime, Gallagher Guitar Co. is all about making quality guitars. On select Friday and Saturday nights, it becomes a venue for local music acts. They have the occasional emerging writers’ night and unplugged night, as well as a rotation of familiar talent.
The business was begun in 1965 by J.W. Gallagher, then when he retired in 1976 by his son Don, followed by Don’s son, Stephen. In 2019, David Mathis bought the company and he continues in the Gallagher tradition having learned to play as a child on a Gallagher G-50.
Check out their website for who is playing and when.
Handlebars
2601 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 890-5661
https://www.facebook.com/borohandlebars/
Hours: Open 24/7 daily
Handlebars is Murfreesboro's only 24/7 dining and live music destination. They serve a full breakfast, and have a lunch/dinner menu. They also have an outdoor tiki bar in the summer, a fire pit, and specialty nights that include a “bike night.”
Hop Springs Beer Park
6790 John Bragg Highway
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 450-1907
https://hopspringstn.com/
Hours: Sunday, noon until 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Friday, 4:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Located on 83 acres of rolling hills and parkland, Hop Springs has quite a bit to offer visitors. Beer, great bands, disc golf, a dog park, and even walking trails.
In the Summer, they open two outdoor stages. In the cooler months, there is a stage in the indoor tap room. Live music every weekend. They have provided a stage for a diverse group of artists including Travis Tritt, Jimmy Allen, Delbert McClinton, Everclear, and a slew of tribute bands.
Liquid Smoke
2 North Public Square
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 217-7822
http://liquidsmoke.biz/
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, noon until midnight
Known best as a beer and cigar bar, they offer live, relaxing music several times a month, and a somewhat notorious loud rock show on one Sunday evening a month. They carry more than 230 different bottled beers, including craft, import and domestic, as well as drafts on tap from local breweries.
Luna’s Night Club
527 W. Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 556-6402
https://www.facebook.com/LunasNightClub
Hours: Sunday, 7:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, 9:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Luna's is a Latino nightclub that hosts popular DJs, national and international musicians, and karaoke events. The club also features a bar, pool tables and a second floor for private events. Food service and cocktails are available. They have ladies nights with free admission on the weekends.
Main Street Music
527 West Main Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 440-2425
https://www.facebook.com/murfreesboromusic
Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 6:00 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee's only true concert venue, Main Street Music is an institution. They have fun music events—like one for Halloween—lots of cool tribute bands, and an army of up-and-coming local bands on the roster.
While it looks like a bit of a dive on the outside, inside they have a beautiful, state-of-the-art building created for concerts. They also have brand-new sound and lighting equipment.
Mayday Brewery
521 Old Salem Road
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 603-7699
https://www.maydaybrewery.com/our-hours/now-on-tap/
Hours: Sunday, noon until 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Friday, 4:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
Brewery owner Ozzy Nelson is always in hand to make sure that everyone is having a good time. Every Wednesday they host a singer-songwriter night. An eclectic mix of live music fills the brewery on Fridays.
Mayday does a lot of music-related events, too. Not only are the tunes great, but the fun atmosphere is inviting. It is a local hangout for many because of the always changing artisan beer, yummy pizza, and laid-back vibe.
Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant
114 North Church Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(629) 201-6916
https://puckettsgro.com/murfreesboro/our-menu/
Music Hours: Friday and Saturday beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The Williamson County favorite came to downtown Murfreesboro a few years ago. Ever since then, Puckett’s has provided downtown Murfreesboro with live music every Friday and Saturday night after 7:00 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made online. Besides the music, they offer Puckett’s great food.
The Notes Lounge
2349A South Church Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(615) 528-3303
https://www.thenoteslounge.com/
Hours: Thursday, 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 6:00 p.m. until midnight
With 10,000 square feet of space to lounge in one of their easy chairs or get your party on, Notes features the best in jazz and soul, as well as comedians, spoken word poets, and select DJs. It is the ultimate destination for live entertainment and over 21 socializing. They offer a dinner menu and cocktails.
