Tootsies celebrates 51st birthday

Tootsies celebrates 51st birthday

See the full story here on Nashville’s News 2 website

The famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge in downtown Nashville is celebrated its 51st birthday on Wednesday.

To celebrate, the lounge hosted a birthday bash which kicked off at Noon and included performances by The Kentucky Headhunters, bluegrass duo The Roys and the Australian group The McClymonts.

The concert festivities were held at an outdoor stage on Broadway between 4th and 5th avenues.

“Last year for the 50th anniversary it was big and I thought it can’t get any bigger than this, but we’ve topped it this year,” owner Steve Smith told Nashville’s News 2.

He continued, “Country artists and rock artists and every artist of every kind comes into Tootsies Orchid Lounge and that’s what makes it a big deal.”

Many attendees of the birthday celebration came from all over the country in honor of the honky tonk’s special day.

“It’s a classic place. You look inside and see all the people that have been through there and everything like that. This town has so much history, not only Tootsies, but just walk down the street and look at each building,” said Bruce Erikson from California.  

The bash will wrap up with a concert by Kid Rock at the historic Ryman Auditorium, which is just located just behind the lounge.

“I got a call from Steve [Smith] saying, ‘Hey, you want to help us celebrate Tootsies 51st? ‘[I] Love Tootsies, it was a no brainer,” Kid Rock said.  

He continued, “It’s always a blast [at Tootsies] because you just get a great group of people in there, just working class tourists who want to come in and honky tonk and drink some beer and have a good time. I don’t think there’s anyplace really that I know of in the country that’s better to do that at than Tootsies”

The sold out show began at 7:30 p.m.