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The Story Behind the Songbird Cafe' & GameDay Cafe'

The Songbird Café began with a simple but powerful vision shared by Jimmy Stevenson of Southern Way Catering and Ricky Wright, formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish. Together, they imagined an intimate evening of music — a space where stories, songwriting, and soulful performances could take center stage.

Their inspiration came from the iconic Bluebird Café, the world-renowned 90-seat listening room tucked inside a modest Nashville strip mall. Over the years, its stage has launched and hosted legendary artists including Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kris Kristofferson, Carole King, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, and Taylor Swift, among many others.

After months of planning, collaboration, and determination, that vision became a reality. In October 2001, the very first Songbird Café took place, featuring unforgettable performances by Mark Bryan, Patrick Davis, Phillip Lammonds, and Edwin McCain. What began as a single evening of music quickly became a beloved annual tradition.

More than two decades later, Songbird Café continues to thrive. October 2025 marked the 23rd annual Songbird Café, a milestone that reflects its lasting impact on both the Midlands music scene and the charitable community it serves.

Building on that legacy, GameDay Café debuted in May 2024 as the high-energy, springtime sister event to Songbird Café. Hosted at Williams-Brice Stadium, GameDay Café captures the electric atmosphere, shared pride, and sense of community that fans feel inside the stadium on game day — even outside football season. Live music and storytelling take center stage in a setting that is both iconic and uniquely energizing. May 2026 will mark the 3rd annual GameDay Café, solidifying its place as a signature event.

Over the years, Songbird Café and GameDay Café stages have been graced by an extraordinary lineup of artists, including Darius Rucker, Kevin Kinney, Ed Roland, Hobart Trotter, Glen Phillips, Tift Merritt, Radney Foster, Don Dixon, Ken Block & Andrew Copeland, Emerson Hart, Angie Aparo, and many more — each bringing their unique voice and story to our community.

Beyond the music, Songbird Café and GameDay Café were created with purpose. For more than 20 years, these events have raised over $2 million in support of local charities throughout the Midlands, directly strengthening organizations that serve our neighbors in meaningful ways.

This impact would not be possible without the unwavering generosity of our sponsors, partners, and volunteers. Their support — combined with the extraordinary talent on our stages — has allowed these events to become both cultural touchstones and powerful engines of charitable giving.

We invite you to continue this legacy with us. By joining the Songbird Café and GameDay Café family, you become part of a tradition that celebrates music, community, and compassion — creating moments that resonate far beyond the stage and into the heart of our Midlands community.

Below is a list of The Songbird Cafes’ and the GameDay Cafe’s, many singers, songwriters, producers, and everything else in between!

Past Artists

Together, this caliber of talent and community impact is made possible through the support of our sponsors, whose partnerships brings the GameDay Cafe' to life!