Ben’s planning a work trip to Nashville, and more than one person has steered him toward the Bluebird Cafe — turns out that’s well-earned advice. Opened in 1982 in a strip mall outside downtown, it’s a “listening room” where talking during a show isn’t allowed, built around songwriters performing in the round. Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift both partly landed their record deals through Bluebird sets, and Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Dierks Bentley all got their start passing its audition nights. Reservations are required for most shows — Monday’s open mic is the one first-come, first-served exception.
Venue/reservations: bluebirdcafe.com.
[Just Two Good Old Boys #182 1:30:50]
