Live music and nightlife in Germantown

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Venue details come from each venue’s own site: the Germantown Performing Arts Center, The Grove FAQ, Thornwood and the bars linked below. GPAC box office: 901-751-7500.

Germantown is a quiet suburb at night, and its live music is built around one place: the Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC), 1801 Exeter Road, with its 800-seat Highland Capital Performance Hall, its Jazz in the Box club nights and The Grove, an outdoor lawn and stage. For a drink, the choices are a rooftop bar at Thornwood, a wine and cocktail room on Poplar Pike and a few restaurant bars. We list venues, not specific gigs; check each calendar.

Good to know

• GPAC box office: 901-751-7500, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and before evening shows.
• The Grove: no smoking or vaping, no pets; chairs allowed; outside food depends on the show.
• Getting home: police non-emergency, 901-754-7222. Downtown Memphis and Beale Street are about 11 miles west.

Concert venues

Germantown Performing Arts Center, 1801 Exeter Road. The city describes its performance hall as an acoustically perfect 800-seat room, with a black box space and grand foyer. GPAC books touring jazz, blues, soul and comedy acts, plus the Germantown Symphony Orchestra and Opera Memphis. Tickets are sold only through gpacweb.com and the box office.

Jazz in the Box at GPAC. GPAC calls it “the hottest little jazz club around”: cabaret seating, drinks for purchase and an up-close room for new and established jazz artists, which GPAC pitches as a way to kick off the weekend (calendar).

The Grove at GPAC. An outdoor stage on the TruGreen Lawn with a covered 40-by-60-foot stage, a giant screen and room for about 900 people, GPAC says. Series held there include:

• Concerts in The Grove, ticketed, on select Thursdays in spring and fall, 6:30 to 8 p.m., gates 5:30 p.m., with food trucks and cocktails on the First Horizon Foundation Plaza.
• Happy Friday at The Grove, free, summer Fridays 5 to 8 p.m., with a full bar on the plaza.

Everyone, including babies, needs a ticket for ticketed Grove shows, GPAC says.

Municipal Park, 1900 S. Germantown Road: the city’s free Groovin’ and Grillin’ concerts on June Tuesday nights; glass and alcohol are not allowed in the park.

Bars and late tables

Phones: Limelight 901-791-2328, Forest Hill Grill 901-624-6002, Moondance 901-755-1471, Southern Social 901-754-5555. Thornwood’s own description of its restaurants mentions “restaurant patios, live music, and soothing greenspace views”; ask each venue what is on.

After a show

GPAC, the Germantown Athletic Club and the library sit next to Thornwood, so The Overland and Moondance are a short walk from the hall. Dinner ideas are in our date night guide.

Seasonal music

• Holiday concerts at GPAC: see holiday lights and Christmas events.
• Summer series: see summer camps and pools.
• New Year’s Eve plans: see New Year’s Eve.

Related: free things to do, things to do this month and brunch.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I hear live music in Germantown, TN?

The Germantown Performing Arts Center, 1801 Exeter Road, books concerts in its 800-seat hall, jazz in its Jazz in the Box series and outdoor shows on The Grove lawn. Thornwood’s restaurants also advertise patios and live music.

What is Jazz in the Box at GPAC?

GPAC’s small jazz club series, with cabaret seating and drinks for purchase, featuring new and established artists; GPAC pitches it as a way to kick off the weekend.

Is there a rooftop bar in Germantown?

Yes. The Overland sits on the roof of the Marriott TownePlace Suites at Thornwood, 7800 Neshoba Road, Suite 501, open 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are suggested.

Are the Germantown summer concerts free?

Happy Friday at The Grove was free on summer Friday evenings in 2026, and Groovin’ and Grillin’ at Municipal Park was free on Tuesdays in June. Concerts in The Grove on Thursdays are ticketed.