Inside Category 10: Luke Combs Welcomes Fans To His Dream Nashville Bar With Private Performance
Luke Combs welcomed fans into Category 10, the brand new entertainment establishment on Friday (Nov. 1) with a private concert…
Luke Combs; Photo by Catherine Powell
Luke Combs welcomed fans into Category 10, the brand new entertainment establishment on Friday (Nov. 1) with a private concert for The Bootleggers. The event served as the unofficial grand opening of Category 10 on the night before it opened to the public.
Combs delivered a performance of some of his biggest hits, including “Hurricane,” “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma,” “Fast Car,” and more, and admitted having a bar in Nashville is a “dream come true.”
During the opening celebration, Combs stopped the show to address the crowd, some of whom had been waiting outside for several hours.
“It is pretty wild. I’m not going to lie…Seeing y’all in here, seeing this place come to life was something I never thought I’d be a part of, but I’m very, very grateful that I have made it this far and I would not be this far without each and every one of you guys who are in here tonight,” the 34-year-old shared from the stage. “I know that you guys have been lined up, some of you all day to be here….Thank y’all for that, man. It really does mean a lot.”
He continued with a heartfelt message, expressing his gratitude to everyone who has supported him and sharing his amazement at how far he’s come in his career.
“We toured really hard this year, played some really, really, really big shows, and had a whole lot of fun doing that. And again, my life is filled with things that I did not think that it would be, and things that I, at times am not sure that I deserve, but things that I’m all very, very, very, very grateful for and very, very appreciative of. I want you guys to know that I do this because I love it. I sing because it’s the only thing that I’m good at. I write songs because it’s hard and I want to get better and just, it means the world to me that for whatever reason you thought that I was worth following and listening to it means a whole lot to me.”
Category 10, which is the former home of Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon, officially opened to the public on Saturday. This four-story, 67,000-square-foot venue is truly one of a kind with six interior bars, three stages, a giant retail area, and a 7,000-square-foot rooftop set to open in early 2025.
Inside, fans will experience five different areas, each influenced by Combs and things he is passionate about.
The Honky-Tonk: A two-story genuine Honky-Tonk located at the front of the entertainment complex that offers two bars, a retail shop and a main stage for top-caliber live music.
Hurricane Hall: The largest dance floor and stage to grace Nashville’s downtown area is situated on the first floor of the multi-level establishment. The space is fully equipped for world-class line dancing and will also be available to host ticketed concert events with a capacity of up to 1,500 guests. Here, guests will find the Beer Never Broke My Heart bar and the Neon Dream bar.
@countrynow.com @Luke Combs #category10 officially opens today! see inside the 3-floor establishment and check out the unique light show! #nashville #nashvilletn #country #countrymusic ♬ original sound – CountryNow.com
The Still: Combs hand-picked a selection of bourbon for this second-floor lounge inspired by his songwriting. The intimate setting was specifically designed for Combs’ Bootleggers Fan Club bourbon aficionados, songwriters, and music lovers.
5 Leaf Clover Sports Bar: Named after Luke’s hit song, “5 Leaf Clover,” the third-floor sports bar has a mix of lounge and table seating along with massive screens where guests can enjoy a wide selection of major sports year-round. A real-time sports ticker is wrapped around the room, creating the perfect space for any true sports lover.
The Eye: This 7,000-square-foot rooftop, expected to open in early 2025, is promised to be the largest outdoor deck in the Broadway area with unobstructed views of the Cumberland River and Nissan Stadium.
The centerpiece of Category 10 is “The Light Show.” This custom-designed light display made its debut during Combs’ performance and offers an immersive experience to Category 10 patrons. The lights are synchronized to the music and move along with the show, adding to the experience.
Additionally, at select moments, “The Light Show” will be joined by synchronized routines from Category 10’s new dance team and will also play during select times on weekends.
Category 10 is located at 120 2nd Ave. North in Nashville.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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