
Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 9 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville worth booking?
Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville is a 1.5-hour experience in Nashville, United States, from $35 per person. It scores 66 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 9 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 66 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (9)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $35 per person
Music Row looks like just another stretch of Nashville from the sidewalk — old houses, a few studios, some green space. But every block here is hiding a story, and most of them never made it into the official version of
What you get
About this experience
Music Row looks like just another stretch of Nashville from the sidewalk — old houses, a few studios, some green space. But every block here is hiding a story, and most of them never made it into the official version of Music City. I'm Matthew — a Nashvillian for 27 years and a teacher for sixteen of them. On this two-mile walk, we'll trace sixty years of country music history from the original Quonset Hut to RCA Studio B, with stops at Owen Bradley Park and the Musica statue along the way. You'll hear about the artists who built this industry — and yes, we'll get into the Murder on Music Row story too. Small groups, real questions, and a tour that flexes depending on what you're curious about. If you want to understand how Nashville became Music City — not just the postcard version — come walk it with me.
What's included
Included
- Stories and context most tourists miss
- A printed guide with Matthew's recommended stops and spots to explore on your own
- Knowledge of Nashville history that actually sticks
- Local recommendations for coffee, dining, and off-the-beaten-path spots
- Bottled water
Not included
- Studio tours (those require separate bookings and tickets)
- Meals or drinks (but we'll walk past some excellent options)
- Hotel pickup (tour starts at a central Music Row location)
What you'll see and do
Music Row
The historic streets where Nashville's music scene took shape.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Nashville
There is paid street parking all around Music Row. The park is between the Well Coffeehouse and Belmont Church. I'll have a baseball cap on.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
There is paid street parking all around Music Row. The park is between the Well Coffeehouse and Belmont Church. I'll have a baseball cap on.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Footnotes Nashville Walking Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Good for families
4 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
7 verified traveler reviews for Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Family Staycation
Our family had a wonderful "staycation" and booked Matthew because of the unique experience getting to know a bit of our city's history. Matthew is an amazing storyteller, full of fun little tidbits of the history of Music Row! He even kept our daughter's disability in mind when presenting something that had the potential to scare her. There was even a fun little surprise for us all at the end of the tour!! If you are looking for a small town feel in the big city, look no further!
via Tripadvisor
Best Walking Tour in Nashville (long time local guide)
We had the pleasure of joining Matthew on a Saturday morning tour of adults and kids. It was fantastic! He engaged the kids with games, as well as the adults (some of whom were Nashville natives) with his stories about music row. Highly recommend.
via Tripadvisor
Fun and engaging music row walking tour
We loved walking through music row with this gifted storyteller. He included stories and pictures of longtime residents that added a lot of meaning to the neighborhood's history. Matthew is personable and engaging, even capturing the attention of the children in the group! 10/10, would recommend.
via Tripadvisor
Knowledgeable, personable tourguide + fantastic tour!
I've actually taken Matthew's Music Row walking tour twice now and both times it was an enjoyable, informative, memorable experience! Matthew is clearly a natural born storyteller - I've lived in Nashville for 20 years now and worked in and around the music industry and I learned so many stories I'd never heard! The pacing is great, and it's an easy walk that would be do-able for most folks. Matthew even brought along a fun activity to keep kiddos occupied which my daughter loved and there were tons of great photo opportunities. I would highly recommend this for anyone visiting Nashville who is interested in great behind the scenes info from a true Nashville local. You feel like Matthew is a friend, eager to share all the fun facts he has accumulated and researched with a down-to-earth conversational tone. Perfect for friends, families with kiddos, co-workers - anyone looking for a unique perspective on what made Music City....Music City! Thank you Matthew! You are outstanding!
Response from the operator: Thank you, Bethany, for coming out not once but TWICE and enjoying our tour and the company along the way. It was great to have you and I could sense your enthusiasm for your own city. Thanks for recommending us to your friends and guests!
via Tripadvisor
Walk & Talk with Nashville's Mark Twain!
What a hidden gem! Matthew, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years offers a whimsical, informative, and flexible tour that brings the hidden history of Music City to life. He offers great stories, music sampling, and an ability to inflect the tour with various "flavors" depending on your interest (World Cup, anyone?). If you're looking for a personalized and accessible experience during your visit--or just want to now your own city's heritage better--I can't recommend Footnotes Nashville enough!
Response from the operator: Morgan - thank you so much for these kind words! It's a pleasure to have you and this means a lot from one so well acquainted with Nashville and who also has travelled the world! Please come back and join us again anytime!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 66
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Nashville.
How much does Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville cost?
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Prices start at $35 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Nashville usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville take?
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Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Nashville is not rushed.
Is Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 66 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 9 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Nashville, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Nashville can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Nashville and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Hidden Histories of Music Row Walking Tour w/ Footnotes Nashville start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Nashville within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Nashville?
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Nashville's activity mix is unusually music-heavy: Ryman and Opry backstage tours, RCA Studio B sessions, songwriter rounds and honky-tonk crawls on Broadway. Around that sit distillery runs to Lynchburg and general-admission pedal taverns. Outty Ranking penalises the crawl operators that oversell group size, which is the most common complaint in this city. On Outty we rank every Nashville experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Nashville: Authentic Food Tour with 5 Tastings of Local Dishes, Nashville RCA Studio B & Country Music Hall of Fame Ticket Combo, Nashville's Wildest Honky Tonk Public Party Bus (21+). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Nashville?
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April to May and September to October, when patios open and the humidity drops. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Nashville?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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