Moonlight on the Mountain

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Moonlight on the Mountain (formerly Moonlight Music Café) is a live music venue at 585 Shades Crest Road in Bluff Park. It is owned by photographer and music aficianado Keith Harrelson.

Original location

View of the Vestavia Moonlight Music Cafe location

The cafe first opened in October 2003 in the Vestavia Shopping Center (628 Montgomery Highway) next to Cokesbury Books. Harrelson spent years planning the space, even building a scale model of the main listening room. He spent $70,000 on renovations for the 70-seat venue, using reclaimed and recycled materials wherever possible.

The Magic City Blues Society held their jams at the club. Harrelson hosted forums on the state of the local airwaves for his Coalition for Better Birmingham Radio. The Over the Mountain Democrats met at the cafe as well. Special monthly music events included a Player's Open Call Song Swap on the first Wednesday, an all-Jazz bill on the second Wednesday, Bluegrass on the third Thursday, and a Songwriter's Showcase on the last Wednesday. The club hosted an open mic night each monday. The Moonlight earned a reputation among musicians for the quality of the environment as well as for Harrelson's gracious hospitality, often putting up traveling musicians at his own home.

After three years of well-reviewed concerts by some of the best talents on the folk, roots, bluegrass, jazz and blues touring circuits, the Moonlight closed its doors in Vestavia in September 2006. Harrelson cited the lack of airplay for local bands on Birmingham radio stations and the location on a Vestavia Hills strip mall along Highway 31 being less than ideal for this type of venue as factors contributing to the Moonlight's closing.

Reopening

After the original venue closed, Harrelson continued hosting shows at private venues, calling the concept Small Stages. In late November 2009, he was able to reopen in Bluff Park as "Moonlight on the Mountain". The club doesn't sell tickets or drinks. Donations collected at shows are split between the club and performers.

External links

References

  • Zganjar, Leslie (August 1, 2003) "New coffeehouse will take folk fans back to the '60s." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Jordan, Phillip (July 20, 2006) "Turning Out the 'Light: What does the Moonlight Music Café's closing say about our local music scene?" Birmingham Weekly
  • Colurso, Mary (September 23, 2006) "Hendrix, Maines help say good night Moonlight." Birmingham News
  • Colurso, Mary (November 20, 2009) "Small Stages show offers a peek at new Moonlight Music Cafe ." Biringham News
  • Colurso, Mary (July 2, 2010) "Moonlight on the Mountain faces uphill battle in Birmingham." Birmingham News
  • Colurso, Mary (November 5, 2010) "Benefit concert, friends group offer glimmers of hope for Birmingham's Moonlight on the Mountain." Birmingham News