The Nick, Birmingham

Don’t let the rough-around-the-edges exterior fool you-The Nick is a true Birmingham institution, and yes, it knows it looks like a dive. That’s the whole point. Tucked into Southside on 10th Avenue South, this legendary shack of sound has been rocking since 1982, when Dan Nolen saved the then-struggling Wooden Nickel (formerly The Draught Board) and gave birth to The Nick. Pam Stallings, who started as a waitress in 1983, now runs the show, while Nolen books bands through his Atlanta-based Nolen Reeves Music.

The Nick is not just a bar-it’s a rite of passage. A cozy one, once your eyes adjust to the dim light, your hand adjusts to an ice-cold beer, and your ears adjust to whatever the night’s lineup throws at you. Expect anything from rock, punk, emo, metal, country, and hip-hop to bluegrass, roots rock, and even the occasional rock-a-billy breakdown. Shows usually kick off around 10 PM and can run into the early morning hours-though the party at the bar often outlives the final guitar solo.

Locals, regional up-and-comers, and even big names have all shredded their way across The Nick’s storied stage. Over the years, the venue has hosted future legends like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Flag, Jane’s Addiction, 311, the Black Crowes, and Widespread Panic. It’s even been immortalized in Live at the Nick, a live album by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, recorded in 2017.

So, if you’re in Birmingham and you’re brave enough to step into a “dirty little secret,” Nick might just reward you with the best night you never saw coming.