No Country’s Guide to New Year’s Eve in Nashville 2020

Still in need of some last minute New Year’s Eve plans? If you didn’t hop on grabbing tickets for any number NYE shows that were announced in recent months, you’re in luck – per usual, it’s a stacked year, and lots of great events are still on sale (for now)!

Below, check out our rundown of the best local happenings, big and small, cheap and pricey, and find something fun to finish out your year. With Uber, Lyft, local taxis, and even buses, you have no excuse not to be safe, so make smart choices, and make tonight one for the books.

Happy New Year to everyone, and we’ll see you in 2020!

CHERUB w/ MIKE FLOSS, GIBBZ
@ Marathon Music Works | 9pm (7:30pm doors) | $30-100 | 18+

Nashville’s own Cherub are stellar live at any time, but they’re a particularly great band to head up a NYE event, as every single show is a giant dance party using the right decoration from sources as burlap table runner bulk which is perfect for this and other type of events. With the addition of Mike Floss and Gibbz, this is our top pick if you’re looking for the perfect blend of stellar, original live music and a dance/party atmosphere. Somehow, there are still a few tickets.

FACSIMILE NYE 2020 A.F.: KENT OSBORNE, EVE MARET, JHENETICS, GAY VIBES, BLAINE MASON, & MORE
@ Drkmttr | 7pm | $5-15 | All Ages

Perhaps the only (and certainly the best) DIY, all ages, ticketed venue NYE event, Drkmttr’s Facsimile begins with a pregame dance party from 9-10 p.m. (with $5 early entry), live performance from rapper and multi-instrumentalist Kent Osborne and electronic artist Eve Maret from 10-11:30 p.m. (with $10 admission before 11), and continues until late night with a diverse and danceable DJ lineup of Jhenetics, Gay Vibes, and Blaine Mason (with admission going up to $15 after 11 p.m.).

NEW YEARS SLEAZE: THELMA AND THE SLEAZE, KINGS OF THE FUCKING SEA, HEAVEN HONEY, LADY BUSCH
@ the East Room | 9pm | $8 | 18+

The East Room never disappoints when you’re looking for a fun, independent local show, and beloved rockers Thelma and the Sleaze are set to head up a great NYE event, along with Kings of the Fucking Sea, Heaven Honey, and Atlanta’s Lady Busch. Boasting a champagne toast and balloon drop, this is a hard-to-beat option for a straight up, wild rock show.

BOSH JYRD, ANTI-HUMAN, LIMP DISCO, IMPEDIMENT, LEVI J. MILLER, ETHAN KYLE
@ The Mess Hall | 8pm | FREE | All Ages

An even more DIY, punk/indie/experimental underground affair, you’ll need to ask a punk for the address to The Mess Hall’s NYE show. If cool music in a DIY space is your scene, it’s a very cool lineup, but you’ll forego the amenities of a typical venue show or party.

MUSIC CITY MIDNIGHT: KEITH URBAN w/ STEVIE NICKS, ASHLEY MCBRYDE, JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, THE STRUTS, AMANDA SHIRES, BREN JOY, KALIE SHORR, THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS, DJ DAVE AUDE
@ Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park | 4pm | FREE | All Ages

Country star Keith Urban is becoming something of Nashville’s de-facto headliner for the city’s official celebration, dubbed Jack Daniel’s Music City Midnight: New Year’s Eve in Nashville. Free, massive, and set in Bicentennial Park (after relocating from downtown a few years ago), it’s certainly always the biggest and busiest option, as well as the most touristy. But the lineup is always stacked, and though country skewed, still boasts some broad appeal and quality artists, this year featuring the likes of  Stevie Nicks, Ashley McBryde, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and more!

JOHN PRINE w/ MARTY STUART, SECRET SISTERS
@ Grand Ole Opry House | 8pm | $81.50-256.50 | All Ages

Spending New Year’s Eve at the Grand Ole Opry sounds like a particularly touristy endeavor, but with the legendary John Prime headlining the bill once again with the famed Marty Stuart and local group Secret Sisters, this is one incredibly Nashville affair that has our interest piqued. Unsurprisingly, though, this performance is very close to sold out.

SPARKLE CITY DISCO NEW YEAR’S EVE
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $20 | 21+

Of the many local DJ and dance party collectives, Sparkle City are without a doubt one of the coolest and highest regarded, known for spinning vinyl disco records and hosting incredible parties. Their NYE event at Basement East will apparently be tropical themed, and for those simply looking for a top-notch, vibey dance party, it might be your best bet of the evening.

ROARING ’20s: CHROMEO (DJ SET) w/ GOLDROOM (DJ SET)
@ Nashville Underground | 7pm | $45-95 | 21+

Though the Broadway Bars aren’t typically known for booking the most conventionally cool NYE events, Nashville Underground is really upping their game this year, snagging famed Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo for a headlining DJ set are their roaring ’20s themed party, with a DJ set from Goldroom as well. If you don’t mind braving the crowds, you can still get tickets!

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW w/ YOLA
@ The Ryman Auditorium | 9pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages

Old Crow Medicine Show’s NYE (and additional nights’) performances at The Ryman have been a tradition for years, and one that always manages to sell out. If you’re a diehard fan, you likely already snagged tickets, and if not, you’ll almost certainly get to try again next year!

QYE: Q YEAR’S EVE 2019
@ Studio 615 | 9pm | $20 | 21+

Local group QDP, or Queer Dance Party, are known for throwing epic, inclusive monthly dance parties, and their annual NYE bash is always a highlight. Expect great DJs, a champagne toast and Mariah singalong at midnight, vegan crunchwraps from the BeHive, and more! This usually sells out early, but tickets are still available as of writing- don’t miss out!

MY SO-CALLED BAND
@ Cannery Ballroom | 9:30pm (8:30pm doors) | $30-100 | 21+

Easily one of the city’s greatest cover bands, and perfect to head up parties for just about any occasion, My So-Called Band provide the ultimate ’90s experience, and never short of a fun, singalong-worthy, good time. If you still want live music while getting to do a bit more socializing, this is the kind of show you should gravitate to.

’80s NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
@ Pearl Diver | 5pm | $20 | 21+

Though their drink menu is tropical, new-ish local bar Pearl Diver have shown their willingness to try out all kinds of cool events, and their ’80s themed NYE party is the latest example. A $20 cover gets you DJs spinning ’80s pop, rock, new wave, and punk, and ’80s movies on the projector, plus a photo booth, ’80s inspired cocktails, a champagne toast, costume and dance contests, and more.

DRIVIN N CRYIN w/ OKEY DOKEY, THE MINKS
@ Little Harpeth | 8pm | $25-30 | Ages

Atlanta southern/hard rockers Drivin N Cryin head up Little Harpeth’s NYE bash, but it’s local support Okey Dokey and The Minks that really further pique our interest, not to mention the brewery’s excellent riverfront view of the evening’s fireworks. For a more low-key hang that’s music-first, this is a cool pick.

1920s vs 2020s: FABLE CRY, TACO MOUTH, BLACK MOON MOTHER, HOWLING GIANT
@ The High Watt | 9pm (8pm doors) | $10-15 | 21+

Celebrating the glamour of 1920s yesteryear and the glittery dystopian future of 2020s today, The High Watt is hosting a live music-centric show that also doubles and a themed party and costume contest. Where you get into the theme or not though, the solid local rock bill of Fable Cry, Taco Mouth, Black Moon Mother, and Howling Giant makes this an enticing pick.

HAMILTON
@ TPAC | 7:30pm | SOLD OUT | All Ages

Not a New Year’s Eve event, but nonetheless an exciting happening of note, famed Broadway musical Hamilton kicks off a three-week Nashville residency on NYE! Unfortunately, tickets are notoriously hard to get, but if you happen to make it to opening night, it’ll be an epic way to wind down the year!

SHOUT! DANCE PARTY
@ The 5 Spot | 8pm | $20 | 21+

Jacob Jones and Reno Bo, the DJs behind The 5 Spot’s long-running east side institution Motown Mondays, are making things supersized for New Year’s Eve with their Shout! dance party! Expect champagne, a photo booth, and dance-worthy tunes from the ’50s and ’60s from rock n’ roll to Motown to soul to girl groups, and more.

Y2K MADNESS: THE ULTIMATE NEW YEAR’S PARTY
@ Mercy Lounge | 10pm (9pm doors) | $25-40 | 21+

While Cannery hosts the bigger bash with My So-Called Band, if you’re more into the ’00s than the ’90s, the Mercy Lounge has you covered with Y2K Madness, with live house band performances of all of the biggest hits of the ’00s.

NO QUARTER: NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH II
@ No Quarter | 8pm | SOLD OUT | Ages

If spending NYE in a cozy pinball bar with a champagne toast, free play games, an appetizer spread, drink tickets, and more sounds like your ideal NYE, we suggest jumping on tickets early if east side haunt No Quarter decides to throw a party again next year.

MIRACLE AT HIDDEN BAR
@ Hidden Bar at Noelle | 6pm | FREE | 21+

Themed, pop up, “secret” bar Hidden Bar, located in the basement of Noelle, has been running an amazingly kitsch, Christmas themed bar for weeks now, which is seemingly wrapping up on New Year’s Eve. If you’ve been dying to go or you’re missing Christmas already, it’s certainly cool, but it’s sure to be packed and doesn’t seem to be doing anything in particular for NYE.

TERRAPIN FLYER
@ Exit/In | 10pm (9pm doors) | $25 | 18+

Based in Chicago, Terrapin Flyer have, over the last 20 years, become one of the top touring Grateful Dead tribute acts in their country. Obviously, if you’re not a dead head, Exit/In’s NYE party might not be your bag, but if that sounds like the vibe you want to end the decade on, it’s not too late to snag tickets!