The Birchmere

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The Birchmere
The marquee (143474674).jpg
The Birchmere marquee, advertising Thomas Dolby in 2006
Map
Address3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.
LocationAlexandria, Virginia
Coordinates38°50′25″N 77°3′41″W / 38.84028°N 77.06139°W / 38.84028; -77.06139Coordinates: 38°50′25″N 77°3′41″W / 38.84028°N 77.06139°W / 38.84028; -77.06139
OwnerGary Oelze
Typeconcert hall
Capacity500
OpenedApril 4, 1966 (1966-04-04)
Website
www.birchmere.com

The Birchmere is a concert hall in Alexandria, Virginia that features rock, blues, bluegrass, country, folk, jazz, 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.

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 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.[1] In 1997, the club moved two blocks away to its current location at 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue.[2] An estimated 13,000 discrete performances have occurred at the music hall.

Notable concerts and recordings

Concerts

Ray Charles performed his last concert at the Birchmere on July 20]] 2003.

Other important artists who have played the hall include:

Recordings

History

On November 10, 2021, the illustrated history of the Birchmere was published: The book is "All Roads Lead to the Birchmere: America's Legendary Music Hall" by Founder/operator Gary Oelze and music writer, Stephen Moore. Foreword by Buzz McClain. Afterword by Bob Schieffer (Booklocker)

Plan for expansion

During the redevelopment of downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, a plan was developed to build a second Birchmere site, slated to be an $8 million, 800-seat venue.[3] 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,[4] but these claims were disputed by the developers and government officials who denied any contractual obligation for development.[3]

References

  1. ^ Harrington, Richard (May 15, 1981). "Pop Notes". Washington Post. ProQuest 147293663.
  2. ^ Masters, Brooke A. (September 18, 1997). "Musical Institution Sounds a New Note: Birchmere Expands Into a Shiny New Club With Added Attraction". Washington Post. ProQuest 1456173573.
  3. ^ a b Killian, Erin (July 25, 2007). "Birchmere cancels plans in Silver Spring". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  4. ^ McKenna, Dave (July 25, 2007). "Birchmere Deal Falls Through". Washington City Paper. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
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