FAMED BLUEBIRD CAFÉ KICKING OFF 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Full Week of Concerts Scheduled Beginning June 4, 2012
(Nashville,
Tennessee…) – The famed Bluebird Café is turning 30, and an extended
celebration will kickoff with a week of special daily performances from
some of music’s biggest artists and songwriters beginning Monday, June
4, 2012. Numerous homecoming shows, special concerts, guest appearances
and events are planned each day that week and throughout the coming
year.
Tennessee…) – The famed Bluebird Café is turning 30, and an extended
celebration will kickoff with a week of special daily performances from
some of music’s biggest artists and songwriters beginning Monday, June
4, 2012. Numerous homecoming shows, special concerts, guest appearances
and events are planned each day that week and throughout the coming
year.
“The
entire Birthday week features a multitude of old and new friends coming
together to celebrate the impact of The Bluebird Café,” said GM Erika
Wollam Nichols. “We appreciate our partner organizations, ASCAP, BMI,
IBMA, NSAI, the Nashville Songwriters Foundation and SESAC helping us
celebrate 30 years of songs at The Bluebird Café!”
entire Birthday week features a multitude of old and new friends coming
together to celebrate the impact of The Bluebird Café,” said GM Erika
Wollam Nichols. “We appreciate our partner organizations, ASCAP, BMI,
IBMA, NSAI, the Nashville Songwriters Foundation and SESAC helping us
celebrate 30 years of songs at The Bluebird Café!”
Nichols
also said that there is no way that one week could represent the famed
venue’s 30 year history, so they plan to celebrate all year long with
returning friends and special performances.
also said that there is no way that one week could represent the famed
venue’s 30 year history, so they plan to celebrate all year long with
returning friends and special performances.
The 30th Anniversary Kickoff Week includes:
Monday, June 4, 2012
– Early Show: Open Mic Night
– Late Show: A Songwriter’s Tribute to Garth Brooks with Pat Alger, Tony
Arata, Kent Blazy, Victoria Shaw and Kim Williams – all writers who have written with, and for, Bluebird discovery, Garth Brooks.
Tuesday, June 5
– Early Show: SESCAC Presents: Jon Stone, Brian White, Jim Lauderdale and
Brice Long – in Honor of The Bluebird
– Late Show: Bluebird 30th Birthday Party starring Kathy Mattea, Crystal
Gayle and others.
Wednesday, June 6
– Early Show: ASCAP Presents: Walt Aldridge, Dave Berg, Eric Paslay and
Carly Pearce – in Honor of The Bluebird
– Late Show: Writers at the Bar with Vince Gill, J. Fred Knobloch and Don
Schlitz
and others. Instead of the traditional round on the stage or in the
middle of the club, the writers will be sitting at the bar!
and others. Instead of the traditional round on the stage or in the
middle of the club, the writers will be sitting at the bar!
Thursday, June 7
– Early Show: BMI Presents: Sammy Arriaga, Neal Carpenter, Adam James
and Haily Steele – in Honor of The Bluebird
– Late Show: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame show hosted by Pat Alger,
Richard Leigh, Wayland Holyfield and friends.
Friday, June 8
– Early Show: IBMA Presents: Marty Raybon, Pam Gadd, Chris Henry and
Becky Schlegel – in Honor of The Bluebird
– Late Show: 9:30 ITR Founders Celebrate 30 Years: Thom Schuyler, Fred
Knobloch, Tony Arata and Jelly Roll Johnson with Don Schlitz
Saturday, June 9
– Early Show: NSAI Presents: Lance Carpenter, Bonner Black, John Milstead,
Carolina Story
– Late Show: Walt Wilkins, Jimmy Davis, Bill Small & friends
Sunday, June 10
– Sunday Spotlight with Jonathan Singleton and friends
– Sunday Writers Night with Bluebird Favorites including Bluebird alumnus Liz
Hengber, Mark Irwin and special guest Tony Arata
Reservations are available online at www.bluebirdcafe.com.
Shows go on sale at 8:00am online and stay on sale until 4:15pm the day
of the show (with the exception of Saturday’s shows, which go off sale
on Fridays at 4:15pm).To make a weekday reservation, you can go on
online one week in advance of the show date (Tuesday for next Tuesday’s
show, Wednesday for next Wednesday, etc.). For Friday and Saturday
reservations, go online beginning at 8:00 am Monday of the week of the
shows. Sunday and Monday shows (with the exception of June 4) are first
come, first served. Please have your credit card number ready, as you
will need it to confirm your reservation! There is a non-refundable
reservation fee of $2.00 per person.
Shows go on sale at 8:00am online and stay on sale until 4:15pm the day
of the show (with the exception of Saturday’s shows, which go off sale
on Fridays at 4:15pm).To make a weekday reservation, you can go on
online one week in advance of the show date (Tuesday for next Tuesday’s
show, Wednesday for next Wednesday, etc.). For Friday and Saturday
reservations, go online beginning at 8:00 am Monday of the week of the
shows. Sunday and Monday shows (with the exception of June 4) are first
come, first served. Please have your credit card number ready, as you
will need it to confirm your reservation! There is a non-refundable
reservation fee of $2.00 per person.
Each
seat at a table or the bar has a $7.00 per person food and/or drink
minimum. Early shows have no cover. All late shows, with the exception
of Sunday night, have a cover charge, which goes directly to the
performers. A varied menu of appetizers, hot & cold sandwiches,
salads & daily hot specials, is available until 10pm weeknights and
11PM weekends. Doors open at 5:00pm Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30pm Friday –
Monday.
seat at a table or the bar has a $7.00 per person food and/or drink
minimum. Early shows have no cover. All late shows, with the exception
of Sunday night, have a cover charge, which goes directly to the
performers. A varied menu of appetizers, hot & cold sandwiches,
salads & daily hot specials, is available until 10pm weeknights and
11PM weekends. Doors open at 5:00pm Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30pm Friday –
Monday.
About the Bluebird Café:
The
Bluebird Café was originally opened in June of 1982 by Amy Kurland as a
restaurant in a small strip center in the Nashville suburb of Green
Hills. A fan of songwriters, she quickly began inviting local tunesmiths
to perform on a small stage in the restaurant. A year later Kathy
Mattea, who would go on to score numerous hit singles, awards and
accolades, began performing regularly at the venue.
Bluebird Café was originally opened in June of 1982 by Amy Kurland as a
restaurant in a small strip center in the Nashville suburb of Green
Hills. A fan of songwriters, she quickly began inviting local tunesmiths
to perform on a small stage in the restaurant. A year later Kathy
Mattea, who would go on to score numerous hit singles, awards and
accolades, began performing regularly at the venue.
In
1984, Kurland added the first official “writer’s night,” and one year
later the songwriter in-the-round format was started with Thom Schuyler (“16th Avenue” and “Old Yellow Car”), Fred Knobloch (“Used to Blue” and “Meanwhile”), Don Schlitz (he would collect his second Grammy a few years later for “Forever and Ever, Amen”), and Paul Overstreet (future co-writer of “Forever and Ever, Amen” as well as a slew of other hit songs.)
1984, Kurland added the first official “writer’s night,” and one year
later the songwriter in-the-round format was started with Thom Schuyler (“16th Avenue” and “Old Yellow Car”), Fred Knobloch (“Used to Blue” and “Meanwhile”), Don Schlitz (he would collect his second Grammy a few years later for “Forever and Ever, Amen”), and Paul Overstreet (future co-writer of “Forever and Ever, Amen” as well as a slew of other hit songs.)
In
the ensuing years, the small stage would play host to a who’s who of
songwriters and artists, many of whom credit the Bluebird Café for
providing a safe-haven for them to perfect their craft or try out new
material. Sweethearts of the Rodeo were offered a deal with Columbia
Records after execs saw the duo perform in the club in 1985. A year
later, a talent agent brought a group of singer/songwriters from
Atlanta, which included The Indigo Girls. Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley,
Radney Foster, Deana Carter, and numerous others passed Bluebird
auditions early in their careers.
the ensuing years, the small stage would play host to a who’s who of
songwriters and artists, many of whom credit the Bluebird Café for
providing a safe-haven for them to perfect their craft or try out new
material. Sweethearts of the Rodeo were offered a deal with Columbia
Records after execs saw the duo perform in the club in 1985. A year
later, a talent agent brought a group of singer/songwriters from
Atlanta, which included The Indigo Girls. Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley,
Radney Foster, Deana Carter, and numerous others passed Bluebird
auditions early in their careers.
On
a fateful night in 1987, a new artist named Garth Brooks was scheduled
to perform at The Bluebird. Due to a cancellation, his performance was
moved up in the program, and an executive from Capitol Records happened
to be in the audience. The executive took Garth into the kitchen and
asked him to come by the label the next day to offer him a deal. Years
later, Garth says, “The Bluebird is the beginning and the mecca, the
end.”
a fateful night in 1987, a new artist named Garth Brooks was scheduled
to perform at The Bluebird. Due to a cancellation, his performance was
moved up in the program, and an executive from Capitol Records happened
to be in the audience. The executive took Garth into the kitchen and
asked him to come by the label the next day to offer him a deal. Years
later, Garth says, “The Bluebird is the beginning and the mecca, the
end.”
In
2004 Dreamworks Records’ executive Scott Borchetta saw 15-year-old
Taylor Swift perform for the first time and invited her to be a part of
his new venture – a label to be called Big Machine Label Group.
2004 Dreamworks Records’ executive Scott Borchetta saw 15-year-old
Taylor Swift perform for the first time and invited her to be a part of
his new venture – a label to be called Big Machine Label Group.
Over
65,000 people now visit The Bluebird Café annually, many of them as a
result of seeing the venue on television or reading about the club in
publications such as Southwest Spirit, National Geographic Traveler, The
New York Times and elsewhere.
65,000 people now visit The Bluebird Café annually, many of them as a
result of seeing the venue on television or reading about the club in
publications such as Southwest Spirit, National Geographic Traveler, The
New York Times and elsewhere.
The small venue has also been the setting for many television and movie scenes, including 1993’sThe
Thing Called Love starring River Phoenix, K.T. Oslin, Samantha and
Sandra Bullock. Amy Kurland is quoted several times by Oslin’s
character. The Bluebird is also central to many scenes in ABC
Television’s new series, “Nashville,” starring Jason K. Allen, Connie Britton, Ed Amatrudo and Powers Boothe. The trailer for the new show can be viewed here.
Thing Called Love starring River Phoenix, K.T. Oslin, Samantha and
Sandra Bullock. Amy Kurland is quoted several times by Oslin’s
character. The Bluebird is also central to many scenes in ABC
Television’s new series, “Nashville,” starring Jason K. Allen, Connie Britton, Ed Amatrudo and Powers Boothe. The trailer for the new show can be viewed here.
On January 1, 2008, original
owner and founder Amy Kurland transferred ownership of the legendary
venue to the Nashville Songwriters Association International, (NSAI).
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.
owner and founder Amy Kurland transferred ownership of the legendary
venue to the Nashville Songwriters Association International, (NSAI).
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.
Though
times have changed, and the business of music continues in its state of
flux, The Bluebird Café has changed little in appearance, character and
purpose over the last 30 years. The small stage still offers the
opportunity for budding singers and songwriters to be heard, the
Bluebird Café is guaranteed to always provide musical “moments,” and in
most cases, only 100 lucky listeners will be in the room to let the rest
of the world know what it missed.
times have changed, and the business of music continues in its state of
flux, The Bluebird Café has changed little in appearance, character and
purpose over the last 30 years. The small stage still offers the
opportunity for budding singers and songwriters to be heard, the
Bluebird Café is guaranteed to always provide musical “moments,” and in
most cases, only 100 lucky listeners will be in the room to let the rest
of the world know what it missed.
For additional information about the Bluebird Café, schedules, reservations and more, visit www.BluebirdCafe.com.