What's New at the Bluebird Cafe

***Amy Kurland has been nominated for Tennessean of the Year! Go here to vote for her now! Or you can always send an e-mail to: letters@tennessean.com

Nashville Songwriters Association International
To Assume Ownership of Famed Bluebird Cafe

Amy Kurland Announces Extraordinary Contribution
and Will Remain As Founder

Kris Kristofferson Kicks Off Celebration with Private Performance

November 9, 2007, Nashville, TN-- Bluebird Cafe founder Amy Kurland will
entrust ownership of the legendary songwriter venue, effective January 1,
2008, to the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). NSAI is
a trade organization committed to protecting the rights and future of the
profession of songwriting, and to educate, elevate the songwriter.

Through the announcement it was revealed that Kurland structured the
transfer to ensure that the Bluebird will provide financial support for
NSAI's mission, and allow the organization to continue the their important
work on behalf of the songwriting profession.

Thursday night, November 8, one of NSAI's founders, the legendary Kris
Kristofferson, with original band members Donnie Fritts, Billy Swan, Stephen
Bruton and friend Chris Gantry, performed at the Bluebird to celebrate the
historical moment.

"As the Bluebird turned 25, I looked back through the years of wonderful
music and started to consider the next 25 years," said founder Amy Kurland. 
"By partnering with NSAI, I feel sure that The Bluebird will always be here
as a home for new and accomplished songwriters."

The NSAI Board of Directors agreed that the Bluebird Cafe would remain a
venue for songwriter performances.

"The NSAI Board meeting fell into stunned silence at the announcement of our
acquisition of the Bluebird Cafe," recalled board president Steve Bogard.
"Twenty-five of Nashville's best and most experienced songwriters were
literally speechless, humbled at the honor and responsibility of carrying on
the tradition of America's premier acoustic songwriting venue. The terms of
Amy Kurland's transfer of the Bluebird to NSAI can only be described as a
gift to songwriters everywhere.  We know that this is a sacred trust and a
brilliant opportunity to create a synergy that will allow us to better serve
America's songwriters in Nashville, Washington D.C. and across the country."

NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison noted that "no changes" were planned
for the Bluebird Cafe. He said the same staff would remain along with the
format that Kurland started.

"Bluebird Founder Amy Kurland created something that simply does not exist
anywhere else. The musical magic created nightly over the years has earned
the Bluebird Cafe  a place in songwriter history," said Herbison.  "We, at
NSAI, intend to carefully guard the legacy of the Bluebird Cafe  and protect
the special atmosphere Amy created."

Kurland opened the cafe in 1982 as a casual gourmet restaurant with some
live music.  Since those early days, the Bluebird has become a showcase and
home for songwriters.  In 1985, Sunday writer's nights were added as a
chance for new writers to audition and perform.  Dinner
shows followed in 1987. The Bluebird Cafe  is the setting for the 1995 film
"The Thing Called Love," starring River Phoenix, K.T. Oslin, Samantha Mathis
and Sandra Bullock.

Kathy Mattea, T. Graham Brown and Sweethearts of the Rodeo were discovered
at the cafe. Superstar Garth Brooks played Open Mic and Sunday Songwriters
shows, and nailed down his recording contract with Capitol Records at The
Bluebird.

Notable songwriters including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Janis
Ian, Tony Arata, Bill Lloyd, Danny Flowers, Don Henry, Don Schlitz and many
others have worked their magic in the room.

About the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) NSAI is the
world's largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization. Established
in 1967, the membership of more than 4,000 spans the United States and five
other countries. NSAI is dedicated to protecting the rights of and serving
aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more
information, visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com
<http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com> <http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com>

***Click here to see Amy Kurland chat with Katie Couric about entrusting The Bluebird to NSAI.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who voted The Bluebird Cafe "Best Open Mic" and "Best Writer's Night" in Nashville!!!

*You can now download select songs from various Live At the Bluebird Cafe albums via iTunes! Just click on the links below to do so now:

The Gambler - From Don Schlitz Live at The Bluebird Cafe Album

Where've You Been? - From Don Henry Live at The Bluebird Cafe Album

Blue Clear Sky - From Bob DiPiero Live at The Bluebird Cafe Album

Feels Like Mississippi - From Fred Knobloch and Jelly Roll Johnson Live at The Bluebird Cafe Album

Randall Knife - From Together at The Bluebird Cafe Album

Pancho and Lefty - From Together at The Bluebird Cafe Album

My Old Friend the Blues - From Together at The Bluebird Cafe Album

The Greatest - From Don Schlitz Live at The Bluebird Cafe Album

You can now make your reservations online! Please click here to reserve your table now. Online reservations are available at 8:00 am. If you don't have internet access, we are happy to make reservations for you by phone. Please call us between 11:00 am and 4:30 pm Tuesday- Friday for phone reservations (or at noon on Mondays).

We have a great catalogue of CDs, T-Shirts and other items that make great gifts. Check out our beautiful new mug from the Spirit of Nashville Collection. We have a great new t-shirt and hat design too!

The Bluebird Cafe is now on MySpace!! Please check us out at: http://www.myspace.com/thebluebirdcafenashville Let's be friends, add us now!______________________________________________________ BLUEBIRD ON THE MOUNTAIN TICKETS !!Tickets for the 2008 Bluebird on the Mountain series are available now at all Ticketmaster sites. The concerts are held at scenic Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory and feature the best singer/songwriters in Nashville. Every show of the 2007 season was sold out, so please don't wait to buy yours!
Bluebird on the Mountain is fast becoming a Nashville tradition. Concert-goers typically bring a well-stocked picnic basket, lawn chairs and a group of friends to enjoy an evening under the stars listening to the best of the Bluebird.
Season tickets are regularly $375, but for a limited time can be yours for $350. Season tickets are for six shows and are sold by the carload. Each season ticket allows you to bring up to eight people in your car. What a deal! When ordering simply use the word "vandytix" as a password for the special offer code to receive the discounted price.

Concert dates are May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 13 and October 11.

Talent for each show has not been determined, but in years past, Bluebird on the Mountain has hosted the likes of: Bob DiPiero, Victoria Shaw, Tom Schuyler, Fred Knobloch, Don Schlitz, Jelly Roll Johnson, Pat Alger, Lari White, Chuck Cannon, Hugh Prestwood, Matraca Berg, Gretchen Peters, Rivers Rutherford, Don Henry, Kent Blazy and many other greats.

We hope to see you on the mountain in 2008!

(For more information, please call the Observatory at 615-373-4897 or visit our website at www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu)
_____________________________________________________________

Auditions for the next Sunday Writers Night will be held Sunday, January 27th. To register, please call: 615-383-1461 on January 11th, starting 11:00. We will take up to 80 names or cut the calls off at 2:00pm, whichever comes first. More information available upon registration - please check back for updates, as we are working on some helpful changes.

*In order to audition, you must be a member of NSAI or live within 100 miles of Nashville.

The Bluebird Cafe Scrapbook is available in our on-line store or at the club. It has wonderful stories from writers and artists who have played at the Bluebird through the years. It’s fun, funny, inspirational, full of pictures, with stories from Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Kathy Mattea, Pam Tillis, Bob DiPiero, Don Schlitz, and dozens more. A great gift for any songwriter.$15.00 Click here to get to the store.

Amy worked with other volunteers to create this wonderful CD of songs
about alcoholism, addiction and recovery, to raise money to help people who have been harmed by this disease. I’m Gonna Hire a Wino, There Stands the Glass, Sam Stone, Needle and the Damage Done, and the new song When Love Rules the World are all included. Buy it for a friend in recovery, or for a friend who might need help. Available in our online store or at www.sharesongs.com.