All Roads Lead to The Birchmere - by Gary Oelze & Stephen Moore (Paperback)

About the Book

The rousing, illustrated story of the Birchmere music hall by founder and operator Gary Oelze with music writer Stephen Moore. Performers, staff, journalists, and patrons share their stories of bluegrass, folk, blues, jazz, r&b, and more.

Book Synopsis

The rousing, illustrated history of the Birchmere music hall by founder and operator Gary Oelze with music writer Stephen Moore. Hundreds of performers, including Ray Charles, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Guy, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash, Arlo Guthrie, Tom Paxton, Vince Gill, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, Daryl Davis, Joe Sample, Rodney Crowell and Johnny Cash are featured. The performers, staff, journalists, and patrons share their stories of bluegrass, folk, blues, jazz, rock, soul, and comedy shows both on and off the stage. With an index and over 250 previously unpublished photos. Foreword by Buzz McClain. Afterword by Bob Schieffer.

Review Quotes

"When you're a gypsy like me, you look forward to being around people who are like-minded. The Birchmere has the feel of a family. I smile when I see this booking appear on my tour calendar. I love their open mind and willingness to present all genres of great music." - Vince Gill -- 22-time Grammy Award Winner.

"I'm so glad this book was done to summarize the Birchmere's remarkable run and to honor the performers who "arrived" by playing the legendary hall. Again, I never did, and I regret it. If not on stage, my thanks for including me in the story.' - Bob Schieffer -- Face the Nation moderator for 24 years during nearly five decades as a CBS News Correspondent.

"A comprehensive history of one of America's most storied concert venues by its owner and founder, Oelze, and music writer Moore... A wide-ranging but remarkably intimate account of a legendary music hall." - Kirkus Reviews

"I highly recommend this book to anyone who has attended a show at the Birchmere. But this is also a book that anyone who is a fan of music of any genre can thoroughly enjoy because in the telling of the Birchmere's story through the words of those who performed there, the authors allow you to learn things about your musical heroes that you probably did not know and will not learn from any other source." - Dan Miller, Bluegrass Unlimited