Swallow provides 'Bluebird Cafe' experience in Roswell

Ever wanted to visited Nashville’s famous Bluebird Café – or wish you could return more often? The Swallow at the Hollow in Roswell, Georgia, just north of Atlanta, has the answer – country music’s top singer/songwriters performing their tunes and sharing the stories behind the songs.

The Swallow – located at 1072 Green Street, near the Canton Street-Alpharetta Street intersection -- serves up home cooking and live music five nights a week. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, there is no cover charge as local artists play for dinner patrons beginning at 6:30. But the real “Bluebird” experience comes Friday and Saturday nights as Nashville songwriters put on a two-hour show.

For example, in late February, Don Henry and Craig Carothers performed. Henry won a Grammy for the classic, “Where’s You Been,” and his songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Ray Charles to Conway Twitty to Blake Shelton. Carothers wrote “Little Hercules,” a gold record for Trisha Yearwood, and his songs have been covered by Kathy Mattea and others. Cover charge is typically $15. For reservations, call (678) 352-1975.

While veteran Bluebird visitors know the café can be a little cramped, and the dining choices, shall we saw, limited, neither is the case at the Swallow. There’s plenty of space and a homemade menus that includes barbeque beef and pork, ribs, homemade bread and butter pickles, breads – even chocolate chip banana pudding. You don’t have to eat to attend a show, but it can be convenient to do both.

So, for a unique taste of Nashville in the northern Atlanta suburbs, drop in at the Swallow (http://www.theswallowatthehollow.com/), reach into that huge canoe stuffed with beer and pull up a comfortable seat to enjoy country music with a new group of songwriters every weekend.

And, for a taste of the Bluebird, visit http://www.bluebirdcafe.com/.