George Birge brings 'Cowboy Songs' to 8 Seconds on Friday, Nov. 20

The country hitmaker behind a No. 1 radio single plays the west-side saloon in the middle of a Midwest swing, with tickets starting around $14.

There are big rooms where you watch a country singer, and there are rooms with a dance floor where you two-step to one. George Birge plays the second kind on Friday, Nov. 20, when he takes the stage at 8 Seconds at 8:45 p.m.

Tickets run $14.15–$39.40 through Ticketmaster, and 8 Seconds holds 1,600. Indianapolis sits in the middle of a Midwest swing for Birge: Detroit the night before, Cleveland the night after.

The song most people will be waiting for is "Cowboy Songs." The title track of his seven-song EP, released April 5, 2024, it went to No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and at Country Aircheck/Mediabase, following his debut single "Mind on You." The EP also includes "It Ain't Austin," "Damn Right I Do" and "Hard on the Bottle," and it came a year after his debut album, also titled *Mind On You*, released in May 2023.

This year has added a new chapter. Birge opened 2026 with "Ride, Ride, Ride," a collaboration with Luke Bryan that went to country radio on Feb. 9, and he took his Cowboy Songs Tour out as his first official headline run. The opening weekend had to be rescheduled because of a winter storm, and Birge told fans that the band was working a batch of new music into the set as the tour went on.

A No. 1 radio single, a Luke Bryan duet and a dance floor. That's a Friday.

The room fits the material. 8 Seconds sits at 111 N. Lynhurst Dr. on the western edge of the city and reopened under its current name in 1999 — the name is said to come from the qualifying ride time in bull riding. It is built around a large dance floor for line dancing, with a smaller bar room that has its own acts, and over the years it has booked country names like Dylan Scott, Jimmie Allen, Travis Denning and Joe Diffie alongside the occasional rock act.

What to know before going: backpacks and large bags are not allowed, and buying tickets ahead online is the safe move. With an 8:45 p.m. set time, there is plenty of evening for the dance floor before Birge comes on.

Wear the boots you can actually dance in. This is not a sit-down show.

Sources: George Birge — Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org); George Birge notches his first Country Airplay No. 1 with 'Cowboy Songs' — WIOV (wiov.com); George Birge notches second No. 1 at country radio — MusicRow (musicrow.com); George Birge: 'Cowboy Songs' EP review — Country Swag (countryswag.com); George Birge slates debut album for May 12 — MusicRow (musicrow.com); George Birge and Luke Bryan release new song 'Ride, Ride, Ride' — 99.5 QYK (995qyk.com); George Birge brings fans on the road with his tour — 99.5 QYK (995qyk.com); Country star forced to postpone opening sold-out dates of headlining tour — AOL (aol.com); The best Indianapolis venues for concerts & live music — Ticketmaster (blog.ticketmaster.com); 8 Seconds Saloon — Expedia (expedia.com); Dylan Scott is coming to Indianapolis — Dayton Daily News (daytondailynews.com); Joe Diffie is coming to Indianapolis — Dayton Daily News (daytondailynews.com); George Birge at 8 Seconds — tickets (Ticketmaster) (ticketmaster.evyy.net)