Birchmere

When Gary Oelze bought The Birchmere in 1966, he didn't change the restaurant's name but decided to add live music acts. That fateful move to boost business more than 50 years ago has lead to the venue becoming one of the most beloved stages for musicians including Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Seldom Scene, and John Hiatt. Once known as THE location for bluegrass acts, the site has branched out to other genres over the years but kept the intimate feel. The focus here is on the music so if you want to have a conversation with your friends, do it before or after the show.