Nashville

Oh my god!
Where to start with this amazing city. OK, we didn't see much of it, didn't actually get much further than downtown Broadway and a drive around a bit of it in taxis, but hey the bit we experienced was off the scale.

First the iconic bits. I've always loved the Nashville skyline ever since they constructed the 'Batman' building, or the AT&T tower. To stand beneath it's glass walls and look up at the ears on the top was an amazing experience. 

But I jump ahead. We'd been listening to the radio on the way down to Nashville and as the city came into view, Lynyrd Skynyrd came on the radio with Sweet Home Alabama. Talk about tears in the eyes, we were both smiling from ear to ear and rocked that song like Bill and Ted till it finished. Here we were at our first Spiritual city and we couldn't wait to hit those revered streets. We were staying with a guy who rents part of his house through AirB&B and had no trouble finding the place. 

Quickly, get changed, we've got a date at the Grand Ole Opry. How much fun is this! We'd booked tickets for the Tuesday radio show months ago and the line up looked good. It was actually much better in the flesh. Not as stuffy or even as Country as I expected. I really enjoyed the whole experience and of course Jake was smiling throughout. She's a redneck at heart, or so she tells me.

Here's some pics from the evening.

Entering the Hallowed Doors.

The Whites

Rhett Walker Band

Guitarist with Tyler Farr Band. That's pretty out there for a country boy!

         

John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band. Fabulous performers, especially Mr. Jorgenson on the small guitar thingy.

Little Big town.

So that was the Opry. Another bucket list item chalked off. We had two full days ahead of us and boy did we use it. We decided to wear indoor clothes for the day, because the air conditioning is so coooool, so although the temps were in the low 90's, we donned jeans and T shirts and headed off into the sunshine, knowing full well we wouldn't be back till bedtime. Downtown Broadway is where most of the music bars are situated and arriving there was so damn exciting. Every establishment sells drink, food and music. It starts at 11 in the morning and goes through till 2 in the morning. The acts changed every three hours in each bar and there are so many of them. We just went from place to place for two full days, sleeping a bit, but just really going for it as we do!

Some photos of the entertainment.

Brit Stokes. Amazing singer and player.

Wish we had one of those!!!!

Can't remember who she was!!!

These guys were brilliant. Drank between every song and just got wilder. So much talent and fun.

Inside of the famous Roberts Western World Bar.

Looking into Roberts.

Favourite band with Daniel Donato on lead. This boy will be famous one day.

Me singing at the world famous Blind Horse Having a Pee Saloon

After singing at the Blind Horse, we went for a drink together.

Na na na na na na batman!

So many fun and funny things happened here. We phoned a cab from the house, said it would be 15 mins, so we wait outside. After 15 mins this white Chevy with a blue stripe comes past us, Jake waves it down, it was a police car!!!! 

We met up with an Orkney exile, Phil Anderson, who has made Nashville his home and is involved in the music industry. Orcadians get everywhere. Turns out there's another lad from home, Craig Smith, who plays in a band here and we probably saw him on Ŵednesday night! Small small world.

All too soon it was over and it was time to move on. Nashville is wonderful. If anyone reading this has the chance to go, please do, it will leave a great scar on your memory. As for us, it's a new day, it's a new dawn and time to get that motor running.