Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row Nashville from multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley and Riot Hospitality Group (RHG) is now open in one of the most historic buildings on Lower Broadway. To break in the new restaurant and bar, Bentley with friends and family in tow descended on downtown Nashville with a raucous country cover-filled set packed with unscripted surprise performances by Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, Bobby Bones, Brothers Osborne, Ryan Hurd, LANCO, Maddie & Tae, Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and more. Mayor Megan Barry and the Nashville Predators were among the list of friends and family who helped celebrate.
“It’s really a full-circle moment for me to be opening Whiskey Row on this street. When I first moved to Nashville, Broadway was my second home…I was the first artist to be hired and fired from The Stage,” Bentley told the elbow room only crowd. “It’s surreal to think that now I can just jump in my truck and run over here anytime, and that it might possibly be a place where new artists could get their start.”
Bentley set the tone for the night, kicking off with his favorite 90’s Country cover songs before calling out artists friends in the crowd to join. Dozens of artists spontaneously took the stage including Thomas Rhett who performed his father Rhett Akins’ “That Ain’t My Truck,” Maren Morris had the crowd singing along as she sang Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” and Brothers Osborne kept the energy high with their rendition of Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee.” Another highlight saw Bentley collaborate with Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones and LANCO’s Brandon Lancaster for Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man.” Jon Pardi continued the fun on the second floor, while Bentley surprised fans on the ground level hopping on stage with the house band. Guests danced long into the night as the DJ’s, Diesel and Tilow played hours after the live sets ended.
“We’re thrilled to open the doors at Whiskey Row in Dierks’ beloved Nashville,” says Riot Hospitality Group CEO Ryan Hibbert. “Lower Broadway is one of the country’s top destinations for music and nightlife, and we couldn’t be prouder to bring our brand of first class entertainment to Nashville.”
Formerly the long-time home of Gruhn’s Guitars, the historic building is nestled between the very institutions where Bentley cut his teeth, sharing an alley with the Ryman Auditorium where he often finds himself onstage as a Grand Ole Opry member and across the street from the Bridgestone Arena where Bentley sold out his tour stop just a year ago and where he cheered on the Nashville Predators through the Stanley Cup Finals. The new location includes three floors and a rooftop patio, which is also the highest rooftop bar on Broadway, and that intertwined with Bentley’s love for live music and sports delivers an authentic Nashville experience.
The first floor will feature live music daily with a stage, full bar and a full dining menu. The second floor will also serve a full dining menu and will progress throughout the evening with a DJ booth, dancefloor and VIP table service late into the night. The rooftop patio will be open all night and day, but will be THE destination for brunch, with its view of Lower Broadway and the historic Ryman Auditorium. Whiskey Row Nashville is the fourth location to open and marks the concept’s debut outside Bentley’s home state of Arizona.
Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row serves American gastropub cuisine made-from-scratch using only premium and local ingredients. The selection of starters, sliders, burgers, sandwiches and larger entrees include the Chicken & Waffles, Steak Salad and menu favorite Alabama Chicken. For brunch, Country Maple French Toast, a Cheddar Bacon Omelet and a Breakfast Burger are among the fresh and filling dishes that diners can anticipate. In addition to the incredible food, Whiskey Row has a craft cocktail program that includes a variety of classics and Whiskey Row originals.
Bentley’s ninth studio album, THE MOUNTAIN which will be released in early 2018. “He pursues themes of questing and self-actualization across a wide-open terrain of arid deserts and rugged ridgelines, cactus flowers and tumbleweeds” (NPR) as the writing process came together quickly when Bentley returned to Telluride a short time later for a retreat with fellow Nashville songwriters. Follow Dierks Whiskey Row on Facebook for the latest updates. See photos below from the opening night. Photo credit -John Shearer for Getty.
