JJ Grey and Mofro
Established in 2001, the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival celebrates Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia’s music heritage as the birthplace of country music. Showcasing the very best in Appalachian roots music and beyond, the event honors the legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions and their far-reaching influence on the soundtrack of today.
The three-day music festival is held throughout downtown Bristol, Sept. 9 through 11 and features roots music across a wide variety of genres, including Americana, country, old-time, bluegrass, rock, Piedmont blues, Celtic and more. There are approximately 100 acts on more than a dozen outdoor and indoor stages.
This year’s headliners are Tanya Tucker, Rosanne Cash and JJ Grey and Mofro. Tucker performs Friday night at 9 p.m. Cash performs Sunday at 5:15 p.m. and Mofro performs Saturday at 10 p.m.
Other artists include Del McCoury Band, Fantastic Negrito, The War and Treaty, Asleep at the Wheel, Ian Noe, The Wood Brothers, Dave Eggar, Cruz Contreras, Aaron Lee Tasjan, The Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band, M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio, Andrew Scotchie and the River Rats, Tuatha Dea, The Successful Failures and many others.
Stages are located on State Street, Piedmont Street, Cumberland Square Park, Country Mural, Paramount Center for the Arts, Seventh Street, Lauderdale Stage, Cameo, Machiavelli’s Outdoors, Near Moore, Sixth Street, State Line Bar & Grill, Borderline Billiards, Theatre Bristol, Shanghai, O’Mainnins Pub and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
The festival offers a free Children’s Day event, a 5k Run/ 2 Mile, Yoga in the Park, a Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Camp, plus a variety of food and craft vendors.
Free street parking is limited around State Street and the festival grounds. Look for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion parking signs and check festival map for parking locations. ADA parking is available at Regions Bank (corner of Volunteer Parkway and Shelby Street). ADA parking is limited and filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Disabled Veterans of America operate the ADA parking area and appreciated donations. Paid parking and private lots are available throughout the city. Shuttles from several hotels are available. Shuttle tickets are $15 for the weekend.
The event would not be possible without the support of its sponsors. They include Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Food City, The Bristol Hotel, Virginia Beverage Company, BTES, Cherokee Distributing Company, Eastman Credit Union, Midwood Entertainment, Southwest Virginia Community College, Strongwell, Sugarlands Distilling Company, Tri-Cities Airport, New Peoples Bank, Bank of Tennessee, Burwil Construction, Bank of Marion, Edward Jones and many more.
Tickets are weekend passes $115; Friday, $50; Saturday $70 and Sunday $60.
For more information, visit www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
