The Birthplace of Country Music

Mike Farris Sings! The Soul of Christmas
2019-12-06 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
The Birthplace of Country Music is proud to present a holiday concert that you won’t want to miss – Mike Farris Sings! The Soul of Christmas.
Taking a path that intertwines rock, blues and gospel that has allowed him to rediscover and reinterpret traditional gospel music and add his own mix of Stax influenced blue-eyed soul, Grammy Award-winning artist Mike Farris performs a special Christmas celebration that is sure to bring down the house and ring in the holidays on the finest of notes!
Date: Friday, December 6, 2019
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Paramount Bristol
Tickets
Tickets on sale to the public beginning October 11, 2019.

Screening: A Conversation with Marty Stuart
2020-01-22 10:30 - 17:30, 2020-01-25 10:30 - 17:30
Last September, Grammy Award-winning country music star Marty Stuart paid a visit to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum during the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival. During his visit, the artist shared stories about his work as a photographer and the images in the American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart special exhibit.
The program was entitled “A Conversation with Marty Stuart,” and we were able to capture it all on video, complete with audience Q&A.
The Museum will screen “A Conversation with Marty Stuart” in the Performance Theater hourly on Wednesday, January 22 (10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.) and Saturday, January 25 (10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.)
These screenings are free and open to the public.

Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Round
2020-02-01 13:00 - 15:00
Qualifying Round: Saturday, February 1, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $15 (For spectators. Songwriters register below at no fee.)
BUY TICKETS
The Birthplace of Country Music is excited to partner with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to be a venue for qualifying rounds leading up to the 2nd annual Tennessee Songwriters Week February 23-29, 2020.
The museum, along with other venues across the state of Tennessee, will sign up local talent to compete. Top songwriters from the official qualifying rounds will perform during one of the six Tennessee Songwriters Week showcases. Finalists from the showcases get the opportunity to share their original songs on the historic stage at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
Instructions for qualifying submissions
Songwriters are asked to complete full registration form, which includes submitting lyrics and YouTube video link to one song. The song submission must be written and performed by the artist registered for the contest.
Deadline for SUBMISSIONS HAS NOW PASSED
Songs will be evaluated and scored on a numerical scale considering both the song and the performance. Judges look at originality, vocal and/or instrumental talent and the ability to create an emotional connection with the audience.
Twenty (20) finalists will be chosen to perform their song live for the judges during qualifying at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. where one winner will be chosen. Finalists will be announced by January 17, 2020.
The winner will move on to perform one of the six Tennessee Songwriters Week showcases in the following locations:

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020 – Puckett’s in Franklin
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 – Lafayette’s Music Room in Memphis
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 – The Bijou in Knoxville
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 – Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga
Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 – Ole Red in Gatlinburg
Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 – The Down Home in Johnson City

Finalists from the showcases get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share their original songs on the historic stage at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. The Bluebird Cafe’s long-time open mic night host and songwriter Barbara Cloyd will serve as emcee at the showcases, and a panel of local judges will select the top songwriter from each event. Six total finalists (1 from each showcase event) will receive a prize pack and perform their original material during the finale event at The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, March 29, 2020.
Songs will be evaluated and scored on a numerical scale considering both the song and the performance. Judges look at originality, vocal and/or instrumental talent and the ability to create an emotional connection to the audience.
For more information and ongoing updates, visit tennesseesongwritersweek.com. Join the conversation on social using #TNsongwritersweek.

Museum Volunteer Training
2020-02-24 14:00 - 17:00
Date: Monday, February 24, 2020
Time: 2:00—5:00p.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 Monday, February 24, 2:00—5:00p.m. 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.

Special Exhibit: Real Folk
2020-03-06 - 2020-08-30
Real Folk: Passing on Trades & Traditions through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST!
VIRTUAL TOUR & ACTIVITIES
Since 2002, the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program at Virginia Humanities has brought together over 150 experienced master artists and eager apprentices, ensuring various art forms are passed on in ways that are conscious of history and faithful to tradition. All forms of Virginia’s expressive culture – from the Appalachian hills and the Chesapeake shore to new immigrant traditions brought to the state – are represented, including letterpress printing, mandolin making, African-American gospel singing, quilting, old-time banjo playing, Mexican folk dancing, classical Iranian and Persian music, broom making, and more. The master artists comprise some of Virginia’s most celebrated practitioners of folk traditions both old and new to Virginia, and the apprentices learn their chosen craft not in classrooms or lecture halls, but in their traditional contexts, such as local dance halls, churches, woodshops, stables, and garages – making the passing on of these crafts even more meaningful.
Real Folk: Passing on Trades & Traditions through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program gives viewers an inside look at these traditions and the people who are keeping them alive, helping to ensure that Virginia’s treasured folkways remain in good keeping for years to come.
This exhibit, on display at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum March 6—August 30, 2020, was produced through a partnership between the museum and the Virginia Folklife Program.
A variety of complementary programs will be offered to go along with Real Folk; keep an eye on our events page to learn more.
Click here to view an inside look at the exhibit and download Real Folk activity sheets.

Poster Exhibits: Centennial of American Women's Suffrage
2020-08-25 - 2021-03-31
What: Special poster exhibits honoring the centennial of American women’s suffrage
When: August 25, 2020 – March 31, 2021
Where: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is marking the centennial of women’s suffrage in the United States with two poster exhibits: Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence (Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service) and To Make Our Voices Heard: Tennessee Women’s Fight for the Vote (Tennessee State Museum). Both exhibits are a wonderful way to learn about and celebrate this historic milestone in our nation’s history, and they come with a variety of learning resources for families, teachers and students, and interested visitors (see below).

Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence
The story of women’s suffrage is a story of voting rights, of inclusion in and exclusion from the franchise, and of our civic development as a nation. Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and explores the complexity of the women’s suffrage movement and the relevance of this history to Americans’ lives today.
The crusade for women’s suffrage is one of the longest reform movements in American history. Between 1832 and 1920, women citizens organized for the right to vote, agitating first in their states or territories and then, simultaneously, through petitioning for a federal amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Based on the National Portrait Gallery exhibition of the same name, Votes for Women seeks to expand visitors’ understanding of the suffrage movement in the United States. The poster exhibition addresses women’s political activism, explores the racism that challenged universal suffrage, and documents the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment which prohibits the government from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex. It also touches upon the suffrage movement’s relevance to current conversations on voting and voting rights across America.
Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery. This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative. The Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, Because of Her Story is one of the country’s most ambitious undertakings to research, collect, document display and share the compelling story of women. It will deepen our understanding of women’s contributions to the nation and the world. More information about the initiative is available at womenshistory.si.edu.
The image used in the header graphic is Equality Is the Sacred Law of Humanity, c. 1903–1915; Lithograph by Egbert C. Jacobson Courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University

To Make Our Voices Heard: Tennessee Women’s Fight for the Vote
To Make Our Voices Heard: Tennessee Women’s Fight for the Vote, a new traveling exhibition created by the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library and Archives, explores the history of the woman’s suffrage movement, Tennessee’s dramatic vote to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1920, and the years that followed.
The exhibition offers a touch-free experience of archival images, engaging stories, and introductions to the leaders of the fight for and against the cause of woman’s suffrage. The stories begin by detailing the early challenges of racial and gender discrimination and continuing to the organization of African American and white women’s associations to encourage political engagement. Visitors will also learn about Febb Burn of McMinn County, whose letter to her son, Harry T. Burn, resulted in a last-minute vote that helped change women’s history in the United States forever. The exhibit includes a Tennessee map, highlighting suffragist activities across the state.
To Make Our Voices Heard: Tennessee Women’s Fight for the Vote was organized by the Tennessee State Library and Archives and the Tennessee State Museum with funding provided by The Official Committee of the State of Tennessee Women’s Suffrage Centennial. This project was also funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Calling All Local and Amateur Historians!
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is also hoping to create a small display about women’s suffrage in our region. Do you have any photographs, articles, ephemera, etc. related to women’s right to the vote or their exercise of that right – past or present – in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee? If so, please get in touch with Head Curator Rene Rodgers at rrodgers@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.

Educational Resources
Many of the Smithsonian’s museums and other educational institutions have developed materials to commemorate the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, and to broaden our understanding of U.S. history through the stories of women. The Tennessee State Museum has also created a website devoted to providing educational content focused on women’s suffrage.
Please click on the link below to view the educational resources for these poster exhibits.
Click Here for Educational Resources

The Legacy of the Green Book: A Smithsonian Virtual Event
2020-10-15 19:00 - 20:00
Join Smithsonian Affiliations, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and author, photographer, and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor to explore the legacy of the Green Book, its impact on communities, businesses, and families, and its relevance today.
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online Event
FREE EVENT
REGISTER HERE
In 1936, Victor Hugo Green, a Harlem postman, began publishing a guide for African American travelers to offer travel options during America’s Jim Crow era. The Green Book, as it was known, was a sustained success—for almost thirty years—providing Black travelers information on hotels, restaurants, service stations, and other facilities where they could expect welcome “without humiliation.” There were several Green Book sites in Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia, including the Arthur D. Henderson Tourist Home (301 McDowell Street, Bristol, TN, 1938-1963/64, demolished); Morocco Tavern, 800 Spencer Street, Bristol, VA, 1954-1955, demolished); Morocco Hotel & Grill, 1200 Moore Street, Bristol, VA, 1957-1963/64, demolished); Mrs. Margaret C. Brown Tourist Home, 225 McDowell Street, Bristol, TN, 1954-1963/64; and Palace Hotel, 201 Front Street, Bristol, VA, 1947, demolished).
This virtual event is free and open to the public, but you do need to register in order to get access.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a Smithsonian Affilate, which allows us to share interesting and educational programming like “The Legacy of the Green Book” with our community and wider audiences. Keep an eye out for future virtual Smithsonian programs!

Spread Love, Not Covid Holiday Concert w/ Folk Soul Revival
2020-12-11 19:00 - 20:30
Spread Love, Not COVID Virtual Holiday Concert with Folk Soul Revival
Date: Friday, December 11, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Discover Bristol Facebook Live
Discover Bristol and Birthplace of Country Music are teaming up for a virtual holiday concert experience with one of the region’s most beloved acts. Spread Love, Not COVID Virtual Holiday Concert with Folk Soul Revival is a free online event, streaming live from the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

About Folk Soul Revival
A modern band rooted in old-school southern sounds, Folk Soul Revival was formed in Southwest Virginia in 2008. The quintet has spent a decade growing a wide audience both here at home – where they’ve become a regular presence at local institutions like Bristol Rhythm, The Carter Family Fold, and Floydfest – and on the road, sharing shows with the late Dr. Ralph Stanley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jason Isbell, Eric Church, and others. Logging roughly 100 performances a year, the road home always leads back to Bristol, the group’s birthplace, home, and muse. With songs about blue collar jobs, long work weeks, messy breakups, and richly-deserved weekends, Folk Soul Revival sources its material from everyday lives of rural Americans. The music is biographical, and while the stories may be specific to Folk Soul Revival, they’ll sound familiar to anyone who hails from the country’s forgotten pockets.

Virtual Speaker Series – Food Matters: Exploring History Through Food
2021-01-12 19:00 - 20:30
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Time: 7:00pm
Location: Zoom (free but registration required)
Join Paula Johnson, Food History Curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and Rene Rodgers, Head Curator at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, on Tuesday, January 12, 7:00pm for a conversation about the power of food as a lens for exploring history. We’ll hear about the National Museum of American History’s robust food history offerings, from Julia Child’s home kitchen to programs on food justice to live cooking demonstrations that feature chefs, home cooks, and recipes from regional cuisines across the country. Find out how what’s on your plate relates to many strands of economic, political, technological, and social history!
This is the first in the museum’s Virtual Speaker Series, and January’s program is part of a partnership with the Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Initiative. Future speakers include Bailey George talking about honky tonk women (February 2), part of our complementary programming to go along with our current special exhibit Honky Tonk: Portraits of Country Music, 1972–1981, and Alona Norwood and William Isom III from Black in Appalachia talking about the work to record and amplify Black history and stories from the Appalachian region (March 2).
“Food Matters: Exploring History Through Food” is free and open to the public, but please register to attend below. Donations are welcome and help to support free and low-cost museum programming.
Registration Here
DONATE HERE

Virtual Museum Volunteer Training
2021-02-01 15:30 - 17:00
Learn more about becoming a volunteer for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum!
Date: Monday, February 1, 2021
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom
Volunteers are needed to assist in the galleries on a daily basis, help in archives and collections, provide curatorial research and exhibit assistance, support special events, assist in The Museum Store, and act as docents for guided adult and school tours at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. If you’ve got a passion for Bristol’s rich music heritage and want to help, we’d love to meet you at our virtual volunteer training session on Monday, February 1 from 3:30 to 5:00pm.
This training – delivered by Zoom – will give you an introduction to the museum and the volunteer program, along with details about how we are providing a safe environment for our staff, volunteers, and visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic and the volunteer opportunities that are available at this time and in the future. As a volunteer, you will also have many opportunities for continuing learning and training down the line. For more information on becoming a museum volunteer, contact us at 423-573-1927 or email volunteercoordinator@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.

Virtual Speaker Series – Before Coal Miner's Daughters and Many-Colored Coats: Pioneering Women in Country Music
2021-02-02 19:00 - 20:30
Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Time: 7:00pm
Location: Zoom (free but registration required)
Join us on Tuesday, February 2 for a fascinating talk by Bailey George about the women who made their mark in early country music. Traditionally the role and widespread recognition of women in country music has been relegated to a handful of “superstars” who rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s. But female country artists have been making recordings since the beginnings of country music recording. The impact of these pioneering artists has been somewhat overshadowed by flashier, pop-oriented female artists in recent years, but without these trailblazing recordings, the country music industry as we know it would not exist. With this talk, Bailey George will take a look at some of the forgotten female artists, musicians, writers, and performers from days long before there were coal miner’s daughters or many-colored coats.
Bailey George has been collecting and researching vintage music since he was 11 years old. He is the host of the popular Honky Tonk Hit Parade on Radio Bristol, playing country music from the 1940s and 1950s every Wednesday, 3:00–5:00pm. In addition to his archival work and his time on-air, Bailey also performs in a duo with Jessica Stiles as “Bailey George and Jukebox Jess.”
“Before Coal Miner’s Daughters and Multi-Colored Coats: Pioneering Women in Country Music” is free and open to the public, but please register to attend below. Donations are welcome and help to support free and low-cost museum programming.
REGISTER HERE
DONATE HERE

Virtual Speaker Series - Black in Appalachia: Uncovering & Sharing Regional Black Narratives
2021-03-02 19:00 - 20:30
DATE: TUESDAY, March 2, 2021

TIME: 7:00PM
LOCATION: ZOOM (FREE BUT REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
Join Black in Appalachia’s Alona Norwood and William Isom on Tuesday, March 2, 7:00pm when they will discuss the public history research and educational components developed in Northeastern Tennessee in their work to uncover and share the Black stories and histories of our region. From school records and community partnerships to racial atrocities, Norwood and Isom will also share the tools, methods and obstacles to making our region’s Black narratives more accessible.
Black in Appalachia works to highlight the history of African-Americans in the development of our region and its culture. Through research, local narratives, public engagement, and exhibition, this project aims to raise the visibility and contributions of the Black communities of the Mountain South. This project is a community service for Appalachian residents and families with roots in and through the region.
Alona Norwood is a graduate of Berea College and a native of Elizabethton, Tennessee. She has been working to research the history of Black schools in her hometown and in Eastern Kentucky.
William Isom II is the director of the Black in Appalachia project. He coordinates the project’s research, community database development, documentary film and photography production, oral history collection, and educational events with residents.
“Black in Appalachia: Uncovering & Sharing Regional Black Stories” is free and open to the public, but please register to attend below. Donations are welcome and help to support free and low-cost museum programming.
Register Here
Donate Here

Virtual Speaker Series: A Brief Tour of Virginia’s Cultural Festivals
2021-05-04 19:00 - 20:30
Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Zoom (Free, but registration is required)
Join our Virtual Speaker Series on Tuesday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. when we will be hearing from Pat Jarrett, Interim Director of the Virginia Folklife Program, with “A Brief Tour of Virginia’s Cultural Festivals.”
For its entire existence, the Virginia Folklife Program has documented folklife activities, filmed musicians and festivals, and recorded traditional artists all across the Commonwealth. Many of these recordings have remained on physical tapes since the time they were recorded. It’s only in the last 10 years that they’ve started to digitize and preserve these recordings, making them publicly available whenever possible on their YouTube channel. For as many hours as there are publicly accessible recordings, there are still big piles of tapes on their shelves. During this time of lockdown when many have been missing public events, live music, and festivals, the Virginia Folklife Program staff have been bringing these tapes online and premiering them digitally. With this Virtual Speaker Series, Pat Jarrett will be sharing some recordings of festivals never before seen and talking about these hidden gems with Dr. Rene Rodgers.
Pat Jarrett is a photographer and filmmaker who has been working for the Virginia Folklife Program at Virginia Humanities for the last decade.
* “A Brief Tour of Virginia’s Cultural Festivals” is free and open to the public, but please register to attend below. Donations are welcome and help to support free and low-cost museum programming.
REGISTER HERE

Virtual Speaker Series: Filmmaker Beth Harrington Presents a Screening and Discussion of "The Musicianer"
2021-06-01 19:00 - 20:45
Date: Tuesday, June 1
Time: 7:00 p. m. EDT
Location: Zoom (free but registration required)
Join us on Tuesday, June 1, at 7:00pm EST for a screening of filmmaker Beth Harrington’s new short film (22 minutes), The Musicianer, followed by a discussion with Beth and music from Petunia, the lead actor/musician. This fictional film – Beth calls it “Supernatural Americana” – is based around a yodeling hillbilly singer from the 1920s who finds himself immortal, playing his music down the years and intersecting with some present-day musicologists. One of Beth’s most well-known films is The Winding Stream: The Carters, the Cashes, and the Course of Country Music, and a lot of the research that went into this Carter Family film found its way into The Musicianer, especially the history of the early recording industry, talking pictures, etc. Beth will share the story behind the making of the film, how it intersects with the work she did on The Winding Stream, and much more!
The Musicianer has been part of numerous film festivals as an official selection, and it has won several awards, including Best Short at Rails to Reel in Meridian, Mississippi (Jimmie Rodgers’ hometown!), Best Music Film at the Franklin International Indie Film Festival, and Winner at the Director’s Cut International Film Festival.
* “Beth Harrington Presents a Screening and Discussion of The Musicianer” is free and open to the public, but please register to attend below. Donations are welcome and help to support free and low-cost museum programming.
REGISTER HERE
DONATE HERE
Beth Harrington
Beth Harrington is an independent producer, director and writer, whose fervor for American history, music and culture has led to a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed films.
Whether exploring the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, chronicling the history of the Aleutian Islands or drinking up the world of craft beer brewing, Beth seamlessly straddles the line between objective journalistic integrity and a passion for every subject. As a result, her films are both thought provoking and heartfelt.
Beth’s most recent works, The Winding Stream – The Carters, The Cashes and The Course of Country Music and the Grammy-nominated Welcome to the Club – The Women of Rockabilly, reflect her long-standing love of music. A rock-and-roll singer and guitarist, she is most noted for her years as a member of Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers on the Warner Bros. Sire Records label.
Petunia
Petunia is more than just an entertainer, he’s a modern musical enigma. Imagine that David Lynch and Nick Cave had a hillbilly baby, that yodeled…or Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s hobo junction. This is just one way of describing the man known simply as Petunia. He’s an adventure seeker, a poker player, and a mysterious stranger. He’s been referred to as “The Savior of Country Music”, and a man who exists in a different era, bringing the past forth as something new to be celebrated and not forgotten.
Petunia grew up in rural Quebec, in exactly the sort of surroundings that a country musician would find idyllic, with old dilapidated barns, secret forts, and acres of unspoiled land. As an adult, the wandering spirit took a firm hold on his life, so he set out on the road, playing every major street corner across Canada and throughout the NYC subway system, before graduating to full-fledged touring musician. When he’s not on the road playing shows, Petunia is also involved in the theatre world: building side projects, writing scores, acting, or collaborating with theatre artists. Petunia & The Vipers played Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in 2017.

Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series ft. Morgan Wade
2021-06-19 19:00 - 20:30
Morgan Wade to headline the Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series in June!
Date: June 19, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: The Lawn at The Sessions Hotel
Tickets: $25
PURCHASE TICKETS
The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is making up for lost time and ramping up the excitement for its annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival with a monthly outdoor concert series starting in June.
The Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series, sponsored by Virginia is for Music Lovers, will offer music lovers a taste of what they’ve been missing during the pandemic, with elements of the September festival’s best features – great live music by premiere talent set in a glorious, outdoor location in Historic Downtown Bristol. Musical guests headlining the Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series are also slated to perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion this September, offering a preview of what’s in store at our 20th anniversary celebration late summer!

About Morgan Wade
Produced by Sadler Vaden – Jason Isbell’s longtime guitarist and an acclaimed solo artist in his own right – Morgan Wade is among our region’s ascending singer-songwriters, one who is fast emerging on a national level. The Floyd, Virginia native’s latest release Reckless is a country-rock truth-teller, bleeding with longing, intimacy and achingly conveyed in Wade’s signature, evocative tonality. The recording is receiving rave reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, among others.

Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series ft. Jim Lauderdale
2021-07-17 19:00 - 20:30
Jim Lauderdale to headline the Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series in July!
Date: July 17, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: The Lawn at The Sessions Hotel
Tickets: $25
TICKETS ON SALE MAY 17
The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is making up for lost time and ramping up the excitement for its annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival with a monthly outdoor concert series starting in June.
The Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series, sponsored by Virginia is for Music Lovers, will offer music lovers a taste of what they’ve been missing during the pandemic, with elements of the September festival’s best features – great live music by premiere talent set in a glorious, outdoor location in Historic Downtown Bristol. Musical guests headlining the Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series are also slated to perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion this September, offering a preview of what’s in store at our 20th anniversary celebration late summer!

About Jim Lauderdale
The Grammy Award-winning Jim Lauderdale is the undisputed rhinestone-studded King of Americana, having worked with just about everybody who’s anybody in Nashville over the course of his distinguished, decades-long career. His songs have sold millions of records for the likes of George Strait, Patty Loveless, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, and Vince Gill, among others, and artists from Willie Nelson to John Oates line up to collaborate with the iconic songwriter. Jim is also a big fan and supporter of Bristol and its music heritage, and often takes time to promote the efforts of the Birthplace of Country Music.

1927 Society Concert with Darrell Scott
2021-07-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents an intimate 1927 Society Concert Series experience featuring music by Darrell Scott.
Date: Saturday, July 24, 2021

Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $100 plus Bristol, VA admission tax/fees
PURCHASE TICKETS
About the 1927 Society Shows
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 a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show, included with a ticket.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a member so that you, too, may receive first-access to to shows!

About Darrell Scott

Darrell Scott is a Grammy-nominated performer and recording artist, a highly demanded multi-instrumentalist (he plays 13 instruments!), and an ASCAP songwriter of the year. Darrell delivers his soulful performances in solo, duo, trio, band, and string quintet configurations, all equally dynamic and powerful.
For more information about Darrell Scott visit www.DarrellScott.com.

Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series ft. Amythyst Kiah
2021-08-07 19:00 - 20:30
Amythyst Kiah to headline the Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series in August!
Date: August 7, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: The Lawn at The Sessions Hotel
Tickets: $25
TICKETS ON SALE MAY 17
The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is making up for lost time and ramping up the excitement for its annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival with a monthly outdoor concert series starting in June.
The Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series, sponsored by Virginia is for Music Lovers, will offer music lovers a taste of what they’ve been missing during the pandemic, with elements of the September festival’s best features – great live music by premiere talent set in a glorious, outdoor location in Historic Downtown Bristol. Musical guests headlining the Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series are also slated to perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion this September, offering a preview of what’s in store at our 20th anniversary celebration late summer!

About Amythyst Kiah
Though Amythyst Kiah is a Chattanooga native, Johnson City and Bristol have long claimed her as their own since she moved here as a teen to attend East Tennessee State University. During her time there, she was deeply influenced by her studies at the institution’s Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music program, and developed a deep reverence and love for old-time and roots music. Amythyst also interned at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, aiding in research efforts prior to opening. Since then she has taken her Southern gothic sound to the world stage, having toured internationally and been honored with a Grammy nomination for her song “Black Myself.” With a recent guest spot on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a new album, Wary + Strange, due out this summer, there is little doubt that her upward trajectory is well-deserved and isn’t likely to slow down any time soon.

1927 Society Concert ft. Paul Thorn Band - SOLD OUT!
2021-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Unfortunately, tickets to this concert are now SOLD OUT.
Date: Saturday, August 14, 2021

Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
About the 1927 Society Shows
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 a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show, included with a ticket.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of becoming a member so that you, too, may receive first-access to to shows!

About Paul Thorn
Raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, Paul Thorn has rambled down back roads, battled four-time world champion boxer Roberto Duran on national television, signed with and been dropped by a major label, performed on stages with Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Sting, and John Prine among many others, and made some of the most emotionally restless yet relatable music of our time.
For more information about Paul Thorn Band visit www.paulthorn.com/

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
2021-09-10 - 2021-09-12
Dates: September 10-12, 2021
Location: State Street, Historic Downtown Bristol, VA-TN
Tickets: Details coming soon!
The award-winning Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival celebrates 20 years in Historic Downtown Bristol, VA-TN, home to the 1927 Bristol Sessions, September 10-12, 2021!
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival is an electrifying music experience that features the very best roots music. Held annually in historic downtown Bristol TN/VA, the three-day music is amped to the beat of Appalachia’s past, present, and future. The festival digs down deep into the roots of the traditional Appalachian sound and lifts its branches to new heights. It all happens in the heart of the Birthplace of Country Music.
It’s an annual celebration of Bristol’s rich history as the place where the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings created the “big bang” of country music; they were the recordings that brought early country music to the mainstream and were the first recordings of The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.
The influence of the 1927 Bristol Sessions can still be heard in the soundtrack of today. It’s the roots and far-reaching branches of those seminal recordings that fuels the lineup of each Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion takes place in Historic Downtown Bristol, VA-TN on State Street and the surrounding area. Located on the Virginia and Tennessee border with 20 outdoor stages and indoor venues and more than 100 acts of live music, Bristol Rhythm takes visitors on a journey through Appalachia’s musical past, present, and future.
Past performers at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion include Dwight Yoakam, The Avett Brothers, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Doc Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Moon Taxi, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Patty Loveless, Wynonna Judd, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Corey Harris, John Oates, Colin Hay, and many, many more.
Click here for more information.

Bristol Sessions Super Raffle
2021-09-12 12:00 - 16:00
The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) will hold its third annual Bristol Sessions Super Raffle as a fundraiser to benefit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
What: Birthplace Sessions Super Raffle
When: Sunday, September 12, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Super Raffle is an opportunity for patrons to support the Museum while creating an opportunity to win one of 49 great prizes.
A winner will be drawn every five (5) minutes and prizes include 4 vehicles, a fabulous vacation, jewelry, a motorcycle, and much more – plus LOTS OF CA$H! Only 5,000 tickets are available for purchase, and ticket buyers do not have to be present to win.
Winners will be announced during the live event at the Museum. Winners will also be notified via phone or mail. Additionally, winners will be listed on the Bristol Sessions Super Raffle Website and Facebook event page on the day of the Raffle.
Raffle tickets are for sale for $100 each and include two ticket numbers on each ticket. BCM is offering an incentive to ticket purchasers who buy multiple tickets. The “Buy 10 Get 1 Free” offer gives the buyer a free ticket with the purchase of 10 tickets. The “Buy 10 get 1 free” option must be purchased by a single buyer, and those 11 tickets must all be in one individual’s name, or in no more than two names designated by the buyer (if, as example, a male Buyer wants to put 5 in his name, and 6 in his wife’s name).
Tickets can be purchased online or at one of the following locations:

Birthplace of Country Music Museum (Bristol, VA)
The Travel Shop (339 W. Main Street, Abingdon, VA)
Olive Oil Company (152 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA)
Crabtree Buick (2311 Lee Highway, Bristol, VA)
Cranberry Lane (623 State Street, Bristol, VA)
Sidetrack Tobacco (523 State Street, Bristol, VA)
Fabric, Etc. (507 State Street, Bristol, VA)
Bill Gatton Honda (2130 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN)
Friendship Motorsports (2033 W. State Street, Bristol, TN)
Friendship Ford (3192 W. State Street, Bristol, TN)
Olive Oil Company – Kingsport (102 E. Main Street Suite #1, Kingsport, TN)
Wallace Imports of Bristol (310 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN)
East TN ATV (106 Clay Little Road, Elizabethton, TN)
Tickets for the Raffle will be on sale until September 11 or when 5000 tickets are sold.

If tickets are still available, they will be sold at the Museum and online until 11:59 PM on Saturday, September 11, 2021. Tickets may not be sold by other ticket sellers after 11:59 on September 8, 2021.
The Raffle drawing will be held on Sunday September 12, 2021, and the drawing will take place at the Museum at 101 Country Music Way, just outside Festival gates.
For more information and to purchase a raffle ticket, click on the link below.
RAFFLE WEBSITE

Black Friday, Holiday Open House & More!
2021-11-26 - 2021-11-30
Dates: Friday, November 26-30, 2021
November 26: #Black Friday
Weekend passes to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2022 go on sale for $90 – the deepest discount you’ll see all year! Purchase before midnight on December 12, 2021 for delivery just in time for Christmas!
November 27: #SmallBusinessSaturday
#ShopSmall to support locally-owned small businesses in your community!
November 28: Birthplace of Country Music Museum Open House
#MuseumStoreSunday & #ArtistsSunday
Join us at the museum for a special Holiday Open House as we celebrate the holidays with live music from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET, door prizes, a 20% discount in The Museum Store off one item, and light refreshments!
Be sure and peruse our vast collection of unique gifts in The Museum Store including exclusive Birthplace of Country Music merchandise and items created by local artisans. From handmade bath and body items and candles to one-of-a-kind pottery and jewelry, shop local and support their small businesses!
November 29: #CyberMonday
Instead of shopping national chains, support local online businesses, including The Museum Store!
November 30: #GivingTuesday
Click here to make a one-time donation to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum or ask how you can become a member of our 1927 Society!

Friends of 1927 Concert Series: Mike Farris
2022-01-29 18:00 - 21:00
Date: Saturday, January 29, 2022
Doors open: 6:00 p.m.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $100 (taxes, fees included)
Tickets on sale now to the public:
BUY TICKETS
Birthplace of Country Music is proud to present the Friends of 1927 Concert Series featuring the Grammy Award-winning artist Mike Farris.
The Friends of 1927 Concert Series is a unique concert experience where fans have the opportunity to interact with the artists in a relaxed setting over adult beverages and hors d’oeuvres, all included in the ticket price.
Tickets are made available first to Friends of 1927 for a limited time before opening them up to the public. There is a very limited number of tickets so everyone is encouraged to purchase early.
Ask how you can become a Friend of 1927 and support the Birthplace of Country Music Museum by emailing info@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org or call 423-573-1927.

About Mike Farris
In 2015 Mike Farris became the first artist to receive a Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for his release Shine for All the People. Known as a powerhouse vocalist with blue-eyed soul, Farris also earned the Americana Music Award and the Dove Award. He has also performed at Bonnaroo, Merlefest, SXSW, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. Artists such as Rodney Crowell, Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, and Marty Stuart are struck by Mike Farris’ incomparable voice. He has opened for Patti LaBelle, Mavis Staples, Blind Boys of Alabama, Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby. Mike’s spirited soul-gospel fusion also led to an invitation to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 16th Annual American Music Masters Concert honoring Aretha Franklin. Concert takes place in the Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Round at the Museum
2022-02-05 13:00 - 16:00
The Birthplace of Country Music is hosting a qualifying round for the 2022 Tennessee Songwriters Week!
Date: Saturday, February 5, 2022
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $10 (For spectators only; songwriters enter below, no registration fee required)
**COVID-19 POLICY:
Musicians, audience members, judges and staff in attendance will be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of entry.
BUY TICKETS
Aspiring singer-songwriters dream of the opportunity to perform at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, and for a few lucky artists, that opportunity will arrive during 2022 Tennessee Songwriters Week! A number of venues, including the Birthplace of Country Music in Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, will host qualifying rounds for singer-songwriters to compete for a place in the spotlight at this historic proving ground for artists – and spectators are invited to watch the competition!
Click here for more information on Qualifying Rounds, Showcase Events, and more.
CONGRATULATIONS, SONGWRITERS!
The following artists have been chosen to compete in Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum Feb. 5:
Adam Bolt
Alexis May Hamilton
Ari Silver
Audrey Rose
Blake Branscom
Chip McLain
Daniel Davis
Ella Patrick
Forencia Rusiňol
Jonathan Short
JP Parsons
Justin Crider
KT Vandyke
Logan Fritz
Makenzie Phipps
Michael Litton
Noah Spencer
Sam Collie
Savannah Smith
Toby Gibson
Up to 20 contestants will be considered for the Qualifying Round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Saturday, February 5, 2022, but we will be accepting a waitlist after the first 20 spots are filled. There is no registration fee. Any legal resident of the Unites States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are eligible.
The deadline to register is January 11, 2022.
Rules for Entry:
Songwriter must own the rights to the song they will perform during the competition. Upon entry, they also must provide song lyrics and a link to a YouTube video of the registrant performing the song they will sing during the performance. During the competition, all songwriters will have 5 minutes to perform and must perform the original song they submitted upon entry. Entrant may sing acapella or have live accompaniment. Light percussion is allowed if there is no set-up time necessary. Entrant may bring up to two (2) performers to accompany on instruments. Back up tracks are not permitted.
The original song performed must not disparage any group of persons, religion, be considered inflammatory or inappropriate. Sponsor(s) or Sponsor designee has the final authority to determine if the song performed violates the above. If Sponsor(s) determine that the original song performed is in violation of these rules, the entrant will be requested to cease the performance, agrees to leave the venue without incident, and will be disqualified from consideration.
Each and every performance by an Entrant will be judged by a panel of at least three (3) individuals from the songwriting community in and around Tennessee. If a judge is related by marriage or blood or has a close personal connection to an Entrant, the Judge will refrain from scoring that Entrant. Entrants will be evaluated numerically from 1-5 in the following categories considering both the Entrant’s song and performance: 1) originality; 2) vocal and/or instrumental talent; and 3) emotional connection to the audience. 1-5 on a numerical scale considering both the song and the performance.
A panel of judges will choose four (4) songwriters from the Feb. 5 Qualifying Round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum to advance to the Songwriters Week Showcase to be hosted at one of six (6) historic venues in the following cities: Franklin, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Johnson City. The eligible songwriters will be given the opportunity to perform an original work. From each of the six (6) locations, hosting twenty (20) songwriters each, one (1) songwriter will be selected by a panel of judges to play their original work at The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, March 20, 2022.
Notification and verification:
Following closure of the sign up period, successful Entrants will be notified via phone or email by the Venue to which they are assigned. Entrants that move forward from the Qualifying Round to Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase will be notified following their respective performance at the respective venue. Successful registrants should contact the respective assigned venue with any questions.
If an Entrant is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these rules at any time during the contest period that Entrant will be disqualified.
Each of the six (6) winners from the Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase must be present during the announcement at the venue on the date of the performance in order to win. The six (6) winners will be required to complete a W-9 form for tax filing purposes, providing their Social Security number and an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release (the “Affidavit”). If an Entrant is otherwise eligible under these Official Rules but is deemed a minor in his or her state of primary residence, the Entrant’s parent or legal guardian will be required to execute and return the Affidavit on the minor’s behalf.
Non-compliance with this requirement will result in forfeiture and the entrant with the next highest score from that venue will be selected, this should occur in real time at the venue.
Prize Conditions:
Please visit BluebirdCafe.com to read about frequently asked questions regarding The Bluebird Cafe. Prize is not assignable or transferable although Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value due to unavailability. Prize must be taken on dates specified by Sponsor or Prize will be forfeited in its entirety. Dates so specified are subject to change by The Bluebird Cafe only. All other expenses not specifically mentioned herein, including but not limited to tips, gratuities, incidentals, local and long distance telephone calls, and service charges, required transportation, any necessary lodging, all meals and beverages, and any other miscellaneous expenses not specifically mentioned above, are the sole responsibility of the entrant/winner(s).
By participating and accepting a prize, entrant/winner represents that he/she understands that travel, whether by plane, automobile, or other conveyance, or by foot, and in the air, contains some inherent element of risk of accident, illness, injury, loss or death, which may be caused by negligence, forces of nature, or other agencies, known or unknown. By accepting a prize, winner acknowledges participation in the prize is voluntary, acknowledges that there are natural factors and occurrences which may impact on or affect the safety of the activities they are participating in and they assume the risk of such factors and occurrences and agree that the Released Parties will not be in any way responsible for any resulting injury and/or death. Further, upon exercising the prize, winner agrees to all Terms of Use as set forth by The Bluebird Cafe.
In addition, the winner(s) are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes as well as other fees associated with receipt of a prize, regardless of whether a prize is used in whole or in part. Taxes on the prize are solely the responsibility of the winner and winner agrees to provide a W-9 Tax form. Each prize winner will be required to disclose his/her social security number on the W-9 for the purpose of issuance of a 1099 MISC form for tax purposes.
Governing Law/Jurisdiction:
Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. Further all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor(s) in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to its conflict or choice of law rules. The Tennessee Claims Commission or the state or federal courts in Tennessee shall be the venue for all claims, disputes, or disagreements arising under this Contract. The entrant/winner acknowledges and agrees that any rights, claims, or remedies against the State of Tennessee or its employees arising under this Contract shall be subject to and limited to those rights and remedies available under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 9-8-101 – 408.
Limitation of Liability:
The Released Parties, the State of Tennessee and The Bluebird Cafe, each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, and their respective officer, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, are not responsible for: Any incorrect or inaccurate entry information, theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries; printing or other errors; and/or, any entries which are late, lost, delayed, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, illegible, received with postage due or any combination thereof. Sponsors reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Contest at any time that it may become necessary as a result of circumstances beyond the Sponsors’ control. In the event prizes are to be awarded when the Contest deadline date has lapsed, potential winner(s) will be selected from all eligible entries received as of the deadline date/time designated as the last day to enter the Contest.
Release of Liability:
By participating, winner(s), winners’ guests and entrants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any claims made by a winner(s), a winner’s guest, entrants or any other third parties related in any way to the operation of this Contest as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses (whether alleged, threatened, or actual) to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in the Contest and/or any Contest-related activity.
LEGAL WARNING: WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE CONTEST, ALL PRIZES, AND ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE CONTEST SITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
ANY ATTEMPT BY YOU TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM YOU TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
Conditions of Entry:
Entry materials that have been tampered with or altered are void. If, in the Administrator’s or Sponsor’s opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of electronic or non-electronic tampering with any portion of the Contest, or if computer virus, bugs, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical difficulties or failures compromise or corrupt or affect the administration, integrity, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and void any entries submitted fraudulently, to modify or suspend the Contest, or to terminate the Contest. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, notice will be posted on the Website. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the Entrant based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry.
Sponsor(s):
Department of Tourist Development, William Snodgrass/Tennessee Tower, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 13th Floor, Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1102 and The Bluebird Cafe, 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215.
Note: This Contest is not in any manner sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with the platform it is administered, i.e. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

The Becky Buller Band Presented by King University
2022-02-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Monday, February 28, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: FREE but there is limited seating so you must RSVP ahead of time to guarantee a seat
RSVP HERE
Join us on Monday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. for a performance by the Becky Buller Band at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. This free event is courtesy of King University. It is open to the public but attendees must RSVP for their free ticket.
Becky Buller is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer from St. James, Minnesota, who has traversed the globe performing bluegrass music to underwrite her insatiable songwriting habit. Her compositions can be heard on records by Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, to name just a few. Buller has written songs for Grammy award-winning albums, including co-writing “Freedom,” the lead-off track for The Infamous Stringdusters’ 2018 Grammy-winning album, Laws of Gravity, as well as “The Shaker” on The Travelin’ McCoury’s self-titled release, which brought home the Grammy for Best Bluegrass in 2019. Buller is the recipient of eight International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, including the 2016 Fiddler and Female Vocalist, and the 2018 Gospel Recorded Performance for the song “Speakin’ to That Mountain.” She was a 2020 nominee for SPBGMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year and served as a musician and songwriter on three additional Grammy nominated albums in 2020. She tours extensively with the Becky Buller Band and recently released her third album, Distance and Time. Equally passionate about bluegrass music education, Buller has 20 years of experience teaching fiddle, singing, and songwriting at workshops and camps around the world. She currently serves on the board of the IBMA Foundation.

Suzanne Stryk: The Middle of Somewhere Book Release and Talk
2022-03-31 19:00 - 21:00
Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: Free event
“There’s no such thing as the middle of nowhere. Every place is the middle of somewhere for some living being.” That was Suzanne Stryk’s mantra as she traveled her home state exploring its natural ecology and cultural life from an artist’s perspective.
For this launch event for Stryk’s new book The Middle of Somewhere: An Artist Explores the Nature of Virginia, she’ll project artwork as she shares stories from her journeys – from sketching a kestrel at a Shenandoah Valley farm to picking carrots in Monticello’s famous garden to searching for salamanders under logs at Grayson Highlands State Park. This program is a part of the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire‘s (AAME) Speaker Series. Stryk will be selling signed copies of her book following the talk (cash only).
Suzanne Stryk is an artist who finds equal fascination in the natural world and the visual arts. Her conceptual nature paintings and assemblages have appeared in solo exhibitions throughout the United States, and her portfolios and related writings have been featured in Terrain.org, Orion, Ecotone, and the Kenyon Review. She is the recipient of a George Sugarman Foundation grant and a Virginia Commission for the Arts fellowship for the project Notes on the State of Virginia, the precursor to The Middle of Somewhere. She is a resident of Southwest Virginia.
For more about the author, visit Trinity University Press at tupress.org or suzannestryk.com

1927 Society Concert Series
2022-05-20 18:00 - 20:45
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the intimate 1927 Society Concert Series experience featuring live music by Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters.
Date: Friday, May 20, 2022
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. EDT
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $100
BUY TICKETS
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 by Catering by Catherine and an open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show, food and drinks included with ticket. Post-performance, guests will have the opportunity to mingle with the artist(s) after the show.
Members of the Birthplace of Country Music’s 1927 Society are given access to exclusive ticket pre-sales to the 1927 Society Concert Series before they go on sale to the public. To learn more about becoming a member of the 1927 Society and all its advantages, click here.
About Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
The music of Asheville, North Carolina based outfit Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters is nuanced, bringing insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the band’s country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache or hope.
There is an empathic and charming wit ingrained in Platt’s songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her storytelling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person’s life.
Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), and Evan Martin (drums/vocals).

Monthly Bluegrass Jam
2022-05-28 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum in partnership with the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association is hosting a monthly gathering of local musicians for a bluegrass jam session! The jam events are intended to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. The jams are acoustic and only feature traditional bluegrass instruments: acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dobro.
The jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in listening are also welcome!
Bluegrass Jams will be held on the fourth 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.

"In Good Keeping in 2022" Film Premiere
2022-06-15 17:30 - 20:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
When: Wednesday, June 15, 5:30pm
Where: Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Performance Theater
Cost: Free and open to all, but registration is required to attend
REGISTER HERE

Join us on Wednesday, June 15 for the Virginia Folklife Program’s screening of In Good Keeping in 2022. Since its inception in 2002, the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program has served over 150 two-or-more person teams of mentor artists and apprentices representing the breadth of cultural expression in the Commonwealth. This feature-length documentary film showcases the artists and tradition bearers from the 2021-2022 apprenticeship class, followed by a discussion (and a little music) from participating artists, including: Walter “Skip” Herman & K. T. Vandyke, Emily Spencer & Lisa Ring , Chris Testerman & Sophia Burnett & Karlie Keepfer, Eddie Bond & Andrew Small, and Mac Traynham & Ashlee Watkins.
This event is co-presented by the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Mid Atlantic Arts’ Central Appalachia Living Traditions. The museum featured the special exhibit Real Folk: Passing on Trades & Traditions through the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program in 2020; you can learn more about that exhibit and experience a virtual tour of it HERE.
Reception with refreshments will start at 5:30pm, the screening will begin at 6:00pm. Following the film, stay to hear discussion and music by the featured artists.
VIRGINIA FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
The Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program has supported artists who are masters in traditions ranging from instrument repair in southwest Virginia to Mongolian mask-making in Northern Virginia to growing and grinding heirloom cornmeal on the Eastern Shore. By awarding teacher-student teams financial support and providing a platform to share their work, the Virginia Folklife Program works to sustain the community traditions that entertain, nourish, inspire, and define Virginians. The Virginia Folklife Program, based at Virginia Humanities, is the state center for the documentation, presentation, support, and celebration of Virginia’s rich cultural heritage.
