The Birthplace of Country Music

Call for Entries for Photograph Exhibit
2018-04-05 08:00 - 2018-04-24 17:00 (America/New_York) | VA
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Tuesday, April 24!
Later this year the Birthplace of Country Music Museum will host a new special exhibit Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Through Your Eyes, and it will feature photographs from Bristol Rhythm fans and festivalgoers. The juried exhibit will be created in-house by the museum’s curatorial team, based on photographs taken at any Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion from its beginnings in 2000 to the most recent festival in 2017.
Photographs can include shots from all aspects of the festival from the performances on stage and buskers on the street to people enjoying the festival atmosphere to the variety of activities on offer such as Children’s Day or jam workshops. All images will be judged by professional photographers Neil Staples, Jay Phyfer, and Billie Wheeler, former Virginia Intermont professors and alumni, all of whom have worked at the festival and other BCM music events. Photographs will be judged and chosen on the basis of quality and content. The chosen images will then be included and credited in the special exhibit on a series of designed panels.
The exhibit is set to open in the Special Exhibits Gallery of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum mid-August 2018 and it will be on display through October 21, 2018.
The museum has created specific guidelines for photograph submissions, and these can be found here or requested via email at info@BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org or phone at 423-573-1927. Anyone is eligible to enter, regardless of amateur or professional status, residence, or age; however, individuals under the age of 18 will be requested to provide written parental/guardian consent should their work be selected.
Entries to the juried photograph show open on March 22, 2018, and all entries must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, April 24.

Strong Mountain Women: How Ballads Power People – Songs and Stories from the Appalachian Collections of Cecil Sharp, Maud Karpeles, and Olive Dame Campbell
2018-04-06 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Friday, April 6 at 7pm in the museum’s Performance Theater for “Strong Mountain Women: How Ballads Power People – Songs and Stories from the Appalachian Collections of Cecil Sharp, Maud Karpeles, and Olive Dame Campbell.”
From 1916 to 1918, English ballad collector Cecil Sharp traveled the Appalachian region to document variants of ballad songs and photographed some of the singers who shared their music. The special exhibit – The Appalachian Photographs of Cecil Sharp, 1916 to 1918 – highlights 26 rare photographs that offer a stunning window into the lives of Appalachian people of the period. This exhibit will be on display at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum from March 17 to May 31, 2018.
This related program will feature a talk by Donald Hughes, exhibit curator, and a performance by eighth-generation North Carolina ballad singer and storyteller Donna Ray Norton. Norton is one of the artists on the 2017 Grammy-nominated recording Big Bend Killing: The Appalachian Ballad Tradition, a two-disc set that features a number of performers, including Roseanne Cash and Sheila Kay Adams.
The Appalachian Photographs of Cecil Sharp, 1916 to 1918 is on loan from the Country Dance and Song Society, with permission of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
For more information about the exhibit, go to www.cecilsharpinappalachia.org.
The program starts at 7:00pm; doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets for the “Strong Mountain Women: How Ballads Power People” program are $5.
Buy Tickets Here

RTE 23 Listening Room Concert: Folk Soul Revival
2018-04-07 19:30 - 21:00
The Birthplace of Country Music presents the RTE 23 Listening Room with Folk Soul Revival at the Park Avenue Theater in Norton, Virginia.
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Time: 7:30 p.m.
(Doors Open at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Park Avenue Theater in Norton, VA
Tickets: $15 Advance/$20 Door
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About Folk Soul Revival
FOLK SOUL REVIVAL is one of southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee’s most beloved and sought after acts. Performing original roots-rock, the quintet’s distinct, radio-ready sound and back-porch instrumentation have garnered success with high profile gigs opening for the likes of Travis Tritt, Jason Isbell, Eric Church, Justin Townes Earle, Dr. Ralph Stanley, and more. FSR’s loyal fan base, fondly referred to as “The Congregation,” consistently packs sold out shows across the southeast while singing along with the band word for word.
FSR is a mainstay act at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion which boasts more than 60,000 attendees. The band has also performed at Floydfest and are among the best-selling acts to perform at the legendary Carter Family Fold and The Down Home.

RTE 23 Music Festival
2018-05-01 17:00 - 22:00
The New Respects, Cordovas, and Young Mister slated to perform at the RTE 23 Music Festival coming to the campus of UVa-Wise August 25, 2018.
Date: Saturday, August 25, 2018
Time: 5:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
FREE EVENT
It’s the 5th anniversary of the RTE 23 Music Festival and BCM will once again bring this amazing event to the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
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Visit RTE23MusicFestival.com for more information.

Museum Volunteer Training
2018-06-02 09:00 - 12:00
WE WANT YOU TO VOLUNTEER AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM!
Volunteers are needed to assist in the galleries on a daily basis, help in archives and collections, provide curatorial research and exhibit assistance, support special events, assist in The Museum Store, and act as docents for guided adult and school tours.
Training is provided at one 3-hour session that provides a detailed introduction to the museum and the volunteer program, including a chance for you to pinpoint your area of interest at the museum and learn more about the ins-and-outs of being a museum volunteer.
We will be holding our next volunteer training session on Saturday, June 2, 9am–12 noon. This Saturday training is open to anyone, but it is also the perfect opportunity for those interested in volunteering who are only free on the weekends!
As a volunteer, you will also have many opportunities for continuing learning and training at the museum. Most of all, you will have fun as part of the volunteer team!
For more information on becoming a museum volunteer and to register your interest in these training sessions, contact us by email at volunteercoordinator@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org or by phone at 423-573-1927.

RTE 23 Listening Room: Saw Black
2018-06-08 20:00 - 22:00
The Birthplace of Country Music presents the RTE 23 Listening Room with Richmond, Virginia’s own Saw Black at Gather in Wise, Virginia!
Date: Friday, June 8, 2018
Time: 8:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 7:30 p.m.)
Location: Gather, 411 East Main Street, Wise, Virginia 24293
Tickets: $10 Advance/$12 Day of Show
TICKETS
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents another exciting edition of the RTE 23 Listening Room concert Series! Enjoy a night with Saw Black and get a sneak preview of the band also scheduled to perform at this year’s Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival!

About Saw Black
Saw Black reaches higher with Water Tower, a fitting follow up to his basement gem Azalea Days. Water Tower expands on the self-reflective nature of Azalea Days but brings a bigger band and a higher production value to the table. With 14 songs, this collage of sounds and short pop-structured songs chronicles Saw’s year of touring, songwriting, and learning how to love again. Recorded between three separate studios with three different line-ups, Water Tower comes together as an American record about writing records and music.
What does it mean to be a person who plays guitar and sings songs about life and love? Saw confronts these questions as a common thread on his second effort. An art handler by trade, Saw Black is also producer and co-owner of Crystal Pistol Records. He began playing music when his grandfather, a jazz piano player, gave him an electric guitar at the age of 11. Now 29 and having taken on every role within the recording process, he presses onward and upward. Water Tower is out via WarHen Records in collaboration with Crystal Pistol Records.

Terry Baucom's Dukes of Drive
2018-06-11 19:00 - 20:00
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly hosts Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive as part of The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming!
Date: Monday, June 11, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Please note the 9:00 p.m. show has been cancelled.

Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $20 Adults, $10 Children 12 and under
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About Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive
A native of Monroe, North Carolina, Terry Baucom has enjoyed a career in music that started in 1970 with Charlie Moore and continued over the years as a founding member of ground breaking bands like Boone Creek (with Ricky Skaggs and Jerry Douglas), Doyle Lawson &
Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out and more. Winner of the 2013 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year for “What’ll I Do,” Baucom currently tours with his own band, Terry Baucom’s Dukes of Drive.
His single “The Rock” finished 2015 as Bluegrass radio’s most played song on the Bluegrass Today chart. The band’s current Top 10 single “Around The Corner” is recieving heavy national and international airplay. In 2008, Deering Banjos introduced the Terry Baucom Signature model banjo, while the Dunlop company also uses Baucom as an endorser, offering Terry Baucom custom sets of banjo strings. A testament to his influence is evident when you listen to countless younger generation banjo players who use Baucom signature licks and emulate his driving technique. In addition to playing on numerous recording sessions and producing instructional materials, Baucom teaches banjo, both privately and in camp and workshop settings.
The Dukes of Drive consists of Joey Lemons from King, North Carolina, on mandolin and vocals; Will Jones of Cana, Virginia, on guitar and vocals; and Joe Hannabach of Pfafftown, North Carolina on bass.

1927 Society Concert: Paul Thorn - SOLD OUT!
2018-06-23 19:30 - 21:00
Upon great demand, the Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the return of Paul Thorn for a very special 1927 Society Concert experience.
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2018
Time: 7:30 p.m.
(Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: Event is SOLD OUT!

About Paul Thorn
Raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, among the same spirits (and some of the actual people) who nurtured the young Elvis generations before, Paul Thorn has rambled down back roads, battled four-time world champion boxer Roberto Duran on national television, signed with and been dropped by a major label, performed on stages with Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Sting, and John Prine among many others, and made some of the most emotionally restless yet relatable music of our time. With 20 years of writing, touring, and entertaining under his belt, he shows no sign of slowing down with his new record, Don’t Let the Devil Ride, on the horizon.

Love Canon Album Release Concert - SOLD OUT
2018-07-03 19:30 - 21:30
This event is SOLD OUT!
The Birthplace of Country Music is proud to welcome Love Canon on Tuesday, July 3 at 7:00 p.m. to debut their new album, COVER STORY: A Journey Through Music’s Great Decade, in the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Show begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20.00
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
About Love Cannon
LOVE CANON brings their acoustic-roots sensibilities to the electronic-tinged pop hits of the 80’s and 90’s to create Cover Story, their 4th album, due out on Organic Records in July 2018. With Cover Story, LOVE CANON delivers a fresh set of classics, crossing genres to recount music of decades past from the likes of Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel, Depeche Mode, and Paul Simon. The self-produced album hosts a plethora of special guests including Jerry Douglas, Aoife O’Donovan, Keller Williams, Michael Cleveland, and Eric Krasno, among others.
The band’s diehard fans are music lovers first and are drawn to the charismatic and wide-ranging vocal stylings of lead singer and guitarist Jesse Harper matched with banjo master Adam Larrabee, mandolin pickin’ by Andy Thacker, Darrell Muller holding down the low-end on standup bass, and the slick sounds of resonator guitar king Jay Starling on the Beard MA-6. It’s acoustic rock! Acclaimed fiddler Alex Hargreaves [Turtle Island Quartet, Sarah Jarosz] does all of the fiddling on this record with the exception of two tracks, and he occasionally joins them on tour.
As seasoned virtuoso string players who have been touring the mid-Atlantic since 2010, LOVE CANON stays true to the approach, arrangements, and keen artistry of these nostalgic hits. Cover Story was engineered by Rob Evans at Dave Matthews Band’s Haunted Hollow Studio in LOVE CANON’s hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia and mixed by Wayne Pooley, Bruce Hornsby’s Engineer/Producer. Cover Story is a follow up to the band’s previous efforts, Greatest Hits Volumes 1-3.
Website: http://www.lovecanonmusic.com/

Monthly Community Jam!
2018-07-21 14:00 - 17:00
Calling all musicians! Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a full-on community jam session!

Date: Saturday, July 21, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session! The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. These free jams are open to all ages and all skill levels; those interested in just coming along to listen to good music are also welcome!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 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.

1927 Society Concert: Malpass Brothers
2018-08-10 19:00 - 21:00
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents a very special 1927 Society Concert experience with The Malpass Brothers.
Date: Friday, August 10, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $80
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About the 1927 Society Concert Series
The 1927 Society 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 dinner (heavy hors d’oeuvres) and an open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show, included with ticket.
About The Malpass Brothers

As young boys, Christopher and Taylor Malpass soaked up the music of their granddad’s phonograph records. Christopher earned his first talent show trophy at age 7, and Taylor was playing mandolin by the time he was 10. Today, they promote the work and music of classic country artists they treasure while creating new music and making their own mark in the lineage of a rich American cultural heritage.
With sincerity, honesty and an utter ease on stage that belies their years, their smooth vocal blend and skillful musicianship layer infectiously into the deep respect they pay to legends who have paved the way. Add the funny, off-the-cuff quips between the two 20-something siblings, and the engaging concert becomes a magnetic time-traveling journey to when a calmer rhythm reigned supreme.
The Malpass Brothers toured with the late Don Helms, former steel guitarist for Hank Williams, have opened for music legend Merle Haggard on multiple tours and appeared on stages from the Shetland Islands to Ryman Auditorium to Merlefest. Gifted musicians and songwriters, the brothers have shared billing with artists including Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent, Marty Stuart, Doc Watson and more. The title cut video from their “Memory That Bad” album hit CMT Pure Country’s Top Ten. Their most recent self-titled recording, produced by bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson, was released by Crossroads’ Organic Records in 2015.

Monthly Community Jam!
2018-08-18 14:00 - 17:00
Calling all musicians! Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a full-on community jam session!

Date: Saturday, August 18, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session! The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. These free jams are open to all ages and all skill levels; those interested in just coming along to listen to good music are also welcome!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 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.

RTE 23 Music Festival
2018-08-25 17:00 - 22:00
Presented by the Birthplace of Country Music, RTE 23 is a free concert experience that brings a taste of Bristol Rhythm to the coalfields for a free celebration of our region’s rich music culture with great music, food, and family fun!
Date: August 25, 2018
Time: 5:00 p.m.—10:00 p.m.
Location: University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Wise, VA

The RTE 23 Music Festival has its origins back in February of 2009, when The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Concert Series at UVa-Wise hosted its first show in the college’s student center. The goal then – and now – was simple: bring the best Americana bands possible to music lovers in Southwest Virginia. This year’s lineup offers a great preview of artists who will perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September, including The New Respects, Cordovas, and Young Mister. For a complete schedule of events and more information visit RTE23MusicFestival.com.

About The New Respects
Featured in Rolling Stone as one of “10 New Artists You Need to Know,” newly signed Credential Recordings artist The New Respects are quickly turning heads and gaining unprecedented traction. Falling into a genre of their own, The New Respects mesh rock & roll, soul, and pop music with overlays of acoustic tones. Comprised of twins Zandy and Lexi Fitzgerald, brother Darius and their cousin Jasmine Mullen, the Nashville-based group is a true family affair, evidencing the undeniable soul and musical legacy that flows through the roots of their family tree. Upon their debut, the Nashville-based band surged on social media platforms and their second single “Trouble” received sync placements with Fox Sports, ESPN and TNT. Both Nylon Magazine and Interview Magazine exclusively premiered music videos for the band’s second and third singles. Most recently the band got together with NPR Music to announce the release of their 5 song EP Here Comes Trouble, which features three new unreleased tracks, all of which the band will be playing live while out on tour this year.

About Cordovas
Cordovas are Joe Firstman, Lucca Soria, Jon Loyd, Toby Weaver and Graham Spillman. Out of Madison, Tennessee, Cordovas’ sound is based in harmony, song, and musicianship. Firstman released two albums on Atlantic Records in the early 2000s, including the acclaimed War of Women. “Baby Genius,” 24-year-old songsmith, Des Moines’ Lucca Soria, sings and plays guitar. The keyboardist, Jon Loyd, is an original Cordova from Macon, GA. Loyd’s high notes and piano style make the sound unforgettable and recognizable. His musical genius is well known in Nashville circles. Redondo Beach, California’s Graham Spillman is on drums. The 25-year-old Berklee College of Music dropout also sings and pens tunes for the group. Toby Weaver, also an original Cordova and American Folk music aficionado, plays guitar and sings. The band spent the past winter on the Baja in Mexico writing and demoing songs for their latest album produced by two-time Grammy nominee Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids.

About Young Mister
Young Mister is songwriter Steven Fiore, sometimes accompanied by a band of talented musicians from across the southeast United States. As a songwriter, Fiore has spent many years building a fan base along both coasts, touring with the likes of Jump Little Children and Howie Day, and even regularly performing as a guest vocalist in Jeff Goldblum’s jazz band in Los Angeles.
After spending 8 years as a songwriter for Universal Music Publishing Group, Fiore is now stretching into new musical territory as Young Mister.

Facebook Live! Radio Bristol Premieres
2018-08-31 19:00 - 20:30
Sorry, tickets to this event are now sold out. Watch it on Radio Bristol’s Facebook Live!
Radio Bristol Premieres Folk Soul Revival’s new album with an intimate album release concert.
Date: Friday, August 31, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
About Folk Soul Revival
A modern band rooted in old-school southern sounds, Folk Soul Revival whips up its own version of amplified Americana on the band’s self-titled fourth record.
The name says it all. Folk Soul Revival, like the band that created it, is an album that celebrates the sounds, stories, and small-town values of an earlier era, modernizing their approach with sharp songwriting and electrifying instrumental work. There’s country twang, bluegrass bounce, hillbilly hell-raising, chicken-pickin’ guitar, and roadhouse roots-rock, all sandwiched into a tracklist that mixes heartbreak, honesty, and humor in equal doses. Recorded in Nashville and road-tested on stages across the country, this is Folk Soul Revival’s finest work — an album that nods to the glory days of the past while still pushing the band forward.

PUSH! Rewind Screening at Doors Open Downtown
2018-09-07 18:30 - 20:00
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and participating Historic Downtown Bristol merchants are staying open later for Doors Open Downtown each first Friday of the month! And this month’s Doors Open event is extra special because we will be hosting PUSH! Rewind.
Date: Friday, September 7, 2018
Time: PUSH! Rewind screening at 6:30 p.m.; museum open until 8:00 p.m.
Location: Historic Downtown Bristol, VA-TN
Cost: Screening of PUSH! Rewind is free; if visiting the museum exhibits, museum admission applies
Can’t wait until October’s PUSH! Film Festival to watch some great films? Have no fear. Join us for PUSH! Rewind, a screening of previous festival winners, in the museum’s Performance Theater at 6:30 p.m.
Not only will we be hosting this special screening, but the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and The Museum Store, along with a variety of participating downtown merchants, will also be keeping our doors open until 8:00 p.m. for museum visitors and shoppers!
Doors Open Downtown is a cross-promotional initiative between Bristol’s main street program, headed by the nonprofit organization Believe in Bristol, and downtown businesses who will be extending their regular shopping hours once a month. An added bonus to Doors Open Downtown is extended happy hours featuring a variety of food and drink specials at participating restaurants. There’s always affordable entertainment on Friday evenings in Historic Downtown Bristol and Doors Open Downtown is a great opportunity to unwind and re-connect with family and friends on a Friday night!

Monthly Community Jam!
2018-09-15 14:00 - 17:00
Calling all musicians! Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a full-on community jam session!

Date: Saturday, September 15, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session! The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. These free jams are open to all ages and all skill levels; those interested in just coming along to listen to good music are also welcome!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 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.

PUSH! Film Festival at the Museum
2018-10-12 17:00 - 2018-10-14 17:00
Dates: October 12—14, 2018
Location: Historic Downtown Bristol, VA-TN
The weekend of October 12–14 is the PUSH! Film Festival here in Historic Downtown Bristol, and the museum is one of the main venues for film screenings! We will be hosting a variety of interesting juried films such as Technicolor Daydream, Bully, and Up to Snuff, and several shorts blocks, along with the curated films American Folk and Permanent. The museum is also hosting all of the workshops with topics ranging from costuming to making films on a micro-budget to animation. Other films will be screened at the Paramount Bristol, along with a late night film at local brewery Elderbrew, and the festival also offers other special events and a producers’ party!
Check out the full schedule of screenings, workshops and events, watch trailers, and buy your tickets here: http://www.pushfilmfest.com/.

Monthly Community Jam!
2018-10-20 14:00 - 17:00
Calling all musicians! Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a full-on community jam session!

Date: Saturday, October 20, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session! The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. These free jams are open to all ages and all skill levels; those interested in just coming along to listen to good music are also welcome!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 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.

Richard Leigh Album Release
2018-10-25 18:30 - 20:30
Date: Thursday, October 25, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Performance Theater, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
RESERVE SEAT
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents Grammy Award-winning songwriter Richard Leigh at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for the release of his latest album “Wandering One.”
There is no cost to attend the concert, but there is a limited number of seats available so we ask that everyone reserve a space online. Each member of the audience will receive a free copy of Leigh’s CD; heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided.

About Richard Leigh
Richard Leigh has had hits spanning 4 decades and 9 #1 records. He kicked off the 21st century with a top ten hit, “Cold Day In July”, recorded by the Dixie Chicks. In September of 2009, his good friend, Billy Dean, recorded an entire album of Leigh’s compositions called Billy Dean Sings Richard Leigh. On November 1, 2015 SESAC presented Leigh with its Songwriter Legacy Award, “for extraordinary artistic achievement with words and music”. Crystal Gayle and Reba McEntire were on hand to help present Leigh with this prestigious award.
Leigh, who has been writing songs since he was ten years old and professionally since he was twenty-three, got his first break in 1976 when Crystal Gayle released “I’ll Get Over You”, and took it to #1 on Billboard’s Country Chart. This was made all the sweeter when it garnered Leigh his first, of now seven, Song Of The Year nominations, this one from the Country Music Association (CMA).
Two years later, in 1978, Leigh was back at the CMA’s, this time to take home the Song Of The Year award for “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” which itself has had a phenomenal career: this Leigh composition reached the #1 position on both Pop and County charts and remained on the charts for more than six months. It was nominated at the 20th Grammy Awards in both the Pop and Country Best Song categories (a feat not repeated again until 1993). It won a Grammy Award for Best Country Song and became a million selling single, and was named one of the ten most performed Country Songs Of The Century at the 1999 ASCAP Awards. In addition to his own three Grammy Nominations, five of Leigh’s songs have become vehicles to the Grammy Awards for other artists in the Best Performance, Record of the year, and Vocal Event categories.
To date, Leigh has made fourteen trips to the Top Ten and has written or co-written nine #1 singles: the hauntingly beautiful “Somewhere In My Broken Heart” (written with Billy Dean), voted 1991 Song Of The Year by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association (NSAI), and also by the Academy Of Country Music (ACM); “Only Here For A Little While”, (written with Wayland Holyfield); “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” (written with Layng Martine, Jr.), nominated at the 1993 Grammy Awards for Best Country Song); “Come From The Heart” (written with Susanna Clark and recorded by Kathy Mattea); Don Williams’ “Thats The Thing About Love” (written with Gary Nicholson); Steve Wariner’s “Life’s Highway” (written with Roger Murrah); Mickey Giley’s “Put Your Dreams Away” (written with Wayland Holyfield), and the aforementioned “I’ll Get Over You” and “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”, both written solely by Leigh and recorded by Crystal Gayle.
In 1978, then Nashville Mayor, Richard Fulton, presented Leigh with The Key To The City. In 1988, he was honored with a space on the NARAS Starwalk. However, he received one of his greatest honors in 1994, twenty years and one month after arriving in Nashville, when his peers elected him into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame.
Other artists who have recorded Leigh’s songs include: Anne Murray, Martina McBride, George Jones, K.T. Oslin, Ronnie Milsap, B.J. Thomas, Bill Medley, Perry Como, Connie Francis, Debbie Boone, Conway Twitty, Alabama, Shenandoah, Tammy Wynette, The Bellamy Brothers, Suzy Boguss, Guy Clark, Ricky Scaggs, Lorrie Morgan, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Marie Osmond, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kitty Wells, Bobby Bare, the great Ray Charles, and many more.
Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Virginia, Leigh is a graduate of Virginia Highlands Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University. On April 11, 2011, Leigh was one, of only four, chosen nationally from the American Community College System to be awarded 2011 AACC Outstanding Alumni Award for excellence in ones chosen field, and for service to ones community.

Banjo Gathering
2018-11-01 - 2018-11-04
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Banjo Gathering at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum!
Dates: November 1—4, 2018
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Since 1998, the Banjo Gathering has been the platform for banjo collectors, researchers, instrument builders, and musicians to share new scholarship and findings about the banjo as a historical, cultural, and built object.
This year the Gathering will celebrate with an anniversary concert, broadcasts on Radio Bristol, and their traditional community gathering with three days of presentations, exhibitions, and a banjo marketplace for studying, buying, selling, and trading historical and vintage banjos, parts, and related items, as well as banjos from some of today’s finest instrument makers.
For tickets, registration, and all other information, please visit the Banjo Gathering’s website.

Uncle Dave Macon Talk and Author Book-Signing
2018-11-04 13:00 - 14:30
Date: Sunday, November 4, 2018
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Free Event!
On Sunday, November 4, at 1:00 p.m., Michael D. Doubler, the author of Dixie Dewdrop: The Uncle Dave Macon Story and the great-grandson of Uncle Dave, will give a presentation in the museum’s Performance Theater entitled “Uncle Dave Macon: Unknown Elements of Success.” Mike will explain those key factors in Uncle Dave’s individual background, musical experience, personal attributes, and family setting which helped him to achieve stardom and sustained his career for over three decades. While many music fans know much about Uncle Dave’s professional career, almost nothing is known about these other, critical aspects of his life. Doubler’s talk will be followed by a book-signing of Dixie Dewdrop, essential reading for anyone who loves banjos, Uncle Dave, and good music!
For those wanting to learn more about Uncle Dave and the early roots of country music, this will be an event not to be missed!
This event is free and open to the public.
Michael D. Doubler is a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and the great-grandson of Uncle Dave Macon. He has enjoyed a long career as a soldier, scholar, and author. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, he served for 23 years as an Army officer on active duty and as a full-time National Guardsman. He holds a doctorate degree in history from Ohio State University and has authored several books as well as dozens of articles and special studies. His primary work, Closing with the Enemy: How GIs Fought the War in Europe, 1944-1945, received two national book awards. His latest work is Dixie Dewdrop: The Uncle Dave Macon Story, the first ever book-length biography of one of the Grand Ole Opry’s greatest superstars, published by the University of Illinois Press.

Educator Preview Visit of For All the World to See Exhibit
2018-11-12 16:00 - 17:30
Join us for a FREE educator visit to the special exhibit For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights on Monday, November 12, 4:00—5:30pm.
For All The World To See examines the role that visual culture played in shaping and transforming the struggle for racial equality in America from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s. The content of For All the World to See addresses a wide range of issues and includes a few images that are graphic in nature. Some works in the exhibit may be too sensitive for very young children, and therefore the exhibit is more appropriate for Grade 6 and above, though a visit could be adapted for Grades 4 and 5.
You will have the chance to explore the exhibit; learn about related educator resources, lessons and activities that are available; hear about the free public programming that goes along with the exhibit; and find out more about booking a school group visit. You can drop in at any time from 4:00 to 5:30pm; there will be a brief curator-led introduction to the exhibit and its resources at 4:15pm.
For more information about the exhibit, please check out the exhibit page here. You can also see the related public programs on our Events page.
If you are a teacher or educator and would like to attend this preview visit, please RSVP to Rene Rodgers at rrodgers@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
This exhibition has been made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It has been adapted and is being toured by Mid-America Arts Alliance. For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights was organized by The Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution.

McLain Family Band Master Class
2018-11-17 10:00 - 12:00
Join The McLain Family Band for a morning of music mastery as the musicians help area students polish their talents and hone their skills! Interested attendees are invited to come along to observe the class and hear some great music.
Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
This event is FREE and open to the public!
For more information call 423-392-8423

About The McLain Family Band
Direct from the hills of Kentucky, The McLain Family Band has become internationally known as one of the most spontaneous, creative and spirited groups performing contemporary Appalachian bluegrass music.
During the years 1968 – 1990 they performed in all 50 states and 62 countries during 14 international concert tours, some as musical ambassadors of the U.S. Department of State. The McLain Family Band played at the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Center and the Carter Fold. They were featured at thousands of festivals and concerts and performed as soloists in more than 230 appearances with orchestras.
For eleven years, The McLain Family Band hosted The McLain Family Band Festival which was featured on NPR’s Folk Festival USA and produced by Kentucky Educational TV for national distribution. Other television appearances include NBC’s Today Show, The CBS Morning News, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Pearl Bailey ETV Special, The BBC, TNN’s Nashville Now and the Johnny Cash Christmas Special.
The McLain Family Band has consisted, through the years, of various combinations of family members. The core touring band includes: Raymond McLain, Ruth McLain, Alice and Al White and Daxson Lewis, with occasional guest appearances from Nancy Ann Wartman and Michael & Jennifer McLain.

Monthly Community Jam!
2018-11-17 14:00 - 17:00
Calling all musicians! Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a full-on community jam session!

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session! The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. These free jams are open to all ages and all skill levels; those interested in just coming along to listen to good music are also welcome!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 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.

Community Conversations about Race: A moderated panel discussion
2018-12-04 18:30 - 20:30
Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: Free, but must reserve a seat
RESERVE SEATS
Join us on Tuesday, December 4, at 6:30pm for a panel discussion exploring race reconciliation and how to engage in difficult conversations about race in your community, the importance of representing African American experiences, and the power of media imagery on perceptions of race issues. After the panel discussion, there will be time for audience questions. The panel will be moderated by Alana Simmons, Project Coordinator in the Division of Student Life, Student Success & Inclusion at Emory & Henry College, and panelists will include Dan Gray (Be the Bridge Bristol), Tina McDaniel (YWCA of Northeast TN and Southwest VA), Sam Page (Applied Theater student, Emory & Henry College), and Danianese Woods (Mass Communications, Emory & Henry College).
This program is free and open to the public; it is offered in conjunction with the special exhibit For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights.
This exhibition has been made possible through NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It has been adapted and is being toured by Mid-America Arts Alliance. For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights was organized by The Center for Art, Design, and Visual Culture, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, in partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution.
About the Panelists
Dr. Alana Simmons serves as Project Coordinator for the E&H CARES program, which is Emory & Henry College’s gender-based violence prevention program. Her work, which focuses heavily on consent education and bystander training, encourages the campus community to take responsibility, be courageous, and to promote a culture of respect. Additionally, Dr. Simmons is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business, Economics, & Technology at King University.
Rev. Dan Gray co-founded local group Be The Bridge Bristol with Tina McDaniel. This group seeks to bridge the racial divide, especially in the church and society; it is organized on the principles of Be The Bridge, an international Christian nonprofit that works for racial reconciliation, which was started by Latasha Morrison. Dan is pursuing doctoral studies in racial reconciliation. He has pastored churches in the Bristol area and currently serves Chilhowie and Seven Mile Ford United Methodist Churches. He is married to Samantha Gray, and they have three wonderful children.
Tina McDaniel has spent the majority of her career working in the field of human resources and is now semi-retired. She currently serves as Individual Giving Campaign Coordinator for the YWCA of Northeast TN and Southwest VA. Tina is married to William “Billy” McDaniel, and they have one son, Tyson. Tina received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Intermont College and graduate degree from Regent University. In her role at the YWCA, she helped organize, along with community leaders, the first annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Bristol. Since leaving her corporate role, Tina has spent the last few years pursuing her passion for race reconciliation and justice.
Sam Page is a senior Applied Theatre student at Emory & Henry College. They are originally from Richmond, Virginia, and are interested in how music speaks to the sorted history of the South. They hope to touch on the intersection of POC narratives and Appalachian folk arts.
Danianese Woods is an assistant professor of mass communication at Emory & Henry College. She teaches mass media, diversity in the media, social media, and audio and video production courses. Her scholarly interests include researching the impact of media on the perception of race, crime, politics and celebrities in American society and sexism in the newsroom. Other interests include feminism, critical race theories, postmodernism, reality TV, and social media.

Andrew Alli at the Museum
2018-12-07 18:30 - 20:00
Date: Friday, December 7, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $10 Advance / $15 Day of Show
BUY TICKETS
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the acoustic blues, folk, and soul of Andrew Alli, accompanied by Josh Small, in the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

About Andrew Alli
“When Alli sings in a deep, rich tenor and plays his fierce harp that cuts straight back to the golden era, everybody looks up at amazement. It is clear that great things are coming for this talented singer and harmonica player” ~ Living Blues Magazine
Richmond, Virginia native Andrew Alli is among the Virginia artists chosen to represent the Birthplace of Country Music at The Long Road: A Festival of Country, Americana & Roots in the U.K. this summer. Alli also amazed audiences at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September.
He took up music relatively later in life at the age of 20. After being inspired by a busker playing harmonica on the street one day, he hit the local music store and a harmonica of his own. From that point on, Andrew committed himself to learning the history of the instrument. He very soon fell in love with the blues and began studying all of the harmonica greats including Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior wells, and more.
Alli has developed his own unique style of playing, while still paying his respects to his biggest influences from the past. Throughout the years he has toured with dozens of musicians both domestically and abroad. Currently he leads the band “Andrew Alli and the Mainline” with Ivan Appelrouth on guitar, Chaz Hibbler on drums, and Ken Kellner on bass. Andrew plays in a duo with local musician Josh Small and Georgia based musician Jontavious Willis.

Andrew Alli at The Inn at Wise
2018-12-08 20:00 - 21:30
Date: Saturday, December 8, 2018
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: The Inn at Wise in Wise, Virginia
Tickets: $10 Advance / $15 Day of Show
BUY TICKETS
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the acoustic blues, folk, and soul of Andrew Alli, accompanied by Josh Small, at The Inn at Wise in Wise, Virginia.

About Andrew Alli
“When Alli sings in a deep, rich tenor and plays his fierce harp that cuts straight back to the golden era, everybody looks up at amazement. It is clear that great things are coming for this talented singer and harmonica player” ~ Living Blues Magazine
Richmond, Virginia native Andrew Alli is among the Virginia artists chosen to represent the Birthplace of Country Music at The Long Road: A Festival of Country, Americana & Roots in the U.K. this summer. Alli also amazed audiences at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September.
He took up music relatively later in life at the age of 20. After being inspired by a busker playing harmonica on the street one day, he hit the local music store and a harmonica of his own. From that point on, Andrew committed himself to learning the history of the instrument. He very soon fell in love with the blues and began studying all of the harmonica greats including Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior wells, and more.
Alli has developed his own unique style of playing, while still paying his respects to his biggest influences from the past. Throughout the years he has toured with dozens of musicians both domestically and abroad. Currently he leads the band “Andrew Alli and the Mainline” with Ivan Appelrouth on guitar, Chaz Hibbler on drums, and Ken Kellner on bass. Andrew plays in a duo with local musician Josh Small and Georgia based musician Jontavious Willis.

Monthly Community Jam!
2018-12-15 14:00 - 17:00
Calling all musicians! Join us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a full-on community jam session!

Date: Saturday, December 15, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a full-on community jam session! The jam events have been organized to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. These free jams are open to all ages and all skill levels; those interested in just coming along to listen to good music are also welcome!
Jams will be scheduled for the third Saturday of each month from 2:00 p.m.-5:00 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.

AAME Speaker Series
2019-01-08 19:00 - 20:30
Presented by the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire, Side Effects May Include… is a funny, poignant one-man show meant to raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease.
Date: Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Presented by the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire as part of its speaker series, Side Effects May Include… is a funny, poignant one-man play starring Nick Koesters and co-written by author and stand-up comedian Marc Jaffe and Broadway playwright Eric Coble.
Side Effects May Include… is based on Jaffe’s real life experiences with his wife Karen, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007. It is the story of how Parkinson’s affected their lives, the choices they made in dealing with the disease, and the literal and figurative side effects of those choices. Since Karen’s diagnosis, the Jaffes have raised over one million dollars for the Michael J. Fox Foundation through their nonprofit organization Shaking With Laughter.
May not be appropriate for people under 18 years of age.
The event is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Seating is limited.
Nick Koesters performed in the original production of Side Effects May Include in Cleveland. He will be taking the show to the SoHo Playhouse in New York City for a 15 show run in January.

Celebrating Tennessee Ernie Ford
2019-02-01 - 2019-02-28
February 13, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s birthday, and his hometown has come together to celebrate that milestone with a variety of events and activities, including a musical performance, a conversation with Ford’s son Buck, a special church service, show screenings, a commemorative stamp, and birthday cake!
Born in Bristol, Ernest Jennings Ford was known by many names throughout his life: “Ernest” by his mother, “Ernie” by his relatives, friends, and neighbors, and “The Ol’ Pea-Picker” as a public stage name during the 1950s, based on his catchphrase “Bless your little pea-pickin’ hearts.” But he was most well known as “Tennessee Ernie Ford” – a tribute to his Tennessee home and heritage.
Ford’s career spanned radio, recording, and television, resulting in three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and numerous other awards and honors, including a Grammy and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His song “Sixteen Tons” – a particular favorite of fans and music historians – was an unexpected hit on the pop charts in 1955 and a defining moment in his career. With Ford snapping his fingers and a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement by Ford’s music director, Jack Fascinato, “Sixteen Tons” spent ten weeks at number one on the country charts and seven weeks at number one on the pop charts. In an interview in 1990, Ford noted that this record had sold over twenty million copies, and in 1998 his version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and in 2015 it was honored by being included in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.

Special display of Tennessee Ernie Ford memorabilia and artifacts

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum will have several objects, photographs, and items of memorabilia on loan from Tennessee Ernie Ford Enterprises or the museum’s collection on display during the entire month of February. This display will supplement the section of the permanent exhibit, including a short film, focused on Ford’s life and career.
To learn more about the Tennessee Ernie Ford celebration visit the link below:
ErnieFord100.com
