Nashville’s music venues start rolling back COVID policies amid falling case counts

It has been a long, difficult road for Nashville’s independent music venues. While the pandemic isn’t over, venue operators are excited about an upcoming milestone – rolling back their COVID policies and restrictions.

“Oh my goodness,” says Chris Cobb of Exit/In with a laugh. “It feels good!”

Cobb says Exit/In’s vaccine and testing requirements will be rolled back this week. They’ll join venues like The 5 Spot, which made the announcement last week.

Music Venue Alliance – Nashville meets Tuesday to discuss, and Cobb says he anticipates many stages across the city will roll back their policies soon.

“It certainly feels like it’s time,” Cobb says. “Case counts are declining significantly here locally, finally. So we’re ready to see these policies go away and hopeful that they don’t come back.”

But just because the venues are rolling back these measures, does not mean concert-goers won’t run into them anymore. Cobb says if an artist wants proof of vaccine or a negative test for entry, the venue will make it happen.