Courtyard Concerts

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Hosted by the Main Library (downtown) on Tuesdays from late summer through early fall, the Courtyard Concerts series is a fun and free lunchtime getaway. Come for an up-close music experience with an eclectic mix of local music, musicians, and songwriters.

While the Main Library's beautiful Robinson Courtyard is closed for repair, concerts are happening adjacent to the library in Church Street Park.

The 2024 season begins September 3 and runs through October 22.

Please note: During the Main Library closure, 90-minute parking cost validation at the garage abutting the library is available for Courtyard Concerts attendees only. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held in the National Museum of African American Music, Fifth + Broadway. If a concert will be relocated, we will notify you the day before through the Courtyard Concerts email list and on this page.

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September 3: The McCrary Sisters

Boundless joy in singing is central to The McCrary Sisters’ gospel music. Ann, Regina, and Alfreda grew up in Nashville surrounded by music, artists, community, and faith. As daughters of the late Rev. Samuel McCrary (founding member of legendary gospel quartet The Fairfield Four), they were raised in harmony, and shared the family legacy by performing with artists including Bob Dylan, Elvis, Isaac Hayes, and Stevie Wonder. In 2011, the sisters officially formed their own group and have since recorded and performed widely on their own and alongside other notable artists.

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September 10: Devon Gilfillian

Devon Gilfillian grew up on the musically fertile streets of Philadelphia, surrounded by his musician father’s love of the craft. He came to Nashville and quickly nestled into the local music community. He released his GRAMMY®-nominated debut album, Black Hole Rainbow, in 2020 and has maintained a relentless touring schedule supporting artists such as Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Keith Urban, and Mavis Staples. His latest release, Love You Anyway, spans numerous genres and confronts as well as comforts, all under the banner of Black joy.

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September 17: Sawyer

Two college friends experienced breakups on the same day, then spent the rest of the school year writing lyrics in a dorm room. The equal parts depth-to-fun ratio of their conversation evolved into the Sawyer style of lyric. In 2017 they quit their restaurant jobs and survived by touring and playing college gigs. The artists describe their music as “the only antidepressant without side effects,” and they hope it “will eat people alive and spit them out as self-actualized, emotionally validated Sawheads who are in love with the world and ready to heal it.”

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September 24: Buzie

Buzie formed when a group of friends with polar influences came together to create a sonic mosaic that would satisfy each of their respective ears. Softening the lines between alternative rock, pop, funk and everything in between, Buzie transcends genre with intricate, driving rhythms and articulately fat bass lines that cradle carefully refined lyrics and catchy melodies — like a pack of wolves nurturing a human baby. Buzie will leave listeners asking, “When are you gonna release that?” from behind melted faces.

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October 1: Elliott Robinson

The opportunity to perform here last year was an incredible thrill, one I never imagined I would get to experience AGAIN! Special thanks to NPL: I’m baaaack! My musical tastes come right out of Dad’s record cabinet: everything from Bach to Bacharach, Mozart to Motown; but I have always been enchanted, enthralled, and entranced by the voices of the singers. I’m going to stick to the same formula as last year, and pay tribute to some of those great artists that have warmed our hearts, but are no longer with us; this time with a focus on the Great American songbook.

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October 8: Crystal Rose

Kansas City native Crystal Rose is blazing a trail in Nashville's music scene. Her genre-blending sound and emotionally-charged lyrics feel like stolen glimpses into her diary. She's shared stages with Jess Nolan, Medium Build, Alice Merton, and Trombone Shorty, and supports Maggie Rose on her NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE TOUR this year. Named a 2024 Artist to Watch by both Nashville Scene and Tennessean, Crystal is also a two-time recipient of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest’s Top Shelf Status — most recently for her original “Mad Black Woman.”

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October 15: Abbey Cone

Independent country vocal powerhouse Abbey Cone connects with listeners through her emotionally resonant songwriting. A member of CMT’s 2020 Next Women of Country class of and one of Pandora’s 10 Country Artists to Watch in 2022, she recently made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry and will support Morgan Wade, Mickey Guyton, and Kimberly Perry on tour this fall. Cone is currently in the studio finishing a new project, set for release later this year. Presented in collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

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October 22: Voxology (Belmont University)

Voxology is an all-women gospel and R&B ensemble based in Belmont University's School
of Music. Directed by music producer and professor Brian Nathan Seay, the group comprises commercial music majors of diverse disciplines and allows students to explore and perform a blend of traditional and contemporary gospel and R&B. Bolstered by performances both local and international (plus a vibrant social media presence), the ensemble has grown its followers to 30K+ in only two years. Stay tuned as Voxology continues to grow and explore, poised to make a lasting impact on the global stage.

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