The Birthplace of Country Music

1927 Society Concert: Malpass Brothers
2018-08-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | VA
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
BUY TICKETS
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

RTE 23 Listening Room featuring Wayne Graham
2019-02-23 20:00 - 22:00
The Birthplace of Country Music presents the RTE 23 Listening Room with Wayne Graham.
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2019

Time: 8:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Gather in Wise, Virginia (411 Main Street, Wise, VA)

Tickets: $10 Advance/$12 Day of Show
Online Ticket Sales end at Midnight on Friday, February 22, 2019
Click here to Buy Tickets

Eastern Kentucky favorites Wayne Graham come across the mountain for an intimate acoustic show at Gather (411 E. Main St) in Wise! Only 75 seats for this one, so grab your tickets early when they go on sale!

About Wayne Graham
Wayne was a renaissance man. Curiosity and good hand-eye coordination are a deadly combination. He was an electrician, a locksmith, a mechanic, a coal miner, a guitarist, and a singer, but the roles that took the highest priority in his life were husband, father, brother, and son. He approached life with a laughable optimism and proved over time he was right. He made sure to be my earliest memory and I have consulted him, wherever he is, with every major decision in my life. Over the years, I’ve met many strangers who knew him. Their tall tale is the same as those I’ve heard before. He was a legendary man with more soul than his body could hold.
Graham was the first one of his brothers to own a car. He was able to buy it because he started working when he was very young. When his younger brother graduated from high school, he drove him to college. He left his car with him and headed home to pine creek.
He married my grandmother and bought a small shack on Pine Creek. They moved in in February, a logging trail covered in snow, to a shack with quarter inch slits between the slats.
He slowly bought that mountain, acre by acre, building more rooms on his house for his growing family. He was the neighborhood farmer, old regular Baptist, democrat, World War II vet, coal miner, romance novel patron, Kentucky Wildcats fan. His image flashes in my periphery at least once a day, reminding me his constant refrain when he and Mamaw kept me in my early years, “This boy is gonna make me president.”

Book of Mamaw
2019-03-23 19:30 - 21:00
Eugene Wolf presents his one-man show The Book of Mamaw to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $25
BUY TICKETS
Long-time Barter Theatre Acting Company member, Eugene Wolf’s one-man show of stories, songs and sketches about growing up with Bernice Rader, his Church of Christ grandmother who recognized Eugene’s love of performing at an early age (two years old) and guided him on his way. An unorthodox story of a woman who tried to capture Patty Hearst and once advised her grandson that if he was going to make it in show business, he’d better “Get a dress and wear it!” A beautiful tale of a surprising spiritual path full of love, kindness, compassion and music.
Eugene Wolf has been performing since he was two years old, when he won his first talent contest at the Capitol Theatre in Greeneville, Tennessee. Wolf studied music and theater at the University of Tennessee and worked for The Road Company, a professional acting ensemble in Johnson City, Tennessee that was the first group of American artists to visit Bashkiria, Russia in 1994. Many will recognize him as one half of The Brother Boys, a critically acclaimed duo he and Ed Snodderly formed over 30 years ago. The Brother Boys are featured on the album On Top of Old Smoky: New Old-time Smoky Mountain Music alongside Dolly Parton. For two decades Wolf has been a member of the Acting Company of Barter Theatre where he originated the role of A. P. Carter in the play “Keep On the Sunny Side.” In 2013 he traveled again to Russia to collaborate with Russian musicians on American spirituals and recorded a CD, Where We’ll Never Grow Old. Wolf has adapted his years of songs, photographs, and musings into a heartfelt, hilarious, one man show paying homage to the person who has influenced his life the most, his Mamaw.
Photo Courtesy of Harry Taylor

Ken Burns' "Country Music" Preview, Q&A
2019-03-24 19:00 - 21:00
East Tennessee PBS brings Ken Burns to Bristol for a sneak preview of his much-anticipated documentary, Country Music.
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Paramount Bristol, 518 State Street
Tickets: $25 plus tax/fees
BUY TICKETS
Ken Burns and his Emmy Award-winning creative team will be in Bristol for a very special preview of Burns’ upcoming documentary Country Music. In addition to screening clips from the film, there will be a Q&A session with Burns and his team.
The 1927 Bristol Sessions will be featured in the first episode of the series, which will air on PBS in September 2019. The evening will begin with an introduction by the creators, followed by a sneak preview of the film, and a Q&A session.
Country Music is a sweeping, multi-episode series that follows the evolution of country music over the course of the 20th Century as it eventually emerged to become America’s music. It is directed and produced by Ken Burns; written and produced by Dayton Duncan; and produced by Julie Dunfey—The Emmy-award winning creators of PBS’s most-acclaimed and most-watched documentaries including The Civil War, Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea and many more.

SOLD OUT - 1927 Society Concert
2019-04-12 18:00 - 21:00
Sorry, tickets to this event are now SOLD OUT!
Bristol Rhythm sweethearts Red Molly joins us at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for the intimate 1927 Concert Series.
Date: Friday, April 12, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $80 plus Bristol, VA admission tax/fees

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 heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show. Food and drink are included with ticket.

About Red Molly
“A blend of serious harmonizing chops and slick pop savvy.”
~Time Out NY
“[Red Molly has] cut a niche as sunnyside Americana … immaculate vocal harmonies.”
~The Guardian
Red Molly combines the forces of three songwriters with unique character and style, creating a show that is larger than the sum of its parts. Known for their 3-part harmony, their songs and arrangements lay bare a love of vocal blend. The band weaves together threads of American music—from country & blues to folk & bluegrass. Their innovative instrumentation is suited for roots-rock and heartfelt ballads alike, and the alchemy of their personalities onstage draws even back row listeners into a sense of intimacy. Red Molly is simply a joy to experience.
Singing spine-tingling high notes, Abbie Gardner is a dobro player and improviser from a musical family. A consummate performer, her songs and performance have the punch of rhythm and blues. Playing guitar and tambourine, Laurie MacAllister draws inspiration from classic folk and singer-songwriters. Her voice stretches octaves, warm and romantic one moment, playful and subversive the next. Molly Venter has a smoky voice that is unforgettable, and a moody approach to song-smithing. Quirky and fashion-forward, she moves in step to the music while playing guitar and tambourine.
Forming in 2004, Red Molly has inspired countless female trios and has since reinvented themselves as a high-octane five-piece band in 2017. They remain a dominant force on the Americana/Folk scene due in part to their laughter and spontaneity onstage. Upright bassist Craig Akin and percussionist and electric guitarist Eben Pariser fill out the sound, giving the show a broad range of musical options—from complex and hard-hitting to sparse and delicate.

Wordloose: A teen poetry experience!
2019-04-17 18:30 - 20:00
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED!
We are sorry that we had to cancel Wordloose and didn’t get the chance to get creative with words, but hopefully we’ll be able to offer a similar event in the future.
Date: Wednesday, April 17
Time: 6:30 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: FREE EVENT, but must RSVP as space is limited
RSVP NOW
This workshop is all about breaking the rules – of poetry!
Did you ever wonder what a poem was about or what the author meant when they wrote it? In this class, there’s no guessing and there’s no right or wrong answers.
Join Carolyn Koesters at the museum on Wednesday, April 17, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for a fun, creative workshop, where young poets will work with non-formatted poetry and learn how to break the rules of poetry they already know.
Participants will be given the theme of “Home” and come up with a list of things from their own lives that will help them with phrasing in simile and metaphor – then they’ll create a poem of their own.
Teen poets of all ages and skill levels are invited to be part of this creative workshop and the program is free, however, space is limited so everyone must RSVP.
Wordloose is companion programming to our current special exhibit, Reading Appalachia: Voices from Children’s Literature, on display until June 30, 2019. We would like to extend a special thanks to the Massengill-DeFriece Foundation for their support of this exhibit and its programming.

RTE 23 Listening Room
2019-04-26 20:00 - 22:00
Date: Friday, April 26, 2019
Time: 8:00 p.m.
(Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Gather, 411 East Main Street in Wise, Virginia 24293
Tickets: $10 Advance / $12 at Door
BUY TICKETS
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents another exciting RTE 23 Listening Room concert experience in Wise, Virginia with Hello October!

About Hello October
Hailing from Southwest Virginia, Hello October is a solid act with a driving, alt-rock sensibility—atypical of the more traditional sounds of its home, yet born of the mountain bloodline. Not to be pigeonholed by genre, the band’s songwriting and originality set them apart from their folk-rock, banjo-wielding peers.
The band has performed at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, the Virginia/Kentucky District Fair, High Knob Outdoor Festival, Chillin’ and Grillin’, Best Friends Festival, Hillbilly Days, and more.

Museum Volunteer Training
2019-06-01 09:00 - 12:00
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2019
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
We need YOU as a museum volunteer!
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 and exhibit programming, 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 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 1, 9:00am—12:00 noon. 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.

1927 Society Concert - Upstate
2019-06-22 19:00 - 20:30
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents an intimate 1927 Society Concert Series experience featuring music by Upstate.
Date: Saturday, June 22, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $80 plus Bristol, VA admission tax/fees

BUY TICKETS
Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a member so that you, too, may receive first-access to to shows!

About Upstate
For Upstate, the last few years have been a time of profound exploration and self-discovery. As the band knocked off milestone after milestone on the road, their sound, their lineup, and even their name all underwent dramatic metamorphoses. Challenging and thrilling all at once, those changes have finally culminated in the band’s dazzling new self-titled album, a collection that showcases both their remarkable growth and their adventurous blend of folk, R&B, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll.
Recorded primarily over six days at the Clubhouse studio in Rhinebeck, NY, Healing is the band’s first release with new member Allison Olender, their first with four contributing songwriters, and their first since shortening their name from Upstate Rubdown. It’s also their first project to be produced by Wood Brothers percussionist Jano Rix, who helped the group embrace their transformation and lean in to their unique lineup (three female vocalists, upright bass, mandolin, sax, and cajón) without sacrificing any of the gorgeous harmonies, eclectic arrangements, and unforgettable performances that have defined the band since their earliest days.
Upstate first emerged from New York’s Hudson Valley in 2015 with their critically acclaimed debut, A Remedy. The Poughkeepsie Journal raved that the group “need[s] nothing more than their voices to channel rhythm and stoke your emotions,” while Chronogram hailed their “infectiously sunny organic stew,” and The Alt called them “toe-tapping, contagious, and fun.” The album earned the band festival performances from Mountain Jam to FreshGrass, as well as a slew of national headline dates and support slots with everyone from The Felice Brothers and Phox to Marco Benevento and Cory Henry.
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.

SOLD OUT - Carson Peters & Iron Mountain
2019-06-25 18:30 - 20:00
The Birthplace of Country Music presents Carson Peters & Iron Mountain in concert at the museum!
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT.
Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: Sold out

About Carson Peters & Iron Mountain
Carson Peters & Iron Mountain
Piney Flats, Tennessee native Carson Peters started playing the fiddle at the ripe old age of 3 when his parents bought him a 1/8 size fiddle. By age 4, he was playing in fiddle competitions and jamming at musical festivals. Carson has continued to hone his fiddling and singing talents and has won many competitions along the way.
At 15 years old, Carson is a seasoned performer playing numerous venues with his band Iron Mountain throughout the United States and Canada; Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Dollywood’s Bluegrass and BBQ, Song of the Mountains, Carter Family Fold, Silver Dollar City BBQ and Bluegrass, Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival, and Bluegrass Island, to name a few.
Carson had the honor of playing on national TV as a guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Little Big Shots with Steve Harvey, as well as play with Jimmy Fortune on the floor of the Tennessee State Senate.
On March 28, 2014, Carson’s dream of playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage was realized when he was invited by Ricky Skaggs to come perform with him and his band, Kentucky Thunder. In May of the same year, Carson was asked to make a reappearance at the Opry, but this time with his own band. On July 31, 2014, Carson made his Ryman Auditorium debut playing again with Ricky Skaggs during the 2014 Bluegrass Nights series. Since these appearances, Carson and his band have performed numerous occasions on the Opry Show.
In November of 2018, Carson was thrilled to be asked to
play fiddle for his buddy Ricky Skaggs when he was honored at the nationally televised 52nd CMA Awards Show.
Carson says that winning trophies and getting your name in the paper is “really cool” but that is not the
main reason he works so hard at his music. “It’s all about using the talent God gave me to make people smile!”
Carson truly loves entertaining people!

RTE 23 Listening Room
2019-06-28 20:00 - 22:00
The Birthplace of Country Music presents the RTE 23 Listening Room Concert Series featuring Annabelle’s Curse in St. Paul, Virginia.
Date: Friday, June 28, 2019
Time: 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Western Front Hotel, 3025 4th Avenue, St. Paul, Virginia 24283
Tickets: $10 Advance, $15 Day of Show
BUY TICKETS

About Annabelle’s Curse
An indie-folk band from Bristol, VA-TN, Annabelle’s Curse formed in 2010 and has toured extensively, developing a devoted fan base throughout the southeast and mid-Atlantic. Annabelle’s Curse has supported acts such as Anderson East, Humming House, The Black Lillies, Birds of Chicago, and HoneyHoney. The band has been a staple at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion and has also performed at Floydfest, Rhythm and Blooms, Rooster Walk, and Music City Roots.
Annabelle’s Curse is comprised of Tim Kilbourne (vocals, banjo, guitar), Carly Booher (vocals, mandolin), Zack Edwards (guitar), Travis Goyette (percussion), Tyler Luttrell (bass), and Kirk Bagnall (auxiliary percussion). They have released four full-length albums and one EP.
