Press Release – The Bluebird at the Bluecoat
Famed Nashville song writing venue The Bluebird Café comes to the UK for the first time and chooses Liverpool as its first port of call!
Nashville’s famed Bluebird Café will be celebrated in the UK for the very first time on Sat Aug 29, 2015 as part of the Liverpool International Music Festival.
“The Bluebird at The Bluecoat” will be a unique, three-part event which will re-create the experience of visiting the venue at Liverpool’s creative arts hub, The Bluecoat and will feature famous Nashville award-winning singer-songwriters, including Beth Nielsen Chapman, Jim Lauderdale, Kim Richey and Don Henry, alongside aspiring UK songwriters who have won a national competition.
The Bluebird’s signature format places the songwriters in the centre of the room, where they perform together ‘in the round’. Telling stories and accompanying each other, this unique configuration allows the audience an up-close and personal experience of how songwriters create their music.
The show will mark the start of an exciting new relationship and talent development initiative between the two song writing cities of Liverpool and Nashville.
The idea came from Emma Foxall – Director of Monkey Mind Productions – who lived in Nashville for five years during which time she enjoyed success as a singer-songwriter, played at The Bluebird and previously spent some happy days there as a waitress and host.
“I thought it would be awesome to bring The Bluebird experience to Liverpool and was delighted when Erika Wollam (The Bluebird COO) agreed,” says Emma, “Liverpool is my hometown and has produced many iconic songwriters and songs. I would like this initiative to become an annual event and plan to forge more links between Nashville and Liverpool. ”
“The relationship between the two cities, Liverpool and Nashville, and their musical history is unmistakeable,” said Erika. “Great songs have come from both these cities – songs that have changed the world. For The Bluebird Café to connect in this way with Liverpool’s musical heritage is a significant joining of hands and one we hope will continue beyond this initial partnership.”
This project began in January with a call out for songwriters to win a trip to Nashville to work with Grammy award winning writers, attend the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival and play at the legendary Bluebird.
From an open call Monkey Mind Productions, Bob Harris (BBC Radio 2), David Macias (Thirty Tigers), Erika Wollam (The Bluebird Café), Ralph Murphy (ASCAP) and Yaw Owusu (Liverpool International Music Festival) selected two songwriters: Karen Turley and Kirsty McGee.
The event will be as much immersive theatre as musical performance; once attendees enter the Bluecoat’s theatre space they will be transported to Nashville and find themselves in the world famous Bluebird Café.
Schedule – Saturday, August 29
2.00pm – 5.00pm: Group Feedback Panel and Song Writing Workshop
Bob Harris, Erika Wollam and all the amazing artists in Liverpool for the shows will be on hand to offer feedback and advice to the call-out finalists who will have the opportunity to play their music to these song writing experts. This is a closed session which is not open to the public.
6.30pm – 8.30pm: The Bluebird at The Bluecoat – early show.
Attendees will be seated by our friendly Bluebird staff and immersed in The Bluebird to experience the talents of our call-out winners and the incomparable Nashville writers in the round, with Don Henry, Kim Richey, Kirsty McGee and Karen Turley.
Tickets £5.00
9.00pm – 11.00pm: The Bluebird at The Bluecoat – late show
Hosted by Bob Harris who will present artists Beth Nielsen Chapman and Jim Lauderdale and take time in between performances to discuss their careers and approach to the craft of song writing. Two special guests for the second show are yet to be announced so watch this space for some exciting news soon!
Tickets £15.00.
We will also be hosting an after party in the Bluecoat restaurant for our team, all Bluebird at the Bluecoat ticket holders and our call out finalists. We’ll have some fab entertainment and complimentary giveaways too! 11pm till late.
Tickets are on sale now and are available from The Bluecoat box office. Email: info@thebluecoat.org.uk Tel: 0151 702 5324 further information can also be found here: http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/events/view/events/2867
Twitter: @monkeymindprod Facebook: monkeymindproductions
For further information about The Bluebird at The Bluecoat contact Emma Foxall emma@monkeymindproductions.net
Note to Editors
Monkey Mind Productions are extremely thankful to Liverpool City Council, Liverpool International Music Festival and Arts Council England for funding The Bluebird at The Bluecoat. The Bluebird Café’s first visit to the UK is also made possible with the assistance of the Nashville Convention, Visitors Corporation and Jack Daniels and the Tennessee Department of Tourism.
