4104 Hillsboro Rd, Nashville, TN 37212
615-383-1461
You may have seen this world-famous songwriters venue featured on the ABC series “Nashville.” Many top acts, including Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks and Faith Hill, have done showcases there that led to their record deals. Some of the top songwriters in Nashville, including Brett James, Dave Berg, Rivers Rutherford, Jeffrey Steele and Craig Wiseman, are regular performers.
Barbara is an integral part of the Bluebird Cafe family. She has presided over the Open Mic since it began in 1986. For ten years she did the booking for all the early shows. These days you will find her there on Monday nights still presiding over the Open Mic as well as performing there regularly, helping judge the auditions, and of course, as an audience member soaking up some of the best songwriting in the world.
MONDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC, 6 PM to 9 PM
This open mic has welcomed newcomers Kenny Chesney, David Wilcox, Dierks Bentley and Garth Brooks as they dropped by in their quest for success and songwriterswriters including Tim Johnson, Dave Turnbull. Chuck Cannon and Bret Jones who have grown from playing a couple songs for free to writing hit singles. It’s always an entertaining show as songwriters from all over the world gather to take their chance on the famous Bluebird Cafe stage. You never know just what you’ll hear, but you can be sure you’ll hear it all.
OPEN MIC SIGN-UP PROCEDURE
You must arrive at the Bluebird by 5:30 pm on the Monday you want to perform. You will be given paper to write your name on. The names will be shuffled and a list will be made in random order and read from the stage shortly before the show begins at 6 pm. Writers take the open mic w slimstage one at a time doing one song each. There is often not enough time for all the writers who sign up so those who do not get to play are given a stamp that guarantees them a spot the next time they come. There is no exception made for out-of-town writers because there are so many it wouldn’t leave enough time for the Nashville writers.
Please note that although any writer who arrives by 5:30 pm has an equal chance to perform, seating is first-come, first-served. The show is well attended and it is not uncommon for there to be more people than the room can accommodate.
SUNDAY WRITES NIGHT
This is the longest running writers’ night in Nashville and one of the best attended. The show consists of ten to twelve writers who play three songs each and it ends with a set by a writer who has enjoyed commercial success. There is no pay for the show but writers are welcome to sell CD’s.