Concert to 'Preserve the Exit/In' announced

Three weeks after the Exit/In property went under contract to a developer, the battle for one of Nashville's most famous venues continues.

A cast of notable local musicians will team up for "Nashville Helping Nashville: An All-Star Musical Benefit to Preserve the Exit/In."

The benefit concert is set for May 30 at East Park (700 Woodland St.). The outdoor event will feature Nashville rockers Dirt Reynolds paying tribute to the music of alt-country trailblazers Uncle Tupelo, with guests including Aaron Lee Tasjan, Luke Schneider, Joe Andrews, Charles Butler, Andrew Leahey, Jon Latham, Brian Wright, Allen Thompson, India Ramey, Joey Fletcher and more.

There will also be a set by End of The Line, an Allman Brothers Band tribute that will feature Gregg Allman Band keyboardist Peter Levin as well as Jimbo Hart and Chad Gamble (the rhythm section of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit). 

Tickets for the rain or shine event are $25 and on sale now via Eventbrite.

Exit/In — a 50 year-old club that brought future superstars to Nashville and has been the heart of the city's rock scene for decades — is under contract to AJ Capital Partners, the Chicago-based developer best known for its Graduate Hotels.

While the company's founder has stated that they intend to preserve the historic venue, Exit/In's longtime operators, Chris and Telisha Cobb, have continued to campaign to purchase the property from AJ.

"A legendary place like this – and what makes it beloved by passionate people on both sides of the stage – is our people," the Cobbs said in a statement earlier this month. 

"Exit/In has been our family’s home for 17 years, and we can tell you the magic of the Exit/In cannot be bought or sold in a real estate transaction. It’s created by the people."

A GoFundMe page has now raised more than $200,000 for their efforts. 

Proceeds from the concert will go to the Music Venue Alliance of Nashville, (representing fifteen Nashville music venues including Exit/In), and could be used for the Cobb's purchase of the property.