BRISTOL, TN./VA. - TheBirthplace of Country Musicis making up for lost time and ramping up the excitement for its annualBristol Rhythm & Roots Reunionmusic festival with a monthly outdoor concert series starting in June.
The Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series, sponsored byVirginia is for Lovers, will offer the community and visitors a taste of what they've been missing during the pandemic, with elements of the September festival's best features - live music by talent set in a glorious location in historic downtown Bristol.
"Bristol is the birthplace of country music, but one important element has been missing - live music in the streets of downtown," said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. "We've partnered with Virginia is for Lovers and The Sessions Hotel to bring it back this summer."
The Road to Bristol Rhythm lineup includes performances by Morgan Wade, Jim Lauderdale, and Amythyst Kiah, all scheduled to appear at the festival in September. Dates are as follows:
Each concert will take place on the grassy lawn outside The Sessions Hotel on State Street in historic downtown Bristol starting at 7 p.m.
Morgan Wadeis among the region's ascending singer-songwriters, one who is fast emerging on a national level. The Floyd, Virginia, native's latest release“Reckless"isa country-rock truth-teller, bleeding with longing, intimacy and achingly conveyed in Wade's evocative vocals. The recording is receiving rave reviews from the likes ofRolling Stoneand American Songwriter,among others.
The Grammy Award-winningJim Lauderdaleis the undisputed rhinestone-studded King of Americana, having worked with just about everybody who's anybody in Nashville over the course of his distinguished, decades-long career.His songs have sold millions of records for the likes of George Strait, Patty Loveless, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton and Vince Gill, among others, and artists from Willie Nelson to John Oates line up to collaborate with the iconic songwriter. Lauderdaleis also a big fan and supporter of Bristol and its music heritage,and often takes time to promote the efforts of the Birthplace of Country Music.
ThoughAmythyst Kiahis a Chattanooga native, Johnson City and Bristol have long claimed her as their own since she moved here as a teen to attend East Tennessee State University. During her time there, she was deeply influenced by her studies at the institution's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music program, and developed a deep reverence and love for old-time and roots music.Kiah also interned at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, aiding in research efforts prior to opening. Since then she has taken her Southern gothic sound to the world stage, having toured internationally and been honored with a Grammy nomination for her song "Black Myself." With a recent guest spot on ABC’s"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"and a new album,"Wary + Strange," due out this summer, there is little doubt that her upward trajectory is well-deserved and isn't likely to slow down any time soon.
The Road to Bristol Concert Series is sponsored by Virginia is for Lovers. Tickets to the Road to Bristol Concert Series are $25 per ticket per show and on sale. Only 100 tickets will be sold for each concert. To purchase, visit the Events pages at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
