Commodore Grille
The Commodore Grille inside the Holiday Inn on West End Avenue has been showcasing Nashville songwriters since the 1980s, making it one of the city's longest-running songwriter venues. The combination of hotel restaurant accessibility, nightly music programming, and family-friendly atmosphere creates unique space in Nashville's music ecosystem.
Type of Establishment: Restaurant and bar inside Holiday Inn hotel with nightly live music
What They Offer Patrons:
- Nightly Songwriter Showcases: 6-10 PM every night featuring "Debi Champion's Songwriter Nights" and "Nashville Songwriter's Showcase"
- Open Mic Nightly: Starting at 10 PM, providing walk-in performance opportunities
- Monday Jazz Night: Special programming focusing on jazz
- Tuesday Musician Night: Random Music Group hosts world-class touring musicians jamming together
- All-Day Dining:
- Breakfast: 6:30 AM weekdays, 7 AM weekends—legendary buffet with waffle station
- Dinner: 5 PM daily with American cuisine menu
- Full Bar: Specialty cocktails and local draft beers, opens 5 PM
- Family-Friendly: All ages welcome, making it rare among music venues
- Free Admission: No cover for nightly showcases and open mic
- Convenient Location: Inside Holiday Inn on West End Avenue, easily accessible
- Restaurant-Style Seating: Tables for dining, bar seating, comfortable environment
- No Strict Quiet Policy: More relaxed than traditional listening rooms, conversations permitted respectfully
What They Offer Musicians:
- Seven Nights Weekly: Performance opportunities every single night of the week
- Dual Format: Scheduled songwriter rounds (6-10 PM) plus open mic (10 PM)
- Hotel Audience: Fresh ears from tourists alongside knowledgeable locals
- Advance Booking Available: Contact venue or hosts to secure showcase slots
- Walk-In Open Mic: 10 PM format allows spontaneous performances
- Multiple Weekly Opportunities: Unlike single-night events, can potentially perform multiple times per week
- PA System Provided: Professional sound reinforcement
- Food and Drink Access: Performers can enjoy full restaurant menu
- No Cover Charge: Free entry removes financial barriers for emerging artists
- Industry Proximity: West End location near Music Row and Vanderbilt
- Established Reputation: 40+ years as songwriter showcase provides legitimacy
- Various Hosts: Different programming creates multiple pathways to perform
Contact Information:
- Phone: (615) 327-4707
- Location: 2613 West End Ave, Nashville TN 37203
- Hours: Breakfast daily from 6:30/7 AM; Dinner from 5 PM; Music 6 PM-midnight
The Commodore fills important niche in Nashville's music scene—accessible to tourists and newcomers while maintaining credibility with the songwriting community. The hotel setting provides stability (less vulnerable to economic fluctuations than independent venues) and convenience (built-in audience from hotel guests).
For songwriters, the Commodore offers consistency and accessibility. The nightly programming means you're not competing for limited weekly slots. The dual showcase/open mic format provides both curated and spontaneous performance opportunities. The family-friendly, all-ages policy means your parents, grandparents, and children can all attend—rare in venues serving alcohol.
The 40+ year history demonstrates staying power that outlasts trends. The Commodore was showcasing songwriters when many current Nashville venues were decades from existing, and it continues adapting while maintaining core mission: connecting songwriters with audiences seven nights a week in welcoming, professional environment.