Play Dance Bar

Play Dance Bar at 1519 Church Street is the centre of gravity for Nashville's gay nightlife — the club that defines the Church Street strip and that any visitor to the city's LGBTQ+ scene will pass through. The format is the American gay dance club at its most effective: a main dance floor with a DJ booth elevated above the crowd, a secondary bar area for those who want to talk rather than dance, and a programming calendar that covers the full range of gay club nights. Drag shows are a Play institution — the venue books Nashville's best drag performers for regular shows and special events, and the standard of performance reflects the depth of the local scene. Weekly themed nights cover bear nights, underwear parties, Latin nights, and whatever is generating energy in the local community at a given time. The Friday and Saturday night crowds are the largest on Church Street; the line forms early on busy weekends. Play is also the default venue for Pride events and for the major community fundraisers that require a large gay venue in Nashville. For visitors arriving in the city for the first time, Play is the correct starting point: a reliably busy, genuinely gay club in the heart of the Church Street strip, staffed by people who know the local scene and happy to direct visitors to whatever else is happening in the city.