The Retro Music Hall That Reignited My Love for Live Music

I spend a lot of time listening to music, but I only got bitten by the concert bug recently. I tend to enjoy a lot of old-school artists, many of which have put their touring days long behind them. But in 2024, everything changed.

First, one of my favorite classic country bands, The Oak Ridge Boys, announced their farewell tour and I booked a date to see them in my much-visited town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I wound up really liking the experience, and soon added tickets to "Walking in Memphis" singer-songwriter Marc Cohn in NYC's City Winery, and then country legend Alan Jackson's farewell tour at the massive TD Garden arena in Boston.

While I enjoyed all of these concerts, I didn't realize just how magical the experience could be until I visited one venue for live music in Virginia.

In early October, I found myself on a two-day trip to the Washington D.C. area. I planned to visit several museums on the National Mall, eat at a brunch buffet and the acclaimed Smokecraft Modern Barbecue, and take plenty of pictures. But the heart of my trip was a visit to The Birchmere, a legendary music hall in Alexandria, Virginia. This live-music showcase has been serving the community and hosting stars since 1966, and it provides a live-music experience that's becoming rarer and rarer.

Everything about The Birchmere is old-school, starting with its appearance. It's located in an old brick building that's covered with murals; inside, it still feels like it's the 1970s. There are no big digital screens here - instead, an old-school cinema awning announces the act of the day, and a friendly ticket-taker admits you to the show. There's even a traditional box office, although most people buy their tickets online.

The Birchmere is entirely general admission, which means everyone pays the same relatively reasonable admission fee. This is a great change from most modern concert venues, and it also meant I had a reason to get there early and grab a good seat in the auditorium! I definitely didn't mind - The Birchmere is also a full-service restaurant offering an extensive menu of southern food. I eagerly dug into a massive plate of red beans and rice loaded with spicy sausage and smoked ham while waiting for the show to begin.

Over the decades, some of the most famous names in music history have graced the stage at The Birchmere, including the legendary Merle Haggard. I was here to see Phil Vassar, a successful country singer-songwriter who penned some of the biggest hits of the '90s before launching a solo career. He's a perfect example of the kind of artist who is perfectly suited for The Birchmere - those who have a loyal audience that prefers a more intimate concert experience.

One thing that amazed me about The Birchmere is how just about every seat had a perfect view. The floor is mostly level, the seating curves around the stage, and the sound carries far better than any other venue I've been at. This allowed Vassar to have interactions with the crowd through his extended set, taking requests from the audience. It's the only venue I've been at where it had this kind of classic music-hall vibe, and it was the concert experience that really drove home to me why people travel from around the country to see their favorite acts live.

Have you gotten to visit The Birchmere in Alexandria? This unique venue for live music in Virginia has stayed with me so much that I regularly check its roster in case I want to catch another show there - it's only a few hours' Amtrak away, so the odds are I'll be coming back there sooner rather than later. If you haven't gotten to experience this music hall, tell a friend about this article and make some plans! While on my trip to the D.C. area, I stayed at the Embassy Suites Crystal City, and I always enjoy this chain thanks to its roomy suites and its extensive free breakfast buffet.