The Birthplace of Country Music

Uncle Dave Macon Talk and Author Book-Signing
2018-11-04 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | VA
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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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
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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.

American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart special exhibit
2019-08-01 - 2020-01-31
American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart, coming soon to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum!
Dates: August 1, 2019—January 31, 2020
Although known primarily as a country music star, Marty Stuart (b. 1958) is a master storyteller not only through his songs, but also through his revealing photographs. He has been taking photographs of the people and places surrounding him since he first went on tour with bluegrass performer Lester Flatt at age 13. His inspirations include his mother, Hilda Stuart and her documentation of their family’s everyday life in Mississippi. He also admires bassist Milt Hinton’s photographs of fellow jazz artists and Edward Curtis’s well-known images of Native Americans at the turn of the 20th century. Stuart’s photographs in American Ballads range from intimate behind-the-scenes depictions of legendary musicians, to images of eccentric characters from the back roads of America, to dignified portraits of members of the Lakota tribe in South Dakota, a people he was introduced to by his former father-in-law, Johnny Cash. Whatever the subject, Stuart is able to tease out something unexpected or hidden beneath the surface through a skillful sense of timing and composition, as well as a unique relationship with the sitters often based on years of friendship and trust.
The exhibition is organized around three themes:
THE MASTERS
While touring with Lester Flatt’s band in 1974, Marty Stuart discovered bassist Milt Hinton’s candid photographs of fellow jazz musicians in a Greenwich Village bookstore. He had been exposed to the medium’s ability to portray aspects of everyday life through his mother, Hilda Stuart, a skilled photographer, and realized that he could document the country music world with the same approach that Hinton had taken with jazz. He had access to the great figures of country music through Flatt, who took him under his wing at age thirteen. As Stuart says, “Walking into the Grand Ole Opry with Lester Flatt was the equivalent of walking into the Vatican with the Pope. His endorsement gave me instant acceptance into the family of country music.” Being a trusted member of the inner circle has allowed Stuart to capture the stars in moments of unguarded intimacy and honesty.
BLUE LINE HOTSHOTS
Marty Stuart has been traveling on the road as a professional musician for over four decades. Along the way, he has been intrigued by the unique characteristics of towns he passes through, learning about the local history, architecture and music. He especially seeks out the quirky residents “who have enough Elvis in them to give America its spice.” Stuart lovingly refers to these people as “Blue Line Hotshots” because, at one time, the two lane highways and back roads of our nation were represented on maps as blue lines. Whether his subject is a devoted fan, passionate preacher, or gutsy Dolly Parton impersonator at a state fair, Stuart respects their individuality and willingness to stand out in our increasingly homogenized world.
BADLANDS
Marty Stuart first encountered the Lakota people in the early 1980s when he, as a member Johnny Cash’s band, played a benefit on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Stuart immediately felt a strong kinship with the tribe and began to make yearly pilgrimages to Pine Ridge in an effort to establish meaningful connections with its members. Twenty years later, Stuart was adopted into the tribe and given the name O YATE’ Ö CHEE YA’KA HOPSILA (the man who helps the people). As with the country music community, Stuart has gained unusual access to and the trust of the typically guarded Lakota inner circle. His photographs of both everyday life and traditional ceremonies do not romanticize the culture nor overlook the tragic conditions often found on the reservation—poverty, alcoholism, and unemployment—but rather present honest portraits of dignity, strength, and perseverance.
American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart was organized by the Frist Art Museum, Nashville, Tennessee. Special thanks to The Massengill-DeFriece Foundation for their support of the exhibit at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Images: Left: Marty Stuart. Miss Oglala Lakota Nation. 2012. Archival pigment print, 14 x 11 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Marty Stuart; Center: Marty Stuart. Willie Nelson. 1994. Archival pigment print, 20 x 16 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Marty Stuart; Right: Marty Stuart. Rockabilly Man. 2001. Archival pigment print, 20 x 16 in. Courtesy of the artist. © Marty Stuart

RTE 23 Music Festival
2019-08-24 17:00 - 22:00
The RTE 23 Music Festival announces lineup! The Fritz, The Golden Age, and 49 Winchester
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2019
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Wise, VA
FREE EVENT
Presented by the Birthplace of Country Music, the RTE 23 Music Festival combines great music with the very best in local food and craft beer vendors to provide a fun, family-friendly event for the people of Southwest Virginia as part of BCM’s music outreach programming.
The RTE 23 Music Festival has its origins back in February of 2009, when The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Concert Series at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in Wise, Virginia. 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.
Since the series began, there have been several venues in Wise that have hosted an array of outstanding musicians including St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Folk Soul Revival, The Black Lillies, Yarn, The Corduroy Road, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, The New Familiars, Dave Eggar, Amber Rubarth, and Last Train Home.
Today, the RTE 23 Music Festival has found a permanent home on the campus of UVa-Wise and invites families to take part in the celebration for free.

About The Fritz
The Fritz is a soul-driven dance rock band hailing from Asheville, NC.
The group’s aggressive approach to funk, soul, and rock creates a sound that is uniquely their own. Their high-energy, danceable songs provide a platform for each member to shine. With powerful vocals, climactic solos, and tight grooves, The Fritz has built a devoted following and is captivating audiences everywhere.
About The Golden Age
The Golden Age is Bryan Simpson and Matt Menefee, founding members of Cadillac Sky. The duo is now back making bluegrass music that is equal parts preservation and rebellion. RTE 23 will be the band’s debut performance.

About 49 Winchester
Hailing from the mountain town of Castlewood, Virginia, 49 Winchester’s roots are planted in the music of Appalachia. Equal parts country and soul with powerful vocals, hard-hitting songs, & heavy country-blues guitars. Singer & guitarist Isaac Gibson’s songs are poetically straight-forward and shine through in their live performance.
49 Winchester’s second album The Wind was released in May 2018 and their song “Anchor” is the closing track on the album 1927 Jubilee: The New Bristol Sessions alongside many other Appalachian artists including Dolly Parton, celebrating 90 years since the first fabled country music recordings in Bristol VA-TN.

1927 Society Concert Series
2019-08-24 19:00 - 20:30
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents an intimate 1927 Society Concert Series experience featuring music by Hank, Pattie, & The Current.
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets – Two Option

For Show and Open Bar and Heavy hors d’oeuvres – $80 plus Bristol, VA admission tax/fees (Doors Open at 6:00 p.m.)

For Show and Cash Bar – $25.00, plus Bristol,VA admission tax/fees (Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.)

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

About Hank, Pattie, & The Current
Two of North Carolina’s veteran bluegrass musicians join forces with some of the Triangle area’s most versatile musicians to create modern, American, acoustic music featuring the full range of their talents as composers and arrangers.
The band makes use of traditional bluegrass instrumentation in a nontraditional way to present original music to the listener that goes beyond the limits of the idiom. The arrangements take on a new level of maturation that follows in the footsteps of Bela Fleck, Mark O’Connor, Chris Thile, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, and Tony Rice. Hank, Pattie & The Current want to pick up where seminal crossover groups like The Punch Brothers, Strength In Numbers and the ever changing Bluegrass Allstars call home. The music is vocal and instrumental, allowing the band to experiment with arrangements and tailor the compositions to become vehicles for exploration. Hank Smith plays banjo, Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw plays fiddle and sings. The band includes Robert Thornhill on mandolin and vocals, Billie Feather on guitar and Jonah Freedman on bass and vocals.
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.

VMFA on the Road Artmobile at the Museum!
2019-09-18 - 2019-09-22
Event: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on the Road Artmobile at the Museum!
About: Sixty-five years after the launch of its original Artmobile, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is once again bringing traveling art exhibitions and educational offerings to audiences across the state with VMFA on the Road: An Artmobile for the 21st century! This state-of-the-art mobile museum and education studio will be at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and open to school groups,drop-in visitors, and Bristol Rhythm festivalgoers from September 18 to September 22, 2019.
Date: Wednesday, September 18 – Sunday, September 22, 2019

Wednesday, September 18–Thursday, September 19 (for school visits and drop-in visitors)
Friday, September 20–Sunday, September 22 (for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festivalgoers)

Location: Parked on Country Music Way in front of the museum
Family Visit Guide: To download the VMFA’s Family Visit Guide, click here. Paper copies will also be available at the Artmobile.

DROP-IN VISITORS
Drop-in visitors can view the Artmobile for free on Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 18, 2019.
Take an art break! Bring your friends, family, kids, grandma, or whoever you know who would enjoy a wonderful art experience and drop-in on the VMFA on the Road Artmobile at the times below. This is a FREE opportunity!

Wednesday, September 18 – 2:00–4:15pm
Thursday, September 19 – 12:45–5:00pm

School Information
School groups can visit the Artmobile on Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19, 2019. This is a FREE visit!
The VMFA on the Road Artmobile will be open to middle school, high school, and college groups on September 18–19, 2019. A field trip to the Artmobile exposes students to multiple art mediums and concepts using visual thinking, sketching, and writing. Admission is free to the Artmobile.
Several time slots are available for school group visits:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

10:00–10:30am – BOOKED
10:40–11:10am – BOOKED
11:20–11:50am – BOOKED
12:40–1:10pm
1:20–1:50pm – BOOKED
4:30–5:00 – BOOKED

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

10:00–10:30am – BOOKED
10:40–11:10am – BOOKED
11:20–11:50am – BOOKED
12:40–1:10pm
1:20–1:50pm
If you are interested in bringing an after-school program to the Artmobile on these dates, get in touch with Rene Rodgers at rrodgers@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org to discuss possible time slots. The museum also has some funds available to help schools with transportation costs on a first come-first served basis.

Teachers can pick one of three field trip programs based on their students’ interests and needs, including activity options such as “I See, I Think, I Wonder,” “30-Second Sketch,” “Strike a Pose,” “Elaboration Game,” “Creative Comparisons,” “Contour Drawing,” “Narrative,” “Make It Move,” and “Before & After.” Details about the three field trips programs, their related activities, and the relevant teaching standards are available here. VMFA Fellowship artists who are represented in the Artmobile include Dennis Winston, Arthur Sawyers, Julien Binford, Ann Chenoweth, Nell Blaine, Benjamin Wigfall, Charles K. Sibley, Esther Worden Day, Emmet Gowin, Sally Mann, Cy Twombly, and Steven Fishman.
A tour of the Artmobile is a 30-minute experience. An optimum visit has 10–12 students (with one adult); larger groups will be divided into groups of 20 (with two adults). Teachers can also add a FREE guided tour of the museum’s special exhibit American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart (also a 30-minute experience) to your visit to the Artmobile. American Ballads is an art photography exhibit, making it a wonderful companion to the Artmobile. If you would like to also book a tour of the museum’s permanent exhibits, our usual student group admission applies.
For further information about a VMFA on the Road Artmobile experience for your students, please contact Head Curator Rene Rodgers at rrodgers@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org. To book a tour, please contact tchildress@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org, providing the following information: Date of tour, preferred time of tour, name of school, teacher’s name, grade level, size of group, and field trip tour/activities choice.
Bookings must be made by September 2, 2019.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Information
Festivalgoers can visit the Artmobile on Friday, September 20– Sunday, September 22, 2019
The VMFA on the Road Artmobile will be free and open to festivalgoers on September 20—22, 2019, just one more way to make your Bristol Rhythm experience even more special! It will be open at the following times:

Friday, September, 20: 1:00–7:00pm
Saturday, September 21: 9:00am–7:00pm (closed 1:00–2:00pm for lunch)
Sunday, September 22: 10:00am–5:00pm (closed 1:00–2:00pm for lunch)

PUSH! Pop-Up: Screening of The Ballad of Shirley Collins
2019-09-26 18:30 - 20:00
The Birthplace of Country Music and PUSH! Film Festival present a film screening of the documentary film The Ballad of Shirley Collins, a meditative and carefully textured piece of portraiture of one of the 20th century’s most important singers of English traditional songs.
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Widely regarded as the 20th century’s most important singer of English traditional song, Shirley Collins is someone who was born to invoke the old songs. Alongside her sister Dolly, Shirley stood at the epicenter of the folk music revival during the 1960s and 1970s. But in 1980, in traumatic circumstances, she was robbed her of her unique singing voice and forced her into early retirement.
Counterpointing the film’s contemporary journey with a more literal one taken from the opposite end of Shirley’s life, The Ballad Of Shirley Collins also proves itself to be something of a time-travelling Transatlantic road-movie – lovingly retelling the story of her seminal 1959 ’Southern Journey’ song-collecting trip around America’s rural Deep South alongside her then-lover (and legendary ethnomusicologist) Alan Lomax. A trip that took them into neglected rural communities, both black and white, that were about to be forever changed by the burgeoning Civil Rights movement. They uncovered and documented a peerless document of traditional American music – one that would later inspire the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers’ film O Brother Where Art Thou.
Deliberately eschewing a straightforward biopic approach, Rob Curry and Tim Plester ‘Way of the Morris’, is a lyrical response to the life-and-times of a totemic musical figure. Granted intimate access to recording sessions for Shirley’s first album (Lodestar) of new recordings in almost four decades, the film also features contributions from the comedian Stewart Lee , Appalachian singer Sam Amidon, and David Tibet of Current 93.
What emerges is a meditative and carefully textured piece of portraiture. Here then is a story about one woman’s battle to rise again from long silent ashes. A film about loss and redemption. A film about sacrifice, healing and rebirth. A film which suggests that, during these turbulent and increasingly untethered times, we might just need Shirley Collins and all she represents more than ever.
The film received its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival , before being released theatrically in the UK on more than 100 screens. It played prestigious international festivals including Rotterdam and CPH:DOX, and has been released in the United States.
More than 3-and-a-half years in the making, and co-produced with Fifth Column Films and Burning Bridges The Ballad Of Shirley Collins is the first release from Fire Films; the new film arm of the revitalized Fire Records and sister label Earth Recordings.
UK 2017, 94 mins

PUSH! Film Festival
2019-10-12
Push! Film Festival is a celebration of the cinematic and visual arts in the heart of the twin cities of Bristol, TN/VA. Focused on Tennessee and Virginia productions, PUSH! spotlights films that provoke thought and spur action. By bringing diverse films to the community and showcasing the best regional filmmakers, PUSH! aims to expand the artistic image of our region, engage new audiences in the world of film, and inspire creativity in all of us.
Date: Saturday, October 12, 2019
Time: 11:00am–9:30pm
Where: Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Performance Theater and Learning Center
Now in its 5th year, PUSH! has a variety of films and related programs planned for Saturday, October 12, 2019, including screenings of juried short films focused on Tennessee and Virginia, two curated feature films, an awards ceremony and reception, and an educational and fun hands-on workshop.
This year PUSH! Film Festival received over 50 film submissions for the juried film competition, which represented several different countries. All of the shorts were either made in Virginia or Tennessee or made by a filmmaker from one of those states. These will be screened from 3:00 to 6:00pm. There will also be two feature films screened at the festival: Blaze, inspired by the life of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw music movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, and Labyrinth, the 1986 cult classic featuring David Bowie as the Goblin King. For information about this year’s films, click here.

This year’s PUSH! workshop – InstaFilm Bristol – is sure to be a favorite. Led by Josh Mancuso, InstaFilm Bristol is a 4-hour crash course and film competition with films produced solely through Instagram Stories. This event will be held on October 12 from 11:00am to 3:00pm; it is free and open to the public (ages 13+) with an optional lunch available for $5.
Festival passes are $25 and give festivalgoers entry to the short film screenings, Blaze, and the awards ceremony and reception. To see the full lineup, the schedule of events on October 12, and to buy your tickets, visit www.pushfilmfest.com. You can also purchase tickets at the Believe in Bristol office at 20 6th Street, Bristol, Tennessee. And you can check out the festival’s online store at www.pushfilmfest.com for cool festival merchandise. Finally, a few special events are included before and during the festival, including a pop-up screening of The Ballad of Shirley Collins on September 26 at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and a photography contest at State Street Brewing Company; click here for more information.
Festival attendees should note that because seating is limited, film attendance will be based on a first-come, first-served basis at the venue. The film screenings, workshop, awards ceremony, and reception will all be held at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Filmgoers and filmmakers can take advantage of a discounted admission to the museum of $10 (+ tax) over the PUSH! Film Festival weekend.
For questions about the film festival and related events, contact Believe in Bristol at 423-573-2201.

CLASS FULL! Digital Photography for Beginners
2019-11-02 11:00 - 14:00
Sorry, registration for this class is now closed because the class is full.
Join us for a crash course in how to use your DSLR in this 3-hour workshop at the museum!
Date: Saturday, November 2
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $45, plus Bristol, VA admissions tax / fees
Is your digital camera still on auto mode, just like the day you took it out of the box? Whether you are brand new to photography or you have dabbled in photography for years, this 3-hour course covers topics that can help you transform your images.
Bristol-based photographer Briana Fillers will break down image exposure, shooting techniques, and camera settings; share what is in her camera bag; and provide a hands-on shooting session to apply course topics. Registration is limited to 20 individuals to ensure a quality experience. If you are ready to master your camera and start capturing images like a pro, sign up by October 29, 2019 to save your seat in the class. Interested photographers under age 16 will need a parent or guardian with them in order to participate.
This event is companion programming to our current special exhibit American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart. Workshop attendees can visit American Ballads for free on November 2, before or after the class.
About Briana Fillers
Briana has a passion for helping people create strong brands and tell authentic stories through photography and design. Since 2010, she has won over a dozen local, national, and international awards for photography, graphic design, web design, branding, writing, and marketing, in her work with many clients. In 2018, she embarked on her dream challenge – a new adventure as an entrepreneur creating content for businesses in the Tri-Cities, Appalachian Highlands, and beyond.

Historical Marker Unveiling
2019-11-22 15:00 - 16:00
Date: Friday, November 22, 2019
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: 416 State Street, Bristol, TN
(Corner of State and Martin Luther King, Blvd.)
You’re invited to join us for the unveiling of a new historical marker honoring the legacy of Jimmie Rodgers in Historic Downtown Bristol, with special guest Marty Stuart.
Jimmie Rodgers’ first recordings were captured by Ralph Peer during the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions. This led Rodgers’ on a meteoric path to stardom, earning him status as “The Father of Country Music.”
Grammy Award-winning country music artist Marty Stuart grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, less than an hour away from Meridian where Rodgers was born, and cites Rodgers as an influence on his own music.
The historic marker honoring Jimmie Rodgers will be erected on the corner of State Street and Martin Luther King, Blvd. in Downtown Bristol, and was created in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Tourism and Marty Stuart.

1927 Society Concert Series
2019-11-23 19:00 - 21:00
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents an intimate 1927 Society Concert Series experience featuring music by Front Country.
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets:

Tier One – $80
Includes dinner, open bar
Tier Two – $25
Cash bar
Both tiers include casual meet and greet with the band.

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 Front Country
In the bluegrass world, musicians tend to define themselves by their relationships to tradition — specifically, the tradition of high-and-lonesome singing and a hard-driving sound. There are regional variations from Virginia to Colorado. The West Coast has its own freewheeling tradition, and that’s where Front Country started out: at a monthly jam in San Francisco. Then its members heard about a band contest at a bluegrass festival.
At this point, they realize it’s probably a stretch to call what they’re doing bluegrass at all. String-band pop is more like it.
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: An Evening with Ketch Secor & Molly Tuttle
2019-12-04 19:30 - 21:00
Sorry, tickets to this event are now sold out.
Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Join us for An Evening with Ketch Secor & Molly Tuttle, an intimate concert at the Birthplace of Country Music in Historic Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee!

About Molly Tuttle
A virtuosic, award-winning guitarist with a gift for insightful songwriting, Molly Tuttle evolves her signature sound with boundary-breaking songs on her compelling debut album, When You’re Ready.
Already crowned “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2018 Americana Music Awards on the strength of her EP, Tuttle has broken boundaries and garnered the respect of her peers, winning fans for her incredible flatpicking guitar technique and confessional songwriting. Graced with a clear, true voice and a keen melodic sense, the 26-year-old seems poised for a long and exciting career. When You’re Ready, produced by Ryan Hewitt (The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers) showcases her astonishing range and versatility and shows that she is more than simply an Americana artist.

About Ketch Secor
For the last twenty years, multi-instrumentalist Ketch Secor has been front man and fiddler for Old Crow Medicine Show. Described variously as alt-country, folk, and mountain music revivalists, Old Crow is an American roots string band with punk rock attitude and energy. Its earliest days stretch back to Ketch’s seventh grade year in Harrisonburg, Virginia, when he and friend Christopher “Critter” Fugua began playing music together – and its explosion onto the folk / Americana scene in the early 2000s led to a revival in banjo-driven old time music.
“All of American music comes from the same place. It’s just sort of where it ends up. And country music is one of the destinations. You have the banjo, which comes from Africa. And you have the fiddle, which comes from the British Isles and from Europe. And when they meet, they meet in the American South. And that’s the big bang.”
