Nashville is full of great venues. There is a new one that deserves to be on that list: Red Rooster. It opened last December on Demonbreun St., located at the former location of On The Rocks. The owners have revamped the venue to give it its own identity.

One of the most striking things people will notice when they walk through the door is the size of the venue. Rachel Chiarot, the Marketing Director for the Red Rooster said they were a bit surprised to find that its one of roomiest venues in Nashville. The Red Rooster has a stage, bar area, a number of tables and a sizable dancing area.

In addition to being one of Nashville’s music venues, the Red Rooster is also a restaurant. Chiarot said the Red Rooster has an extensive menu that goes far beyond typical pub food. The menu has appetizers and entrées to fit any taste. Items range from hummus, lavosh chips, crab cake sliders, and salmon burgers to cheeseburgers and fries.

The restaurant opens at 11 AM, so there is a lunch menu as well. The Red Rooster is family friendly throughout the day, but does turn into a 21+ establishment after 9 PM.  Adding to the family-friendly atmosphere, the Red Rooster is also smoke-free. There is a large smoking patio with tables to allow smoking customers to enjoy their meal and smoke at the same time. Chiarot said the performers also appreciate the smoke free environment, as smoke is harmful to vocal cords.

There is music every night at the Red Rooster, which ranges from up and coming to songwriters to big stars. "We certainly have country music included in our play lists and have some country covers with our live acts, but we like to think we offer a variation from the honky-tonks by having live acts who play classic rock, top 40 and party music.

Monday night is an Open Jam, Wednesday night the Songwriter’s Night, sponsored by Harlow Salon, starts at 7 pm. The weekend is always a party, with live bands and a DJ for an all night dance party. According to Chiarot they have a consistent stream of band submissions."  Bands can submit EPKs at www.nashvillerooster.com

Every table is decorated with odd hats, begging to be worn. Guests are encouraged have a good time and may wind up with a photo on the website. The feel of the venue makes even the most reserved person put on a silly hat and get on the dance floor. Click on the top photo to go to their website and see if anyone you know has been caught in a weird hat, having a great time.