Super cute lil venue! I've been lucky enough to see a few shows here. My favorites were Gooseberry and Clayton Johnson. Please check both of them out they're phenomenal artists and Clayton is about to be in Taylor Frankie Paul's season of the bachelorette so please pray for that man because we love TFP but that broad a lil crazy. I say that with all the love in my heart as I too am a crazy broad. Anywho the venue. Tiny but great. Strong drinks. Just a great place to watch insane music up close and personal. I love coming to shows here. Pack earplugs because it does And I am elderly and prone to tinnitus. read more

This is an awesome spot and yesterday evening was a blast!! Kenny Sharp! Adonis! Ford Cooper! They brought the love with their wonderful music!! Awesome show and amazing talent! I had a great time! Great service and vibing... I am already looking forward to going there again! read more

I love coming to the Basement. It's small and divey, but in all the best ways. Small intimate venues are the best. Also love they've added non-alcoholic hemp infused drinks to the bar! read more

The Basement - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Tiny venue with a poor sound system. They had issues all night. We really enjoyed the shows though. Dead Poet Society and Kid Pastel absolutely killed it. I would recommend bringing earplugs. Pretty much anywhere you stand you're still dangerously close to the speakers. The aesthetic was similar to that of CBGB in New York. Band stickers covered the walls and even the mirrors in the restrooms. The restrooms were kinda gross and smelled like vomit (not surprising for a nightclub). We will definitely come back for another show in the future. read more

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I'm so upset - I had a chair that was given to me for my disability at the front of the stage and someone said no you can't have it I stood to the side and showed my papers and it didn't matter. I'm so disappointed in the basement read more

Classic music dive. Great that they bring in new artists on Tuesdays. The space is small, dingy, low ceiling (it is a basement after all.) They do sell earplugs which are needed at times if you don't have your own. Enter from the back - not street side. read more

The Basement - Rebecca Lee Daniels at The Basement in Nashville. - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Great place to meet new musicians in Nashville. I traveled down from Louisville KY to play there for their New Faces night and it was a lot of fun. read more

SOUND: Honestly it sounds great! CLEAN: No, it always feels sticky like whatever you touch or graze by, maybe bring some wet-naps haha! DOOR: I don't know, I've only ever been "on the list" with a guy that plays drums with bands. SIZE: I think it can pack a lot of people in, and there are some random tables and chairs. TIP: Go early if you want a SEAT. DRINKS: I feel like they are pretty affordable, usually $5 or more. I haven't had a liquor drink, I usually get a beer and it's always been great. Not sure how good the liquor drinks are and how the pours are. Not sure I could recommend anything other than a bottle of something. Overall, if there's someone you want to see here you should definitely come by! read more

The Basement - LADIES GUN CLUB!!!! SOOOO GOOD - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I've seen several shows at the Basement East but this was my first show at The Basement. It's much smaller than TBE, smaller even than The END. Which makes for an intimate setting for a show to say the least--and the acoustics were pretty solid when I was here. Bartender was friendly and drinks were fairly priced. Bathrooms were surprisingly clean. My only real complaints aren't really the fault of the venue itself--there's little to no parking so you're going to have to get here hella early to snag street parking (which is fortunately free). And when you do there's literally nothing to do (eat or drink) within a 4 block radius (really?!). I'd definitely see another show here. read more

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While I had a good time here and saw pretty cool bands (like Faux Ferocious), I wasn't into The Basement when I went there. My Yelp rating is more like 2.5 stars. I'm really not trying to be a hater, but there was an attitude in that place that soured the night for me. It's a cool looking venue - dark, dingy, rough around the edges, and a little grimy (all pluses for a rock club) - but the patrons and even some of the people working the club that night were kind of snooty. Of all places to be snooty, they were snooty here! Perhaps it could have been a bad night, but I got the feeling that this was Nashville Indie Rock Elitism B.S. in full force... Meh... That being said, I'll take the Hi-Tone in Memphis over The Basement any day (just saying). read more

The Basement - View of stage - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The Basement is one of the venues in Nashville to see true singer/songwriters. The venue is small, dark and intimate. We came here to see three acts on a Friday night and luckily we got there early enough to score front row seats. It was a mere $5 for entry and to be honest these acts deserve so much more. I was impressed with the talent we saw and the energy exuded on stage. The sound is excellent and there is no bad seat in the house. The Mountain with Amethyst Kiah, Shannon Labrie and Jillian Jacqueline thanks for the amazing performances. Side note I usually hate box wine but the one they serve was actually pretty good! read more

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There's something about this venue the reminds me of tiny clubs of yore in NYC. It's small, dark, covered in all kinds of gig posters and gives you the feeling that you're about to see something fantastic on the stage that you will one day appreciate even more when this act is playing to the masses and you can say, "Oh I saw them at this TINY club..." Even if that doesn't happen, there is a lot of worth in that alone. This *is* music city, so you never know. If you think an act is going to be awesome, you're doing everyone a favor (especially cranky, hard to please people like me). I enjoyed the act I saw, for sure. I also love that cool side patio where all the smokers go (and where you can go if you need a break from the live stuff). Met some cool, friendly people out there. So here's where I get picky. The Basement does *look* like a dive bar, but I would never call a place with prices like this a dive bar. I mean... $6 bucks for a call shot? I don't think so. For a music club that's even high. So I'm deducting a star for that. read more

Small venue with great talent. Grimey (owner) somehow finds some of the best local and touring artists around to come and play. Tuesday nights are NEW FACES night. You can see up to 10 acts covering several different genres in one night. There is always something for everyone on New Faces. AND IT'S FREE. Make sure to check out their calendar, there's generally an early (6pm) and late (9pm) show every night. Be sure to head upstairs before 7pm and buy some records and memorabilia from Grimey's and Grimey's Too. read more

The Basement - The Basement stage. - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Saw a concert here and music was great! The only issue was the bartender. She was so rude to us and told my boyfriend he couldn't get 2 drinks because it was "only one per wrist band" but I was able to get 3 drinks at once when I had ordered from someone else. Very strange and people from outside of my friend group seemed to have issues with her as well. Also they don't mix the drinks at all or have stirrers so first few sips are straight liquor lol. Would not recommend read more

Oh I adore The Basement. It's such a great place to see local and upcoming bands, and I can't wait to see the artists that I've been 5 feet from make it big. I love that it's musty and dark. I love the grungy nature of the bar and that you really feel like you are in a musicians basement checking out a show from a friend. I'd highly recommend just stopping in on a random night when you feel like hearing a live band that will be vastly different than the artists you'll see on Broadway. Of course you need to park on the street and might have to walk a tad and the drink line gets long, but those are minor annoyances when you consider the experience you are there to have. read more

The Basement is the home for local music in Nashville. The venue is the perfect spot to showcase up and coming bands. Tuesday Night is what makes The Basement a great Nashville venue. Tuesday Night is "New Faces Night" it really acts as an open forum where Mike Grimes, the owner, lets anybody have a chance to play in front of the audience. The crowds love the show because there is no cover charge and because each performer is limited to a 20 minute set. This is enough time to let the band showcase their best stuff, when they may not be ready to hold down an entire show. The short set also lets the audience get a good taste of the band's style without beating anybody over the head with it. In addition to their famous Tuesday Night new faces, they host great indie bands from all over the country on every other night of the week. I had a chance to see one of my favorite performers, Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide, perform at the basement several times. The setting is so intimate because the basement is literally the basement of what used to be a house. Its cozy, and clean. There are velvet curtains behind the stage, which has exposed red brick. The vibe is great, and feels almost like a private club because everybody knows everybody else there. The Basement is a great gathering spot for locals. If you are new to Nashville go to a new faces night and you will start to meet a lot of great Nashvillians. read more

The Basement - a band on the basement stage, from their website - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

This is my second favorite venue in Nashville after the Mercy Lounge. It carries the same intimate atmosphere but even more so as it is about half the size of Mercy Lounge. The stage here is a mere 6 or so inches off the floor so performances here seem more interactive than they do at other venues. It is literally a basement, and to be more specific, the basement of popular record store Grimey's. The Basement is owned and operated by the people that run the acclaimed record store upstairs, so the quality of the performers is pretty much guaranteed to be fantastic. The Basement is one of those few places that works well for both acoustic and amped up performances. The crowd's always seem into the performers and its common to see people dancing and openly enjoying themselves unlike in other clubs around town. The people there are eclectic, anywhere from college kids to industry professionals to other musicians and the place showcases local as well as touring bands. It is kind of out of the way, and very hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for. Also parking is limited, the parking lot is ultra tiny (I'm talking like 5 or so cars) so you usually have to park on the street in the residential neighborhoods behind the building. read more

The Basement - Music Venues Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Awesome spot. Courtney Jaye was excellent. Great ambience. A true Nashville experience.

FIX THE FREAKIN' AIR CONDITIONER! Was at least 90 degrees. Ridiculous. What a dump. Not a dive - a dump. Terrible layout. Even the band said it was in the top 5% hottest (temperature) shows they have ever played...and they've played a lot. I won't be back. 6/15/10. OWNER'S RESPONSE TO MY REVIEW: "We are a fucking rock club, Metallica and just about every band that has ever played here love us. Rock shows are supposed to be hot and sweaty, and if you were at the show June 4 I am happy to say that both Dirty Guvnahs and Jompson Bros cannot wait to come back. Very happy that you will not be. Go to Rocketown. Cheers Grimey" My response to his response: "Wow. Seems you're a mite touchy there, Grimey. I'm well aware that The Basement is a fucking rock club, but it was the hottest fucking rock club I've been to. Since you choose to react so immaturely to my honest review, I guess I'll go somewhere else to buy my music as well. There was no need to take my review personally. If you had just told me the AC was down temporarily and left it at that I would have edited my review, but since you decided to be a douche bag, not to mention a short-sighted businessman, I think I'll just report on how rude you have been to me. I have also enjoyed the Guilty Pleasures for several years at various venues and have brought new people to each show I've been to. Not that you care about fans or customers (obviously), but thanks to your little rant I'll be neither from now on." read more

Maybe we're idiots, or maybe we're not. Puja P had her heart set on seeing a show here but we hovered under the Basement's "USE ALLEY ENTRANCE" sign having no idea where to go. The front door was locked. The alley gate was locked. We heard merriment and saw Christmas lights underneath the balcony floorboards but could not imagine how to get in. We'd been an hour late to the start of the show. Was it already over? That would've been in line with our experiences of everything in Nashville closing after 10pm. It was only after admitting defeat that it occurred to us that you have to walk literally DOWN THE BLOCK to the BACK of the house to get in. Jesus. In New York City, alleys are adjacent to houses, not behind them. While Karry L used his sexual prowess to hail a cab, Puja P and I cut across some backyards to briefly check out this newly imagined entrance. Sure enough, there was the bouncer, who told us: "I just got a text message from the bar, he said to stop charging the cover so you guys get in free." Woot! (Later on, Puja P tells me that he didn't get any such text message. But how do you know?! The cover was otherwise $5) Just from hovering inside briefly, it looked like a cute, intimate space, rough around the edges in a good way. The bit of music we heard was a girl + guitar deal. There's a little outdoor deck for nicotine escapes, which explained all the noise we'd heard standing outside. Then Karry L appeared, hangin' out the passenger side of the cabbie's ride. We should've figured out the ingress situation earlier. Worth a visit as a tourist? Yes, I think so. It still isn't located in the most convenient location if you have other destinations afterward and don't want to drive or get a cab, but at least now we all know how to get in. Because you've gotta start somewhere. read more

New musician nights on Tuesdays! Free cover, good live music from new artists! This place was PACKED on a Tuesday. Like butts touching butts packed. This place must be doing something right if you can get all of these people to stay out late on a Tuesday and have a rough Wednesday morning. Small and dark inside, but a cool place to meet friends for drinks and tunes. Small outdoor area as well. How many blondes does it take to find the entrance? Well, there were two of us and we couldn't... so maybe 3? A nice man helped us out though. Like the big sign out front says, use the alley entrance. You have to go around back, and not down the wooden little walk that takes you to some other shop. Otherwise, awesome spot! read more

This is one of the first music venues I got to experience in Nashville and still one of my favorites. The Basement is def a dive bar, esp for a preppy city with high standards like Nashville. It is tiny, there are show bills stapled to all of the walls and ceilings and the stage is small. This is what I really like about the place because I like bars that are authentic where you can get up close and personal with the music. If this place were in Austin you would not hear the complaints about the sweating or poor air conditioning, because so many of the dive bar venues around town are like that and people are used to such and don't give a care as much as those in Nash do so if sweating in the summer is not your thing then you may want to stay away during that time of year. Otherwise I encourage you to experience The Basement. They book great bands of various variety (I have friends that have played here) so you will probably find something for everybody at some point. read more

Very cool venue, but it has the absolute worst layout of any music venue I've ever visited. The bar is tucked away in the back corner, and it's damn near impossible to get a drink. The layout dictates that the bar line cuts straight through the middle of the venue, inconveniencing the people trying to watch the show AND the people trying to get a beer. Incredibly awkward and counter-intuitive layout, and not a very comfortable place to watch a show, but four stars because of the cool vibe and the incredible bands they book. The mix on the music always sounds great, too. read more

Oh man. If I lived in Nashville, I feel like I would be here ALLLLLL the time. It really seems like the go-to place for new and emerging talent. Talking to some people on the patio, there is also a fair share of accomplished musicians who decide to drop in unannounced, (I heard Metallica came once upon a time to randomly practice their set). This was our first stop when we got into town, as my friend was putting on a Texans in Tennessee showcase that included a bunch of singer-songwriters either living in, or originally from Texas. There was truly something for everyone - indie artists, country artists, a little bit of pop-rock...and everyone was more than welcome. I can't put my finger on it, but you just feel like you're kind of in the presence of greatness in this place. Like one day you'll hear someone on the radio and say, "Oh, I remember seeing them at the basement!" Drinks are reasonably priced and pretty heavy-handed if you go the liquor route. The bartender was super friendly and awesome. Definitely a place to visit if you're visiting - even if you don't know anyone who's playing, you'll probably still find someone you like. read more

I've only called Nashville home for a few months now, and this was the first place my wife and I went to see some live music. I must admit, for a first timer, we didn't know what to expect. The Basement's website doesn't really give much info about the venue, but thanks to other Yelpers, we had a heads up about getting there early and hitting up the Free Tuesday night show. We love this place. The small space forces an intimate vibe, and like many others have already said, this adds to the experience- so does the wallpaper of concert flyers and posters. Tuesday nights (New Faces Nite) are when we frequent this place. Not only is there no cover, but you have the ability to see anywhere from 5-9 performers/bands ranging from local singer-songwriters to traveling Americana bands. Whomever is performing, the talent has always been phenomenal. read more

Mike Grimes has been one of the leaders of the anti-Nashvile Country movement here in town for years. A staple of the music scene that doesn't involve over produced, under talented singers, Grimes first carved out a niche for himself as the owner/proprietor of Grimey's, his labor of love record shop that has garnered a preferred retailer award from Britain's premier music rag, MOJO magazine. A few years back, on the heels of the untimely demise of his super cool Slo Bar, an early pioneer in the world of "East Nashville Cool," Grimes decided to open another bar/venue in the basement of the newly relocated Grimey's. The Basement was born. A simple name for a simple concept. Good bands, good bartenders, and good music. In the three plus years I've lived in Nashville, I have seen a lot of great shows at the Basement. There was that Lou Barlow solo show that lasted for over two hours, ending only when the man finally ran out of songs he could remember how to play. Or what about that first Ben Nichols/Cory Branan show, where the raucous energy and roguish charm of both performers hit you like a wave and mingled with the smells of sweat and cheap beer. Or the time I discovered a young (now defunct, maybe) band from Atlanta called the Love Drunks, a beer and insanity fueled garage blues act whose frontman, a red-headed Jew named Patrick, climbed all over the empty tables pouring hot wax down his chest while belting out songs with the energy of Iggy Pop. Some of my best Nashville memories exist in this tiny space. The Basement is that, tiny, but not so tiny that you feel trapped. It's the perfect size venue for really experiencing a band personally. The reason that it ranks in my list above say, the Mercy Lounge or the Cannery Ballroom, is because at the Basement, the bands are almost in the audience, so your feeling of inclusion in the show is that much stronger. You walk out of the Mercy saying, "Wow, that was a good show," you walk out of the Basement saying, "Wow, that was a great experience." On a final note, the Basement was one of the first places in town to go smoke free, and they should be commended for it. They should be commended, as well, for having a patio, complete with heat lamps for winter, that is more than large enough to accommodate a bevy of smokers. All of these things added to the community events thrown there, like the Sausage Fest or the Memorial Day concerts, and you have a venue that really sets itself apart from the Nashville norm. Kudos, Grimey. read more

The Basement is a very small venue but the intimate feel adds to the charm of this space. Literally located in the basement of local music store gem Grimey's, this curious and cavernous bar is a fun place to catch a show, cocktail, or host a party. Sound acoustics have always been spot on too. Beers and stiff drinks are the way to go here as I mistakenly ordered a glass of red wine ($6) the other night and realized that it must have been discounted boxed wine. My bad, not theirs. Who orders red wine at the Basement?! Festive little patio adds to the space and is a great place to hang out in between sets. Parking lot is usually crammed so just head for street parking! TIP: Check out their New Faces Nite every Tuesday evening at 8pm for a free evening of tunes from emerging artists! read more

I'm not quite sure how you could NOT like this place? Especially if you're a music fan. Great intimate venue. Sound was amazing. Prices as expected. My only issue, being a recent Nashville transplant from Los Angeles.. I haven't quite grasped shows starting on time and people leaving when it's over. It's a new concept I'm trying to wrap my brain around... much like no wine at the grocery and the over friendly wave everyone else on 4 way stops. read more

A music venue with nice, clean bathrooms, a pretty patio, and a non-scary atmosphere - what a novel idea. The Basement has always been non-smoking, which is nice because unlike at its closest kin, The Springwater, you can actually see the band on stage. The Basement has a nice quality, nice hard-rockin' musician quality. I've never seen anyone threaten to kick anyone else's ass at the Basement; it seems more of a cooperative, lets get musicians together to play and hope everyone has a good time, place. The cleanliness is also nice. It's a dive bar you can take a respectable girl to. The bathrooms are lovely and clean and they even have spare rolls of toilet paper for when they inevitably run out. It's little things like that that matter. There's also a full bar, and although mixed drinks are kind of pricey, they are mixed strong, but the beer is relatively cheap, so you can see a show, have a few beers, and not break $20. read more

This place was fantastic... We came here on a Tuesday night and it was perfect... We were able to experience 3 different music groups and they were all amazing! The service was great! The space is very small but everyone was super friendly and it didn't feel awkward at all... People of all types, personalities and styles... Awesomely eclectic group of people! Was missing one star only because it's a bit out the way and you can't walk to anything else from it, but it's only a $5 cab ride to downtown which was totally worth it. read more

Don't waste your time trekking out to this little club off the beaten path in Nashville. Aside from the clean bathroom, there wasn't much else I liked about this place. The bartender was rude in ignoring people while chatting with his friends at the bar and what appeared drinking on the job. Pretty unprofessional. Music wise, maybe I hit it on an off night but there couldn't have been a bigger mish mash of conflicting acts and sounds. Clearly they need to look into a new booking agent. Overall I've had much better experiences elsewhere in Nashville. read more

I've only been here once, but the line-up was fantastic. The acoustics are sufficient, and there isn't a bad seat in the house. They also have a side porch which is a nice place to get some fresh air or smoke between sets. read more

I love the Basement. It might be small, but it packs a whole lot of rock inside it's walls. Check it out on a Tuesday for New Faces Nite or go and see some of your favorite local or touring acts here any other day of the week. Drink prices are fair too. You won't be disappointed. Promise. read more

Very, very small... dark... FANTASTIC venue for live music... after you've browsed the used records upstairs at Grimey's. I paid just a few bucks to get in The Basement, bought a beer from a cooler tap, sat down 3 ft from where three outstanding, never-heard-before, blues bands played back to back. One was from Australia, the other two... were not. All three were remarkable. Don't miss a chance to check out this venue when you're in Nashville. read more

For some reason I've just never been that jazzed about The Basement. Really don't know why. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy the place just not with the same enthusiasm as the other reviewers. The sound is reliable but the AC isn't. Smoking is all outside which is a downer for me during a rock show. The foosball table by the bathrooms seems like a silly addition and gets in the way. The bar carries actual ginger ale which gives them cool points. Still don't know exactly why I'm not thrilled about the place, but I do recommend taking a trip out there to check out local music. This is another venue that sometimes hosts the Left Can Dance parties so be sure to make it out for the next one. read more

After living in Nashville for close to 11 years now, you'd think I would have been to The Basement before now. Not so. I'm lame, what can I say? I have been to Grimey's, just never ventured to the space beneath. A dear friend released an EP a couple weeks back and hosted her EP release party here. I was looking forward to having a great reason to finally see what The Basement was all about. Welp, it was a basement for starters. Nothing hidden in the name there! It was a very cool, small intimate space and I actually rather enjoyed it! The acoustics were great and I wasn't really expecting that. I liked the set up and was even surprised they had a bar in that tiny little space. Parking was as I expected, but it wasn't a big problem that particular evening. All in all, I really enjoyed the venue and it seems that they don't mess around with keeping on a schedule. Yay for that! read more

Went here a few times. They have a variety of bands playing from cover bands, local musicians, to bigger artists. The environment is cozy and intimate. Seating is in the front or on the side on bar stools, the rest is standing room. Bathrooms have been clean every time we have been. The people who work there have been very nice too. To get to the Basement is in the back of the building...so if you are going for the first time, go around back. There is parking for 15-20 cars and then you are parking on the street. read more

If you're familiar with Grimey's New and Preloved Music, you probably know about Mike Grimes' downstairs and aptly named music venue The Basement. The Basement, though small, holds some really impressive and very intimate shows on a weekly basis. Though The Basement is one of the less spacious venues in Nashville, it makes for some of the most memorable and neat shows you'll see. It's non-smoking indoors, but there is a pretty fantastic little patio for smoking and relaxing outside. The sound is always nearly flawless, and it's small enough that you can hear the band no matter where you venture. The Basement serves beer only, but they offer Yazoo as well as the usual domestics. (Correction: they serve liquor. Hurrah!) The bartenders and sound guys are always friendly, and if your band is booked to play The Basement, you'll get $1 domestics and superior monitor mixes. The Basement books local and national acts and also has comedy shows pretty regularly. While you'll typically see Tennessean acts (small and large), if you buy tickets in time you'll also be able to see the more intimate shows of bands like Guided By Voices and comedians like Fred Armisen and Zach Galifianakis. Though there is a foosball table, it's eaten the money of patrons more than once. Other than that, there's little about The Basement I don't absolutely love. If you get the chance, come by one of Grimey's record sales/shows which are co-hosted by Grimey's and The Basement. They are always a blast. read more

This is a relatively small venue in comparison to most in Nashville. Parking is always a 'joy' if their lot is full as well. Don't let the name deceive you, it is a basement. You park behind the building, and go in behind the building. When you first walk in there is a room, kind of set apart with tables etc. Then you walk into the main area, with the stage to your left and the bar straight ahead. I'll be honest, it always seems crowded but I still love it. The vibe is very cool and the people are awesome. It's one of my favorite places to see showcases. I can't remember what night of the week, but apparently they also have an "Aussie" night - where all Australian singers jam. read more

I have been here a handful of times and have never seen a bad or even mediocre/boring show! Every artist/band that has taken the stage has been captivating and awesome! The setting is welcoming and intimate, as though you're in a room with some of your closest friends experiencing great new music at the same time. Theyve got a nice little sound set up, decent amount of standing/sitting room for it being a "basement" and all. I love the beer selection here, too...and I am kind of in love with beer. Dark beer, and they have great choices! The bartender and doorman are awesome as well. You also never know whos going to show up spontaneously and maybe join in on a song or two, and when this happens its usually a nice surprise! read more