Written by Tara Knott
With its thriving entertainment scene, Nashville has earned the right to its nickname, “Music City.” There are live music venues all over town, from the legendary Bluebird Café to more eclectic locations like Tin Roof or Hotel Indigo. Right across the street from campus, on the upper floor of Bongo Java, the After Hours Theatre hosts student performances several times a week. And from the second you set foot on Belmont’s campus, you can expect to receive dozens of Facebook invitations from your artist friends announcing their upcoming shows. When you can, go check them out. Who knows? You might have the next big superstar in your 9 a.m. math class.
Nashville residents love college students, and local businesses go out of their way to offer discounts and special promotions just for students. The Predators, Nashville’s NHL team, have "College Nights" on Thursdays throughout the season. With your student ID, you can enjoy a fast-paced, exciting hockey game for just $15 to $25 depending on where your seats are. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) also partners with Belmont to offer discounted tickets to the hottest touring musicals and plays when they stop in Nashville. You can usually find information about performances on MyBelmont, the University’s intranet. And the entertainment doesn’t stop when school lets out. Many underclassmen go home for the summer, but upperclassmen often stay in Nashville to take advantage of the city’s incredible internship opportunities. If you’re in the area, be sure to visit one of Nashville’s music festivals—CMA Music Festival, Next Big Nashville, and Music City Jazz, Blues & Heritage Festival all occur during the summer. Nashville has all of the benefits of a major city, but it hasn’t lost its small-town Southern charm. It truly is the perfect college town.