The New York Songwriters Circle
The Bitter End147 Bleecker Street, New York 10012
The New York Songwriters Circle returns to The Bitter End for an evening built around original songs rather than a billed band set. The lineup for this date has not been announced, but the Circle’s established format is “in the round”: participating songwriters take turns performing their own material and talking about the songs. That makes the night a chance to hear several writers in sequence, with the focus on the writing and the stories behind it.
Founded in 1991, the New York Songwriters Circle meets monthly at The Bitter End in New York’s West Village. It is a continuing songwriter showcase, not a fixed band or solo act. Over its history, the Circle says it has been “home to” artists including Norah Jones, Lisa Loeb, Judy Collins, Phoebe Snow, Rob Mathes, Vanessa Carlton, Gavin DeGraw and Lana Del Rey. Those names describe artists associated with the series over the years, not performers confirmed for this particular night. The November lineup remains unannounced, so the draw is the Circle’s long-running forum for writers presenting new songs in a shared round-robin setting.
The Bitter End has been a fixture of Greenwich Village since 1961, known as one of New York City's oldest rock clubs. It's a modest basement club with a stage and a bar, where the audience sits close to the performers. The room has exposed brick walls and a rustic feel, and the atmosphere is warm and conversational. Shows are typically ticketed with a small cover charge, and the evening combines listening to live music with casual conversation and drinks. The venue has hosted legends like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, and continues to be a place where songwriters and musicians share new material. It's a steady, reliable spot for live music in the city.