Weekly Music Lessons with JAM Kids at the Museum!
2025-09-20 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-09-27 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-04 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-11 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-18 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-10-25 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-11-01 10:30 - 11:30, 2025-11-08 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) and 5 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.

Monthly Bluegrass Jam
2025-09-27 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-25 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-22 15:00 - 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 3-5 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 - Halloween
2025-10-03 10:30 - 11:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Friday, October 3, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
Theme: Halloween
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 creating is pipe cleaner pumpkins.
Books that will be featured at Storytime include:

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams (Author), Megan Lloyd (Illustrator)

Community Square Dance at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
2025-10-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free but any donations at the door will support the museum
RSVP HERE
Come do-si-do and promenade with us!
Join the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a community square dance on Saturday, October 4. Caller Tyler Hughes will lead a short introduction to dance steps, followed by a full square dance with a lively string band lead by John Bills.
This event is open to all ages and no experience or partner is required. To protect the Special Exhibits Gallery floor, no heels please; we recommend sturdy shoes so you can dance all night!
Space is limited so sign up to participate soon!

Songwriters Circle Showcase
2025-10-11 14:00 - 15:30 | 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 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 event designed to highlight the talents of songwriters in our region. The Songwriters Circle Showcase will be held at 2 p.m. in the performance theater at the museum as a series, held quarterly each year. The event is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated.

The quarterly Songwriters Circle Showcase is an extension of the monthly Songwriters Circle program, organized by Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, and will consist of artists who participate in the monthly 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.
About the featured Songwriters on October 11
Jennifer Gillenwater has been writing songs and performing with various bands including Family Ties, Turkey Tracks Trio, Nowhere Valley, the Playwrights, and more recently, Jen & Barb, and the Songwriters of Highlands Appalachian (SOHA) group – in the Tri-Cities area for more than twenty years. Her love of music began early, at the age of 11, when she began playing the flute and singing in the church choir with her sister and father. She picked up guitar in high school and then began writing poetry and snippets of songs. She continued playing flute and guitar into her twenties and thirties but was too busy with her studies and then teaching career to do much. Her instruments began to gather dust in a forgotten closet until she turned forty. Her mother gifted her first dulcimer and she began to learn mountain music, folk, and gospel songs. She began playing with her cousin, Roger Norris, at Flat Springs Baptist Church, in the old Beech Mountain community of Avery County, N.C. They formed “Family Ties,” playing at local festivals and restaurants, as well as churches. She remembers very well when her first song came, as she was hiking on the Appalachian Trail on Iron Mountain in Johnson County, Tenn., and came to a memorial for an old hermit named Nick Grindstaff. The memorial read, “Lived Alone; suffered alone; died alone.” She couldn’t get the words out of her mind as she continued doing her section hike through Tennessee. She read about him in her AT book when she stopped to get water or rest, and before long, she had a complete song! After that, many more songs came, and she was hooked on songwriting. Her husband, Michael, and her moved to Abingdon in 2024, and she was thrilled when she met Mary Munsey and the Songwriters of Highland Appalachia. She is having fun playing at different venues, such as Sweet Bay Brewery, the Appalachian Trail Center in Damascus, local libraries, the Highlands Festival Tunes at Noon, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. She continues writing and sometimes enters songwriting competitions, when she’s not hiking or gardening. Her life is full, and she is grateful.
Mary Munsey, from Abingdon is the retired music director at Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC). Her music career includes teaching, piano accompanying for church and school choirs, bassoonist in symphonies, bass, mandolin and guitar playing in acoustic groups and singing and playing saxophone and keyboard in Tri-Cities area bands. She’s also been writing and performing original music for years locally and nationally including multiple performances at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, Carter Fold, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and bluegrass festivals including Ralph Stanley’s Festival in Coeburn, Va. Her song “Nine Days Old” won the 2010 Woody Guthrie International Folk Songwriting Contest and she performed her originals at Woody Fest in Okemah, Okla. on July 15, 2010. She placed second in the IBMA’s (International Bluegrass Music Association) lesson plan contests in Nashville for both 2009 and 2010. She won first place in the Neuse River Songwriting Contest in 2013 with “This Side of the Wall” and performed at the festival near Wilmington N.C. Her song “Eight Lives to Spare” was a winner in the Smoky Mountains Songwriting Competition in 2019 and she placed twice in the Gathering in the Gap festival. Currently, she’s facilitating the regional Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia (SOHA) group which meets monthly at the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace in Abingdon and leads the monthly Songwriters Circle held on the second Saturday at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol. She’s also a professional saxophonist currently performing with the Tri-Cities based Samantha Gray & the Jukebox Jam Band which specializes in Soul, R&B, Motown, 80s pop and high energy fun!
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: https://www.youtube.com/@gdshepp

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.

Special Exhibit | Boot Scootin' History: The Craft and Stories of Cowboy Boots
2025-10-14 - 2026-04-06 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Dates: October 14, 2025 – April 6, 2026
Location: Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cowboy boots are an iconic element of country music. Bespoke boot maker Lisa Sorrell’s creations illustrate how cowboy boots can fulfill both art and function. Boot Scootin‘ History: The Craft and Stories of Cowboy Boots explores the history and craft of boot making and cowboy boots, shares a behind-the-scenes view into the materials and techniques used, and considers the impact of cowboy boots in country and bluegrass music. With more than 35 of Sorrell’s boots on display – accompanied by personal stories and insights from Sorrell – along with a few cowboy boots connected to industry stars and professionals, visitors will encounter a riot of color and craft, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation into the boot making tradition and the important place of cowboy boots in country music history.
There will be several complementary programs to go along with Boot Scootin‘ History: The Craft and Stories of Cowboy Boots. Sign up for BCM’s newsletter or pay close attention to the Events page on our website for more information.
This programming is made possible through the support of the United Company Foundation.
About Lisa Sorrell

Sorrell Custom Boots was established in 1996 in historic Guthrie, Oklahoma, by Lisa Sorrell. Lisa is a master bootmaker and fine artist whose canvas is the cowboy boot. Every boot she builds is custom fit and handcrafted for each client. Inspired by the art of the cowboy boot, its heritage and tradition, Lisa’s work has been featured in several books, numerous magazines, and the PBS series “Craft in America.” Distinguished by intricate leather inlay, overlay and topstitching, Sorrell Custom Boots has a reputation of pleasing the most discerning clients with boots that invite investigation and tell a great story.
BOOKS:
Written by Lisa: “The Art of Leather Inlay and Overlay” 2015, Schiffer Publishing
Featured in: “The Art of the Boot” by Tyler Beard, “Cowboy Boots” by Tyler Beard, “Cowboy Boots: The Art and Sole” by Jennifer June, and “Portraits of the American Craftsman” by Tadd Myers
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS:
2022
Oklahoma-themed boots installed at the Oklahoma State Capitol as part of their permanent art collection
2020
Academy of Western Artists
Boot Maker of the Year
2016
International Efficiency Contest of the Shoemaker’s Trade, Wiesbaden, Germany
Award: Gold Medal and Silver Master Cup, Luxury Shoe category
2013
International Efficiency Contest of the Shoemaker’s Trade, Wiesbaden, Germany
Award: Gold Medal, Luxury Shoe category
2011
Western Design Conference, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Award: Best Artist, Leather category
2010
International Efficiency Contest of the Shoemaker’s Trade, Wiesbaden, Germany
Award: Gold Medal, Luxury Shoe category
2009
“17th Annual Western Design Conference”, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Award: Honorary Mention, “Art to Wear”
2008
Western Design Conference, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
“Craft in America”, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2007
“15th Annual Western Design Conference”, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Award: Best Artist, “Art to Wear”
2005
“Boot and Saddlemaker’s Roundup”, Eddie and Kathy Kimmel, Wichita Falls, Texas
Award: First Place, Master Category

Speaker Session: Joe Tennis on Ghosts, Ghouls, Haints, and More
2025-10-14 19:00 - 20:30 | https://www.youtube.com/@radiobristolwbcm/streams
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 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

Local author Joe Tennis is an award-winning journalist who has authored several local history books, including Beach to Bluegrass, Southwest Virginia Crossroads, and Images of America: Sullivan County. His ghost-focused books include The Marble and Other Ghost Tales of Tennessee and Virginia, Haunted Highlands, and The Ghostly Tales of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands. His articles and photographs have also appeared in Blue Ridge Country, Bristol Herald Courier, Kingsport Times-News, Appalachian Voice, the Virginian-Pilot, and the Roanoke Times.
About Joe Tennis
Joe Tennis is the author of 11 books on history and ghosts across Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. As a storyteller, he has appeared on stages from Kentucky to Virginia Beach.

Community Day at the Museum
2025-10-25 10:00 - 18:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public. Join us for a fun and FREE day out!
The museum is holding its annual Community Day on Saturday, October 25. Admission is FREE all day long.
The following family-friendly activities will be offered from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
* Instrument Petting Zoo, a chance to try out a wide variety of instruments from a guitar to a washboard to a fiddle
*Banjo Bingo, play bingo by guessing instrument sounds and learn more about country music instruments
*Semi-Spooky Story Time, Halloween-inspired stories will be read throughout the day, stories are suitable for kids of all ages
* 3D-Printing with the Bristol Public Library, an opportunity to 3D-print a cowboy boot to go along with our special exhibit Boot Scootin’ History: The Craft & Stories of Cowboy Boots

And, all day during museum hours, enjoy the following activities:
*Scavenger Hunts, will be on hand to help you explore the museum’s exhibits.
*Coloring and activity sheets will be available to take home.
*Plus trick-or-treating candy will be given out while supplies last.
Through our partnership with the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association, local jammers will be on site from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. – you can join in as a musician or just listen to some good tunes!
* You can also make a full day of it downtown with Pumpkin Palooza at the Farmers Market at 9:00 a.m., downtown trick-or-treating at 5:00 p.m., and a Halloween parade at 7:00 p.m.

SOLD OUT: 1927 Concert Series with Special Guest Jontavious Willis
2025-11-01 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 blues phenom Jontavious Willis.
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $119.57
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 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. Music begins at 7 p.m.
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 Jontavious Willis
Jontavious Willis is resolved in his mission: to reinvigorate today’s blues with the spirit of the past. Inspired by a time when the blues were plentiful and rhythm reigned supreme, Jontavious leverages his unique sound—a synthesis of his Georgia heritage and reverence for traditional blues—to get the world dancing again. A GRAMMY®-nominated musician and songwriter, Jontavious performs original, toe-tapping tunes in the style of ragtime, Delta, Piedmont, Texas, Gospel and country blues. Dynamic vocals, technical prowess, and an abundance of Southern charm keep Jontavious sending jolts of vitality through the blues community.
Jontavious was born and raised in rural Georgia, an environment with deep cultural roots that provides the inspiration he has continuously drawn upon to create his unique sound. He spent much of his childhood singing Gospel music at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church with his grandfather, which provided him his first setting to perform for an audience. An early phenom, his passion for the Blues was sparked at age 14 when he came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man.” He achieved widespread acclaim when living legend Taj Mahal invited Jontavious to accompany him onstage in 2015, with Taj describing him as his “Wonderboy, the wonderkind.” Jontavious was invited to open for Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ during their joint TajMo tour in 2018, giving him an opportunity to present his work on a national stage.
Blue Metamorphosis, his acoustic debut album released in 2016, garnered rave reviews in Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm and won the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge 2018 Award for Best Self-Produced CD. His GRAMMY®-nominated sophomore album, Spectacular Class, sees Jontavious survey an array of blues styles with lively ensemble performances.
Now signed to Strolling Bones Records, Willis’ third album, West Georgia Blues, is a testament to his love for songwriting. With solo tracks as well as duo, trio, and full band works, he articulates a totally original take on traditional blues.
Jontavious features prominently in shows and festivals across the world, sharing his unique blend of time-honored yet modern, intellectual yet danceable blues with all.

Museum Storytime - Cowboys
2025-11-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Friday, November 7, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
Theme: Cowboys
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 creating paper mountains.
Books that will be featured at Storytime include:

Cowboy Bunnies by Christine Loomis
The Cowboy ABC by Chris Demarest
Cowboy Dreams by Dayal Kaur Khalsa

Songwriters Circle
2025-11-08 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.

Love & Murder A Capella: A Nest of Singing Birds Ballad Swap Concert
2025-11-08 19:00 - 20:30 | VA
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: $20 (pricing includes tax and fees)
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Hosted by eighth-generation ballad singer Donna Ray Norton and featuring Sheila Kay Adams, Leila Weinstein, Sarah “Songbird” Burkey, and Darci DeWulf, “Love & Murder A Capella: A Nest of Singing Birds Ballad Swap” celebrates a decades-old oral tradition that has been passed down for generations in southern Appalachia.

Madison County, North Carolina’s rich ballad legacy led English folk song collector Cecil Sharp to describe it as a “nest of singing birds” in 1916. This unique custom, spanning more than nine generations, represents one of the oldest unbroken oral traditions in the United States. Following Hurricane Helene’s devastation of their hometown, the Nest of Singing Birds has been traveling their regular ballad swap at the Old Marshall Jail to raise awareness of the practice’s fragility and the region it depends on.
Featured in:

Rolling Stone Feature on Nest of Singing Birds (March 2025) “The North Carolina collective Nest of Singing Birds have been performing centuries-old mountain songs to raise climate crisis awareness and preserve a cultural tradition”
Donna Ray Norton in Oxford American (Dec 2023) “If Adams is the reigning queen of the Sodom Laurel ballad scene, then Donna Ray Norton is its emboldened lady-in-waiting.”

Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of this program.

Virtual Speaker Session: "Say Her Name: A Love Letter to Black Women in Country Music" with Rissi Palmer
2025-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83947168249?pwd=[REDACTED]
With the breakthrough 2007 single, “Country Girl,” from her self-titled debut country album, Rissi Palmer made history as the first Black female country artist to ascend the Billboard Hot Country Singles Charts since Dona Mason in 1987. With “Say Her Name: A Love Letter to Black Women in Country Music,” Palmer highlights Black women pioneers – from Etta Baker and Elizabeth Cotten to Ruby Falls and Lenora Ross to Tina Turner, Rhiannon Giddens, and Micky Guyton, and more – who walked and endured so Black women could enter the space of country music with ease. There is no cost to join this virtual Speaker Session via Zoom, but pre-registration is required.

Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Virtual only via Zoom

Cost: Priceless
REGISTER TO ATTEND VIA ZOOM

Undeterred by the hurdles faced as a Black woman in mainstream country music, Palmer has forged her own path, independently releasing three albums. Among these works are the children’s album, Best Day Ever, the soulful Back Porch Sessions EP (2015), and the critically acclaimed Revival (2019), lauded by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 25 Country-Soul Albums of all time.
Throughout her career, Palmer has always championed underrepresented artists. As the host of Color Me Country Radio with Rissi Palmer on Apple Music, she challenges listeners to reconsider their perceptions and stereotypes surrounding people of color in the country music landscape. She has also established the nonprofit Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund to help support emerging artists of color. In 2023, Palmer was one of nine artists featured in PBS’s American Masters: In the Making series, spotlighting her influence on American culture. The documentary RISSI PALMER: STILL HERE provided an intimate glimpse into her life on tour, her creative process, and balancing professional endeavors with family life.
Today, Palmer stands as a prominent figure in both country and Americana music. Her performances have graced illustrious venues such as The White House, The Grand Ole Opry, Lincoln Center, and the Apollo Theater. She has made national TV appearances on ABC News Live, CBS Mornings, CNN, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight and PBS NewsHour, while garnering recognition from prestigious publications including Associated Press, Essence, New York Times, Parade, PEOPLE, Rolling Stone, UPROXX, Washington Post, and more.
Notably, Palmer holds the distinction of being one of only eight Black artists to have singles charted in any genre, highlighting her enduring impact on the music industry. Palmer continues to tour across the US and overseas and serves as a correspondent for CMT Hot 20 Countdown. She also holds the esteemed position of Governor at the Recording Academy Nashville.

Museum Storytime - Christmas
2025-12-05 10:30 - 11:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. EST
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
Theme: Christmas
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 creating popsicle stick cabins.
Books that will be featured at Storytime include:

Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Chris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator)
Mountain Christmas by Marc Harshman (Author), Cecy Rose (Illustrator)

Speaker Session: Nicholas Edward Williams, “Roots Music History: Live!”
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 | https://www.youtube.com/@radiobristolwbcm/streams
Join us on Tuesday, December 9 for a Speaker Session with Nicholas Edward Williams. Roots Music History: Live! is a multimedia presentation on local East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia music history presented by the producer and host of the music history podcast American Songcatcher heard on Radio Bristol, WNCW and wherever you get our podcasts, Nicholas Edward Williams. The experience includes historical audio, video, imagery, and a short concert of early songs recorded or documented in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 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

Producer and host of the roots music history podcast American Songcatcher, Nicholas Edward Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, storyteller and preservationist who has spent the last 15+ years touring three continents, honoring and blending the American roots music spectrum with his own flair. He’s presented for TEDx, opened for Taj Mahal, The Wood Brothers, CAAMP, Dom Flemons, Ballroom Thieves, John Craigie, John Paul White and Town Mountain, and his 2019 debut record, As I Go Ramblin’ Around, hit the Top 10 Folk DJ charts for album and song. His critically acclaimed sophomore release Folk Songs For Old Times’ Sake has been heralded by well-regarded figures such as David Holt, Oliver Wood and JP Harris, and his newest traditional record, titled Rags, Folk and Blues, Oh My! releases in the Spring of 2025. Nicholas is also the Founder and Director of the Hurricane Helene instrument relief organization ReString Appalachia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqOzByAoAX8&authuser=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFFLw8PiQ0Q&authuser=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go59g8QKFac&authuser=0
American Roots: Traditional Folk, Piedmont Blues, Ragtime & Early Country
Videos: Mississippi River Blues | Happy Life | TEDx
Links: Official | Listen | LinkTree

Museum Volunteer Orientation
2025-12-13 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.
