Can’t say I had that one on my Bingo card.
There are plenty of celebrity bars in downtown Nashville these days. Most of them are owned by giant hospitality corporations that license the names of artists to appeal to tourists, but if you walk down Broadway you’ll see bars from artists like Hank Williams Jr., Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and many more.
Of course most of the bars are owned (or at least named after) country artists. But over the past few years, several artists from outside of country music have started to move into the area, with Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake and of course, Kid Rock (though he’s obviously at least country adjacent) having their own venues.
But so far, we haven’t seen any rappers or hip hop artists try their hand at a downtown Nashville bar – until now.
Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre announced today that they were teaming up for a new venue downtown called Still G.I.N. Lounge By Dre and Snoop. The “bespoke cocktail lounge” will be located in the basement level of Nashville Live!, a four-story multi-concept venue located at 128 2nd Ave. N, just off the main drag of Broadway.
The venue, which is the former home of the George Jones Museum, currently houses the PBR Cowboy Bar, DraftKings Sports & Social and Play Playground Nashville, but Dre and Snoop are promising a unique addition to the space, which will blend “the smooth sophistication of a top-tier cocktail lounge with the energy and cultural influence of the legendary duo.”
Obviously this isn’t going to be another honky tonk, instead promising “an elevated nightlife experience” featuring DJs, live performances and playlists “inspired by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg” that “bring the best of hip-hop, R&B and funk, setting the tone for unforgettable nights.” The venue’s name and cocktail menu will be inspired by the duo’s new spirit line, Still G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop.
The CEO of Live! Hospitality and Entertainment, which operates Nashville Live!, expressed his excitement for the new venue:
“The first ever location of Still G.I.N. Lounge by Dre and Snoop will bring an unparalleled cocktail and nightlife experience to Nashville Live! and all of downtown Nashville. We are thrilled to add this premier venue alongside some of the best sports, dining, entertainment and hospitality concepts in the country including PBR Cowboy Bar, DraftKings Sports & Social and Play Playground Nashville.”
The new bar is scheduled to open on April 4, and regardless of how you feel about the changing landscape of Broadway, there’s no doubt it will be a massive success. Nashville Live! is already a popular venue, with lines regularly stretching down the block to get into the existing concepts. And several existing venues have already moved towards the nightclub concept on weekends, featuring DJs and VIP bottle service to cater to the younger and more diverse crowds that are flocking to Broadway.
Snoop and Dre’s new project will just be the latest addition to the 2nd Avenue corridor that’s been working to rebuild following the Christmas Day bombing back in 2020. And it seems Snoop has been spending quite a bit of time in Nashville lately.
Last year, he joined Jelly Roll for the final stop on his Beautifully Broken tour for a sold-out Bridgestone Arena show, where the two debuted their new Tom Petty-inspired song “Last Dance With Mary Jane” from his recent Missionary album. And he also worked with Hardy on a reimagined version of “Gin And Juice,” and he’s also apparently recording a verse for an upcoming Zach Bryan song too.
But that’s not all. Early this year, Ernest teased an unreleased song featuring Snoop Dogg called “Gettin’ Gone,” which he would later debut in full during a performance at The Listening Room.
And while the song isn’t out yet, Ern and Snoop were recently spotted cruising around Broadway in downtown Nashville recording what we can assume will be the video for “Gettin’ Gone.”
@itsizzyguti Omg this is crazy #ernest #snoopdogg #broadway #nashville @Ernest @Snoop Dogg
Gotta think Ern and Snoop will be spending a lot of time together at the new bar.
The post Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Are Opening A Bar In Downtown Nashville In What Used To Be The George Jones Museum first appeared on Whiskey Riff.