Nashville Music City Legends Tour: Grammy-Nominated Guide
5.0
52 Ratings
Nashville
Join Grammy-nominated music journalist Bill DeMain on the Nashville Music City Legends Tour and discover the inside story of how Nashville became the iconic Music City. Explore decades of musical history and hear fascinating anecdotes from interviews with legendary artists like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and David Bowie.
Duration: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Hermitage Hotel - Tennessee’s only 5-star hotel, built in 1910. Guests have included Charlie Chaplin, Enrico Caruso, JFK, Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton.
What's Included
  • All applicable fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

This journey is designed for music aficionados seeking an insider’s perspective on the evolution of Nashville into the Music City.

Your hospitable advisor is Bill DeMain, a Grammy nominee and seasoned music journalist with over three decades of experience. He has made contributions to well-known publications like Rolling Stone and MOJO and serves as a Nashville correspondent for the BBC.

DeMain has engaged with a comprehensive list of pop and country music icons, including personalities like Dolly Parton, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, David Bowie, and Stevie Nicks, to name a few.

Among his other accolades, DeMain is a respected songwriter whose compositions have been performed by artists such as Marshall Crenshaw, Kim Richey, and Curtis Stigers. He also comprises half of the popular pop duo, Swan Dive. His tracks have found their way into popular television series like Sons of Anarchy and Private Practice.

As a seasoned resident of Nashville, DeMain will guide you through a riveting chronicle of music spanning several decades, cover genres from country to rock ‘n’ roll and provide a tour experience that will be a significant highlight of your Nashville visit.

Location
Union Street & Anne Dallas Dudley Boulevard
At the entrance to Legislative Plaza. Look for the guide with the cowboy hat and microphone headset.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(52 Ratings)
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Atexantraveler2
Feb 12, 2024
Outstanding Walking Tour with an Extremely Knowledgeable and Delightful Guide - Our tour with Bill was outstanding. As a musician and music journalist, he is a walking encyclopedia of Nashville's contribution to country, rock, and other genres of music. He is a skilled storyteller of the history of the Grand Old Opry and the Nashville club scene, as well as a smattering of general Nashville history. We combined the tour with visits to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium the previous day and came away with a strong overview of Music City's role in American music. Bill is a talented guide with a congenial personality. As the icing on the cake, he provided a restaurant recommendation for lunch that proved to be our favorite restaurant of the trip. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cgantlett
Jan 22, 2024
Amazing, informative and exactly what bigger tours can't provide! - I had the pleasure of returning on this walking tour of Nashville, for the second time, and it was still just as captivated and musically enlightened as the first time! This experience is not just a stroll through the streets of a vibrant city but an immersive exploration into the heart and soul of Nashville's rich music history, thanks to our exceptional guide, Bill! Bill's passion for music radiated with every step, displayed an impressive knowledge of both the current music scene and the intricate threads of Nashville's musical past. His ability to seamlessly weave together the contemporary with the historical provided our group with a comprehensive understanding of Nashville's pivotal role in shaping various music genres. What truly set this tour apart was the guide's remarkable knack for injecting fresh and relevant information into the narrative. As we meandered through iconic landmarks, he shared anecdotes about emerging artists, recent breakthroughs, and the evolving music landscape. This approach ensured that even those well-versed in Nashville's musical legacy were treated to a tour that felt current, engaging, and reflective of the city's ever-evolving music scene. The tour wasn't confined to well-trodden paths; our guide effortlessly introduced us to new destinations that perfectly complemented the established hotspots. From hidden gems showcasing underground performances to lesser-known recording studios (Tootsie's recording history in just the jukebox) with monumental histories, each stop was a testament to the guide's commitment to providing a well-rounded and immersive experience. What truly impressed me was the guide's ability to unveil some of the best-kept secrets in Nashville's music scene. He had an uncanny knack for steering us away from the obvious and introducing us to off-the-beaten-path venues, each with its own unique charm. These hidden treasures added an element of surprise and discovery, making the tour feel like a personal journey through the city's musical tapestry. As we delved into the musical secrets of Nashville, our guide's enthusiasm was contagious. His love for the subject matter was evident in every anecdote, recommendation, and trivia shared. Whether discussing legendary recording sessions or shedding light on the stories behind iconic statues/buildings, he effortlessly conveyed his passion and left our group buzzing with newfound appreciation. Bill's music journalism was engaging and educating. In conclusion, Walkin' Nashville - Music City Legends Tour, with our music-savvy guide, was an absolute delight. It wasn't just a stroll through the city; it was a harmonious journey through time and genres, expertly curated to showcase the best of Nashville's music scene, past and present. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the city's musical legacy and a chance to uncover its hidden musical gems. Next time I'm in Nashville - I'll definitely be signing up for tour number 3!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
126kathleenr
Jan 18, 2024
The Real Nashville! - If you want to know more about Nashville, current and history, you need to go on Bill's tour! He really knows Nashville! I've gone on the tour twice! Each time I found it fun and interesting and learned something new each time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carmenpf6945eg
Jan 11, 2024
A day to remember - Amazing! We enjoyed a very inmersing, interesting and detailed tour, full of fun facts and quirks. Also, very approachable: we didn't need to have a broad previous knowledge about the city in order to understand and enjoy the tour. Would definitely repeat if we go back to Nashville. Thanks Bill!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth
Jan 1, 2024
A great tour - Bill is informative, personable, and interesting. We very much enjoyed our tour. Highly recommend to anyone interested in the stories that make Nashville come alive.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daph519
Dec 30, 2023
Excellent - One of the best walking tours I have ever been on! I am not a fan of country music but I developed a new appreciation because of this tour. Bill has so many interesting stories to tell. You can tell he is a real music lover and he really goes into detail about everything you'd want to know.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ssb2centreville_md
Dec 30, 2023
DeMain is De MAN for Nashville tours. - Bill DeMain is the best if you want authentic, personal, insightful for touring Nashville, Music City. His background in music, his connections via journalism are superior to any “big-box” dial-up tour. Don’t miss this gem!! Bill DeMain knows how to walk and talk with great takeaways for the visitor.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Edrossjr
Dec 29, 2023
ONE OF THE BEST downtown city tours ever - UNQUESTIONABLY GREAT tour by Bill DeMain of this treasured historic and famous American city! Bill provides an intimate tour of traditional and off-the-beaten track sites with great insights and stories on the history as well as recent evolution of Nashville. His longtime experience as resident as well as an acclaimed musician adds up to a very unique and informative tour which is superior to and uniquely different than a traditional tour. We’ve traveled the world and been on dozens of tours and I’ll put Walkin’ Nashville with Bill in the top of the list. Just do it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peter
Dec 29, 2023
Fascinating tour by an expert with intimate knowledge of the scene - Great day out with Bill recently. He has a great depth of insider knowledge to share. I cannot recommend highly enough. I think I need to go back for more!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Megan
Dec 29, 2023
For the music aficionados - We loved this tour and thoroughly appreciated the well-researched experience Bill gave our small group. Highly recommend for those looking for a more thoughtful intro to classic Nashville lore.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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1 Adult
May 2024
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