The Bluebird Cafe

THE BLUEBIRD CAFE

The Bluebird Cafe is one of the world’s preeminent listening rooms that has gained worldwide recognition as a songwriter’s performance space where the “heroes behind the hits” perform their own songs; songs that have been recorded by chart-topping artists in all genres of music. The venue presents two shows a night, seven nights a week, with their In The Round shows typically scheduled Tuesday-Saturday, their established Open Mic on Mondays at 6PM and the audition-only Sunday Writers Nights on Sundays at 8PM.

Located in a small strip mall outside of downtown Nashville, the 90 seat venue is unassuming in appearance, but some of the most significant songwriters and artists have performed in this room. Their reputation as a listening room originates from the acoustic, singer/songwriter style music that is performed there nightly. The shows are supported by The Bluebird’s “Shhh policy” which is designed to support an environment where both the audience and the songwriters can concentrate on the songs. Patrons repeatedly tell them that they are captivated by hearing songs performed by the creators themselves and the stories behind how the songs came to be in such a quiet, intimate, and unique venue.

At The Bluebird Cafe, performers include up-and-coming songwriters along with those whose music is regularly on the charts, country music as well as pop, rock and Contemporary Christian hits. Kathy Mattea was the first star to be identified with The Bluebird Cafe and is still a friend and a regular guest performer today. Garth Brooks played both Open Mic and Sunday Songwriter’s Shows before he was discovered – at The Bluebird Cafe – and signed to Capitol Records.

In 2008, original owner and founder Amy Kurland sold the legendary venue to the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), a 40+ year old, not-for-profit organization devoted to the service of songwriters and the craft of songwriting. More of a donation than a corporate sale, Kurland saw NSAI’s mission to “educate, elevate and celebrate songwriters” as a way to continue the Bluebird’s relationship to songwriters and to the community.

Source: The Bluebird Cafe