Songwriter Paradise - Nashville's Bluebird Cafe

It's not touristy and a bit out of the way, and it's a spot to check out for serious listening, so the staff doesn't tolerate blabbing during the performances. If you know of the Bluebird Cafe but have not been there youself, you will likely be shocked at how tiny it is.

Obscured in a non-descript strip of businesses on Hillsboro Road in Green Hills, with a hardly detectable sign, the Bluebird Cafe is a bantam hole in the wall cafe and bar, where four musicians sing from the heart of the room, in the round. It's a extremely folksy, intimate setting, in which to hear a few of Music City's wishful and accomplished musicians.

In fact, the singer-songwriter in the round setting was originated at the Bluebird. Songwriters Fred Knobloch (Used to Blue and Meanwhile), and Don Schlitz (The Gambler and Forever and Ever, Amen), supposedly after an evening of drinking, determined to stick four chairs looking opposite to each other in the center of the venue, kill the lights, and simply watch what happens.

This format turned out to run so well, that you're likely to encounter it at most singer-songwriter's gatherings in Music City. The Bluebird has not only risen to be renowned as Nashville's most well thought of place to enjoy musicians, but it has been the jumping off point for numerous acknowledged country songwriters, starting back in 1983 when Kathy Mattea landed a record deal after performing at the Bluebird for merely a short time.

Once that occurred, the Bluebird turned into one of the most competitive places to sing. And this phenomenon would persist to repeat over and over, as some of the Bluebird's singer-songwriter fixtures continued to score record deals, and songwriter after songwriter attained popularity in the same way. (There have been too many popular musicians "born" at the Bluebird to list every one here, but do you remember Garth Brooks? - Yep, he got his big break at the Bluebird, too.)

The Bluebird Cafe exhibits two presentations each evening, and reservations are advised, which you can get on the web (likely the best method) or by calling in on the phone. But if you don't have reservations and desire to scoot over there just before showtime, you certainly should give it a try - the folks there will do everything possible to get you into the show.

The Bluebird certainly should be on any visitor's list of Nashville attractions to visit.