Tennessee tunes: Best places to see live music in Franklin, TN

Tennessee tunes: Best places to see live music in Franklin, TN

The great state of Tennessee is synonymous with live music, and home to intimate open mic nights, bluegrass bands and country music’s top talent. In fact, more songs are written, recorded and performed here than anywhere else in the world.

The Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin, Tennessee
The Pilgrimage Music Festival

While Nashville may have claimed the nickname of Music City, some of the best places to enjoy live music are actually in neighbouring Franklin and Leiper’s Fork, just a 20 minute drive from downtown.

Along with festivals, songwriters nights and jam sessions, this is where the likes of Brad Paisley, Miley Cyrus and Luke Bryan have put down roots in a testament to the low-key lifestyle celebs get to enjoy here, far away from the paparazzis’ prying eyes.

Jon Batiste performs at the Pilgrimage Music Festival
Jon Batiste performs at the Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin

Here are some of the top spots to see live music in Franklin, TN.

The iconic stage at Fox & Locke in Leiper's Fork
The iconic stage at Fox & Locke in Leiper’s Fork

Pilgrimage Music Festival

Justin Timberlake, Kasey Musgraves, Maren Morris, Foo Fighters, Keith Urban, Lionel Richie and Chris Stapleton (twice!) are just some of the star-studded acts who have graced the stage at the annual Pilgrimage Music Festival.

Lennon Stella performs at the Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin
Lennon Stella performs at the Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin

The annual two-day event draws about 20-thousand fans, and is held on a horse farm that’s conveniently just a short walk from downtown Franklin.

Single and full weekend passes are available, which grant access to concerts by dozens of performers from various music genres on six different stages, as well as food trucks, bars and a marketplace featuring local vendors.

Butch Walker performs at the Pilgrimage Music Festival
Butch Walker performs at the Pilgrimage Music Festival

The Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin, Tennessee

The family-friendly event also has a kids area complete with crafts, puppet shows, songwriting workshops and the Lil’ Pilgrims stage.

The Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin, Tennessee

Downtown Franklin

Get your music fix without leaving Franklin’s historic centre by timing a concert with dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants.

Gray’s on Main is a former pharmacy-turned-eatery, combining a menu of elevated southern comfort food with inventive craft cocktails and live performances every weekend.

Gray's On Main
Gray’s On Main is also a live music venue

Homestyle faves like pulled pork and BBQ baby back ribs are served up alongside live music almost every night of the week at Puckett’s, which started back in the ‘50s as a grocery store in Leiper’s Fork and has since expanded all over Tennessee.

A go-to for songwriters nights, stars like Jimmie Allen and Walker Hayes got their start on this stage.

 
A recording studio near Franklin, Tennessee
A recording studio near Franklin, Tennessee

Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor is like the next best thing to a house party, since this bar is quite literally found in a couple of converted homes just two blocks off Main Street.

A stage sits in the middle of the living room, drinks are enjoyed in the kitchen and there’s even a backyard hangout spot. Best of all, there’s no way your parents are going to show up unannounced and crash the jam session.

Best restaurants in Franklin TN
Live music at Kimbro’s

Other places to catch live music downtown are Americana Taphouse, in the lobby of the Harpeth Hotel during the weekend, and stopping to cheer on one of the buskers usually found along Main Street.

During the holiday season, catch carollers during the annual Victorian-themed Dickens of a Christmas event.

A band plays in downtown Franklin

Franklin Theatre

Another one of the best music venues in Franklin TN is the Franklin Theatre, and its iconic marquee which is considered the crown jewel of Main Street was first lit up back in 1937.

Things to do in Franklin TN- Franklin Theatre
The Franklin Theatre

While movies are occasionally shown here (be sure to partake in their fun theme nights), the 300-seat venue is more often used as a performance venue.

A long hallway is lined with photos of every major star who’s played here, including Amy Grant, Art Garfunkel, Don McLean, Sheryl Crow, Macy Gray, Travis Tritt and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Heck, even comedian Steve Martin showed up to wow the crowd with his banjo!

Franklin Theatre

Franklin Theatre

The Franklin Theatre is also part of the Tennessee Music Pathways, a state-wide list of hundreds of landmarks that signify important locations related to seven genres of music.

Franklin Theatre

FirstBank Amphitheatre

Imagine you’re in California and pull up a Google Maps search of Tennessee. Zooming in on an all but deserted piece of land, you spot a rock quarry.

Sensing its potential, you decide to buy the land and transform it into a premiere music venue, which is exactly how the FirstBank Amphitheater came to be thanks to its enterprising founders, a former Apple engineer and his wife. 

FirstBank Amphitheater
FirstBank Amphitheater

Located about 20 minutes south of Franklin at the Graystone Quarry in Thompson’s Station, the 7,500-seat venue has hosted the likes of ZZ Top, the Goo Goo Dolls, Miranda Lambert, the Jonas Brothers and Kenny Loggins.

The surrounding natural stone walls make the venue feel intimate, and there’s also a dramatic waterfall at the entrance.

Goo Goo Dolls at FirstBank Amphitheater
Goo Goo Dolls at FirstBank Amphitheater
The waterfall at FirstBank Amphitheater
The waterfall at FirstBank Amphitheater. Supplied.

The ampitheater is also a popular event venue, hosting the likes of corporate functions and weddings.

This VIP area is also used to host weddings

Arrington Vineyards

Arrington Vineyards is a 95-acre property nestled in the rolling hills of middle Tennessee, which showcases nearly two dozen award-winning wines. It was co-founded by Kix Brooks from the legendary country duo Brooks & Dunn, so it’s no surprise this winery also includes tunes with its tastings.

Things to do in Franklin TN- Arrington Vineyards
Arrington Vineyards
Arrington Vineyards
Arrington Vineyards

Music in the Vines features live jazz and bluegrass bands every weekend from April to October. No reservations are required, and food–and plenty of wine, natch–are available for purchase to enjoy a picnic with the performances.

Arrington Vineyards

Arrington Vineyards
Arrington Vineyards

Leiper’s Fork

This charming hamlet 10 miles from downtown Franklin showcases the best of rural Tennessee with talented local artisans, an excellent distillery and one of the state’s most iconic open mic nights.

Thursday nights at Fox & Locke are absolutely legendary, where up-and-comers hoping to make it big get to play two songs each for the crowd.

Fox & Locke in Leiper's Fork
Fox & Locke in Leiper’s Fork

You’ll often see music execs swarm a showstopper once they get off the stage in hopes of signing the next Taylor Swift, and you never know who might unexpectedly show up: Carrie Underwood and Wynonna Judd have been known to treat the crowd to a surprise performance!

Alyssa Flaherty plays at Fox & Locke
Alyssa Flaherty plays at Fox & Locke

Fox & Locke is open for lunch, dinner and drinks from Wednesday-Sunday, and advance online bookings are recommended for those hoping to reserve a table on Thursday nights.

 
Fox & Locke in Leiper's Fork
Jo Corso plays at Fox & Locke in Leiper's Fork
Guitar sensation Jo Corso at Fox & Locke

Another spot worth checking out in Leiper’s Fork is the Lawnchair Theatre, which is tucked away in the grassy area behind Fox & Locke.

The outdoor venue sometimes hosts outdoor movie nights during the summer months, as well as live music nights that have previously featured Willie Nelson. Just remember to BYOC…bring your own chair!

The Lawnchair Theatre in Leiper's Fork
The Lawnchair Theatre

Globe Guide explored Franklin as a guest of Visit Franklin. As always, hosts have no editorial influence on articles.

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