Ken Strode’s recent choice to sell Hank’s Honky Tonk to Dale and Heather Clear signifies a shift from one side of the bar to the other. The Clears, who were regular patrons of the establishment, had developed a deep appreciation for the bar’s atmosphere and community.

“Ken and I are still really good friends. We’re working on things together,” Dale Clear said regarding the sale. “It’s been a very peaceful, nice transfer.”

The new owners are investing in upgrading the venue’s audio and video capabilities, as well as diversifying the entertainment programming to include both music and sports-related events and viewings.

Dale and Heather Clear are originally from Indiana, where they were born and raised and were high school sweethearts. The couple moved to Tennessee about 20 years ago for Dale to pursue a career in the music business, specifically playing guitar for various country artists. Some of the notable artists he has worked with include Kellie Pickler, Chris Young, Craig Campbell and Andy Griggs. This experience in the country music industry has fueled his aspiration to establish a music venue.

“I always had in my head that I wanted to have a little music venue,” Clear said. “We’ve had a couple of pizza restaurants in our past, so we have a little bit of a restaurant background, and we also have the music background . . . I’m going to have some fun in here.”

The new proprietors plan to continue Hank’s tradition of combining live music performances with good dining and maintaining a fun and inviting space. The Clears also plan to add more sports viewing to the format, with plans to host a Super Bowl party as well as events around the World Series, Masters golf tournament and NCAA Final Four.

Numerous artists have regularly graced the stage at Hank’s over the past years, honky tonk hustlin’, trying to make it in Music City.

Here’s a look at some of the area singer-songwriters and country groups that have played consistently at the venue, making significant contributions to the local country music scene with their own versions of “three chords and the truth.”

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Delyn Christian
Onstage, local troubadour Delyn Christian sports a harmonica belt, enabling him to switch instruments seamlessly while playing guitar. At 64 years old, Delyn has over 50 years of experience in live music, having started performing in bars at the age of 14. His repertoire includes tribute shows honoring artists such as Joe Cocker and John Prine, as well as his original compositions. Recently, he became part of a new band called The Bar Tabs. He has been playing at Hank’s since its opening, one of many local artists committed to the venue.

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Kenna Elpers
Elpers moved to Nashville from Southern Indiana to pursue a music business degree at Middle Tennessee State University. The artist has been playing music since age 13 and has been performing at various venues, including Hank’s, since moving to Middle Tennessee. She recently released a single titled “Saturday Night Season” with country artist Craig Campbell and has an upcoming duet with Jagger Whitaker called “End of a Bottle” coming out this February. Elpers recorded a music video at Hank’s for her song “Whiskey’d Me Away.” She graduated from MTSU in December and has been playing regular gigs at Hank’s, describing it as a supportive and family-like venue.

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Izzy Grace
A country artist who plays Hank’s every third Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m., Grace has two original songs, titled “Lost My Country” and “Land of the Free” available on major streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. Izzy appreciates Hank’s for its intimate atmosphere, where patrons and artists can interact closely with each other and with staff. She describes the new owners as passionate about music and dedicated to connecting with their customers.

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Robyn Taylor
Taylor used to live in Cannon County, where she wrote a lot of her original songs about the area. “Hills of Tennessee” and “Smith and Wesson” are examples of her songs about living out in Woodbury. When Taylor started playing Murfreesboro, she says, she appreciated feeling comfortable at Hank’s playing both classic and newer contemporary country tunes.

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The Cooter River Band
Named after a Jack Russell Terrier named Cooter and a rescue dog named River, The Cooter River Band also performs regularly at Hank’s. The band, consisting of Cary and Sherrie Lynn, Michael James, and sometimes Kenneth Pruitt, play acoustic shows at Hank’s on the third Saturday of every month; Cary and Sherrie Lynn generally perform as a duo the second Thursday.

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Phil Valdez
Valdez plays what he describes as real country music, with a style encompassing artists such as Merle Haggard, Gene Watson and Keith Whitley. When not playing acoustic at Hank’s, the rich-voiced country crooner can be heard gigging with his Fender Telecaster.

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The Jack Finley Band
Country-rock outfit The Jack Finley Band has been performing together for eight years and has been a regular ever since being the first band to play Hank’s. The band plays about two to three shows a month, including regular gigs at Hank’s and other Murfreesboro venues. The band has a strong connection to the venue, as Hank’s founder Ken Strode inspired them to form and has been a good friend.

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The O’Donnells
The O’Donnells are a local musical family trio consisting of Darryl, Klinton and Julie O’Donnell. They have developed a unique sound that blends various musical influences, primarily focusing on country music while also incorporating elements of gospel and other roots music forms.

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Emily Miller
Emily Miller is a country artist originally from West Chester, Ohio. Since graduating from Belmont University in 2018, she has continued to pursue her career in country music, actively performing at Middle Tennessee venues and beyond.

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Bailey Rose
Local contemporary country music singer-songwriter Bailey Rose picked up steam around 2013 following the release of her debut album Can’t Let Country Die. Rose continues to gain traction, release new music and perform.

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Silent Ruckus
Len and Ben Cobler are a father-and-son team who play as a two-piece cover band called The Silent Ruckus. They perform a wide variety of music ranging from ’90s country music and classic rock to modern country, spanning artists from George Strait to Toto.

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Look for these and many other talented area artists to continue bringing their unique sound and energy to Hank’s, located at 2341 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro.