The Birchmere
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Birchmere is a well-known, intimate concert hall in Alexandria, Virginia, known for presenting performers in the jazz, country, and folk genres. The main stage has table seating with dinner service. The room seats a couple hundred persons and the tables in front are about two feet from the stage. This allows for up-close views of the musicians, great for enthusiastic fans, budding guitarists and nostalgic baby boomers eager to see top acts from earlier days in a more personal setting. The bandstand includes a dance area, perfect for Texas two-step and any other act that gets its audience up on their feet.
Among the artists to grace its stages are Arlo Guthrie, Al Di Meola, Joe Sample, Los Lobos, Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, Matt Bianco featuring Basia, Swing Out Sister, and Bea Arthur. Past performers include Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, Vince Gill, Suzanne Vega, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and incarnations of the extended Little Feat family (e.g. the Blues Busters).
The Four Bitchin' Babes recorded two of their albums, Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair and Gabby Road, at the Birchmere. Riders in the Sky also recorded their live album there.
