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Nashville’s Printers Alley is still a hub for music despite changes

By Brian Miller

Printers Alley: Founded in 1828, the area runs between Third and Fourth avenues from Union to Commerce streets. Traditionally the center of Nashville's nightlife, in its earlier days the alley was a series of posts where men bound for the nearby courthouse and saloons hitched their horses. By the early 19th century, the alley became the center of Nashville’s printing industry. At one time, Nashville’s two largest newspapers, The Tennessean and the Nashville Banner, had offices here.Downtown 25
Printers Alley: Founded in 1828, the area runs between Third and Fourth avenues from Union to Commerce streets. Traditionally the center of Nashville's nightlife, in its earlier days the alley was a series of posts where men bound for the nearby courthouse and saloons hitched their horses. By the early 19th century, the alley became the center of Nashville’s printing industry. At one time, Nashville’s two largest newspapers, The Tennessean and the Nashville Banner, had offices here.Downtown 25 /
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In Nashville, Tennessee, Printers Alley remains one of the local hotbeds for musical talent despite changes.

If you are traveling to Nashville, Tennessee then Printers Alley should be on the top of your list for sites to see and music to hear.

Historically, Printers Alley dates all the way back to horse drawn carriages. During the heyday of the western push, it served as a posting hold for horses. It would later become a small alley that evolved into saloons and speakeasies. As the decades rolled by, it became the hot spot for up and coming country musical talent but it was the 1990’s that took it to a new level.

As the printing presses made their way across America, Printers Alley was the Nashville hub for the cities printing industry, that would give way to the nightclub scenes. During the 1990’s it competed with the likes of the Bluebird Cafe and the former 16th Avenue Cafe as one of the top spots for musical producers to find up and coming talent.

For a year I lived in the darkened alley as I made my attempt at music. As the sun went down the alley came to life. From Skulls Rainbow Lounge and the elevated stage and down the stairs into the basement where you would find world renowned Barbara’s, owned at the time by Barbara Haynie. It was here I spent a lot of my nights.

Barbara's Nashville
In its heyday, Printers Alley was a busy adult entertainment district similar to New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, but here May 4, 1995, there is one surviving strip club. The alley’s venues have switched to music bars, mostly country.95then05 013a /

It was no surprise to see top country stars come and go through the doors. Toby Keith, Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, even Tom Jones spent an evening at the club. Almost every local musician whether they were in a band already or looking to join one played at the club and anyone wanting to break in to the scene had their chances with the open-mic opportunities.

It was in this alley that many songs were written that are now famous. The after hours club didn’t open until the other clubs closed at 2:00 am but inside the smoke filled room, artists, writers, musicians, and everyone in between hunkered down at tables to pound out some new riffs.

Printers Alley
Jesse Zane, owner of Jesse Zane’s Nashville Nights, watches the nightlife in Printers Alley and strums his guitar during a break outside the bar Aug. 31, 2000.083100 Zane /

Like everything in the world, times change. Barbara’s is now a hot Karaoke bar and while Skulls is still there, changes have also been made. There are far more dining options now and most places in Printers Alley now open for entertainment at five in the evening instead of the later start times of the 90’s.

Historically, Printers Alley is on the National Register of historic sites. The alley is wide enough to not crawl down, unless it’s 2:00 am on a Saturday night, vehicles are not permitted and while it no longer is the hottest country music scene in the city, the talent is still premium and every night there is a new face trying to crack into the business.

Nashville offers a lot for the tourists to see. The Ryman Auditorium, the Bluebird Cafe located in a strip mall, and of course The Grand Ole Opry but if you really want to glimpse the meat of the country music scene, hit the alley, pull up a chair and order a beer. Then, simply relax before moving on.

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