Bluebird Café

Founder Amy Kurland opened the Bluebird Café in June 1982 at 4104 Hillsboro Pike in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, several miles south of Music Row and away from most of Nashville's country-music tourist destinations at the time. The location, in a suburban shopping center, had already been home over the years to a game room, a bar, a pizza parlor, a sewing machine store, a pharmacy, and Manookian Brothers Oriental Rugs. Kurland originally intended it to be a gourmet restaurant where patrons would have the opportunity to occasionally listen to live music. As somewhat of an afterthought, Kurland added a stage.

By March 1983, future country star Kathy Mattea had landed a record deal; she had only been playing The Bluebird Café regularly for a few months. After that, the venue became known among local musicians as a prime place to play.

On July 1, 1984, the first Writer's Night (an evening in which up-and-coming songwriters have the opportunity to play their original material with a guest who has had some songwriting success) was held, and Don Schlitz was the first special guest. Schlitz had already won a Grammy for writing the Kenny Rogers song "The Gambler," some years earlier.

On March 29, 1985, the first "In The Round" show was held with Thom Schuyler (16th Avenue and Old Yellow Car), J. 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 other hit songs). The "In The Round" format means that writers sit in the center of The Bluebird playing, taking turns, and telling stories.

In 1987, dinner shows and Open Mic Nights were added to The Bluebird's schedule.[2]

"Women In The Round" night was first held in November 1988. The line-up consisted of Ashley Cleveland, Tricia Walker (she would go on to have multiple cuts by Faith Hill, Patty Loveless, Taylor Swift and more), Pam Tillis and Karen Staley (she would also go on to have many cuts, including multiple Faith Hill hits).

During the 1990s, The Bluebird toured such venues as The Bottom Line in New York City. Such shows are still held outside of Nashville. Bluebird regulars can be seen every summer at Robert Redford's Sundance Resort in Utah.

In 1992, a movie script began circulating about a group of young songwriters living in Nashville who worked at and frequented The Bluebird Café. The Bluebird was so central to the plot of the film that Kurland was flown out to Los Angeles as the technical advisor on the film. That film was the Peter Bogdanovich-directed The Thing Called Love, starring River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney and Sandra Bullock. Some scenes were shot on location in Nashville.

Around 2000, a Turner South (cable network, now defunct) program aired, called Live from the Bluebird Café. It spent five years on the air before the Fox buyout of Turner South, when it was canceled.

The Bluebird Café Scrapbook was published in 2002. It is a history of the club, its writers, events, and employees, as told by the writers, employees, and other witnesses.

In 2002 The Bluebird Café received an Academy of Country Music Award for Night Club of the Year.

At 14 years old, young singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was discovered at The Bluebird Café by music executive Scott Borchetta.

The Bluebird Café was acquired by the Nashville Songwriters Association International organization on January 1, 2008, purchasing it from Kurland, who remained as an advisor.[3]

"Bluebird," a documentary about the club, was released in November 2019.[4]

At the venue, patrons are required to remain silent while artists are performing, only applauding or talking in between songs.

The Bluebird Café has also been featured on television in nearly every episode of ABC's drama Nashville.[5]

"Bluebird Cafe" is a track from John Waite's 1997 album When You Were Mine.

The Bluebird Cafe is also referenced in "Somewhere North of Nashville" from Bruce Springsteen's 2019 album Western Stars.

The Bluebird Cafe has referenced in the Foo Fighters song "Congregation" from the Sonic Highways album. On May 7, 2014, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl performed an hour-long solo set at The Bluebird Cafe to a crowd of approximately 100 people, supporting the release.

• The Bluebird Café website