615 Indie Live music festival returning to Nashville in 2026
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Image: courtesy of 615 Indie Live
The 615 Indie Live music festival, which celebrates Nashville's independent venues, will return for its second event early next year.
Why it matters: Coming back for a second festival signals the first year was a success.
Zoom in: 615 Indie Live pairs Nashville artists with independently owned and operated music venues across the city.
- The all-day festival is a partnership between the Music Venue Alliance Nashville and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.
Flashback: At the inaugural event in February, 60 artists across many genres performed at 14 venues, including Dee's Country Lounge in Madison and Rudy's Jazz Room downtown.
By the numbers: More than 2,200 tickets were sold to this year's event, which raised $35,000 for MVAN.
The big picture: 615 Indie Live's return coincides with a gritty time in the music business for independent venues. Rising real estate costs make lease payments expensive and profit margins thin.
- Corporate giants Live Nation and AEG have invested heavily in Nashville, putting independent venues in underdog status.
- 615 Indie Live strategically chose February for its festival because that's a slow time of the year for clubs.
What she's saying: "Independent music venues are where much of Nashville's creative energy comes to life," CVC president and CEO Deana Ivey said in a statement.
- "With the return of 615 Indie Live, we're inviting locals and visitors alike to discover new sounds, support neighborhood venues, and experience the depth of talent that makes Music City so unique."
If you go: The 2026 festival will take place Feb. 7. Early bird tickets cost $15 and prices will increase after the lineup is announced in the coming months.
- Artist submissions are officially open today and run for the next two weeks at www.615indie.live.