If you thought all the action on Lower Broadway required a buzz, Ashley McBryde is here to shake up that narrative — sans the hangover.
The GRAMMY-winning songwriter just announced Redemption Bar, a brand-new mocktail-forward bar and music venue opening August 28 inside Eric Church’s six-story mega-honky-tonk, Chief’s. Nestled on the fifth floor, Redemption Bar isn’t just another neon-lit stop on the Broadway bender tour — it’s a space with purpose.
“When the opportunity to make my mark on Broadway came, I knew I wanted to create a space that champions what’s made a difference in my life,” McBryde shared. “A space that lifts up the brushed aside, and makes sure everyone feels welcome.”
That difference? Sobriety.
McBryde has been open about her own three-year journey with staying sober — a tough road for anyone, let alone someone living in the heart of Honky Tonk Disneyland. So, she’s flipping the script and giving folks a place where the drinks are “as well crafted and thought out as the songs” performed by the local talent on stage.
And y’all, these aren’t your average Shirley Temples.
The zero-proof cocktail menu is inspired by song lyrics and crafted with just as much heart as McBryde’s catalog. Of course, there’ll still be regular cocktails for the drinking crowd, but it’s the inclusive vibe and thoughtful curation that makes Redemption a true standout. It’s a place for the “vagabonds, drifters, and dreamers” who fuel Nashville’s creative engine — without having to drown themselves in whiskey to be part of the scene.
A Stage for Original Voices
Redemption Bar won’t be chasing cover band tips with “Wagon Wheel” on repeat. Instead, it’ll feature rising talent, singer-songwriters, and storytellers who prefer their own lyrics to someone else’s chart-topper. Think: Ryman intimacy meets Broadway energy, with a dose of heart-healing sobriety in the mix.
A Church and McBryde Collab, Years in the Making
This isn’t the first time Ashley McBryde and Eric Church have joined forces — their artistic camaraderie runs deep. From their haunting 2017 duet on “Bible and a .44”, to a joint performance of “The Snake” at the 2019 ACM Awards, and even a smoky rendition of “Midnight Rider” at the Ryman in 2021, it’s clear these two have always sung the same tune. Now, that synergy lives on in bricks, bottles, and a fresh kind of Broadway bar.
Want in? Redemption Bar opens August 28. Whether you’re newly sober, sober-curious, or just looking for a killer mocktail and killer live music without the chaos, this might just be your new favorite haunt in Music City.
We’ll toast to that — with a zero-proof “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.”