Key findings

• Nashville has ~252 music spaces, with 112 dedicated primarily to live music. Among these, 24 are independent, and 48 are categorized as “quasi-independent.”
• Music City lives up to its name. Nashville’s per capita concentration of venues is more than six times higher than New York City or Tokyo.
• More than 90% of downtown venues are non-independent, while independent venues are concentrated in East Nashville, Midtown, and South Nashville.

Recommendations

• Create a music coalition of civic leaders.
• Support venues with policy tools like an independent music venue land trust and Legacy Business designation + use land-use regulations to expand music venue space.
• Address barriers and costs of launching new independent venues by educating future operators, facilitating partnerships with real estate leaders, providing financial support, and simplifying permitting processes.
• Enhance urban mobility to better serve live music venues, workers, and patrons by improving transportation options and exploring pilot projects.
• Expand music-related investments into more genres and neighborhoods via events, marketing, funding, and policy support.

• Joe Pera | Friday, July 12-Saturday, July 13 | Times vary | Zanies Comedy Club, 2025 8th Ave. S. | $43 | Known for his subdued standup, this comedian also had a popular Adult Swim series, “Joe Pera Talks With You.”
• Colleen Coble, Rick Acker & Denise Hunter | Friday, July 12 | 6 p.m. | Books-A-Million, 6718 Charlotte Pk. | Free+ | The three authors celebrate the release of their latest novels “What We Hide” and “love, unscripted” with a discussion and book signing.

• Plan Your Fall Garden Now | Saturday, July 13 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Hwy. 100 | Free | Get a jump start on fall garden planning with the help of Davidson County Master Gardeners.
• Tomat-O-Rama Festival | Saturday, July 13 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Nashville Farmers Market, 900 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. | Free+ | Celebrate all the colorful tomato varieties with themed activities, specialty foods, live music, and more.
• Museum Fun Day | Saturday, July 13 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Lane Motor Museum, 702 Murfreesboro Pk. | Cost of admission | The special event includes free vault tours, rides in select museum vehicles, and vehicle demonstrations on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Beer Garden Yoga | Sunday, July 14 | 9-11 a.m. | Von Elrod’s Beer Hall & Kitchen, 1004 4th Ave. N. | $34 | Bring your own mat to this one-hour yoga flow in the outdoor beer garden — tickets include a $10 food/drink voucher.
• National Mac and Cheese Day | Sunday, July 14 | 12-4 p.m. | Jackalope Brewing Company - The Ranch, 429B Houston St. | Cost of purchase | Enjoy brand new mac and cheese from The Mac Shack, as well as craft beer and live music.

• Back to School Supplies Drive | Monday, July 15 | 5-8 p.m. | The Truck Stop, 229 Donelson Pk. | Cost of purchase | The food truck park is accepting backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and other supplies.
• MY Outdoors: Neon Nights | Monday, July 15 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Friends of Mill Ridge Park, 12965 Old Hickory Blvd. | Free | Explore Mill Ridge Park with glow sticks and flashlights for the chance to win prizes — all materials, bug spray, and refreshments provided.

• Alonzo King LINES Ballet
• Collage Dance Collective
• School of Nashville Ballet’s Choreographic Intensive

• Downtown’s Rutledge Hill neighborhood could be getting a 24-story mixed-use building at 616 4th Ave. S. The tower is expected to house 218 hotel rooms, 261 residences, and restaurant space. The concept plan is up for review on Thursday, Aug. 22. (Nashville Post)

• Metro Planning released its draft Edgehill Neighborhood Plan, a 117-page document that will “guide growth and development” in the neighborhood over the next 20 years. Make note of these feedback opportunities prior to the Thursday, Aug. 22 public hearing and vote.

• This weekend and next week is the ideal time to visit Parnassus Books, as the shop plans to close July 21-23 for renovations. “Take a nice, long stare at this store that you know and love so much because very soon we will have a whole new look,” the announcement reads.

• The Tennessee Titans signed three-time Pro Bowler Jamal Adams. The safety was a first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft and has played in 80 games with the New York Jets (2017-2019) and the Seattle Seahawks (2020-2023). See the team in action at the first preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 10.

• The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix released single-day grandstand tickets starting at $55 for Saturday, Sept. 14 and $95 for Sunday, Sept. 15. Additionally, families can score half-off two-day tickets for kids 12 and under.

• The Frist Art Museum’s “Teens Take the Frist” exhibition opens tomorrow, July 13 and will remain on display in the upper-level Education Corridor through Sunday, Aug. 11. It’s free to view and features artwork by over 90 emerging Middle Tennessee artists. Preview the exhibit.

• Feeling lost in a sea of generic health advice? Lumen analyzes your unique metabolism with a single breath in the morning — and we scored you 15% off.*

• Define a problem
• Identify stakeholders needed to address the problem
• Connect with city officials and others who can help identify the solution
• Develop a plan/budget
• Present and pitch a plan
• Provide tools on moving the solution forward