Open Mic Hosted by Barbara Cloyd

Hosted by Barbara Cloyd, this weekly open-mic night at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe puts original songwriting at the center of the room. Songwriters of all ages and genres are welcome to share their own music, and a typical evening moves through a wide variety of styles, with performances ranging from novice to semi-professional.

Those who want to play sign up online the morning of the show, with the first 18 names selected. For the audience, seating is first-come, first-served; the venue asks everyone hoping for a walk-up seat to get in line and does not allow holding spots. It's a low-key, community-focused night built around hearing new songs straight from the people who wrote them.