The Birchmere is a concert hall in

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of downtown Washington, D.C. In 2020, the population was 159,467. ...

, that features rock, blues, bluegrass,

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, ethnic, and comedic performers. Its main room seats 500 and provides dinner service, making for an intimate space, with tables only a few feet away from the stage. The location also features a bandstand with a bar and a dance floor. Owner and manager Gary Oelze opened The Birchmere in 1966 as a restaurant.

History

The Birchmere opened its doors on April 4, 1966, as a restaurant. Music was added in 1975 with a concert space that held up to 200 people. Its original location was 2723 S. Wakefield St. in the Shirlington area of

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from the District of Columbia, of which it was once a part. The county ...

, in a strip mall that was later razed. On May 14, 1981, the Birchmere reopened at its second location at 3901 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia in a space that held at least 300 persons. In 1997, the club moved two blocks away to its current location at 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue with seating for 500 customers. An estimated 13,000 discrete performances have occurred at the music hall. Over the years, Birchmere has attracted notable customers to include members of the media, Supreme Court justices and Presidents.

“Bill Clinton came here twice,” Oelze said. “Al Gore used to live up the street and was here all the time. One night he was leaving the White House. Clinton said, ‘Where you going?’ He said, ‘I’m going to The Birchmere to hear Jerry Jeff Walker.’ He said, ‘Hillary and I will go with you.’ The four of them showed up, then they came back to see Kim Richey.”

On November 10, 2021, the illustrated history of the Birchmere was published: ''All Roads Lead to the Birchmere: America's Legendary Music Hall'' by Founder/operator Gary Oelze and music writer, Stephen Moore. On January 23, 2023, Birchmere owner Gary Oelze passed away from natural causes at 80.

Plan for expansion

During the redevelopment of downtown

Silver Spring, Maryland Silver Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, near Washington, D.C. Although officially unincorporated, in practice it is an edge city, with a population of 81,015 at the 2020 ce ...

, a plan was developed to build a second Birchmere site, slated to be an $8 million, 800-seat venue. After years of negotiations, the deal was rejected on July 25, 2007. At the time, Birchmere management claimed that Montgomery County officials breached a contractual agreement with the music venue, but these claims were disputed by the developers and government officials who denied any contractual obligation for development.

Notable concerts and recordings

Concerts

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performed his last concert at the Birchmere on July 20, 2003. Other important artists who have played the hall include: *

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* Eddie From Ohio *

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* Johnny Cash *

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* Keiko Matsui *

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* Little Richard * Marcy Marxer *

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* Michael Franks * Mike Nesmith *

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* Pete and Maura Kennedy *

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* Richard Thompson *

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* Roger Miller *

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* Stephen Stills *

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* Toto *

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Recordings

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recorded their ''Live at the Birchmere'' album on April 5, 1983. * The Four Bitchin' Babes recorded two of their live albums, ''Buy Me, Bring Me, Take Me, Don't Mess My Hair'' in 1990 and ''Gabby Road'' in 1997, at the Birchmere. * Riders in the Sky also recorded their live album there.

Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band (also known by the initials DMB) is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. The band's founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer and bac ...

recorded songs from their album ''

Recently ''Recently'' may refer to: * ''Recently'' (album), by Joan Baez * ''Recently'' (EP), by Dave Matthews Band {{Disambig ...

'' at the Birchmere on February 21, 1994.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birchmere, The Music venues in Virginia Buildings and structures in Alexandria, Virginia 1966 establishments in Virginia Event venues established in 1966