Museum Storytime - Rainy Days
2025-04-04 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
Theme: Rainy Days
Join us in the museum’s Learning Center for our monthly Museum Storytime program. Aimed at toddler-age children and their grown-ups, we will gather on the first Friday of each month for a music- or Appalachia-related storybook, a tune or two by WBCM Radio Bristol show host Ella Patrick, and a related activity or coloring sheet. The craft will be making a rain cloud.
Books that will be featured at Storytime include:

Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away by Ketch Secor (Author), Higgins Bond (Illustrator)
Come A Tide by George Ella Lyon (Author), Stephen Gammell (Illustrator)

Weekly Music Lessons with JAM Kids at the Museum!
2025-04-05 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-04-12 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-04-19 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-04-26 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-05-03 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-05-10 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-05-17 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-05-24 10:30 - 11:30 and 3 more dates | VA
Date: Weekly on Saturdays
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: $5 per class or $45 for 10 lessons
Through a new partnership with Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a new affiliate location for the program, offering weekly music lessons at the museum for children grades 4-8 and beyond. JAM Kids introduces music through small group instruction on acoustic instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Students may bring their own instruments, or they can be provided as a loan while your child is participating in the program. Other instruments may be introduced as to be determined by instructors. Weekly classes will be held throughout the year, and students can join the program at any point in the year.
Registration is required to participate in this program. You can download the Registration Forms and bring it with you when you drop off your child for their first lesson or complete it at the museum’s front desk upon arrival. Each week, lessons will be filled based on arrival and capped at 30 students. Registration allows you to participate but does not guarantee your spot each week.
We do not offer online registration or spot reservations for this program. Lessons can be purchased as-you-go for $5 or as a bundle of ten pre-paid lessons for $45. The bundle is a discounted rate and will expedite your check-in process, but does not guarantee your spot each week. The class will be closed if capacity is reached before your arrival. Scholarships are available upon request. For more information about signing up for JAM or to inquire about scholarships, email Erika Barker at ebarker@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
Registration Forms: Please bring all three forms with you when you arrive for your first lesson.

Registration Form
Student Contract
Media Release Form

Junior Appalachian Musicians is a non-profit and the parent organization for 50+ after-school programs for children in grades 4 – 8. We provide communities with the tools and support they need to teach children to play and dance to traditional old-time and bluegrass music. JAM introduces music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as fiddle, banjo and guitar. Each JAM program is individually operated and funded. By affiliating with the JAM organization, each program is eligible to receive support and resources for free and is licensed to use “Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)” to identify their traditional music education program.
Be sure to check out JAM Kids on Facebook and Instagram!

The JAM Program Model
JAM is an after-school program for children in grades 4 – 8 and beyond that introduces music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as fiddle, banjo and guitar. Each JAM program is individually operated and funded. By affiliating with the JAM organization, each program is eligible to receive support and resources for free, and is licensed to use “Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)” to identify their traditional music education program.
Junior Appalachian Musicians ® is a registered trademark of Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc.
In JAM, instrument instruction is often augmented by dance and vocal instruction as well as string band classes and group enrichment lessons, which introduce children to additional Appalachian culture and history. The JAM program model provides children with opportunities to not only learn traditional music, but to also perform in small and large groups. Field trips, visiting artists and an introduction to the rich history of music unique to each local community further supplement program offerings. Each JAM program is encouraged to foster musical traditions by teaching local styles of traditional mountain music and dance to children. Instructors are also encouraged to teach students to learn music by ear, as to preserve oral traditions as much as possible. Other teaching methodologies and instructional skills are covered in regional professional development and training sessions held multiple times per year and hosted by JAM. JAM also encourages student engagement across programs with regional performance and learning activities throughout the year. For a full list of benefits to affiliates, click here.
JAM believes that all children should have access to traditional old time and bluegrass music. It is recommended that each program provide financial assistance through scholarships to children in need. The program model bases tuition fees on student lunch status: $10/week for full pay children, and $5/week for reduced pay children.
Class sizes typically have a student teacher ratio of 8:1 or less. JAM mandates that each affiliated program conduct criminal background checks on their instructors, directors, and other staff members and volunteers. Programs must be held in public facilities accessible to the community. Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc prohibits discrimination against any persons on the bases of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, political beliefs, familial or parental status, and sexual orientation.
For a full listing of affiliation requirements, click here.
History of JAM
Realizing the need to preserve a vital aspect of mountain culture as well as the need for positive activities to underserved youth, Helen White, then a guidance counselor at Sparta Elementary School, founded the first JAM program in Alleghany County, NC in the spring of 2000 with help from other local musicians and educators. Interest in the program spread rapidly with assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts, NC State Arts Council, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and “The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.”
In 2007, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation provided funding to allow the development of a regional infrastructure. The Dana Foundation, Virginia Commission for Arts, the Virginia Foundation for Humanities, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Harris and Frances Block Foundation and the Tides Foundation have provided funding for materials development.
“Junior Appalachian Musicians” was incorporated in 2008 as a non-profit 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation to promote a shared vision of JAM and to provide an umbrella through which to offer resources, training materials and activities to benefit programs individually and collectively. Currently in nearly 30 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, JAM affiliates are providing access to the joy of music to thousands of youth while instilling renewed interest and pride in their heritage.
Interested in learning more about JAM? Click here.

Sold Out: 1927 Concert Series with Special Guest Shinyribs
2025-04-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the intimate 1927 Concert Series experience featuring live music by Sam Grisman Project.
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $100
SOLD OUT

The 1927 Concert Series is an intimate concert experience set in the “acoustically perfect” performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It’s more than a night of music, it’s a very personal event with some of the most renowned roots music artists performing today. Guests are asked to arrive promptly at 6:00 p.m. to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar before the show (ages 21+ with valid ID), food and drinks included with ticket.
Members of the Birthplace of Country Music’s 1927 Society are given access to exclusive ticket pre-sales to the 1927 Concert Series before they go on sale to the public. To learn more about becoming a member of the 1927 Society and all its advantages, click here.
About Shinyribs
Shinyribs defies genres as a sonic melting pot of Texas Blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn-driven Memphis Soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock. The Austin-based nine-piece (sometimes 10-piece) supergroup is led by Kevin Russell, the charismatic frontman with colorful suits and extravagant shoes who continuously swaps out an electric guitar for a ukulele and never falls short of creating a cinematic experience with on-stage antics that often include him donning a light-up cloak or leading a conga line through the crowd.
Shinyribs was named Best Austin Band at the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards (2017, 2018), awarded Album of the Year for I Got Your Medicine (2017), and Best 2020- Themed Song for “Stay Home” (2020). Russell’s Shinyribs have recorded seven previous albums: 2010’s Well After Awhile; Gulf Coast Museum (2013); Okra Candy (2015); 2017’s award-winning I Got Your Medicine; a compilation of holiday standards and new compositions The Kringle Tingle (2018); and the group’s latest soulful release, Fog & Bling (2019); and Late Night TV Gold, (2021).

Community Square Dance: A Partnership with Bristol Ballet
2025-04-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Ballet, 330 Buford Street, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
Location: Bristol Ballet, 330 Buford St, Bristol, VA 24201 (Please park at the back of the building and go in the entrance framed by columns)
Cost: Free but any donations at the door will support the museum and Bristol Ballet.
RSVP HERE
Come do-si-do and promenade with us!
Join the Birthplace of Country Music and Bristol Ballet for a community square dance on Saturday, April 5. Caller Tyler Hughes will lead a square dance with a lively string band with John Bills.
This event is open to all ages and no experience or partner is required; we recommend sturdy shoes so you can dance all night! Space is limited so sign up to participate soon!

Speaker Session: Mary Munsey, Connections between Songwriting and Visual Art
2025-04-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join us on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 for our Speaker Session with Mary Munsey.
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Location: In-person at the Birthplace of Country Music, Performance Theatre and streamed on Radio Bristol’s YouTube Channel

Cost: Free and open to the public

REGISTER HERE

For the last year, Mary Munsey’s motto has been: “If your song is well written it should paint a picture in the listener’s mind. If not, keep working on it.” And with that motto, she decided to see if some of her songs fit this tall requirement by working with several area artists to explore their interpretation of her songs in a visual format. Each artist rose to the occasion, interpreting and creating what they saw (or didn’t see) in the music and lyrics, while also helping Mary to identify the different ways people aurally process songs. With this Speaker Session, Mary shares how this artistic challenge worked, what she learned, and how it revealed the connections between music and art.
Mary Munsey received her B.A. in music education from Emory & Henry and her master’s in music from James Madison University. She has been an elementary, middle, and high school choral director for 18 years, and she has just retired after 13 years as director of the music department at VHCC (Virginia Highlands Community College).
She has had a wide and varied career in music performance, including as a bassoonist in symphonies, bass, mandolin, and guitar playing in acoustic groups, and singing and playing saxophone and keyboard in many Tri-Cities area bands, including Samantha Gray and the Jukebox Jam Band. Mary has been writing and performing music for many years locally and nationally including multiple performances at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, The Carter Fold, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and bluegrass festivals like Ralph Stanley’s Festival in Coeburn, Va.
Mary has been widely honored for her original songs and musical work, including winning the 2010 Woody Guthrie International Folk Songwriting Contest for her song “Nine Days Old” and placing 2nd in the International Bluegrass Music Association’s lesson plan contests in 2009 and 2010. In 2011 she had songs place in songwriter competitions in Texas, Wisconsin, and Connecticut, including a 2nd place recognition for her song “This Side of The Wall” at the Podunk Bluegrass Festival. Her song “Eight Lives to Spare” was a winner in the Smoky Mountain Songwriting Competition in 2019, and she has placed twice in the Gathering in the Gap Festival. She has also presented several songwriting workshops for the Virginia Highlands Festival, and she facilitates regional Songwriters of the Highlands Appalachia groups, including the new Songwriters Circle program on the second Saturday of each month at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Her CD Nine Days Old includes heartfelt material and songs that display her off-beat sense of humor. Reflections, released in 2013 includes instrumentals, country, bluegrass, blues, and pop. Shades of Refinements released in 2015 features original jazz and blues. This recording displays her joy of playing saxophone and keyboard as well as songwriting. She is currently working on another CD of originals.

Songwriters Circle Showcase
2025-04-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: April 12
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theatre, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, donations encouraged to benefit the artists and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
REGISTER TO ATTEND
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia are proud to announce an exciting new event designed to highlight the talents of songwriters in our region. The inaugural Songwriters Circle Showcase will be held at 2 p.m. ET, April 12, in the performance theater at the museum; it is the first Showcase in a series to be held quarterly each year. The event is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated. All donations will be split between the museum and performing artists.
Daryl Ann Beeghley, Sandra Lambert, David Ledgerwood, Gerald Sheppard, and Darris Stanley will share their original music during April’s Songwriters Showcase.
Daryl Ann Beeghley is a Canadian-born singer/songwriter who has lived all over the U.S., and now resides in Abingdon, Va. She has always loved words and music and wrote her first song at age 17. She relishes the challenge of writing across different styles: Americana, folk, country, devotional, and blues, and appreciates the way music can help us tell our stories. Daryl Ann is an active member of SoHA (Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia).

Sandra Lambert grew up East Tennessee and is now enjoying retirement with her husband Rich. In 2018 during her pre-retirement years, she started learning the mountain dulcimer and wrote her first song. She credits the mountain dulcimer as her gate-way instrument that led her to learning the ukulele, tenor guitar, bowed psaltery and writing more songs. She has more than 50 songs under her belt and learns a little more about the craft of songwriting with each song she writes. She is a member of the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club, the Songwriters of Highland Appalachia, and helped to start the Boones Creek Dulcimer Clan monthly jam. Occasionally, she and her husband perform as The Butternuts. She likes all kinds of music and enjoys songs that tell a story. A few of her songs are on her YouTube channel and she has plans to get her songs loaded to a streaming platform.

David Ledgerwood was born in 1957 in Bluefield, W.Va. As a child, he quickly found music to be one of his favorite pursuits (shame it wasn’t academics), his father giving him an acoustic guitar when he was nine years old. As a child, the air around him was soaked with diverse and creative music; rock, soul, funk, folk, and he loved it all. He sang myself to sleep many nights, keeping a transistor radio by his pillow. Focusing more on electric guitar in his youth and then on acoustic guitar in his 30s and 40s, he has learned to travel and enjoy “both lanes” of the guitar highway. Now well into his 60s, David shares his love of music with his cherished wife (Ann), performing acoustically as a duet and also in leading the Ledgerwood Blues Band, playing every fourth Friday at Sweetbay Brewing Company in Abingdon, Va. Joining our local Songwriter’s of Highlands Appalachia writers group has encouraged him to develop his songwriting skills and offer a part of who he is to others, packaged in a song….what a great blessing. David and Ann live in Glade Spring along with their pet family, Duke, Dolly, Spanky, Rocky, Stevie Ray, Eddie Van, Ruthie Grace, Bootsy, Franky, and Alfie.

Originally from the Tri-Cities area of Northeast Tennessee, Gerald Sheppard has actively pursued his passion of music since he was a child when he started beating around on the family upright piano at the age of five. As a graduate from East Tennessee State University, he worked in the Engineering Division of a large chemical company for many years before taking early retirement. He has actively played fingerstyle guitar since he was a teen, and has worked as a guitarist, playing “cocktail” guitar music in venues and for special occasions for many years. His instrumental music consists of both popular covers and original compositions. Gerald also enjoyed a successful guitar-building career for twenty-five years. His high-end instruments are world-renowned as some of the finest guitars in the world. In 2005, one of his instruments was used as the cover model for the Grammy-Award-winning CD for Best Instrumental Album, “Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar” (an instrumental guitar tribute to Henry Mancini). Gerald began writing and performing his own lyrical songs in 2018. His interest is primarily in writing ballads and story songs. He currently incorporates them into his performances in local venues where they are well received for their often emotionally touching and heartwarming content. His high-resolution content and music may be enjoyed on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@gdshepp.

Darris Stanley grew up in the coal fields of Southwest Virginia, and currently lives in Northeast Tennessee. He is an artist, musician, songwriter, and poet, as well as a former professional boxer. He has written more than 200 songs, made two studio albums of original music, and was formerly on the label of Houston River records.

The quarterly Songwriters Circle Showcase is an extension of the weekly Songwriters Circle program, organized by Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, and will consist of artists who participate in the weekly Circle. The Showcase event is structured similarly to “in the round” events, with each songwriter introducing themselves and their song, which will be performed with or without accompaniment. The songwriter will then hold a discussion about the piece–the origins of the song, its structure, and inspiration–and take questions.
Led by Mary Munsey, a local musician, educator and founder of Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, the weekly Songwriters Circle is open to songwriters of all ages and skill levels. The Circle encourages participants to share songs, brainstorm ideas, and support one another in their creative endeavors. Songwriter Circles are held the second Saturday of each month at the museum, 2-5 p.m. There is no cost to participate.
“The Songwriters Circle aims to foster a collaborative environment for songwriting,” said Munsey. “Importantly, aspiring songwriters do not need to play an instrument to join in the fun.”
The Songwriters Circle not only provides an opportunity for performance and networking, but also emphasizes the importance of clarity and storytelling in songwriting. The group’s mission is to encourage creativity, introduce songwriting shows to regional audiences, and elevate the appreciation of songwriting as a valuable art form.
About Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia

Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia is led by Mary Munsey, a local musician and educator, recently retired from Virginia Highlands Community College. The program offers a great deal of flexibility in its format for attendees, with varied songwriting interests and abilities. Some of the attendees play instruments and some are curious about songwriting and the process. Lyrics can sometimes only pare up with others that play instruments and put music with the words. Some writers don’t sing, but enjoy hearing others perform their songs. Some of the performances can be a cappella. Some members of the group write one to three songs between sessions and some write more. Sometimes as busy as life gets, writers don’t get to write new material between meetings. We don’t pressure anyone to write, and we don’t criticize anyone. We treat each other with respect. We don’t discuss politics, use profanity, or write antagonistic lyrics.

The focus is not on the beauty of the voice or skill of the instrumentation, but the clearness of the pronunciation and the effect of the song. We work on making sure the audience can hear every word. We are not professional musicians but we are creators of musical stories and that is the beauty of it. The sessions are open to anyone visiting the museum. Genres are not specified. Songs can be instrumental, folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, blues, humorous, jazz, R&B, electronic, and even pop, to name a few. Writers are allowed to bring CDs for sale and to accept tips after performances.
For more information about the Songwriters Showcase and Songwriters Circle programs, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. For more information on Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, HighlandsAppalachia.org.

Museum Volunteer Orientation
2025-04-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
We want YOU to join our wonderful team of volunteers at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum!
Dates: Every other month on a Saturday

February 15, 2025
April 26, 2025
June 28, 2025
August 23, 2025
October 18, 2025
December 13, 2025

Time: 10 a.m.-Noon
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Learning Center
If you have a passion for Bristol and its musical legacy and love helping others, our museum volunteer program is the perfect fit for you!
Museum volunteers play a vital role in a number of key areas behind the scenes and on the front lines, such as working as a gallery assistant or docent, helping out in The Museum Store, working with the public at events, concerts, and programs, assisting with behind the scenes administrative or collections work and so much more! Our Museum Volunteer Orientation session gets you acquainted with every aspect of the museum to help you find your area of interest. Volunteer schedules are flexible and fun!
If you are interested in coming to our Museum Volunteer Training, call 423-573-1927 or email volunteercoordinator@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.

Monthly Bluegrass Jam - April Date Cancelled
2025-04-26 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Bluegrass Jam will not be held the month of April.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, in partnership with the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association, hosts a monthly gathering of local musicians for a bluegrass jam session. The jam events are intended to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. The jams are acoustic and only feature traditional bluegrass instruments: acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dobro.
The jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in joining as a spectator are welcome at no charge.
Bluegrass Jams will be held every fourth Saturday of the month from 2-5 p.m., serving as a great warm-up for Saturday night gigs. Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments.
The sessions will be held in the Learning Center at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
For more information call 423-573-1927.

Stanley Brothers Transcription Disc Listening Party
2025-05-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join us on Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. for a Listening Party, a chance to hear a restored 1940–1950s radio transcription disc of The Stanley Brothers & the Clinch Mountain Boys on Farm and Fun Time. Participants will be able to see (but not touch!) the disc, learn about the disc and its preservation from the museum’s curatorial team, hear about the history of Farm and Fun Time from Radio Bristol Program Director Kris Truelsen, and listen to several of the tracks that were restored digitally over a year-long process.
Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, but RSVPs are requested

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
This event is complementary programming to the Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains exhibit on display at the museum through September 30. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of programming related to this exhibit.
About the Farm and Fun Time Disc
Early in 2017, Glen Harlow donated a Farm and Fun Time radio transcription disc containing live tracks that have not been heard in over 60 years. The fact that an original live recording of the Stanley Brothers with the Clinch Mountain Boys from Farm and Fun Time exists at all is pretty amazing, because the discs used to record radio broadcasts in the mid-20th century are highly unstable and prone to degradation, delamination, and breakage. This disc was no different – it was fragile, damaged, and unplayable. Until recently, recordings on degraded lacquer discs like this one were usually lost forever. Enter the Virginia Association of Museums Top 10 Most Endangered Objects initiative and the Northeast Document Conservation Center – through grant support and technical expertise, we can now access the songs on this broken disc! You can read all about the disc and this preservation process HERE and HERE.

Museum Storytime - The Highwaymen
2025-05-02 10:30 - 11:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
Theme: The Highwaymen
Join us in the museum’s Learning Center for our monthly Museum Storytime program. Aimed at toddler-age children and their grown-ups, we will gather on the first Friday of each month for a music- or Appalachia-related storybook, a tune or two by WBCM Radio Bristol show host Ella Patrick, and a related activity or coloring sheet. The craft will be bandana decorating.
Books that will be featured at Storytime include:

Hello, I’m Johnny Cash by G. Neri (Author), A.G. Ford (Illustrator)
A Little Golden Book Biography: Willie Nelson by Geof Smith (Author), Jeffrey Ebbeler (Illustrator)

Music and Art Workshop for Adults
2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join Ellen Elmes for an Art & Music workshop on Saturday, May 3, 1-3 p.m. for adult artists or artists-to-be! With this program, you’ll get the chance to nourish your artistic side through hands-on art exercises and live music. Ellen will guide participants in the creative process using a variety of materials to explore line, shape, color, and texture, which can be tapped into and inspired by music – singer-songwriter Ella Patrick will play a tune or two while the art is being made. The cost of this program includes the necessary art supplies.
Date: Saturday, May 3
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum Learning Center
Cost: $20+tax (includes art supplies)
Class Size: Limited to 16 participants

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
This event is complementary programming to the Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains exhibit on display at the museum through September 30. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of programming related to this exhibit.

Songwriters Circle
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-14 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Dates: Monthly, every 2nd Saturday
February 8, March 8, April 12 (showcase), May 10, June 14, July 12 (showcase), August 9, September 13, October 11 (showcase), November 8, December 13
Time: 2-5 p.m. ET
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, donations encouraged at quarterly showcases
In partnership with Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum will host a monthly Songwriters Circle every 2nd Saturday, 2-5 p.m. ET, in the Learning Center. Beginners, experienced songwriters, and aspiring songwriters are invited to share songs, brainstorm ideas, and encourage each other to keep writing. There is no fee to participate.
At the end of each session, the group will choose three prompts to inspire ideas for the following month. The prompts may be objects, phrases, feelings, colors, senses, or any other topic. Writers may use those topics to help them write a song or two to share for the following session. Songwriters do not have to play an instrument in order to participate.
Songwriters Circle is an opportunity to perform, workshop, and network with other artists, with an emphasis on clarity and telling a story. The goals of the group are to encourage songwriting, introduce songwriting shows to audiences in the region, and enlighten the public about the craft of songwriting and its value as an art form.
Fans of music and songwriting are welcome to sit in for a listen at no cost.

About Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia

Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia is led by Mary Munsey, a local musician and educator, recently retired from Virginia Highlands Community College. The program offers a great deal of flexibility in its format for attendees, with varied songwriting interests and abilities. Some of the attendees play instruments and some are curious about songwriting and the process. Lyrics can sometimes only pare up with others that play instruments and put music with the words. Some writers don’t sing, but enjoy hearing others perform their songs. Some of the performances can be a cappella. Some members of the group write one to three songs between sessions and some write more. Sometimes as busy as life gets, writers don’t get to write new material between meetings. We don’t pressure anyone to write, and we don’t criticize anyone. We treat each other with respect. We don’t discuss politics, use profanity, or write antagonistic lyrics.

The focus is not on the beauty of the voice or skill of the instrumentation, but the clearness of the pronunciation and the effect of the song. We work on making sure the audience can hear every word. We are not professional musicians but we are creators of musical stories and that is the beauty of it. The sessions are open to anyone visiting the museum. Genres are not specified. Songs can be instrumental, folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, blues, humorous, jazz, R&B, electronic, and even pop, to name a few. Writers are allowed to bring CDs for sale and to accept tips after performances.
As an extension of this program, each quarter we invite songwriters to attend “Writers-in-the-Round” or WITR concerts. WITR consists of three to five writers together in a circle or on stage. Each writer introduces themselves, gives the title of their song, and then sings it with or without accompaniment. Discussion will follow concerning the origins of the song, how they wrote it, and the song’s inspiration, along with any questions from the audience.

To learn more about Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, visit the website at HighlandsAppalachia.org.

Speaker Session: Erika Barker and Julia Underkoffler; Country Music, Comedy, and the Small Screen
2025-05-13 19:00 - 20:30 | https://www.youtube.com/@radiobristolwbcm/streams
Join us on Tuesday, May 13 for a Speaker Session with Erika Barker and Julia Underkoffler: Country Music, Comedy, and the Small Screen. After World War II, television grew at an exponential rate. From the 1940s through the 1960s, advanced technology, greater disposable income, and the increase in the number of stations helped television to become the era’s primary mass medium. Television allowed country music to reach a wide audience, and popular shows such as I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show had regular segments featuring country musicians.
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Location: In-person at the Birthplace of Country Music, Performance Theatre and streamed on Radio Bristol’s YouTube Channel

Cost: Free and open to the public
REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

Three of the era’s country performers, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roni Stoneman, and Minnie Pearl, became crossover successes on television – Ford as the host of a variety show and Stoneman and Pearl as performers on other shows. Through a blending of musical performances with comedy sketches and other acts, Ford’s variety show was reminiscent of early vaudeville, and its skits – along with programs like Hee Haw – included characters that reflected common Appalachian stereotypes, especially in the areas of speech and dress. This program will explore the impact of country music and comedy on the small screen through these three performers.

Erika Barker is the Curatorial Manager at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. She is active in a variety of community organizations and activities, including the Awards Committee for the Tennessee Association of Museums; as President of Arts Alliance Mountain Empire; on the Little City Roller Derby team; and as lead singer for Junction 4961.
Julia Underkoffler is the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s Collections Specialist. She recently graduated from East Tennessee State University with an MA in Public History; is active with the Northeast Tennessee Museums Association; and is an avid fan of football and live music.

Monthly Bluegrass Jam
2025-05-24 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, in partnership with the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association, hosts a monthly gathering of local musicians for a bluegrass jam session. The jam events are intended to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. The jams are acoustic and only feature traditional bluegrass instruments: acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dobro.
The jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in joining as a spectator are welcome at no charge.
Bluegrass Jams will be held every fourth Saturday of the month from 2-5 p.m., serving as a great warm-up for Saturday night gigs. Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments.
The sessions will be held in the Learning Center at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
For more information call 423-573-1927.

Museum Storytime - Women Musicians & Songwriters
2025-06-06 10:30 - 11:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
Theme: Women Musicians & Songwriters
Join us in the museum’s Learning Center for our monthly Museum Storytime program. Aimed at toddler-age children and their grown-ups, we will gather on the first Friday of each month for a music- or Appalachia-related storybook, a tune or two by WBCM Radio Bristol show host Ella Patrick, and a related activity or coloring sheet. The craft will be swifty friendship bracelets.
Books that will be featured at Storytime include:

Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Little People, Big Dreams: Ella Fitzgerald by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Author), Bàrbara Alca (Illustrator)
Little People, Big Dreams: Taylor Swift by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Author), Borghild Fallberg (Illustrator)

Music and Art Workshop for Kids
2025-06-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join Ellen Elmes for an Art & Music workshop on Saturday, June 7, 1-3 p.m. for youth artists or artists-to-be! With this program, you’ll get the chance to enjoy your artistic side through hands-on art exercises and live music. Ellen will guide participants in the creative process using a variety of materials to discover the shapes and colors of music – singer-songwriter Ella Patrick will play a tune or two while the art is being made. The cost of this program includes the necessary art supplies.
Date: Saturday, June 7
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum Learning Center
Cost: $25.66 (includes art supplies)
Class Size: Limited to 16 participants
Age Range: 3rd–5th graders, allow as young as 5 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
This event is complementary programming to the Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains exhibit on display at the museum through September 30. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of programming related to this exhibit.

Online Speaker Session: Charles Hughes, You Don't Know My Mind: Country, Blues, and their Connections
2025-06-10 19:00 - 20:30 | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/niCMY_DvS4OAACTT-daojg
Join us on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 for our virtual Speaker Session with Charles Hughes.
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Online only on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/niCMY_DvS4OAACTT-daojg

Cost: Free and open to the public

No two kinds of music have a closer and more complex relationship than country and blues. With this Speaker Session, historian and author Charles L. Hughes will discuss the historical relationship between the two genres. Hughes will consider their shared roots, their continuing overlaps, and what the relationship between them tells us about the larger history of the United States.
Charles L. Hughes is the author of the acclaimed books Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South and Why Bushwick Bill Matters. He has also written numerous book chapters and essays in publications including Oxford American, Slate, Washington Post, Southern Cultures, and American Quarterly. He is the co-founder of the digital music newsletter No Fences Review, a former regular contributor to the podcast Teaching Hard History, and a voting member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He is Associate Professor of History and Urban Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

Community Square Dance: A Partnership with Bristol Ballet
2025-06-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Ballet, 330 Buford Street, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
Location: Bristol Ballet, 330 Buford St, Bristol, VA 24201 (Please park at the back of the building and go in the entrance framed by columns)
Cost: Free but any donations at the door will support the museum and Bristol Ballet.
RSVP HERE
Come do-si-do and promenade with us!
Join the Birthplace of Country Music and Bristol Ballet for a community square dance on Saturday, June 14. Caller Tyler Hughes will lead a square dance with a lively string band with John Bills.
This event is open to all ages and no experience or partner is required; we recommend sturdy shoes so you can dance all night! Space is limited so sign up to participate soon!

2025 Pick Along Summer Camp - Beginners
2025-06-16 09:00 - 2025-06-20 15:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
At Pick Along Summer Camp, kids will receive foundational skills from instructors on the same style of acoustic instruments played on the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings (banjo, guitar, and fiddle). Campers also get to explore the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, learn about the music of Bristol and our region, work on projects with Radio Bristol, and receive instruction in singing, dancing, and more while making new friends. Campers receive the opportunity to hone their skills as a budding musician while busking in Historic Downtown Bristol and will give a final performance for parents at the museum at the end of the week.
No previous musical experience required just an interest in music and a desire to learn more!
Pick Along Summer Camp for beginners is designed for students aged 8-14. No previous musical experience is required, just an interest in music and a desire to learn!
June 16-20, 2025
Beginner Level – First time campers and those wanting a refresher in the basics
June 23-27, 2025
Intermediate Level – Return campers & those who already have basic skills in music

Schedule

Monday – Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Fees

$200 for Birthplace of Country Music Museum members
$250 for non-members

Optional Instrument Rental

$25

* Discounts are available for families with multiple campers. Scholarships may be available upon request.
If you are selecting the Beginners option June 16-20, see below to pay registration fee and fill out registration form:
PAY REGISTRATION FEE

Summer Camp - 2025 Registration Form

Date*

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Which week are you registering your child for:*

June 16-20, 2025 (Beginner)

June 23-27, 2025 (Intermediate)
Camper's full name*Name camper wishes to be called*Name of Person Submitting Payment for Camp*

First

Last

Camper date of birth*MonthMonth123456789101112DayDay12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031YearYear202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956195519541953195219511950194919481947194619451944194319421941194019391938193719361935193419331932193119301929192819271926192519241923192219211920Grade*T-shirt size*Does your camper have an instrument they will be bringing to camp?*

Yes

No
If "Yes", which instrument?

Acoustic Guitar

Banjo

Fiddle
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum's Pick Along Summer Camp offers the opportunity to learn about several traditional string band instruments and then choose one to focus on for the week. Please use the dropdown menus to select the order of instruments that your camper is most interested in learning:First ChoiceAcoustic GuitarBanjoFiddleSecond Choice:Second Choice:Acoustic GuitarBanjoFiddleThird choice:Third choice:Acoustic GuitarBanjoFiddleAre parents living in the same household? If "Yes", then it is not necessary to fill out address information for secondary parent/guardian, however, phone numbers should be entered.*

Yes

No
Parent/Guardian #1 living with child*Parent/Guardian/Child Address*

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific
State

ZIP Code

Email*

Primary phone*Secondary phone*Work phoneParent/Guardian #2 name (if applicable)Address (if living in a separate household)

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific
State

ZIP Code

Email

Primary phoneSecondary phoneWork phoneDoes your child have any known allergies (including foods) or general dietary restrictions?*

Yes

No
If "Yes", please specifyDoes your child require medication on an ongoing basis?*

Yes

No
If "Yes", please specifyIf "Yes", is the medication self-administered or do you require camp staff member to administer the medication?

Self-Administered

Staff-Administered
Please include dosage, schedule of dosing, and storage instructionsFor the safety of your child, it is important that we be made aware of any possible health issues he or she may be experiencing. In addition, please make us aware of any special needs or medical problems in the field belowDate of student's last tetanus shot*MonthMonth123456789101112DayDay12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031YearYear202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977197619751974197319721971197019691968196719661965196419631962196119601959195819571956195519541953195219511950194919481947194619451944194319421941194019391938193719361935193419331932193119301929192819271926192519241923192219211920Emergency Contact #1 (Besides Parents/Guardians)*

Name

Relationship to child

Primary phone

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific
State

Secondary phone

Emergency Contact #2 (Besides Parents/Guardians)*

Name

Relationship to child

Primary phone

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific
State

Secondary phone

Other Persons Approved to Drop Off & Pick Up Campers:Please list the names and contact information of all persons other than Parents/Guardians who are allowed to pick up and drop off your child from Pick Along Summer Camp at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

NOTE: Your child will not be released to anyone not listed here and designated individuals will be required to show photo ID.

*Additional rows created by selecting the + symbol with mouse click.Name:Primary Phone #:Secondary Phone #:Email Address: Does the parent/guardian(s) authorize the Birthplace of Country Music to obtain immediate medical care and consents to the hospitalizations of, the performance of necessary diagnostic tests upon, the use of surgery on, and/or the administration of drugs to his/her child or ward if any emergency occurs when parent/guardian(s) cannot be located immediately? It is also understood that his/her agreement covers only those situations which are true emergencies and only when parent/guardian(s) cannot be reached. Otherwise parent/guardian(s) can expect to be notified immediately.*

Yes

No
Name of Insurance CompanyPolicy NumberOther ArrangementsChild's Physician Contact Information

Name

Phone number

Please check any of the following that can be administered to your child by our camp counselors:

Tylenol

Bactine

Bee sting topical treatment

Aspirin

Benadryl

Peroxide

Ibuprofen

Neosporin

Ice or heat packs
I authorize the Birthplace of Country Music to capture, use, publish, and reproduce photographs, slides, moving pictures, or television video tapes of my child/ward for its records, public relations programs, social media, news coverage, and promotional purposes. Permission is granted for the camper to participate in all planned activities and programs, except as otherwise noted.*

Yes

No
I understand that payment is due in full at the time of registration to reserve a spot for my child. No refunds will be given to camp registrants if canceled less than two (2) weeks in advance. I also understand that no refunds or transfer funds will be made for withdrawal, failure to send, or incomplete attendance.*

Yes

No
In choosing "yes" below I state that I release and agree to hold harmless the Birthplace of Country Music, its agents, officers, employees and instructors, from any and all liability, claims, demands, or actions in any way related to injury and/or sickness which the child may suffer or incur as a result of program participication.*

Yes

No
Additional Comments:The information contained in this form will remain valid for one year unless amended by a parent/guardian/child. For more information or assistance, please call 423-573-1927 or email education@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
