Music is embedded in Nashville as tightly as a rhinestone press stud. On the way to “Music City”, my driver declares he’s a songwriter. The hotel receptionist divulges her desire to break into “A&R” (Artists and Repertoire, or talent scouting).
As it happens, Virgin Hotel Nashville , my accommodation for several nights, is located at the top of Music Row , the epicentre of Nashville’s music publishing houses, record companies and studios. But I’m out of my comfort zone: I was brought up on a diet of jazz and my country music knowledge is stuck firmly in the 1970s, limited to a couple of Dolly Parton and John Denver LPs. Historic honky-tonks, bars and restaurants on Broadway.
Credit: iStock Over lunch at the modern Assembly Food Hall , I confess my country music shortcomings to Hayley, my Nashvillian friend and a former music industry professional. Thankfully, she doesn’t choke on her spicy Prince’s Hot Chicken drumstick (made famous 100 years ago when the scorned lover of Thornton Prince devised a fiery dish to teach him a lesson after his womanising). “There’s way more to Nashville than country music.
That said, music is ingrained in everything we do,” says Hayley. She runs through the city’s score. Thousands of songwriters, performers, producers and creatives – wannabes to global superstars – support Nashville’s music industry across all genres, from country, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz to classical and indie.
As well as hosting the annual Cou.
