Concerts in Nashville, Tennessee, like most cities, have varying end times depending on the artist, venue, and day of the week. Typically, most concerts end between 10pm and midnight on weeknights and 11pm to 1am on weekends in Nashville.
Typical Nashville Concert End Times
Here are some general guidelines for when you can expect concerts to end in Nashville:
- Weekday concerts (Monday-Thursday) often end between 10-11pm.
- Friday concerts tend to go until 11pm-midnight.
- Saturday show times are 11pm-1am.
- Sunday night concert end times are usually 10-11pm since most people have work or school Monday morning.
These are just general estimates, concert end times vary based on the artist, tour, and venue. Larger mainstream pop and rock artists playing arenas or amphitheaters will often have later end times, especially on weekends. Club shows tend to wrap up earlier on weeknights.
Factors That Affect Nashville Concert End Times
There are a few key factors that impact when concerts wrap up for the night in Nashville:
Artist
The musician or band performing has a major influence on show length. Established headliners often play 90 minute to 2 hour sets, which pushes the end time later. Up-and-coming acts usually keep their sets shorter around 60-90 minutes.
Venue
Larger venues like Bridgestone Arena or Nissan Stadium that host major touring artists tend to have later end times. Smaller club venues typically wrap up earlier, especially on weeknights. Outdoor amphitheaters can sometimes host longer shows in warmer months.
Day of the Week
Concerts held on Fridays and Saturdays tend to end later than weeknights. This is because most patrons don’t have work or school the next morning, so they can stay out later.
Tour
Headlining concert tours often play longer shows than one-off concerts or festival performances. The artist may be playing multiple dates in a city on a tour, allowing for longer sets.
Local Noise Ordinances
Like most cities, Nashville has noise ordinances in place regulating sound levels for outdoor venues and when shows must end. These rules curb extremely late end times for larger, louder concerts.
Average End Times at Major Nashville Venues
Here are the typical end times for concerts held at some of Nashville’s most popular venues:
Venue | Average Weekday End Time | Average Weekend End Time |
---|---|---|
Bridgestone Arena | 11:00pm | 11:30pm |
Ryman Auditorium | 10:30pm | 11:00pm |
Grand Ole Opry House | 10:00pm | 10:30pm |
Ascend Amphitheater | 10:30pm | 11:30pm |
Basement East | 11:00pm | 12:00am |
Exit/In | 11:00pm | 12:00am |
3rd and Lindsley | 10:30pm | 11:30pm |
These are estimated averages based on typical concert end times at Nashville’s most iconic music venues. As shown, weekend shows tend to end 30-60 minutes later than weeknights on average.
Headliners Often Play Longer Shows
Well-known headlining acts that draw larger crowds will have longer set times that push the end time later into the night. Here are some examples of typical show lengths for major touring artists in Nashville:
- Bruce Springsteen – 2 hour 45 min show
- Chris Stapleton – 2 hour 15 min show
- Elton John – 2 hour 30 min show
- Eric Church – 2 hour set
- Foo Fighters – 2 hour 30 min show
- Garth Brooks – Over 2 hours
- Keith Urban – 2 hours
- Luke Bryan – 1 hour 45 min
- Taylor Swift – 2 hour 15 min show
- Thomas Rhett – 1 hour 30 min set
As you can see, many major headliners play at least 2 hour sets or longer in Nashville venues. This allows them to play more of their hits while providing fans with a memorable concert experience.
Supporting Acts Impact End Times Too
The number of opening acts on a Nashville concert bill can also push back the end time. Most promoters schedule 2-3 supporting acts to warm up the audience before the headliner takes the stage. More opening bands means a later wrap up for the show.
How Late Can Concerts Legally Go in Nashville?
Nashville does have noise ordinances and curfews in place that limit how late concerts can go even on weekends. Here are some of the key rules and regulations:
- Outdoor concerts at venues like Ascend Amphitheater must end by 11pm Sunday through Thursday nights.
- On Fridays and Saturdays, outdoor shows can go until 12:30am.
- For indoor venues, the curfew is extended an extra hour to 12am Sunday-Thursday and 1:30am on weekends.
- Downtown venues can obtain special permits for concerts to extend an extra 30 minutes until 2am on Saturdays and midnights on other nights.
So even for the biggest rock concerts in town, most shows will end by 1:30am even on Saturdays. This limits extreme late night noise for nearby neighborhoods in Nashville.
Planning Transportation With Concert End Times
When planning to attend a Nashville concert, it’s important to consider how you’ll get home with show end times in mind. Here are some tips:
- Ridesharing – Have a rideshare app ready to request a car as soon as the concert ends.
- Public Transit – Check schedules for the last buses and trains heading home.
- Parking – Allow time to get out of the venue parking lots which can take 30+ minutes.
- Hotels – Book a room within walking distance or short Uber ride if coming from out of town.
Various factors like venue location, crowd size, and time of night all impact post-show transportation. Planning ahead helps ensure you have a ride lined up to leave the venue smoothly.
Enjoy the Full Concert Experience
While it’s helpful to know when Nashville concerts typically wrap up, don’t stress about end times too much. Enjoy the full show and make the most of live music in Music City. Stay safe traveling home afterwards, but let the good times rock during your concert experience!