A Visitor’s Guide to Live Music in Franklin, TN: Catch Live Performances While You're In Town

No trip to The South is complete without catching live music at one of its countless famous venues. Live music in Franklin, TN is sure to be one of many highlights on your next trip. Let us help you find where and when to see the best live music during your visit to Franklin!

live music franklin tn — Open mic night at Fox & Locke in Leiper’s Fork is a legendary place to come for live music.

Live music is the heartbeat of Franklin, Tennessee. Chris and I quickly learned this on our most recent trip here. As people who love live music, and have been to our fair share of concerts, music festivals and even impromptu jam sessions around the world, we were ecstatic to learn this when planning a trip to Franklin.

Grammy award-winning musicians have moved to Franklin and other parts of Williamson County from all over the USA in droves over the years for this very reason—it’s a place where good music isn’t only appreciated, but it’s everywhere. Whether you’re planning on spending time finding things to do in the town of Leiper’s Fork, or checking out all of the exciting things to do in Franklin, make sure you make seeing live music a priority during your trip.

Nearby Nashville (also known as the Music City) may pack a punch when it comes to country music, but Franklin holds its own in terms of what it offers to music lovers. From buskers performing on the streets of Franklin to famous open mic nights in the area, this is truly its own city of music.

A Small City With a Vibrant Musical Culture

Franklin holds a special place in the history of country and Americana music, and that’s not just because it’s close to Nashville. It’s part of the Americana Music Triangle, which gave rise to nine distinct genres of American music, and had an enormous impact on music around the world. The genres you can find along this triangle are Blues, Jazz, Country, Rock’n’Roll, R&B/Soul, Gospel, Southern Gospel and Cajun/Zydeco. The triangle is now a road trip and driving route connecting the major cities of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans.

Considering the fact that Franklin is a relatively small city of just under 90,000 residents, the 16 or so square blocks close to its Main Street offer a lot of variety in terms of genres and live music venues. Music truly runs through the veins of so many people who call Franklin home. Chances are, you’ll encounter someone famous performing in and around town any day of the week. Musicians like Walker Hayes and Thomas Rhett got their start performing in Franklin, and local businesses like Arrington Vineyards or White’s Mercantile are owned in part or in full by celebrities like Kix Brooks and Holly Williams.

Live music is a mainstay in Franklin. Jam sessions and performances abound, highlighting bands, solo artists and everything in between who live in and around here, and those who are on their own tour passing through town. In terms of musical genres, of course country music is a staple of the region, but you can expect to hear a little bit of everything in and around Franklin.

Now, let’s get into the best places you can see live music while you’re in town!

Where to See Live Music: Franklin and Williamson County

You’re sure to find live music at these venues and events during your trip to Franklin, Tennessee.

The Legendary Kimbro’s Pick-n-Parlor

Located just a few short blocks east of Main Street in Franklin, The Legendary Kimbro's is a must-visit while in town. Picture a Victorian cottage, where the kitchen was converted into a bar, the enclosed porch was converted into a performance space, and the remaining rooms were converted into seating areas. Plaster many a band poster, music-themed sign or Tennessee-loving trinket to any exposed space on the walls, and you’ve got yourself Kimbro’s.

Kimbro’s was opened in 2005 by songwriter Ron Kimbro as a pickin' parlor. It eventually turned into a music venue in 2007, when Will Jordan (the owner of Carpe Diem; Franklin’s first record store) became a partner. Kimbro retired in 2014, leaving Jordan in charge. The venue has hosted renowned artists like Ween, Leon Russell, Vince Gill, and Emmylou Harris, among others.

Chris and I headed here after dinner in Franklin one night. The space is dimly lit and inviting, the drinks are served in cans and cups, and you’ll be greeted by the hum of live music long before you reach the venue itself. Many of the doors and windows are open in the evening’s Southern heat, after all. The night we visited, a local bluegrass and country band called The Bankshafts was playing. Sure enough, we heard the pickin’ and pluckin’ on their varied string instruments as we rounded the corner.

Although it wasn’t in the cards for us during our visit, I’m also told Kimbro's is known for having great burgers. And of course they offer many different beers, ciders, wines and cocktails for you to enjoy alongside your live music.

Kimbro’s is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., and on weekends from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Franklin Theatre

Known as the “Home of First Kisses”, Franklin Theatre is not only a beautiful historic theatre on Main Street, but an excellent place to catch live music in the city.

It originally opened in 1937 as the movie house in town. 70 years later, like many small theatres of its kind, it was forced to close. It was taken on by The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County and underwent significant restorations before reopening in 2010. Today it continues to be a dedicated, world-class performing arts and entertainment centre.

Many famous musicians and performers come to delight Franklin Theatre’s stage. During Chris’s and my most recent visit, we weren’t able to catch a performance at the theatre, but we did see the long lines for big names coming through to perform, and for a documentary screening. It’s definitely a popular place, and coming here to see this state-of-the-art facility alone will make it worth the visit.

To catch a performance at Franklin Theatre, you can take a look at their events calendar. They’re open every day of the week, except Tuesdays, and performance schedules vary week to week.

Fox & Locke

live music franklin tn fox and locke — A humble stage that’s been graced by so many greats at Fox & Locke

Fox & Locke is a special place to come for live music on a trip to Williamson County. Located in Leiper’s Fork, it was originally opened as Fox & Locke General Store in 1947 by Jack Fox and Martin Locke.

After some transitions in ownership, it was known as Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant up until more recently, when its original name of Fox & Locke was revived. It was truly a traditional grocery store until 2002 when live music was introduced, and it quickly became a hub for songwriters, artists and visiting performers and audience members from around the world.

Fox & Locke launched the careers of country stars like Lennon and Maisy Stella, and with special events like its Thursday Open Mic Night, you never know which celebrity singers or up-and-coming artists will get up on stage. Some of the names that come up to perform regularly include Carrie Underwood, Wynonna Judd, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, and Grammy winning jazz artist Keb Moe.

The open mic night in particular has become legendary, and is now regarded as one of the most significant nights for artists hoping to make it big. Many acts are country music, but a few other genres make an appearance throughout most evenings, too. Scouts from major record labels are regularly in attendance, and tickets are sold out weeks in advance.

Whether you’ve gotten a ticket to the open-mic night, or another performance at Fox & Locke, I’d recommend snagging a seat at one of the high top tables at the back of the space if you can for the best view in the house. If you happen to visit on a Thursday night, this space at the back also ends up being the unofficial green room for performers getting amped up for their two-song set, in hopes of making it big.

Fox & Locke is open Wednesdays to Sundays, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you’re hoping to catch a live show, including Open Mic Nights, you can book tickets and check out availability here.

Gray’s On Main

This downtown pharmacy-turned-restaurant-and-music-venue has quite the story. Originally opened as the Gray Drug Co. in 1876, it was a pharmacy in Franklin for nearly 100 years. In 2013 it opened as the Gray’s we know today, and it’s an incredible building to visit while you’re in town.

Chris and I came to Gray’s for lunch on the second floor, where we got a great glimpse of their stunning wooden stage area. Unfortunately we weren’t able to catch a live show here while we were in town, but I can see how it would be an epic place to do so. Their menu is incredible, featuring their take on staple dishes of The South. If you’re able to stay for a meal while you’re in town, I’d highly recommend it. The Bacon-Wrapped Figs and Crispy Pimento Cheese bites are delicious.

Gray’s is also the home of the award-winning Anthym Spirit cocktail. Voted The South’s Best Whiskey Drink with notes of apricot and chai, it’s a must-try while you’re here.

Gray’s on Main is open Tuesdays to Saturdays, with various live music events happening throughout the week. For full listings, you can see their events calendar here.

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

This annual music festival takes place in late September at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm. The festival grounds are a close walk to Downtown Franklin, and this festival celebrates Franklin’s heritage in the Americana Music Triangle.

The festival was modeled after the New Orleans Jazz Fest, and showcases a range of music genres, including rock, alt-country, bluegrass, jazz, indie, and gospel. Featuring emerging artists and renowned headliners, the festival is now in its tenth year.

For more information about the dates and musicians playing at this year’s festival, click here.

Franklin Downtown Art Crawl

While not exactly an official live music event, the Franklin Downtown Art Crawl is a great place to catch live music in the city—and it’s completely free! Taking place on the evening of the first Friday of every month, this festival highlights the best of music, culture and community in Downtown Franklin.

You can walk the full stretch of Main Street, pop into shops, grab some local treats and catch a variety of live music performances. You’ll find acts performing inside shops, restaurants and galleries and out on the street along Main Street, and even in alleyways and parking lots all night. It’s a fun night out for sure, with many venues offering complimentary refreshments, live music, and art demonstrations throughout the night.

I’m not exactly a big shopper, but I appreciated the opportunity to spend a little time shopping while checking out all of the local talent in Franklin. On the night of our art crawl, we saw everything from father-daughter fiddle duos to school groups performing, to full on band performances inside a few places. This was such a great way to get to know Franklin as a visitor from out of town.

You can learn all about Franklin’s Downtown Art Crawl here.

Don’t Miss a Live Show on Your Next Trip to Franklin!

By now, I hope you’ve found the inspiration you’re looking for to make sure you head to Franklin, Tennessee for live music. If the trip isn’t for the live music alone, then hopefully it’s going to be a feature of your trip.

No matter the day of the week, it’s certain that you’ll walk along the streets of Franklin and hear something. Whether that’s the barefoot violinist busking on Main Street in Downtown Franklin, or a guest appearance by a celebrity like Carrie Underwood at Fox & Locke’s stage, there’s no doubt you’ll be in awe with each and every musician, songwriter, singer and performer who chooses such a magical, soul-filled setting to perform in.

I want to thank Visit Franklin for hosting me as media. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

A Visitor’s Guide to Live Music in Franklin, TN: Where to Catch Memorable Live Performances While You’re in Town