How to Get in to the Bluebird Cafe
I’m a native Nashvillian and singer/songwriter who has performed at the Bluebird Café over 100 times. Let me tell you how to get Bluebird Cafe tickets at this famously difficult-to-get-in-to club.
Why do I want to visit The Bluebird Café?
The Bluebird Café is most definitely Nashville’s best venue to see singer/songwriters. It was featured in ABC TV’s drama Nashville and has hosted over 1000 incredible singer/songwriters since it’s opening in 1982. The venue’s own words: “Each show features three to four songwriters who perform together, telling stories and accompanying each other. In our small room, it’s a unique set up that allows the audience an up-close-and-personal experience of how songwriters create their music.”
In 1983 Kathy Mattea was the first featured artist from the Bluebird to become a star. Since then artists like Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, and many, many more have been discovered there. Whether or not you see the next up-and-coming superstar on any particular day, you are guaranteed to hear some amazing songs written by the best songwriters in the world. The Bluebird hosts two kinds of shows, both equally good:
In the Round: The songwriters perform in the middle of the room
In the Row: The songwriters perform on the Bluebird stage
LOCATION
The Bluebird Café is in a small strip of shops in a suburb called Green Hills slightly south of downtown Nashville. It’s across the street from the fancy Hill Center shopping area and a few blocks down from the bougiest mall in town, The Mall at Green Hills. Green Hills is a very well-to-do area. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban live just a few blocks away, as do several other stars. NK and KU are frequently spotted at the Starbucks down the street. The point is, The Bluebird doesn’t look like a super famous venue from the outside. In fact, most tourists pass it and never know it.
Over 70,000 people visit the Bluebird Café each year. Because the venue only seats 90 people and hosts 2 seatings nightly, it can be very difficult to secure a spot at this extremely popular club. Presently, The Bluebird has two shows a night, at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weeknights and at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on the weekends. Every single show sells out within 10 minutes of tickets becoming available.
The Best Way to Score a Ticket Reservation:
- MOST IMPORTANT: Visit the Bluebird’s SHOWS page EXACTLY ONE WEEK BEFORE the show you want to attend, a few minutes before 8am CST. If you want to go on a Tuesday night, log in on Tuesday morning one week BEFORE the show day. Fri, Sat, and Sun shows become available the Monday of that week at 8:00AM CST.
- Navigate to the DAY of that month for the show you’re looking to attendThe BUY TICKETS button for that show will become active at exactly 8am. Click it as soon as you can. Keep refreshing if needed. IF YOU MAKE IT THROUGH THIS STEP, YOU’RE GOLDEN. DON’T MESS IT UP NOW.
- Enter the reservation page and select the number of seats you want and at what table. You must add the number of seats you need by using the + button. You are not reserving an entire table if you choose 1. The Bluebird reserves ALL seats at each table, so if you are a small party at a large table you’ll sit with another party. DO THIS QUICKLY AND CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME, OTHERWISE YOU’LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND ALL THE TICKETS WILL BE GONE.
- Enter your credit card and billing information for the non-refundable show cover charge and $4.00 reservation fee (plus tax) per person. You can only reserve up to 6 seats per order. YOU JUST SCORED TICKETS TO THE HOTTEST SHOW IN TOWN!
*Sometimes special shows, like a celebrity benefit concert for example, may follow a different on-sale timeline. Please check all on-sale times at the Bluebird’s website.*
All reservations must be made online at bluebirdcafe.com. Except…
ACCESSIBLE SEATING:
The Bluebird has limited availability for wheelchair accessible seating. They can accommodate up to 2 accessible seats per show but must have at least 2 weeks’ notice. Email info@bluebirdcafe.com or call 615-383-1461 12 PM–4 PM CST Monday-Friday.
MONDAYS
Mondays are a little different. No online craziness. Instead, it’s IN PERSON craziness! Both the 6:00 and 9:00 Monday shows do not accept reservations. It’s first come, first served seating only. If you want to attend one of these shows, you must get in line outside the front door at least an hour before the show starts. If the weather is bad it could work in your favor as fewer people wait in line then. There are some awnings to somewhat protect potential patrons from the weather.
The 6pm Monday night show is an Open Mic Night, meaning anyone can play these Open Mic Nights as long as he or she plays original and family-friendly material. I do NOT recommend going to the Monday Open Mic Nights unless that is your only chance to go to the venue only because the show will most likely consist of writers playing there for the first time. If you do go on a Monday, you’ll enjoy an awesome established songwriter host, usually Barbara Cloyd or Steve Goodie, both of whom are excellent. You may discover a brand-new artist you absolutely love, a 14-year-old Taylor Swift in the making! Or not.
MOST RECOMMENDED SHOWS
In my opinion, the best bet show to see is the monthly “Bluebird Originals” show, which features songwriters Tony Arata, J. Fred Knobloch & Thom Schuyler who have been playing the venue since it’s opening in 1982. Collectively they’ve written songs recorded by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Delbert McClinton, Don Williams, Reba McEntire, Suzy Bogguss, Hal Ketchum, Etta James, Rosanne Cash, and Randy Travis to name a few. You’ve never heard of the writers, but you’ve definitely heard their songs. I also highly recommend the all-girls Chick Singer Night, featured every other month.
The Bluebird Café has an unusual etiquette policy: patrons remain silent while artists are performing, only applauding or talking in between songs. Those who violate the rule receive a stern “Shhhhh” from staff or other audience members.
Kids under 18 are allowed with a guardian, but honestly, it’s not a show for kids, especially with the strict “Shhhh” policy. To see what to do with kids in Nashville, visit here.
I didn’t get through to buy tickets at 8am!
I know this is super frustrating. However, the Bluebird holds 20 tickets in reserve for walk-ups. These are seats at the bar (21+ only) and in the pews, which are just like they sound – old church pews on risers. These are actually some of the best seats in the house, both visually and sonically. To get one of these coveted seats, line up to the right of the front door at least an hour before show time. The hosts will seat people with reservations first, then fit walk-ups wherever they can until all seats are full.
I get it, this process is a pain in the butt. It doesn’t allow for the advance planning that most travelers prefer. Many people living in Nashville have never been there because it’s such a pain to get in. But this is how they’ve set it up, so I’ve walked you through the best way to utilize their system. And it’s WAY better than it used to be! 20 years ago reservations were made by phone. You’d get a busy signal every time you called until you finally got through on your tenth try, just to hear that the date you wanted was sold out. At least now you know by 8:10am if you’re in or not.
If you don’t get tickets or a walk-up seat
The music is pumped through speakers for anyone waiting on the sidewalk to hear as well. As the front wall is solid glass, you’re basically seeing and hearing the show without having to pay the cover charge and table minimum. Once everyone is seated, you can also step in the door during a show, look around, take a photo, and buy a t-shirt. If you can’t make it to the venue at all, you can always get a t-shirt or sticker here.
If you don’t want to mess with all this, don’t fret. There are tons of other amazing musical venues to visit in Nashville. I highly recommend 3rd and Lindsley for pop/rock/alternative fans and Robert’s Western World for country fans.
Have you been to the Bluebird Café? What was your experience?
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jaclynbrownbuilds
Jaclyn Brown is a mother, musician, writer, self-taught builder and home improver who just can't leave well enough alone. If YouTube gave diplomas she would have an honorary doctorate from all the how-to videos she's watched. She plays guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, autoharp, ukulele, and anything else she can pick a tune out of.
