When country music fans think of the Grand Ole Opry, they often picture its famous circle of wood at center stage, where countless legends and newcomers have performed.
However, just 15 miles away, another iconic circle exists in the world of country music: the in-the-round songwriter circles at the Bluebird Cafe.
For the past 42 years, this small venue in a strip mall off Hillsboro Pike in Nashville has been, in the words of Bluebird Cafe COO/GM Erika Wollam Nichols, “a home for songs and songwriters.”
The Bluebird Cafe has become a haven for songwriters over the past four decades, offering a place to share new songs with a supportive audience and serving as a launchpad for future stars like Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks.
On Monday night (June 17), the Bluebird Cafe hosted another memorable "only in Nashville" moment, as Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Post Malone made his debut performance at the venue.
Known for his dominance on the Billboard Hot 100 with his Morgan Wallen collaboration “I Had Some Help,” Post Malone has been steadily making his mark in the country music scene.
He has performed country classics, participated in tributes at the CMA Awards, performed at Stagecoach, and collaborated with Blake Shelton on the song “Pour Me a Drink.”
For his Bluebird Cafe debut, Post Malone was joined by Lainey Wilson and songwriter Ashley Gorley for an authentic in-the-round performance. This industry-only event highlighted Post Malone’s respect for the country genre and its creators.
“I dreamed about playing the Bluebird, and there’s such an energy in this room,” Wilson said, expressing her excitement to share the stage with Post Malone.
Gorley kicked off the night with a rendition of Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina.” Throughout the evening, he also performed hits like Nate Smith’s “World on Fire,” Chris Stapleton’s Grammy-winning “You Should Probably Leave,” and Morgan Wallen’s “Sand in My Boots.”
Post Malone brought his unique flair to the evening, asking if it was okay to swear during a writers’ round and potentially setting a record for the most F-bombs dropped at the Bluebird Cafe—a testament to the venue’s intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
At one point, when a guitar pick was needed, Wilson joked to Post Malone, “I’m gonna get you to sign it and then sell it on eBay.”
The trio shared stories, jokes, and songs, with Gorley performing several hits he’s written, while Wilson and Post Malone offered a mix of their popular songs and new material.
Post Malone performed his 2016 track “Feeling Whitney,” explaining it was inspired by a night of drinking in Texas rather than the late singer Whitney Houston.
In the acoustic setting, the songs' craftsmanship shone through, whether it was Wilson’s “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” or Post Malone’s pop hit “Sunflower” from the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Later in the evening, Post Malone humorously noted, “My whole life, I’ve loved shapes, from octagons to triangles to rhombuses.
But the shape I love most is the circle,” before launching into his 2019 hit “Circles.”
As the night progressed, Post Malone lightened the mood by jokingly calling for rounds of shots and hot dogs for the audience. He also shared a favorite drink recipe, White Tea, a mix of vodka, peach schnapps, and sours.
A server eventually brought drinks for the performers, and they continued the round, sipping and sharing music in true Bluebird Cafe style.
Pictures: Billboard
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