Rooftop Lounge at Bobby Hotel isn’t only about good drinks and even better Nashville views. The top floor of the hotel—known for its 1956 Scenicruiser bus—is the site of Bobby’s Backyard Sessions, live music that shows off Nashville’s best assets, its musicians. In October, Nicole Atkins joined the list of talent to appear at Bobby Nashville’s Rooftop Lounge when she hosted the “Spectral Americana Rock-n-Roll Revue” series.
Singer-songwriter Atkins was already known and beloved in Nashville when the pandemic hit, a time when she and all her friends and fellow musicians found themselves at home instead of out on tour. She enlisted her sound engineer husband and cinematographer neighbor (only in Nashville would you have all this expertise readily available) to help her create a variety show-type line-up broadcast from her home. The show was popular during quarantining and even caught the attention of Amazon, which contracted her to create 10 more episodes.
This fall she was back at it, bringing that vibe live and in-person to Rooftop Lounge. The set feels like a 1970s retro basement, and locals and visitors come to dance, sway and appreciate the glowing fog of Bobby Nashville’s Rooftop Lounge. Music ranges from 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s classic covers, plus original music. One of the reasons so many locals show up is because “it feels like a party in a cool space and it is not the kind of music you get to hear everywhere else downtown” she says. In addition to the psychedelic spin on Nashville classic music and the sharing of ghost stories, the Moonlight Revue also features a carefully curated night market pop-up shop of local artists, makers, and record purveyors. “It has a real cool local vibe.” she says.
Artists who have joined Atkins include Lilly Hiatt, Kanene Pipkin of The Lone Bellow, and Logan Ledger. October 29, the last night of the month-long series, features Chris Scruggs, Levi, and JP Harris. And, because it takes place near Halloween, it will have a spooky theme.
The show runs from 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. There’s no cost to attend; drinks, food, and artist merch will be available for sale. R.S.V.P. online; an R.S.V.P. does not guarantee a seat.
