Some of the people behind country music’s biggest hits are spending their Mondays playing songs in Nashville. And you can hear them before most evening venues open their doors.
The Bluebird Cafe’s Bluebird on 3rd series has returned for fall, bringing professional songwriters, original music, and the stories behind the songs to 3rd & Lindsley.
Among the remaining performers are writers behind Garth Brooks’ “The Dance,” George Strait’s “Troubadour,” and Lonestar’s “Amazed.”
There is one detail to get right before heading out.
Despite the Bluebird name, these shows take place at 3rd & Lindsley downtown, not at the famous listening room in Green Hills.
The People Behind the Songs Take the Stage
You might know every word to a country song without knowing the name of the person who wrote it.
Bluebird on 3rd puts those writers in front of the audience.
The series uses the Bluebird’s in-the-round format, with songwriters taking turns sharing original music and explaining how their songs came together. At 3rd & Lindsley, that exchange happens on the venue’s stage.
The appeal goes beyond recognizing a familiar chorus. You get to hear the people who created the music introduce it in their own words.
Ever wondered what started a song you’ve heard a hundred times? This is the kind of show built around that curiosity.
The lineup mixes established hitmakers with emerging performers. A familiar songwriting credit can help you choose a date, though it doesn’t guarantee that particular song will make the setlist.
This Nashville Music Outing Starts With Lunch
Doors open at 11 a.m., giving guests time to find seats and order before the scheduled 12:30 p.m. start.
3rd & Lindsley is a bar and grill with appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and entrees. You can make lunch part of the visit instead of squeezing a meal between stops.
For anyone who enjoys live music but has lost enthusiasm for late nights, the timing has obvious advantages.
Your evening stays open. Your bedtime stays reasonable.
Just leave enough room in the day. The performance is scheduled for two hours, so this is a full afternoon outing rather than a quick lunch break. Allow roughly three hours or more for arriving, eating, listening, and leaving.
The shows are listed as all ages, although they are songwriter performances rather than programs designed specifically for children.
Six Monday Shows Remain This Fall
The nine-show season began October 5. As of October 24, six performances remain, starting with October 26.
Each date has a different lineup, so choosing by songwriter can make the visit more personal.
October 26: Brinley Addington, Austin Jenckes, and Dustin Christensen, with Tai Shan and Melissa Erin.
Addington is originally from Kingsport, Tennessee. His background includes traditional and 1990s country influences, making this date worth considering for listeners drawn to those sounds.
November 2: Brice Long, Marla Cannon-Goodman, and Dylan Altman, with Mike Kinnebrew and Michelle Pereira.
Altman co-wrote Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” Jason Aldean’s “Take a Little Ride,” and Tim McGraw’s “Watch the Wind Blow By.”
That is a lot of country radio history in one afternoon.
November 9: Matt Warren and D. Vincent Williams, with a third featured songwriter still to be announced as of October 24. Mallory Johnson and Mara Connor are also scheduled.
Williams’ songwriting credits include Rascal Flatts’ “I’m Movin’ On” and James Otto’s “Just Got Started Lovin’ You.”
November 16: Annie Mosher, Dave Berg, and Tony Arata, with Maura Streppa and Elaina Christina.
November 23: Kent Blazy, Leslie Satcher, and Marv Green, with Brad Stuart and Brian Allison.
November 30: Victoria Banks, Emily Shackelton, and Phil Barton, with Nanseera and Andrew Worley.
November 30 is the final announced date of the fall season. Lineups remain subject to change.
Two November Dates Have Especially Familiar Songwriting Credits
For longtime country listeners, November 16 offers a strong reason to look beyond the names on an album cover.
Tony Arata wrote “The Dance,” which Garth Brooks turned into a No. 1 country hit in 1990. Arata entered the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012.
Sharing that bill is Dave Berg, whose credits include Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy,” Rodney Atkins’ “If You’re Going Through Hell,” and Reba McEntire’s “Somebody.”
A week later, the November 23 lineup brings together another group with songs many listeners will recognize immediately.
Kent Blazy co-wrote “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” Brooks’ first No. 1 country single.
Leslie Satcher’s credits include George Strait’s “Troubadour” and Martina McBride’s “When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues.”
Marv Green co-wrote Lonestar’s “Amazed” with Aimee Mayo and Chris Lindsey.
The November 23 performance falls on the Monday before Thanksgiving. If family will be in Nashville that week, it gives you a daytime music option to consider.
Those credits describe the writers’ work, rather than a promised setlist. The songs and stories shared will depend on the performance.
Tickets Start Around $22, and Seats Are First Come
The upcoming event listings advertise tickets ranging from $22.16 to $32.20.
Check the total for your chosen date before paying, including any applicable taxes or ticketing charges. Food and drinks should be budgeted separately.
The simplest booking route is through the Bluebird’s official season page or 3rd & Lindsley’s event listings. Follow their links to the ticketing platform.
Buying ahead gives you a firmer plan than arriving and hoping tickets remain.
Seating is generally first come, first served, and the venue does not generally accept table reservations. Buying admission does not reserve a particular table.
Arriving near the 11 a.m. door time gives you more time to find available seating and order lunch. It still does not guarantee a specific spot.
Check the refund terms attached to your exact ticket, too. Conditions can vary between listings.
The Bluebird Name Comes With Decades of Nashville History
Amy Kurland opened the Bluebird Cafe in 1982, initially intending it primarily as a restaurant.
Live music gradually became central to its identity. Its in-the-round performances began in 1985, helping place the focus on songwriting and the people doing it.
Bluebird on 3rd carries that songwriter tradition into another established Nashville room.
3rd & Lindsley dates to 1991 and has its own history of hosting local, regional, and national musicians.
The collaboration has appeared in earlier seasons, including spring 2026. This fall marks the return of an established series.
For guests, the distinction is useful: you’re booking a Bluebird songwriter program at a different venue, with its own seating, food service, and ticket arrangements.
Get the Address and Parking Sorted Before Monday
Head to 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill, 818 3rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37210.
Use that address when setting your route. Going to the Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills would put you at the wrong venue.
Free parking is available around 3rd & Lindsley, but some nearby lots are paid or restricted. Check the venue’s parking guide before choosing a space.
An empty lot is tempting. A tow bill is a less enjoyable afternoon souvenir.
Guests who need accessible seating or other accommodations should contact the venue in advance at 615-259-9891. The venue identifies itself as accessible and asks visitors to discuss their needs before attending.
For a first visit, aim to arrive between 11 and 11:30 a.m., order lunch before the music begins, and keep the scheduled 12:30–2:30 p.m. performance window clear.
