Nashville saves iconic music venue The End

A panic swept through Nashville’s music community this week when beloved venue The End went public with its financial struggles. But in mere hours, we saw how local music-lovers can rally.

It all started at 4 p.m. this Thursday, when The End posted on Instagram that they had fallen behind on their rent. They also posted a link to a GoFundMe, hoping to raise $25,000 to prevent closure. They said that last year was their worst financial year in 27 years at their venue on Elliston Place.

Despite it’s tiny size, the independent venue has an outsized reputation. It’s been a place where bands like R.E.M. and The Flaming Lips could get booked before making it big. 

“If they don’t get the chance to play to 50 people, 100 people, 150 people, they are never getting the chance to play in front of 15,000 people.” Rick Whetsel, Senior VP at G7 entertainment.

The venue started in 1999 with owner and operator Bruce Fitzpatrick, who has kept overhead low. He is also the venue’s booker, bartender and janitor. The names of the bands that have played there are hand painted in glow in the dark on the cinderblock walls: The White Stripes, Paramore, Cage the Elephant. All bands who played some of their first shows in the dingy 300 capacity room.

By 7:45 p.m. that night The End reached their fundraising goal. Over 500 donations came through to keep the venue going. There wasn’t one major donor. The highest contribution was $2,500. Most were under $100, making it a true community effort.

Times are tough on Elliston Place. Across the street from The End is another famed launchpad, Exit/In. They changed ownership from Chris Cobb to AJ Capital Partners in 2023, ending 51 years of local, independent ownership. The End owner Fitzpatrick made it through the pandemic with help of non-profit organizations like the National Independent Venue Association.

Despite this fundraising success to cover rent costs, the future of The End remains uncertain.

Nashville Public Radio’s podcast Music Citizens told the story of Bruce Fitzpatrick, how The End came to be and how it has become a beloved Nashville institution.

“Bruce Fitzpatrick was and is the foundation stone of Nashville rock and roll. Our whole community of Nashville rock-n-rollers for the past 45 years has relied in some way on Bruce Fitzpatrick.” said Jason Ringenberg, lead singer of Jason & the Scorchers.