I’m compiling a list of the best songwriter-friendly venues in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and beyond…both for emerging singer-songwriters and touring professional singer-songwriters…would love your feedback and suggestions! I’m not counting house concerts here…will do a separate post on that.
Just a few off the top of my head in order to get started, and then I’d like to start adding as many as I can…so please contribute your thoughts!
New York City:
The Living Room — downstairs for touring songwriters and local established favorites, upstairs at Googie’s Lounge for local and emerging talent.
Rockwood Music Hall — Tiny. Great sound. More than five different gigs a night.
Boston:
Club Passim — classic acoustic music club, mostly folk.
Portland, Maine:
North Star Cafe — Great coffeehouse with wonderful, supportive owners, terrific staff, awesome sound.
Decatur, Georgia
Eddie’s Attic
Ann Arbor, Michigan:
The Ark — nonprofit cafe, considered a top acoustic club in the U.S.
Philadelphia:
World Cafe Live — I think? Would y’all consider this a top songwriter-friendly venue?
Vienna, Virginia:
Jammin’ Java — I loved this place when I featured at an open mic a few years back. A terrific, supportive, great-sounding venue.
Nashville, Tennessee:
The Bluebird Cafe – A classic.
Austin, Texas:
Cactus Cafe
Well…seriously, this is just a start late on a Sunday night. 
I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, comments, and I’ll be back with more!
