Moonlight on the Mountain

File:Moonlight Music Cafe logo.png

The Moonlight Music Café was a live music venue located in the Vestavia Shopping Center (628 Montgomery Highway) next to Cokesbury Books. It was opened in October 2003 by photographer Keith Harrelson. 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 September 2006.

After years of dreaming, and even crafting a scale model of the perfect listening room, Harrelson finally jumped in with both feet during a period of national uncertainty and personal crisis. He spent about $70,000 to renovate the upper floor of the former beauty parlor into a comfortable non-smoking listening room and bar with cafe tables to accommodate 70 patrons. A reception desk and vending area welcomed visitors below. Harrelson specified reclaimed or recycled materials for the new construction.

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.

Despite the critical success, the Moonlight simply didn't attract enough patrons to make it profitable. Harrelson cited the lack of airplay for local bands on Birmingham radio stations and the location on a Vestavia strip mall along Highway 31 being less than ideal for this type of venue as factors contributing to the Moonlight's closing.

External links

• Moonlight Music Cafe

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.