The Bluebird Cafe experience is coming back to the heart of Murfreesboro Feb. 29, March 1 and March 2! It's almost time for the 3rd Annual Bluebird In The Boro: A Benefit for Alive Hospice, and tickets are on sale now. This three-night concert series will be held again this year at the Mayday Brewery, and proceeds benefit local nonprofit Alive Hospice. Purchase tickets online at AliveHospice.org/boro.
Presented by Reeves-Sain, Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, 96.3 Jack FM and WGNS, the 3rd Annual Bluebird In The Boro concert series will feature songwriters behind the hits including Murfreesboro's own Tim James and Dan Couch as well as Marshall Altman, Dylan Altman, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Matt Warren, Jeff Cohen, James Slater, JT Harding, Walker County (Warner Music Nashville), Danny Myrick and others. It's an event that brings the classic Bluebird Cafe experience to Rutherford County with songwriters playing "in the round" - the hallmark Bluebird set-up with songwriters playing and singing in a circle and the audience seated around them. (With such an intimate arrangement, every seat in the house is a good seat!)
THE TICKETS
General Admission tickets are $100 and include dinner from Five Senses, drinks and an evening of live music. Proceeds will help Alive Hospice build The Residence at Alive Hospice - Murfreesboro, Rutherford County's first dedicated hospice care facility, which will add another layer of care to Alive Hospice's existing services in Rutherford and surrounding counties.
THE SHOWS
Monday, Feb. 29 at 6 p.m.: Marshall Altman, Dylan Altman, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Matt Warren
Tuesday, March 1 at 6 p.m.: Jeff Cohen, James Slater, JT Harding, Walker County (Warner Music)
Wednesday, March 2 at 6 p.m.: Tim James, Dan Couch, Danny Myrick
THE SONGWRITERS
TIM JAMES: GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and Murfreesboro native Tim James is the co-writer of the five-week #1 TOBY KEITH hit "My List," the BUCKY COVINGTON Top 10 hit "It's Good To Be Us" and the smash debut from the LOST TRAILERS, "Holler Back." Tim James has had cuts by platinum-selling artists DARIUS RUCKER, CRAIG MORGAN, CHRIS YOUNG, MONTGOMERY GENTRY, LEEANN WOMACK, JOE NICHOLS and contemporary Christian group POINT OF GRACE. James penned the TRACE ADKINS single "All I Ask For Anymore," which was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Song of 2009, and the 2010 Billboard song of the year, "Love Like Crazy" (recorded by LEE BRICE). His song "Love Like Crazy" was also nominated for ACM song of the year in 2010 and is still the longest running single in the history of the Billboard Charts at 56 weeks. James also wrote the RODNEY ATKINS single "He's Mine," GEORGE STRAIT's 60th #1 single, "Give It All We Got Tonight" and the title track to the DARIUS RUCKER album called "Southern Style."
MARSHALL ALTMAN: This veteran record producer for AMY GRANT, ERIC PASLAY, WILL HOGE, FRANKIE BALLARD and others is an accomplished songwriter whose hits include "Parachute" (recorded by British pop sensation CHERYL COLE) and "When You Say My Name" (JESSIE JAMES). He founded the label Galt Line Music in 2007 and has released albums in partnership with such critically acclaimed artists as MATT NATHANSON, WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS, ROSI GOLAN, MATT DUKE, NICK STURMS and TIM MONTANA & THE SHREDNECKS, among others. Marshall is co-published by BMG Music Nashville and Southern Gothic Songs and is affiliated with BMI. Additionally, he produced the recently released CD "Keeping It Original for Alive: A Celebration of Songwriters Benefiting Alive Hospice," the proceeds from which support Alive Hospice's music therapy program.
DYLAN ALTMAN: A career singer/songwriter in Nashville for over 20 years, Dylan Altman has #1 hits to his name including "Take A Little Ride" (JASON ALDEAN), "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" (JAKE OWEN) and "Watch The Wind Blow By" (TIM McGRAW). Additionally, he has penned songs cut by THE ELI YOUNG BAND, TRACE ADKINS, ERIC PASLAY, WILL HOGE, GABE DIXON and others. A native of New Jersey and a Berklee-trained musician, he's also the front man for local favorite The Dylan Altman Blues Band.
JEFF COHEN: Multi-award-winning songwriter/producer/publisher Jeff Cohen has had songs recorded by SUGARLAND, JOSH GROBAN, THE BAND PERRY, BIG AND RICH, LAURA BELL BUNDY, SPIN DOCTORS, and others. His writing credits include "Postcard from Paris" (THE BAND PERRY), "Holy Water" (BIG AND RICH), "Giddy On Up" (LAURA BELL BUNDY) and many more. Additionally, his songs have been featured in movies including "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Stuart Little 2" and "Princess Diaries" as well as TV shows "Dawson's Creek," "Party of Five," "One Tree Hill," "The Simpsons," "Saturday Night Live" and more.
MARLA CANNON-GOODMAN: Songwriter known for #1 hits including "The Fool" (LEE ANN WOMACK), "Ten Rounds of Jose Cuervo" (TRACY BYRD), "Cleaning This Gun" (RODNEY ATKINS) and other cuts by country megastars including BLAKE SHELTON, KENNY CHESNEY, GEORGE STRAIT, SAMMY KERSHAW, BILY CURRINGTON, ERIC CHURCH, and many others.
DAN COUCH: Dan Couch has scored two Platinum #1 hits - "Somethin' Bout a Truck" and "Hey Pretty Girl" - and landed five songs on KIP MOORE's debut album "Up All Night" AND, LATER, two more singles KIP MOORE singles: "Young Love" and "Dirt Road." Additionally, his writing credits include songs recorded by MARK WILLS, ANTHONY SMITH, TEBEY, CRAIG CAMPBELL, CHRIS CAVANAUGH, LONESTAR, LAURAN ALAINA and CANAAN SMITH.
JT HARDING: JT Harding is one of the songwriters behind hits including "Smile" (UNCLE KRACKER), "Sangria" (BLAKE SHELTON), "Somewhere With You" (KENNY CHESNEY) "Alone With You" (JAKE OWEN), "Somewhere In My Car" (KEITH URBAN), "Closer Tonight" (BILLY CURRINGTON), "When The World Breaks Your Heart" (GOO GOO DOLLS) and others recorded by FIVE FOR FIGHTING, MATT NATHANSON and RASCAL FLATTS.
DANNY MYRICK: Danny Myrick achieved his first #1 gospel song as a writer at age 17 before moving to Nashville and spending the '90s singing lead in country rock band WESTERN FLYER. He went on to record hundreds of songwriter demos and provided background vocals to numerous albums by the likes of BLAKE SHELTON, MONTGOMERY GENTRY and KEITH ANDERSON before focusing on his passion for writing songs. As a writer, Danny's musical diversity has lead to cuts by artists ranging from TIM McGRAW to JOE COCKER, and he has celebrated numerous hit songs including "International Harvester" (CRAIG MORGAN), "Truck Yeah" (TIM McGRAW) and 2009's most played country song, "She's Country" (JASON ALDEAN). Additional successes include the Billboard Top 5 song "I Love This Life" (LOCASH), "Old Southern Moonshine Revival" (Top 5 on SiriusXM The Highway Hot 45), "Waiting On A Plane" (opening track on MADDIE & TAE's hit debut album, "Start Here"), "It's On Tonight" (GlORIANA; ESPN'S 2015 College Basketball promo), and "Pretty Little Cemetery" (DEAN ALEXANDER; 2015 single on iTunes and Spotify).
JAMES SLATER: GRAMMY-nominated songwriter James Slater's music career has taken him all over the world. His songs have been recorded by country superstars TIM McGRAW, KENNY CHESNEY, MARTINA McBRIDE, JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY, LORRIE MORGAN and others. His hits include the BMI Award-winning "In My Daughter's Eyes" (MARTINA McBRIDE), "Unstoppable" (RASCAL FLATTS), "Falling in Love Again" (KELLIE PICKLER) and others. Additionally, his song "High Cost of Living" (JAMEY JOHNSON) was nominated for 2010 GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
WALKER COUNTY: Walker County (Warner Music Nashville) is a family band that hails from Sulphur Springs, Ind., and consists of sisters Ivy Dene Walker (lead singer and rhythm guitar), Sophie Dawn Walker (drummer) and their father Billy on guitar. The band got its start in the summer of 2007, street performing on Nashville's famous Broadway. This family band blends a great mix of country, rock, southern rock, pop and soul to make for a very entertaining show. Ivy Dene Walker and Sophie Dawn Walker will appear at Bluebird In The Boro on March 1!
MATT WARREN: This Gallatin native had his first #1 song in 2013 with "Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)" (GARY ALLAN). Other credits to his name include cuts on Allan's albums "Living Hard "Get Off On The Pain." Warren released his debut album, "Self-Titled," in 2013 on United We Jam Records. Matt Warren owns his publishing through Always Alone Songs Publishing, administered by Kobalt, and was previously a staff writer for Amylase Entertainment/Warner Chappell Publishing, House of Fame and Full Circle Publishing in Nashville.
And others to be announced!
THE BENEFICIARY
Proceeds from the concert series will benefit the building of The Residence at Alive Hospice - Murfreesboro. This forthcoming facility, which will be located just off Medical Center Parkway, will add another layer of care and convenience for Alive Hospice patients and families in Rutherford and surrounding counties.
Alive Hospice has provided home-base care in Rutherford County for several years and, with The Residence at Alive Hospice - Murfreesboro, will offer a dedicated facility for inpatient adult and pediatric hospice care, respite hospice care and residential hospice care.
Community support led Alive Hospice to move forward with plans for this facility, and 17 pillars of the community are championing this endeavor as part of the Alive Hospice Murfreesboro Advisory Committee, which recently formed. The committee includes: Co-Chairs Lynn Lien and Dr. Warren McPherson and members Leslie Akins, Rita Ash, Sydney Boerner, Lou Caputo, Gordon Ferguson, Dr. Max Moss, Kitty Murfree, Dr. Jim Nunnery, Joey Peay, Mark Pirtle, Shane Reeves, Dr. Liz Rhea, Kathy Ryan, Joyce Taylor and Dr. John Zubkus.
More information about The Residence at Alive Hospice - Murfreesboro can be found at AliveHospice.org/murfreesboro.
