The Birthplace of Country Music

Workshop: Introduction to Oral History Methods
2024-07-14 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Sunday, July 14
Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: FREE but registration is required due to limited capacity
REGISTER HERE
This Introduction to Oral History Methods workshop will provide an introduction to the method of recording oral histories, or extended life story interviews. Taught by Virginia state folklorist Katy Clune, participants will gain an introduction to the ethics, techniques, technology, and processing of interviews. With nothing more than your phone and your curiosity, you can start recording the precious memories of family and community members around you. Clune will share her experience and advice based on interviewing hundreds of people in the last decade.
About Katy Clune

Katy Clune is Virginia’s state folklorist and director of the Virginia Folklife Program, which serves to sustain and empower the vital and diverse cultures and traditions of communities across the Commonwealth.
Katy has dedicated her career to forging connections between people through culture and creating platforms for communities and artists to tell their stories and expand the reach of their voices. She has worked for educational and cultural organizations including the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, The Textile Museum, the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC Chapel Hill, and, most recently, Duke University’s arts initiative.
In 2021, she received an Archie Green Fellowship from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to interview repair professionals across North Carolina. She has her BA in art history from UC Berkeley and her MA in folklore from UNC Chapel Hill. Raised in the Foreign Service, she has called six countries and both US coasts home. Outside of work, Katy sews, plays with printmaking, and aspires to turn her backyard into a cut flower farm.

Community Square Dance at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
2024-07-27 18:30 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Location: Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free but any donations at the door will support the museum
RSVP HERE
Come do-si-do and promenade with us!
Join the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a community square dance on Saturday, July 27. Caller Tyler Hughes will lead a short introduction to dance steps at 6:30pm, followed by a full square dance with a lively string band at 7:00pm.
This event is open to all ages and no experience or partner is required. To protect the Special Exhibits Gallery floor, no heels please; we recommend sturdy shoes so you can dance all night!
Space is limited so sign up to participate soon!

Monthly Country Jam
2024-08-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Dates: Monthly every 2nd Saturday
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: FREE EVENT
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum hosts a monthly gathering of local musicians for a country jam session focusing on country, old-time and blues music. 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!
Country Jams will be held on the second 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 jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in attending as a spectator are also welcome at no charge.
For more information call 423-573-1927.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2024
2024-09-13 - 2024-09-15
Dates: September 13-15, 2024
Location: State Street, Historic Downtown Bristol, TN-VA
Tickets: ON SALE NOW!
The award-winning Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival celebrates 23 years in Historic Downtown Bristol, TN-VA, home of the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions!
Headliners include 49 Winchester, Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Sam Bush, Wilderado, The SteelDrivers, Brittney Spencer, Drayton Farley, Jaime Wyatt, Bella White, Silverada, Grace Bowers, and many, many more!
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is an electrifying, three-day music experience that features the very best roots music on more than a dozen stages. Established in 2001, the festival is an annual celebration of Bristol’s rich history as the place where the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings created the “big bang” of country music and catapulted early country music into the mainstream.
Visit BristolRhythm.com for more information.

Join in the NEA Big Read 2024!
2024-10-01 08:00 - 2024-11-22 17:00
As part of the NEA Big Read, partner organizations Bristol Public Library, Washington County Public Library, and Birthplace of Country Music Museum are offering a full schedule of NEA Big Read programs at all three sites – and beyond – during October and November 2024, including book discussions, a film screening, writing and family history workshops, author talks, an art exhibit, and a storytelling evening!
All of the NEA Big Read programs and events are FREE and open to the public. Check out the many offerings below:
Ongoing: Reading Lists
Check out these reading lists created by the Bristol Public Library to go along with the NEA Big Read’s theme of “Where We Live”: Coal, Music, and Literature.
October 1, all day: Book Giveaway
Pick up a FREE copy of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol Public Library, or Washington County Public Library. The museum is also giving away copies of the companion book Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Vaswani. Limit of one copy of each book per person while supplies last.
October 3, 2:00pm: Family History Workshop @ Washington County Public Library (Abingdon)
Is your family from around here? Learn about local family history at WCPL’s Exploring Your Roots workshop.
October 4, 1:00pm: Burning Bright Book Discussion @ Mendota Branch Library (First Friday Book Club)
Join other readers in a lively discussion of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash.
October 4, 6:30pm: Screening of The Library that Dolly Built @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Enjoy a screening of The Library that Dolly Built, a documentary about the creation and impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The film screening is free and open to the public, but a donation at the door of a book (or books) aimed at 3rd-5th grade children is suggested. All books will be given to the Appalachian Literacy Initiative, based in Bristol, TN-VA.
Please RSVP HERE.
October 17, 2:00pm: Burning Bright Book Discussion @ Washington County Public Library
Join other readers in a lively discussion of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash.
October 19, 1:00pm: Author Discussion with Ron Rash via Zoom (Bristol Public Library)
Join us for a discussion of Burning Bright with author Ron Rash and learn more about his work and inspiration as an Appalachian author. You can either watch with a group at the Bristol Public Library or watch from home via Zoom; if you choose the latter, please register HERE.
October 19, 2:30pm: Re-Screening of The Library that Dolly Built @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Back by popular demand! Enjoy a re-screening of The Library that Dolly Built, a documentary about the creation and impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The film screening is free and open to the public, but a donation at the door of a book (or books) aimed at 3rd-5th grade children is suggested. All books will be given to the Appalachian Literacy Initiative, based in Bristol, TN-VA. Register HERE.
October 21, 5:30pm: Art Journaling @ Bristol Public Library
Respond creatively, playfully, and thoughtfully to the theme of “where we live” with poetic prompts and inquiries. Then express yourself in color, paint, stencils, markers, and collage, with easy techniques to enhance your personal piece. Feel free to bring: your favorite tote of creative tools: tape, scissors, glue, markers, papers, coloring supplies, ribbon, etc., or just show up and we provide the rest. There is limited space for 20 participants; to register, please email rita@bristol-library.org.
October 22, 10:30am: Burning Bright Book Discussion @ Bristol Public Library (Nevermore Book Club)
Join other readers in a lively discussion of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash.
October 23, 4:00pm: Snail Mail Studio Creative Writing Workshop @ Washington County Public Library
Learn the art of writing letters and decorate your own piece of snail mail to send to friends and family! Participants will be writing letters about life in Appalachia inspired by the book Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Vaswani.
October 24, 6:00pm: Author Discussion with Silas House via Zoom (Bristol Public Library)
Join us for a discussion of Same Sun Here with author Silas House and learn more about his work and inspiration as an Appalachian author. You can either watch with a group at the Bristol Public Library or watch from home via Zoom; if you choose the latter, please register HERE.
October 28, 5:00pm: Family History Workshop @ Bristol Public Library
Is your family from around here? Learn about local family history at BPL’s Exploring Your Roots workshop.
October 29, 4:00pm: Junk Journaling Workshop @ Washington County Public Library
Boost your creativity, preserve everyday memories, and promote sustainability with your own junk journal! Junk journals showcase your surroundings, from pieces of nature to library receipts. We’ll provide notebooks, recycled materials, and plenty of inspiration to get you started on your junk journaling journey.
October 29, 6:00pm: Burning Bright Book Discussion @ Glade Spring Branch Library (Passawatami Book Club)
Join other readers in a lively discussion of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash.
October 31, 6:00pm: Andrew Finn Magill: Connections between Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian Fiddling @ Bristol Public Library
Andrew Finn Magill returns to Bristol Public Library for an exploration of the similarities and differences in different styles of fiddling – with a spooky twist!
November 2, 7:00pm: Hoot and Holler Storytelling @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Experience live storytelling by local and regional folks, sharing tall tales, family stories, and more based on the NEA Big Read’s theme of “Where We Live.” Please RSVP for this free event HERE!
November 4, 6:00pm: Burning Bright Book Discussion @ Bristol Public Library
Join other readers in a lively discussion of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash.
November 6, 6:00pm: Burning Bright Book Discussion @ Bristol Public Library
Join other readers in a lively discussion of the NEA Big Read book Burning Bright by Ron Rash.
November 7, 5:30pm: Voices of Appalachia Creative Writing Workshop @ Bristol Public Library
This workshop will discuss setting and voice and how they work together to create a scene. It will also point out the resources available at the library for writing Appalachian stories (e.g., old newspapers, genealogy records, etc.).
November 12, 2:00pm: Shadowbox Craft Workshop @ Bristol Public Library
Participants will create a shadowbox that represents the theme “where we live” using small personal items along with items made with the Glowforge. Participation is limited to 10; to register, please email Rita HERE.
November 16, 1:00pm: Art Exhibit: The Minnie Ma Scyphers Collection @ Hayters Gap Branch Library
View a display by local folk artist Minnie Ma Scyphers, enjoy refreshments, visit the Hayters Gap branch library, and explore “Where We Live.”
November 21, 12:00pm: Burning Bright Book Discussion and Author Interview on Radio Bristol Book Club
Tune into Radio Bristol Book Club on the dial at 100.1 FM, streaming online, or via the Radio Bristol app for a discussion of Burning Bright and an interview with author Ron Rash.

NEA Big Read: Book Giveaway
2024-10-01 10:00 - 18:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public (limited numbers available, one per patron)
As part of the NEA Big Read, the museum – along with partner organizations Bristol Public Library and Washington County Public Library – are giving away free copies of the community read book, Burning Bright by Ron Rash. The museum is also giving away copies of the program’s companion book, Same Sun Here by Neela Vaswani and Silas House.
Limited copies of each book are available so books will be given away on a first come, first served basis (one per patron).
You can use this link to see the full schedule of NEA Big Read programs at the museum, BPL, and WCPL during October and November 2024, including book discussions, a film screening, writing and family history workshops, author talks, and a storytelling evening!
About the NEA Big Read
The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read—a partnership with Arts Midwest—broadens our understanding of ourselves and our neighbors through the power of a shared reading experience. The goals of the NEA Big Read are to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community.

Old-Time Community Jam with ETSU
2024-10-12 14:00 - 17:00, 2024-11-09 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Time: 2-5 p.m. EST
Location: Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: FREE EVENT
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, in partnership with the East Tennessee State University Old-Time Music Program, hosts a gathering of local musicians for a country jam session focusing on country, old-time and blues music. 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 Old-Time Community Jam is scheduled for 2-5 p.m., serving as a great warm-up for Saturday night gigs. Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments.
The jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in attending as a spectator are also welcome at no charge.
For more information call 423-573-1927.

Songwriters in the Round: Linda and David Lay, Sandy Shortridge, and Rafe Van Hoy
2024-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: $15.00 + tax/fees
BUY TICKETS HERE
Join us for a “Songwriter in the Round” evening at the museum on Thursday, October 17, 7:00 p.m. This event is in partnership with the Crooked Road and will feature three songwriter-musician acts from the Bristol area and the surrounding region: Linda and David Lay, Sandy Shortridge, and Rafe Van Hoy. Each artist/act will perform 3-4 songs in a “round robin,” while also sharing stories about the songwriting craft, their inspirations, and career. Audience members will enjoy great music and gain an insight into the craft of songwriting.
Attendees are invited to visit the museum’s special exhibit Songwriter Musician before the performance. Artist Rafe Van Hoy is featured in the exhibit, and his guitar and several items of memorabilia are on display.
This event is complementary programming to our current special exhibit Songwriter Musician: The Photographs of Ed Rode, on display through December 31, 2024.
Special thanks to the Crooked Road for their sponsorship of songwriters Linda and David Lay and Sandy Shortridge, and to the Massengill-DeFriece Foundation for their support of the Songwriter Musician exhibit and its complementary programming.
About Linda and David Lay
Bluegrass singer and bassist Linda Clayman Lay, better known as Linda Lay, grew up in Clayman Valley, a small community named after her family outside of Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia. She spent her early years with Janette Carter at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. Linda performed with her family band before starting her own group, Appalachian Trail.
Linda met her husband, guitarist and singer David Lay, and they formed Springfield Exit together with David McLaughlin. Linda has toured the United States with the masters of the Steel String Guitar and was its featured vocalist and bassist. In addition, Linda is a master artist in traditional singing for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.
Together with banjo player Sammy Shelor, Linda recorded Taking the Crooked Road Home for the Virginia Folklife Program under the direction of Jon Lohman. Linda has performed with singers across several genres of music, including Vern Gosdin, Carl Jackson, Bruce Hornsby, Piedmont blues singer John Cephas, and master of the telecaster, Bill Kirchen. In the early 2000s, Linda recorded several albums for Cracker Barrel’s Heritage Series CDs.
About Sandy Shortridge
Sandy Shortridge, a guitarist and exceptional baritone singer, is from Buchanan County in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia. She began her musical career at 10 years old and is well known after performing on many area stages and beyond throughout the years. A songwriter and master storyteller, her original songs capture the cultural traditions of the region and can bring tears or a smile with equal ability. During her performances, the stories and her experiences are shared in her music in an almost magical way. No other performer in the region captures the heart, mind, and soul of the region’s people.
Shortridge has made multiple recordings, which feature her moving compositions in carefully crafted arrangements and presentation. She is also featured on a two-CD compilation recording of 50 current artists from the Crooked Road region called A Treasury of American Music, and her original songs have been recorded by numerous other artists.
Shortridge is also a radio broadcaster with her husband, Big Al Wheetley, and they can be heard on Radio Bristol’s “The Big Al & Sandy Show” on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m.
About Rafe Van Hoy
Rafe Van Hoy began his music career as a songwriter, landing his first publishing contract at 17. In the next seven years he would become one of Nashville’s new emerging songwriters with 10 number one songs and as many top 10 singles, along with nearly 200 cuts by other artists. In one three-year period, he had between 50 and 60 songs cut each year. During this early time Rafe also worked as a session musician on many hit records, and then began adding producer to his list of credits, with songwriting always as his first passion.
Rafe has been active and successful as both writer and producer over four decades with credits in several categories and genres of music, including a Grammy Nomination, 11 BMI One Million Airplay Awards, 3 BMI Two Million Airplay Awards and beyond. His songs have been recorded by George Jones and Tammy Wynette (including the classic “Golden Ring”), the Oak Ridge Boys, Michael Martin Murphy (“What’s Forever For”), John Conlee, Patti Loveless, Brooks and Dunn, Reba McEntire, Leann Rimes, Fleetwood Mac, Diana Ross, Issac Hayes, Paul Carrack, and a long list of others, including Trick Daddy (“I’m A Thug”). His songs have been on records selling well over 150 million copies. Rafe was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.
Rafe loves working in all styles of music and continues to stay current creating music in many formats.

SOLD OUT: 1927 Concert Series with Special Guest Sam Grisman Project
2024-10-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the intimate 1927 Concert Series experience featuring live music by Sam Grisman Project.
Date: Friday, October 25, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $100
BUY TICKETS

The 1927 Concert Series is an intimate concert experience set in the “acoustically perfect” performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It’s more than a night of music, it’s a very personal event with some of the most renowned roots music artists performing today. Guests are asked to arrive promptly at 6:00 p.m. to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar before the show (ages 21+ with valid ID), food and drinks included with ticket.
Members of the Birthplace of Country Music’s 1927 Society are given access to exclusive ticket pre-sales to the 1927 Concert Series before they go on sale to the public. To learn more about becoming a member of the 1927 Society and all its advantages, click here.
About Sam Grisman Project
A Note From Sam— The music that my father David Grisman and his close friend, Jerry Garcia, made in the early 90s (in the house that I grew up in) is not only some of the most timeless acoustic music ever recorded, it also triggers my oldest and fondest musical memories. What I find most inspiring about this material is the way their camaraderie and their love and joy for the music, simply oozes out of each recording. It is also impressive how deeply they get beneath their favorite songs—whether they are originals, covers or traditional/old time tunes—and how expertly that material was curated.
My goal in starting Sam Grisman Project is to build a platform for my friends and me to showcase our genuine passion and appreciation for the legacy of Dawg and Jerry’s music. By playing some of their beloved repertoire and sharing the original music that our own collective has to offer, we will also show the impact that this music has had on our own individual musical voices. Ultimately, there is nothing that makes me happier than playing great songs with my best friends and my hope is to share that happiness with audiences all over!”
For more information about Sam Grisman Project, visit SamGrismanProject.net.

Songwriter Musician Exhibit Talk with Ed Rode and Don Henry
2024-11-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public
RSVP HERE
Join us for this conversation with nationally renowned photographer Ed Rode and his Grammy-winning songwriter-musician friend, Don Henry, as they share stories and music related to Ed’s exhibit Songwriter Musician and the craft of songwriting on Saturday, November 9 at 7 p.m. at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Attendees are invited to explore the exhibit before the program begins at 7 p.m.; a curator will be on hand to answer questions around 6:30 p.m.
This program will also be live-streamed. For those attending virtually, the live stream will originate on the Radio Bristol YouTube channel after 6:50pm EST. If you load the channel page before 6:50pm, and the live stream does not automatically appear, please refresh the page after 6:50pm.
Read the article in Billboard Magazine:
Ed Rode Brings Decades of Country Royalty and Industry Insiders Into Focus in New Photography Book
About Ed Rode
Ed Rode (pronounced Road-ay) is a nationally recognized photographer based in Nashville. Over the course of his four-decade long career, he has shot everything from sports, movie, tv, and music legends to travel destinations and restaurants. He grew up in the Midwest and moved to Nashville in 1990 as a staff photographer for the Nashville Banner, an afternoon daily paper. Ed soon built a reputation as a photographer with a storyteller’s eye and a historian’s instincts. His work has appeared in numerous national publications, the Nashville International Airport, the legendary Bluebird Cafe, and as album covers for artists such as Willie Nelson, The Chicks, and Peter Frampton. He has also passed on his skills to the next generation while serving as an instructor or lecturer at Vanderbilt University, O’More College, Western Kentucky University, and Northwestern University. He is currently a full-time professor at Murray State University.
About Don Henry
Grammy winner Don Henry’s songs have been recorded by some of the music industry’s greatest artists, including Ray Charles, Conway Twitty, Patti Page, Blake Shelton, and Miranda Lambert, and he’s shared the stage with performers as different as Joey Ramone and Keith Urban.
His songs – filled with wit and wisdom – are renowned, from the hilarious “B.F.D.” to the biker lullaby “Harley” to the poignant tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., “Beautiful Fool.” Don’s country classic “Where’ve You Been” won a Grammy, and Kathy Mattea’s version of this piece won Song of the Year honors from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, and Nashville Songwriters Association International. It was the first song in country music to win all four honors in the same year!
About Songwriter Musician
More than 30 years ago, photographer Ed Rode met Chet Atkins, one of the greatest figures in country music. Soon they were talking about where to find the good stories on Music Row — specifically, with the talented songwriters whose unseen contributions powered Nashville’s iconic sound. After many conversations, the Songwriter Musician project was born, resulting in “fly-on-the-wall” documentary portraits of a wide range of artists that bring to life the vulnerable, provocative, and unexpected moments inside Nashville’s rich tradition of songwriting. Featured artists include Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift, Vince Gill, The Chicks, Jelly Roll, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, John Prine, George Strait, and Keb Mo, amongst others.
These photographs will be on display at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum August 31–December 31, 2024, alongside objects and memorabilia related to the artists captured by Rode’s camera. Visit The Museum Store for a copy of Songwriter Musician: Behind the Curtain with Nashville’s Iconic Storytellers and Players, A Photo Documentary by Ed Rode, available for purchase for the duration of the special exhibit.
Check our Events Page for complementary programming to the special exhibit, including:

Thursday, October 17, 7 p.m. – Songwriters in the Round: Linda and David Lay, Sandy Shortridge, and Rafe Van Hoy

Special thanks to the Massengill-DeFriece Foundation for their support of this exhibit.

Monthly Bluegrass Jam
2025-01-25 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-02-22 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-22 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-05-24 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, hosts a monthly gathering of local musicians for a bluegrass jam session. The jam events are intended to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. The jams are acoustic and only feature traditional bluegrass instruments: acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dobro.
The jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in joining as a spectator are welcome at no charge.
Bluegrass Jams will be held every fourth Saturday of the month from 2-5 p.m., serving as a great warm-up for Saturday night gigs. Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments.
The sessions will be held in the Learning Center at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
For more information call 423-573-1927.

2025 Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Round at the Museum
2025-01-31 18:00 - 21:00
The Birthplace of Country Music is hosting a qualifying round for Tennessee Songwriters Week in 2025!
Registration for songwriters has now ended.
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $10 (For spectators only; no registration fee required for songwriter entries.)

BUY SPECTATOR TICKETS
Congratulations and best of luck to the following Bristol qualifiers:

Alexis May
Johnson City, Tenn.
Austin Barrett
Fairview, N.C.
Brian Allen Cox
Elizabethton, Tenn.
Camden Benoit
Johnson City, Tenn.
Claire Chill
Big Stone Gap, Va.
David Sexton
Louisa, Va.
Deborah Silverstein
Asheville, N.C.
Erin Dalton
Johnson City, Tenn.
Hannah Rae Adams
Bristol, Tenn.
Jacy Chadwell
Ewing, Va.

Jim Street
Johnson City, TN
Katie Powderly
Frederick, Md.
Landon Camper
Bristol, Va.
Linda Mckenzie
Lebanon, Tenn.
Lloyd Iving White
Rogersville, Tenn.
Madison Denhardt
Big Stone Gap, Va.
Scotty Arnold
Bulls Gap, Tenn.
Tom Lynn
Morehead, Ky.
Travis Wright
Johnson City, Tenn.
William Seymour
Roanoke, Va.

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 2025 Tennessee Songwriters Week! Dozens of venues across the state, including the Birthplace of Country Music Museum 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 be part of the live audience to cheer on contestants. The Bristol competition will also stream live on WBCM Radio Bristol’s Facebook page.
Two (2) songwriters will be chosen from the Bristol competition to move forward and compete during Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase at Paramount Bristol in Bristol, Tennessee on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. One songwriter will move forward from each Showcase event across the state of Tennessee to perform at Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Up to 20 contestants will be considered for the qualifying round on Friday, January 31, 2025 at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. There is no registration fee or purchase necessary to enter. Internet access is required to enter. Any legal resident of the Unites States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are eligible. Must be 18 years of age or have attained their state of residence’s age of majority. Entrants can be an individual songwriter, duo or trio who has not previously won a Showcase Event. **Please read Tennessee Songwriters Week Official Rules in their entirety to ensure you are qualified to enter.
To enter, songwriters must submit their contact information, song lyrics for the song they plan to perform, and a YouTube link to a video of the song they will perform during the competition. Songwriters will be judged based on their overall performance, originality and connection to the audience. Songs deemed inappropriate or inflammatory will not be considered. Songwriters are only permitted to register with one venue during qualifying rounds. Internet access is required to enter, with no purchase necessary. All entrants of Bristol qualifying round must sign a photo/video release waiver as the event will be streaming live.
**Click here to read Tennessee Songwriters Week Official Rules**
For more information on qualifying rounds across the state of Tennessee, click here.
Timeline of events for Tennessee Songwriters Week:
December 12: Songwriter registration opens
January 13: Deadline for Bristol qualifying round entry
January 26 – February 8: Qualifying Rounds statewide (Bristol qualifying round is Jan. 31)
February 23 – March 1: Showcase Events statewide
March 30: Finale at The Bluebird Cafe
Made possible by The Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development, The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Taylor Guitars; committed to making sure songwriters can share their original work on stage with other writers.

Community Square Dance at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
2025-02-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free but any donations at the door will support the museum
The event is at capacity currently. Please email info@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org to be placed on the waitlist.
RSVP HERE
Come do-si-do and promenade with us!
Join the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for a community square dance on Saturday, February 8. Caller Tyler Hughes will lead a short introduction to dance steps, followed by a full square dance with a lively string band lead by John Bills.
This event is open to all ages and no experience or partner is required. To protect the Special Exhibits Gallery floor, no heels please; we recommend sturdy shoes so you can dance all night!
Space is limited so sign up to participate soon!

Rockwood Booking's Music Business Coaching Course
2025-03-18 14:00 - 16:00
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Time: 2 – 4 p.m. ET
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
RSVP HERE
Workforce Solutions at Northeast State is set to host Rockwood Booking‘s Music Business Coaching program at the museum. Led by Brian Swenk, course breaks down strategies for sustainable success and guides artists through a workflow of brand refinement and gig readiness. Post-coaching, attendees will be better positioned to navigate the industry in pursuit of their musical goals—whether that is acquiring a full-time booking agent, booking tours and festivals, or simply playing more shows in your local area.
Topics covered in the Workflow include branding, professional websites, marketing, music conferences, booking gigs, contracts, gig strategy, and growing an audience.
The event is free an open to the public; please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Ellen Elmes: Introduction to the Exhibit for Educators
2025-03-20 16:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Time: 4 p.m. EST
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Special Exhibits Gallery
Cost: Free and open to educators
RSVP HERE
The exhibit is open March 8–September 30, 2025, this special exhibit features the works of artist Ellen Elmes, including her acrylic and watercolor works and examples of large-scale murals. Teachers are invited to a special Introduction to the Exhibit for Educators on Thursday, March 20, at 4 p.m.
Artist Ellen Elmes moved to Appalachia over five decades ago, intrigued by the beauty of people and place. She continues to admire the close-knit kinship of families and neighbors, and the reliance of mountaineers on hard work, community, nature, and the grace of God to build a life, and every day she finds wonder in the ethereal beauty of misty mountains, the rhythms of changing seasons, and the expanse of the night sky unobscured by city lights. Many of these elements became the substance of her art.
Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music and Mountains features her creativity across a variety of mediums and themes, from traditional instruments, musicians, and songs to the grandiosity and minutiae of nature. The core of this exhibition – a series of acrylic on canvas, large-scale paintings entitled “Tribute to the Stanley Brothers” and inspired by their songs – is an example of a body of work that awakened in the artist a deeper understanding of the roots, stories, and expression embodied in old-time and traditional songs of the mountains.
Artwork will include examples of acrylic, watercolor, and murals. Objects related to the Stanley Brothers will be on display, including several on loan from the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, VA. The “Tribute to the Stanley Brothers” series is on loan from the Clintwood Community Hall.

Berea College Folk-Roots Ensemble
2025-03-22 11:30 - 12:15
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Performance Theater
FREE CONCERT!
Kentucky’s Berea College Folk-Roots Ensemble will be visiting the museum on March 22 to provide a workshop for the JAM Kids program that morning from 11-11:30 a.m. and then give a public performance in the Performance Theater from 11:30-12:15. This performance will be free and open to the public.
The Berea College Folk-Roots Ensemble plays Appalachian music in all its forms and branches out into other kinds of folk and roots music from there. Founded in 2012, the group has played
at numerous campus functions including the Celebration of Traditional Music and has performed with the Chieftains, sung backup for Janis Ian, opened for Vince Gill, Guy Davis, and
Tom Paxton, and toured the Southeastern U.S. including concerts in Asheville, Black Mountain, Nashville, Knoxville, and Baltimore, and at the John C. Campbell School and the Floyd County
Store. They also played on the nationally broadcast “Listen: A Musical Celebration of Christmas at Berea College” on CBS TV.
Follow the Berea College Folk-Roots Ensemble on Facebook!

Sold Out: 1927 Concert Series with Special Guest Shinyribs
2025-04-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the intimate 1927 Concert Series experience featuring live music by Sam Grisman Project.
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $100
SOLD OUT

The 1927 Concert Series is an intimate concert experience set in the “acoustically perfect” performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It’s more than a night of music, it’s a very personal event with some of the most renowned roots music artists performing today. Guests are asked to arrive promptly at 6:00 p.m. to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar before the show (ages 21+ with valid ID), food and drinks included with ticket.
Members of the Birthplace of Country Music’s 1927 Society are given access to exclusive ticket pre-sales to the 1927 Concert Series before they go on sale to the public. To learn more about becoming a member of the 1927 Society and all its advantages, click here.
About Shinyribs
Shinyribs defies genres as a sonic melting pot of Texas Blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn-driven Memphis Soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock. The Austin-based nine-piece (sometimes 10-piece) supergroup is led by Kevin Russell, the charismatic frontman with colorful suits and extravagant shoes who continuously swaps out an electric guitar for a ukulele and never falls short of creating a cinematic experience with on-stage antics that often include him donning a light-up cloak or leading a conga line through the crowd.
Shinyribs was named Best Austin Band at the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards (2017, 2018), awarded Album of the Year for I Got Your Medicine (2017), and Best 2020- Themed Song for “Stay Home” (2020). Russell’s Shinyribs have recorded seven previous albums: 2010’s Well After Awhile; Gulf Coast Museum (2013); Okra Candy (2015); 2017’s award-winning I Got Your Medicine; a compilation of holiday standards and new compositions The Kringle Tingle (2018); and the group’s latest soulful release, Fog & Bling (2019); and Late Night TV Gold, (2021).

Community Square Dance: A Partnership with Bristol Ballet
2025-04-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Ballet, 330 Buford Street, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. Eastern
Location: Bristol Ballet, 330 Buford St, Bristol, VA 24201 (Please park at the back of the building and go in the entrance framed by columns)
Cost: Free but any donations at the door will support the museum and Bristol Ballet.
RSVP HERE
Come do-si-do and promenade with us!
Join the Birthplace of Country Music and Bristol Ballet for a community square dance on Saturday, April 5. Caller Tyler Hughes will lead a square dance with a lively string band with John Bills.
This event is open to all ages and no experience or partner is required; we recommend sturdy shoes so you can dance all night! Space is limited so sign up to participate soon!

Songwriters Circle Showcase
2025-04-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Date: April 12
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theatre, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, donations encouraged to benefit the artists and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
REGISTER TO ATTEND
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia are proud to announce an exciting new event designed to highlight the talents of songwriters in our region. The inaugural Songwriters Circle Showcase will be held at 2 p.m. ET, April 12, in the performance theater at the museum; it is the first Showcase in a series to be held quarterly each year. The event is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated. All donations will be split between the museum and performing artists.
Daryl Ann Beeghley, Sandra Lambert, David Ledgerwood, Gerald Sheppard, and Darris Stanley will share their original music during April’s Songwriters Showcase.
Daryl Ann Beeghley is a Canadian-born singer/songwriter who has lived all over the U.S., and now resides in Abingdon, Va. She has always loved words and music and wrote her first song at age 17. She relishes the challenge of writing across different styles: Americana, folk, country, devotional, and blues, and appreciates the way music can help us tell our stories. Daryl Ann is an active member of SoHA (Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia).

Sandra Lambert grew up East Tennessee and is now enjoying retirement with her husband Rich. In 2018 during her pre-retirement years, she started learning the mountain dulcimer and wrote her first song. She credits the mountain dulcimer as her gate-way instrument that led her to learning the ukulele, tenor guitar, bowed psaltery and writing more songs. She has more than 50 songs under her belt and learns a little more about the craft of songwriting with each song she writes. She is a member of the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club, the Songwriters of Highland Appalachia, and helped to start the Boones Creek Dulcimer Clan monthly jam. Occasionally, she and her husband perform as The Butternuts. She likes all kinds of music and enjoys songs that tell a story. A few of her songs are on her YouTube channel and she has plans to get her songs loaded to a streaming platform.

David Ledgerwood was born in 1957 in Bluefield, W.Va. As a child, he quickly found music to be one of his favorite pursuits (shame it wasn’t academics), his father giving him an acoustic guitar when he was nine years old. As a child, the air around him was soaked with diverse and creative music; rock, soul, funk, folk, and he loved it all. He sang myself to sleep many nights, keeping a transistor radio by his pillow. Focusing more on electric guitar in his youth and then on acoustic guitar in his 30s and 40s, he has learned to travel and enjoy “both lanes” of the guitar highway. Now well into his 60s, David shares his love of music with his cherished wife (Ann), performing acoustically as a duet and also in leading the Ledgerwood Blues Band, playing every fourth Friday at Sweetbay Brewing Company in Abingdon, Va. Joining our local Songwriter’s of Highlands Appalachia writers group has encouraged him to develop his songwriting skills and offer a part of who he is to others, packaged in a song….what a great blessing. David and Ann live in Glade Spring along with their pet family, Duke, Dolly, Spanky, Rocky, Stevie Ray, Eddie Van, Ruthie Grace, Bootsy, Franky, and Alfie.

Originally from the Tri-Cities area of Northeast Tennessee, Gerald Sheppard has actively pursued his passion of music since he was a child when he started beating around on the family upright piano at the age of five. As a graduate from East Tennessee State University, he worked in the Engineering Division of a large chemical company for many years before taking early retirement. He has actively played fingerstyle guitar since he was a teen, and has worked as a guitarist, playing “cocktail” guitar music in venues and for special occasions for many years. His instrumental music consists of both popular covers and original compositions. Gerald also enjoyed a successful guitar-building career for twenty-five years. His high-end instruments are world-renowned as some of the finest guitars in the world. In 2005, one of his instruments was used as the cover model for the Grammy-Award-winning CD for Best Instrumental Album, “Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar” (an instrumental guitar tribute to Henry Mancini). Gerald began writing and performing his own lyrical songs in 2018. His interest is primarily in writing ballads and story songs. He currently incorporates them into his performances in local venues where they are well received for their often emotionally touching and heartwarming content. His high-resolution content and music may be enjoyed on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@gdshepp.

Darris Stanley grew up in the coal fields of Southwest Virginia, and currently lives in Northeast Tennessee. He is an artist, musician, songwriter, and poet, as well as a former professional boxer. He has written more than 200 songs, made two studio albums of original music, and was formerly on the label of Houston River records.

The quarterly Songwriters Circle Showcase is an extension of the weekly Songwriters Circle program, organized by Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, and will consist of artists who participate in the weekly Circle. The Showcase event is structured similarly to “in the round” events, with each songwriter introducing themselves and their song, which will be performed with or without accompaniment. The songwriter will then hold a discussion about the piece–the origins of the song, its structure, and inspiration–and take questions.
Led by Mary Munsey, a local musician, educator and founder of Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, the weekly Songwriters Circle is open to songwriters of all ages and skill levels. The Circle encourages participants to share songs, brainstorm ideas, and support one another in their creative endeavors. Songwriter Circles are held the second Saturday of each month at the museum, 2-5 p.m. There is no cost to participate.
“The Songwriters Circle aims to foster a collaborative environment for songwriting,” said Munsey. “Importantly, aspiring songwriters do not need to play an instrument to join in the fun.”
The Songwriters Circle not only provides an opportunity for performance and networking, but also emphasizes the importance of clarity and storytelling in songwriting. The group’s mission is to encourage creativity, introduce songwriting shows to regional audiences, and elevate the appreciation of songwriting as a valuable art form.
About Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia

Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia is led by Mary Munsey, a local musician and educator, recently retired from Virginia Highlands Community College. The program offers a great deal of flexibility in its format for attendees, with varied songwriting interests and abilities. Some of the attendees play instruments and some are curious about songwriting and the process. Lyrics can sometimes only pare up with others that play instruments and put music with the words. Some writers don’t sing, but enjoy hearing others perform their songs. Some of the performances can be a cappella. Some members of the group write one to three songs between sessions and some write more. Sometimes as busy as life gets, writers don’t get to write new material between meetings. We don’t pressure anyone to write, and we don’t criticize anyone. We treat each other with respect. We don’t discuss politics, use profanity, or write antagonistic lyrics.

The focus is not on the beauty of the voice or skill of the instrumentation, but the clearness of the pronunciation and the effect of the song. We work on making sure the audience can hear every word. We are not professional musicians but we are creators of musical stories and that is the beauty of it. The sessions are open to anyone visiting the museum. Genres are not specified. Songs can be instrumental, folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, blues, humorous, jazz, R&B, electronic, and even pop, to name a few. Writers are allowed to bring CDs for sale and to accept tips after performances.
For more information about the Songwriters Showcase and Songwriters Circle programs, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. For more information on Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, HighlandsAppalachia.org.

Earth Day 2025: Bristol Rhythm Green Team Plogging Downtown!
2025-04-19 09:00 - 12:30 | Axe and Ale House, 155 Moore Street, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Celebrate Mother Earth with the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion’s Green Team plogging event!

Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. EDT
Location: Axe and Ale House, 155 Moore Street, Bristol, VA 24201 (use Moore Street entrance please)
Cost: Free to participate (beverages and food not included)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Plogging is a community and environmentally focused way to exercise where you pick up trash as you walk/run. This event gives us the opportunity to call attention to the importance of recycling, disposing of trash responsibly, and keeping our Historic Downtown clean.

What to expect:
Meet us at Axe and Ale House at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 19. Participants will have two walk/run routes to choose from, each starting in Historic Downtown Bristol, and then branching out to nearby neighborhoods in Tennessee and Virginia.
The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Green Team will be there to talk about volunteer opportunities at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival coming up September 19-21 in Historic Downtown Bristol. And Bristol’s own Mountain Sports Ltd. will be on site with various running-related products available for purchase.
Axe and Ale House will have food and drinks to purchase so you can hang out while enjoying some time with old and new friends after helping make Bristol a greener place to live!
After the plogging session, we will hold a raffle with several cool prizes to be won, including Teva shoes, and the person who brings back the most trash (by weight) will win a trophy AND a weekend pass to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion!!!
Itinerary:
9-9:30 a.m.
Arrive at Axe and Ale House to get your route maps for plogging, pick up trash bags, and get a trash picker (first-come, first-served).
9:30-10:30 a.m.
5K plog, walk or run. Pick up trash along your route.
11-11:30 a.m.
Raffle and prizes awarded.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Food and drinks available for purchase.
Image: Plogging volunteers pose with the trash pick-up results from a past event (left); winners of the BRRR wristband grand prize for the most trash gathered (right). Our first event in 2022 resulted in almost 150 pounds of trash picked up over one hour; our second event 2024 brought in 283 pounds!

Monthly Bluegrass Jam - April Date Cancelled
2025-04-26 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Bluegrass Jam will not be held the month of April.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, in partnership with the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association, hosts a monthly gathering of local musicians for a bluegrass jam session. The jam events are intended to provide a space for local musicians to gather and pick, collaborate, share their experiences, and—most importantly—to have fun. The jams are acoustic and only feature traditional bluegrass instruments: acoustic guitar, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and dobro.
The jams are free and open to the public. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Those just interested in joining as a spectator are welcome at no charge.
Bluegrass Jams will be held every fourth Saturday of the month from 2-5 p.m., serving as a great warm-up for Saturday night gigs. Musicians are asked to bring their own instruments.
The sessions will be held in the Learning Center at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
For more information call 423-573-1927.

Stanley Brothers Transcription Disc Listening Party
2025-05-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join us on Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. for a Listening Party, a chance to hear a restored 1940–1950s radio transcription disc of The Stanley Brothers & the Clinch Mountain Boys on Farm and Fun Time. Participants will be able to see (but not touch!) the disc, learn about the disc and its preservation from the museum’s curatorial team, hear about the history of Farm and Fun Time from Radio Bristol Program Director Kris Truelsen, and listen to several of the tracks that were restored digitally over a year-long process.
Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, but RSVPs are requested

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
This event is complementary programming to the Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains exhibit on display at the museum through September 30. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of programming related to this exhibit.
About the Farm and Fun Time Disc
Early in 2017, Glen Harlow donated a Farm and Fun Time radio transcription disc containing live tracks that have not been heard in over 60 years. The fact that an original live recording of the Stanley Brothers with the Clinch Mountain Boys from Farm and Fun Time exists at all is pretty amazing, because the discs used to record radio broadcasts in the mid-20th century are highly unstable and prone to degradation, delamination, and breakage. This disc was no different – it was fragile, damaged, and unplayable. Until recently, recordings on degraded lacquer discs like this one were usually lost forever. Enter the Virginia Association of Museums Top 10 Most Endangered Objects initiative and the Northeast Document Conservation Center – through grant support and technical expertise, we can now access the songs on this broken disc! You can read all about the disc and this preservation process HERE and HERE.

Music and Art Workshop for Adults
2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join Ellen Elmes for an Art & Music workshop on Saturday, May 3, 1-3 p.m. for adult artists or artists-to-be! With this program, you’ll get the chance to nourish your artistic side through hands-on art exercises and live music. Ellen will guide participants in the creative process using a variety of materials to explore line, shape, color, and texture, which can be tapped into and inspired by music – singer-songwriter Ella Patrick will play a tune or two while the art is being made. The cost of this program includes the necessary art supplies.
Date: Saturday, May 3
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum Learning Center
Cost: $20+tax (includes art supplies)
Class Size: Limited to 16 participants

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
This event is complementary programming to the Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains exhibit on display at the museum through September 30. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of programming related to this exhibit.

Songwriters Circle
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-14 14:00 - 17:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Dates: Monthly, every 2nd Saturday
February 8, March 8, April 12 (showcase), May 10, June 14, July 12 (showcase), August 9, September 13, October 11 (showcase), November 8, December 13
Time: 2-5 p.m. ET
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, donations encouraged at quarterly showcases
In partnership with Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum will host a monthly Songwriters Circle every 2nd Saturday, 2-5 p.m. ET, in the Learning Center. Beginners, experienced songwriters, and aspiring songwriters are invited to share songs, brainstorm ideas, and encourage each other to keep writing. There is no fee to participate.
At the end of each session, the group will choose three prompts to inspire ideas for the following month. The prompts may be objects, phrases, feelings, colors, senses, or any other topic. Writers may use those topics to help them write a song or two to share for the following session. Songwriters do not have to play an instrument in order to participate.
Songwriters Circle is an opportunity to perform, workshop, and network with other artists, with an emphasis on clarity and telling a story. The goals of the group are to encourage songwriting, introduce songwriting shows to audiences in the region, and enlighten the public about the craft of songwriting and its value as an art form.
Fans of music and songwriting are welcome to sit in for a listen at no cost.

About Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia

Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia is led by Mary Munsey, a local musician and educator, recently retired from Virginia Highlands Community College. The program offers a great deal of flexibility in its format for attendees, with varied songwriting interests and abilities. Some of the attendees play instruments and some are curious about songwriting and the process. Lyrics can sometimes only pare up with others that play instruments and put music with the words. Some writers don’t sing, but enjoy hearing others perform their songs. Some of the performances can be a cappella. Some members of the group write one to three songs between sessions and some write more. Sometimes as busy as life gets, writers don’t get to write new material between meetings. We don’t pressure anyone to write, and we don’t criticize anyone. We treat each other with respect. We don’t discuss politics, use profanity, or write antagonistic lyrics.

The focus is not on the beauty of the voice or skill of the instrumentation, but the clearness of the pronunciation and the effect of the song. We work on making sure the audience can hear every word. We are not professional musicians but we are creators of musical stories and that is the beauty of it. The sessions are open to anyone visiting the museum. Genres are not specified. Songs can be instrumental, folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, blues, humorous, jazz, R&B, electronic, and even pop, to name a few. Writers are allowed to bring CDs for sale and to accept tips after performances.
As an extension of this program, each quarter we invite songwriters to attend “Writers-in-the-Round” or WITR concerts. WITR consists of three to five writers together in a circle or on stage. Each writer introduces themselves, gives the title of their song, and then sings it with or without accompaniment. Discussion will follow concerning the origins of the song, how they wrote it, and the song’s inspiration, along with any questions from the audience.

To learn more about Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, visit the website at HighlandsAppalachia.org.

Music and Art Workshop for Kids
2025-06-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Join Ellen Elmes for an Art & Music workshop on Saturday, June 7, 1-3 p.m. for youth artists or artists-to-be! With this program, you’ll get the chance to enjoy your artistic side through hands-on art exercises and live music. Ellen will guide participants in the creative process using a variety of materials to discover the shapes and colors of music – singer-songwriter Ella Patrick will play a tune or two while the art is being made. The cost of this program includes the necessary art supplies.
Date: Saturday, June 7
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum Learning Center
Cost: $25.66 (includes art supplies)
Class Size: Limited to 16 participants
Age Range: 3rd–5th graders, allow as young as 5 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian

REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE
This event is complementary programming to the Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music & Mountains exhibit on display at the museum through September 30. Special thanks to the United Company Foundation for their support of programming related to this exhibit.
