My days of going to the Bluebird 2-3 times a week are long behind me, but as I was attending a show this weekend, I realized I have never done a Yelp review, and since it's potentially the best bar on the planet, I decided I needed to correct that oversight. During my college years, a good portion of my Bloomington memories are from the Bluebird. Fantastic bands, good friends and a somewhat aggressive number of drinks were the common theme multiple nights a week. Now that I'm OLD(er) the visits are less frequent, but when the right bands are in town and my calendar isn't slammed with adulting, I still find the Bird to be my favorite place in town. The original Bluebird was about half the size it is today. Several years ago, they bought out the restaurant next door and added a large additional space, leading to a pretty big bar/nightclub with a 'bar area' that includes a nice full bar, booths and tables, and the 'live music' portion which has a big stage, plenty of room for big crowds, and a warehouse vibe that is second to none. When you arrive, you'll start to see pictures of the amazing acts that run thru the Bluebird when they're just on the cusp of being 'huge' - from REM to Miranda Lambert to Gryffin, just about every genre is represented and it's nice to say 'I saw them with a few hundred of my friends' after you give ticketmaster your kidney to pay for their giant stadium shows. Reasonable drink prices, good people behind the bar, and the best bands currently playing the area, you can't go wrong with a night at the Bluebird. I wish I was still young and able to do multiple shows every week, but for now I'll just appreciate having it in my backyard so I can attend with the mood hits . Best bar in Bloomington. Probably anywhere. read more

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A classic IU and Bloomington live music tradition since 1973! Gotta check it out if you're ever in B-town. Such greats as John Cougar Mellencamp to Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys have played there. If the walls of the place could only speak... and check out the walls for photos of the many famous bands that have played there. #TheBluebird read more

Nice quaint nightclub small venue real intimate we saw Cooper Allen and Jake Dobbs there really impressed with Jake Dobbs not that Cooper Allen wasn't fantastic either. You can get there early but plan on getting a drink & Find a nice place to stand to see the show, but it is up close and intimate. read more

Shocked that they only accept cash at the door for cover/ticket charge!! Caught us off guard for sure. read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Hairbangers Ball is fantastic!! - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

If you want live music, there is no place like a dive bar. Intimate, up close, and up and comers. This place doesn't look very good on the inside. The floor is sticky. There are few seats and tables or counters to put down your drinks. But there is a lot of space, which they make good use of, because it fills up. Several rooms, 3 bars, and multiple levels as you make your way down to the stage. Thankfully they pump in a lot of A/C, so it's not a sweaty mosh pit. The mixed drinks young people were drinking looked like vodka and blue sugar water, and the beers were ok (not much on tap), but they get great bands and you can stand right up at the stage. $10 cover. Prepare for it to be crazy loud. You won't have a conversation here, but enjoy the show. There are TVs above the 2 bars toward the front if you want to check a sports score, but don't plan to hear them. read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Live music stage - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I visited the venue last night to watch a band I enjoy. I pre-purchased my tickets so I could just scan them off my phone when I arrived however they did have tickets available to purchase at the door. There is street parking which is free after 9 p.m. The staff were not overly polite but the space was unique and the sound quality was great. The drinks were priced a bit high which is expected at most music venues, in my opinion. Overall I had a good time. read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This is a fantastic venue for live music. The atmosphere is unique, and I have never encountered any service issues.

Horrible! I was visiting from NY and wanted to check this place out. The "bouncers" were so rude, and nasty. There was no one there and they acted like they were better than anyone. Time for a new mucic venue for college kids and musician's. Hope some one opens one up. read more

Smaller venue, great performers = great experience. Friends and I saw Shane Smith & The Saints here and they rocked.. I expected so many more people at the show, especially with their recent mention on YellowStone, but to our surprise it was a lite show. No complaints here as it made the experience that much better. The band absolutely crushed. The venue is solid and has seen some amazing bangs come through it. Plenty of alcohol behind the different bars and prices were reasonable overall. The venue was clean for the use it gets and staff friendly. Look forward to catching another show there in the future read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Stage.. shane smith & the saints - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Bar in Bloomington with nice stage and seating. We didn't try food. We did get drinks and they were water down. Service was not best just very right to point and not very friendly read more

Love the Bluebird! Saw Dawes here this past spring. Atmosphere was great, and there was enough room for everyone while still feeling like an intimate venue. Also had a great variety of viewing spots and seating. Bar service was great -- quick and efficient and friendly. Overall, highly recommend. read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Bartender with painted nails and big forehead was so rude to my friends and I. No hospitality..... I have never seen a bartender who gives no fuck about his job. Rude, rude, rude... one customer after another he would be bitchy serving drinks to paying customers. Not a bartender any industry would want. read more

Jerks through and through. The only expectation you can have here is that you'll pay too much for drinks and have a cruddy experience along the way. read more

As a music lover and less of a fan of general debauchery, the Bluebird is far and away my favorite of the Bloomington bars. Live music is the big draw here - whether it's big name acts on tour or smaller cover bands. My only complaint here for the larger acts - anything that sells out - is that the layout isn't exactly conducive for everyone being able to see. No matter how tight the crowd packs in, someone is still standing far out near the main entrance and unable to see the stage. Not great if you need to come late to a sold out show. Otherwise it's actually a pretty surreal experience that feels more like a basement show than a big theater. Definitely a unique vibe. read more

Showed up before 930 so no cover charge. Cool. But if you want to step outside to smoke after 930 they will not give you a stamp without paying a cover charge to regain entry. What?? read more

Divey place to see bands! I don't think it is even open if no one's playing. Someone described it as someone's basement which is accurate. Smells like sticky day-old beer! Drinks are pretty cheap, the food on the other hand, well...they have a Spam sandwich for either $25 or $30!, I forget which Pretty sure they have to say they offer food for legal reasons or something. Both townies and students hang out here. Bands are hit or miss - I saw a band here randomly that became one of my favorite bands that I saw across the country, saw a godawful college band, and plenty in between. read more

We went in there with medium expectations, given we are in our early 20's and it's a college town. We're familiar with your typical dive bar, as well as high end bars. As we were waiting in line to enter and pay our cover charge, there were people jumping infront of us which is expected. Once we get in, we waited around 20 minutes in line to get a drink. It wasn't until we were told our total, two double titos and tonic- $30 and some change. Accepting the fact we just got charge double, if not triple, for our drinks we head down to the stage where the band was playing. Smelled of must, couldn't breathe it was so crowded, and just a general not welcoming experience. As we were leaving the bar, we over heard a conversation of someone bragging about their fake ID to an employee. We heard her ask "how old are you, really? I don't care" to which he replied "I'm 19". Maybe we're just out-of-towners but we cannot rationalize spending $55 just to get in and get a drink and leave. Would never recommend this place. We walked to the closest liquor store, grabbed a bottle of Tito's for $27 and took an uber to our hotel and still spent less money. read more

Let down, over priced and weak long Island. Still great music and sound... seemingly sold out with the lack of local posters and replaced with mainstream musicians... read more

Hey for those of us old enough to remember the Bluebird back in the day, it's cool to walk back in the place.... not too much has changed.... A little nostalgia for us old folks... just not as smoky! read more

Washed up bar where staff has an attitude. Personnel are aholes at best. Not worth your time or effort

Came here for a Jordan Davis concert which was the first live show I've seen since COVID! It was pretty packed but I liked that they had everyone sitting down at tables throughout the venue. It was a bigger place than expected with two different bars and decent drink prices. I'd definitely return to see a show but would prefer being able to stand up and dance a little. Maybe once COVID restrictions ease up a bit! read more

My friends and I went to Bluebird for the first time tonight after hearing many great comments from our friends. I've noticed they often have live music but never had the chance to check it out (saw that they also had Elephante come!!). The band that came were a lot of fun and got the crowd hyped up with their throwback and popular boy band music! The venue itself is a little awkward and rundown. It's along the strip close to other popular bars so it's at a great location for bar hopping. Friend bought a Long Island ($6) and said it tasted decent. read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Boy Band Review Chicago - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Went here to see a show a couple weeks ago. I really liked the venue a lot! It looked like an old restored barn. It had three bars which was awesome with the amount of people that were there. Only downfall: the place is not the most accessible for persons that use wheelchairs. I didn't see a way to get to the main part of the stage of someone used a wheelchair as there were steps and levels in many parts of the venue. Other than that, I really liked it and will be back again to see someone else from their lineup! A very personal and intimate experience, just be ready to live your college days over again and feel super old haha read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Cherub! - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Someone recommended this as a fun place to go in Bloomington, and I totally don't get it. We paid a $10 cover charge ($5 each) to walk around a mostly deserted and very smelly (like bad BO) bar area. After walking around, we asked the girl at the front when the band would be starting and she said she didn't know. We asked if we could get our $10 back since there was no music and all we did was walk around for 2 minutes, but she said, "Sorry, there's always a cover charge." So we abandoned our $10 and went next door to the Village Pub where we are now enjoying music (not live, but that's ok), conversation with other people (it's not nearly as deserted -- or smelly -- here), and some really good, creative drinks. I was going to give this place 2 stars in case we just caught it on an off night, but my husband looked over my shoulder just now and said there's no way they deserve more than 1 star. And based on our experience, I really do agree. read more

The only reason to go here is that they have a good act...and that is a very rare occurence these days. The bar itself is a complete pit. The floor is caving in. The bathroom are permanently gross. It really needs a revamp. What they have going for them is good "bones". If they had a complete remodel I may consider going back. But the drinks are overpriced ($5 pbr bottles), I always get spilled on, and I really grew tired of the same acts week after week. read more

Unfortunately, one of the only bars in Bloomington to have live music. The acoustics are terrible though, the space is cramped and gets extremely hot. There is almost nowhere to sit or put your drink. This place is nothing but a dive. Drinks are soooo expensive. I ordered and Maker's old fashioned. The guy warned me it would be expensive. That's okay, I don't mind paying for a good drink. Worst. Drink. Ever. This was not an old fashioned. It was an abomination with a $20 price tag. Funny, the Alley bar and Uptown can make one for $10 or less. How the fuck can you justify THAT price? Avoid. Go to Indy for better shows, better drinks, and better prices. read more

The Bluebird is unique to Bloomington because it is the only venue that consistently schedules live music. I have been to the bluebird many times and witnessed countless cover bands play classic songs from every genre and generation. The Bluebird also serves as a proving ground for many up and coming artist. You only need to look at the posters adorning the walls to see how the bluebird has contributed to the history of music. Artist like Stevey Ray Vaughn, the members of Slightly Stupid, and Method Man and Red Man - to name a few - have all stood on that stages and wowed the crowd with their musical brilliance. Furthermore, I do not know from experience, but I have heard that the Bluebird has excellent drink specials during the weekdays. I try not to drink copious amounts of alcohol during the week. However, $0.50 beverages and discounted draft beers might change my mind. The only reason the bluebird is not a five-star venue is that the interior is old and worn out. The men's restroom is small and disgusting, and the buildings HVAC is never working correctly. However, if you love live music or are tired of partying at the same old bar on Kirkwood, then the bluebird may be the right bar for you. read more

Great venue. Decent amount of space and seatings. We came on a Wednesday night to see Brushville and they had 15 cents beer (& $1.50 wells)! It's Budlight but hey! It's 15 cents!!!!! I didn't really think my boyfriend would get drunk off of water but he did because it was freakin 15 cents!!!! Overall, it was a blast. Girls got in for free before 11pm and guys had a cover charge. Not sure if this is the case for every performer. To be honest, if you know the band won't be that popular, don't bother ordering tickets online and save that service fee!! If I end up moving to Bloomington, this will probably be a weekly thing (preferably on a Wednesday :D). read more

Bluebird Nightclub - Stage! - Music Venues Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Good music, slow drinks. Dirty Birds are a popular, over-sugared drink. Whitney, The Josephs, and Jimmy Eat World have all come to town this year. If you want sweet rocker vibes, this is definitely the place to go. Sometimes Bluebird charges you $5 for an obscure band on a weeknight, but they make up for it by bringing big bands to their stage. Not a big name: Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press comes nearly every month. The cover band plays everything from the Pokemon theme song to Bohemian Rhapsody. Basically, hits from various decades. All Star, Piano Man, Sorry, Ants Marching. Oh, and LOTS of Disney songs: Mulan, Lion King, AND Moana. Rod Tuffcurls is PACKED during the school year. I'm talking sardines in a can that's too small. Big money maker: $8 per person × a million people. Even though they have the same set list each time....I keep going back. THE BAD: Once a bartender ignored me for 10 min. Kept serving women who walked up after me. Felt invisible. Bathrooms aren't the best. Can be hot. read more

I've been to this venue a couple times to see my friend's band play. The place is a bit of a jigsaw pl puzzle. It's a pretty big spot, but there are so many separate levels and the stage is in the back corner so it's hard to see if the place is packed. I'd recommend coming here for small intimate shows. Otherwise, if you're not in the front it'll be hard to see the band. There also isn't much seating so beware of that. The service was great so that's a plus. read more

The Bluebird is a proud Indiana watering hole. It's an easy place to get drunk (cheap pitchers, multiple bar access points), and they search the ends of the earth for bands to keep their stage occupied. They've got no shame in filling the place with cover bands on nights that they can't convince a touring group to stop through. But I see no harm in that, and appreciate that their charm still draws some of the best independent bands around. Sitting for shows is tricky, since you'll likely be left without a view. But a busy bar is a good bar when the ratio is right. read more

I miss the old Bird, the one where I was always forced to pee in the alley in between sets of Dave and Rae, b/c well...that was just much more fun back in the day and the girls bathroom had two stalls in which there was always a 500 person line (damn, girls...just PEE already). The toilets ALWAYS got clogged with wads of nasty piss and vomit induced paper so...the alley was CLEANER and less crowded. :) You get my drift. Now, with all the updates it strikes me as a "nicer" bar, when I once remember it as just being a shithole where I could get 5 cent beers on Wednesday night. Does this make me old? Probably. Still...the Bird is known for a few GREAT things and that hasn't changed - live music, cheap drinks and cute patrons...oh and good bartenders. It's still a hot spot when I'm in Bloomington raging with my college buddies and it really hasn't changed. Yes, it got a much needed though disappointingly great facelift, but as long as the drinks keep pouring and the music keeps playing, I think it's definitely a MUST do when in B-town. GO IU! read more

A pretty good hang. Usually cover is not too pricey and there are tons of specials. Bring ear plugs if you care about your hearing though because it can be super loud. I plan on going back pretty much because it was a chill fun environment. read more

The Bluebird is fun...very quintessential Bloomington, good shows, and it is right across the street from the Vid, so you can't go wrong. It definitely has my loyalty. That being said, the karaoke is very cliquish, and bartenders can sometimes be rude. Whatever, though. read more

Cheap drinks, and they do book some decent talent. However, the sound quality is always poor, bad mix and no separation of instruments and vocals. You can hear the drums and bass and sometimes the vocals. The interior structure is part of the problem--it's just not conducive to concert quality sound. Not much you can do about that. If you just want to get a little drunk and don't care about hearing quality sound, it's ok. Bloomington desperately needs a venue with good, quality sound and good drinks and food. Unfortunately, The Bluebird is not that place. read more

Awesome place for live music. I like the brick walls and feel of it. If you follow their calendar, you can occasionally see a band on the rise for about $10 before the band hits it big! Downside: lack of ventilation. If it's crowded and it's warm outside, you will sweat like a son-of-a-gun. read more

Two words: Jamaican Queller. It's a sweet concoction made of pineapple juice, coconut rum, some sort of neon green alcohol (pucker perhaps), and topped with grenadine, served on rocks. The bartender is awesome! He's funny as hell. I went here for the Los Campesinos! (w/ The Parenthetical Girls) concert...ah, fun night! By the end of it I was ready to make sweet love to the entire band. It was such a good time! read more

Enjoyable night at the bird. Me and my squa first arrived at the Bluebird last night around 11:45. Great deals attracted us to the bar like 15 cent beers and some Blue beverage that all the girls seemed to be drinking and snap chatting. The bar was extremely crowded however and is hard to get a drink if you are not an aggressive Yelper like myself. Your best bet is running into a friend who just got a round of beers (shoutout Cole). This was my first time at the Bluebird and was not too disappointed. Kind of a hipster bar with indie artists performing regularly. I regular at Killroy's Sports bar right across the street which has a much better options for service and room to move around, however the Bluebird was not as small as I pictured it. It is definitely a new option on Wednesday nights this semester. Quality- 4/10 Atmosphere- 7/10 Creativity- 5/10 read more

When you take a walk and stumble on a concert as good as Mat Kearney for as little as $17, something has to be going well for the spot. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at The Bluebird and the Kearney show. Typically overpriced bar beer, but a great atmosphere for a college town bar show. There were all ages of folks in attendance, so I didn't feel like the 'old guy' in the college bar. read more

Bluebird is a great local venue. I don't dish out 5 stars willy nilly, and The Bird is not a world class venue, but it is exactly what it intends to be. Good, unique, varied music in a surprisingly intimate setting. Cheap drinks, just enough room to move, with a lil space to shake it should you feel so inclined. read more