Exit/In is a live music landmark at 2208 Elliston Place in Nashville, Tennessee, just west of downtown near Centennial Park and Vanderbilt University. Founded in 1971 by Owsley Manier and Brugh Reynolds, the club began as an intimate listening room seating around 200 and expanded to its current 500-person capacity in the early 1980s, anchoring what locals call the Elliston Place ‘Rock Block.’
Over more than five decades, Exit/In has hosted a remarkable cross-section of American music history—early sets by a then-unknown Jimmy Buffett, frequent stand-up appearances by Steve Martin before his national breakthrough, and performances by Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Muddy Waters, R.E.M., and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Music historians have ranked it alongside the Troubadour in Los Angeles and the Bottom Line in New York as one of the most pivotal popular music clubs in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 2208 Elliston Place, Nashville, TN 37203
- Type: Rock club / live music venue
- Opened: 1971
- Capacity: 500
- Founders: Owsley Manier and Brugh Reynolds
- Famous for: Early sets by Jimmy Buffett and Steve Martin; featured in Robert Altman’s 1975 film Nashville
- Historic Status: Nashville Historical Landmark; National Register of Historic Places (March 2023)
From Listening Room to Rock Club
Exit/In opened its doors in 1971 as a genre-agnostic listening room, booking everything from bluegrass and jazz to stand-up comedy. Steve Martin played the stage regularly throughout the 1970s as he developed the act that would make him a household name, and Jimmy Buffett used early Exit/In shows to build a fanbase before signing a major record deal. By the early 1980s the club had expanded to 500 capacity and settled into its identity as Nashville’s premier rock venue, providing a home for both local up-and-comers and nationally touring artists.
The venue changed ownership roughly 25 times over its history. In late 2022, longtime operators Chris and Telisha Cobb departed, and AJ Capital Partners—which had purchased the building in 2021—assumed full operations on January 1, 2023. After light renovations to the bathrooms, green room, and exterior mural wall, Exit/In reopened in the spring of 2023 and has continued booking independent rock, indie, and alternative acts.
Cultural Footprint Beyond the Stage
Exit/In’s influence reaches well beyond its 500-person room. The venue appears in Robert Altman’s acclaimed 1975 film Nashville, cementing its place in American cinema as a symbol of the city’s underground music culture. Sting is famously photographed wearing an Exit/In shirt on the back cover of The Police’s 1980 album Zenyatta Mondatta, giving the club an unexpected moment of global visibility.
In March 2023, Exit/In was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its exceptional impact on Nashville’s alternative music scene—a rare honor for a working rock club. It also holds official Nashville Historical Landmark status, reflecting the city’s acknowledgment that the venue’s story is inseparable from the broader history of American popular music.
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Exit/In FAQs
Where is Exit/In located?
Exit/In is at 2208 Elliston Place, Nashville, TN 37203, near Vanderbilt University and Centennial Park, on the stretch known as the Elliston Place ‘Rock Block.’
What is Exit/In’s capacity?
The venue holds up to 500 people. It originally seated around 200 when it opened in 1971 and was expanded in the early 1980s.
Did Exit/In close permanently in 2022?
No. The club closed temporarily in November 2022 when longtime operators Chris and Telisha Cobb departed. AJ Capital Partners took over operations on January 1, 2023, and Exit/In reopened in spring 2023 with a new in-house booking team.
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Photo: EVula / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.