Special Exhibit | Boot Scootin' History: The Craft and Stories of Cowboy Boots
2025-10-14 - 2026-04-06 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
Dates: October 14, 2025 – April 6, 2026
Location: Special Exhibits Gallery, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cowboy boots are an iconic element of country music. Bespoke boot maker Lisa Sorrell’s creations illustrate how cowboy boots can fulfill both art and function. Boot Scootin‘ History: The Craft and Stories of Cowboy Boots explores the history and craft of boot making and cowboy boots, shares a behind-the-scenes view into the materials and techniques used, and considers the impact of cowboy boots in country and bluegrass music. With more than 35 of Sorrell’s boots on display – accompanied by personal stories and insights from Sorrell – along with a few cowboy boots connected to industry stars and professionals, visitors will encounter a riot of color and craft, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation into the boot making tradition and the important place of cowboy boots in country music history.
There will be several complementary programs to go along with Boot Scootin‘ History: The Craft and Stories of Cowboy Boots. Sign up for BCM’s newsletter or pay close attention to the Events page on our website for more information.
This programming is made possible through the support of the United Company Foundation.
About Lisa Sorrell

Sorrell Custom Boots was established in 1996 in historic Guthrie, Oklahoma, by Lisa Sorrell. Lisa is a master bootmaker and fine artist whose canvas is the cowboy boot. Every boot she builds is custom fit and handcrafted for each client. Inspired by the art of the cowboy boot, its heritage and tradition, Lisa’s work has been featured in several books, numerous magazines, and the PBS series “Craft in America.” Distinguished by intricate leather inlay, overlay and topstitching, Sorrell Custom Boots has a reputation of pleasing the most discerning clients with boots that invite investigation and tell a great story.
BOOKS:
Written by Lisa: “The Art of Leather Inlay and Overlay” 2015, Schiffer Publishing
Featured in: “The Art of the Boot” by Tyler Beard, “Cowboy Boots” by Tyler Beard, “Cowboy Boots: The Art and Sole” by Jennifer June, and “Portraits of the American Craftsman” by Tadd Myers
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS:
2022
Oklahoma-themed boots installed at the Oklahoma State Capitol as part of their permanent art collection
2020
Academy of Western Artists
Boot Maker of the Year
2016
International Efficiency Contest of the Shoemaker’s Trade, Wiesbaden, Germany
Award: Gold Medal and Silver Master Cup, Luxury Shoe category
2013
International Efficiency Contest of the Shoemaker’s Trade, Wiesbaden, Germany
Award: Gold Medal, Luxury Shoe category
2011
Western Design Conference, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Award: Best Artist, Leather category
2010
International Efficiency Contest of the Shoemaker’s Trade, Wiesbaden, Germany
Award: Gold Medal, Luxury Shoe category
2009
“17th Annual Western Design Conference”, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Award: Honorary Mention, “Art to Wear”
2008
Western Design Conference, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
“Craft in America”, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2007
“15th Annual Western Design Conference”, Teton Home and Living Magazine, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Award: Best Artist, “Art to Wear”
2005
“Boot and Saddlemaker’s Roundup”, Eddie and Kathy Kimmel, Wichita Falls, Texas
Award: First Place, Master Category

Lightnin' and Mango Tango
2026-02-24 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | VA
A life retrospective from two men who developed an early love for music and pursued making/promoting music as their careers. Each episode of the show will feature music, conversation, and backstories of their experiences. Lightnin’ Charlie has been a touring musician for over 40 years. Mango Mike is a music industry veteran with over 40 years of promoting music. The Lightnin’ & Mango Tango will draw upon their collective wealth of knowledge andpersonal experiences with entertaining tales of life in the crazy carnival called the music business.

Born in the Mountain
2026-02-24 12:00 - 14:00 | VA
Two hours of rare records and field recordings from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee and beyond with host Ivy Sheppard. Tuesdays from Noon to 2pm Eastern.

Dollar Country
2026-02-24 15:00 - 16:00 | VA
On Dollar Country, Frank the Drifter shares country gems mined from the dusty corners of America’s record bins. The show focuses on lesser known artists and labels from the gigantic world of country music. Tune in to hear some things you’ve never heard before from the golden age of country music. Every Tuesday at 3pm EST.

Off the Beaten Track
2026-02-24 16:00 - 18:00 | VA
Join Marshall Ballew Tuesdays 4-6pm for Off the Beaten Track. A musical foray onto the back roads and secret places of the American musical landscape, where roots grow deep and hybrids flower into a thousand different varieties. All from seeds blown in from Britain, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and elsewhere, and simmered in the melting pot of cultures known as the USA.

Old Time Jam
2026-02-24 18:00 - 20:00 | VA
From traditionally-rooted performers to artists pushing the boundaries of stringband music and everything in between, The Old Time Jam is a celebration of today’s diverse Old-Time music landscape. Grab an instrument and join the jam as host Brad Kolodner features the latest releases from contemporary Old-Time music torch-bearers.

Pick One with Larry and Linda
2026-02-24 20:00 - 22:00 | VA
“Pick One with Larry and Linda” focuses on the history of traditional Bluegrass music and highlights artists who helped bridge the gap between the first generation and modern bluegrass. While the show centers around traditional sounds, we also look at today’s artists who are keeping the spirit of bluegrass alive and growing. Tune in every Saturday from 10am to 1pm.

Trivia Sandwich
2026-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | VA
Trivia Sandwich is the tastiest sandwich. Join Hollie and Kris every Wednesday at 11am EST for cold cuts and condiments of the fun variety.

Crooked Road Radio Hour
2026-02-25 13:00 - 14:00 | VA
Join host Bill Smith as he guides you on an exciting journey through the 19 counties along the Crooked Road. Explore the diverse sounds of traditional music in Southwest Virginia through live performances, historic recordings, and oral histories found along the Crooked Road! Tune in every Wednesday at 1pm EST.

Folk Yeah!
2026-02-25 14:00 - 15:00 | VA
Tune in every Wednesday at 2p for “Folk Yeah!” with your host, Ella Patrick (AKA Momma Molasses). Join Ella as she explores the outer realms of Folk Music and much more!

Honky Tonk Hit Parade
2026-02-25 15:00 - 17:00 | VA
Join host Bailey George every Wednesday from 3pm to 5pm Eastern for the Honky Tonk Hit Parade featuring the best in classic country, hillbilly boppers and honky tonk rarities!

Museum Talk
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00 | VA
Do you want to know more about the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s exhibits and programs? Go behind-the-scenes into the museum vault and learn about how museums work? Get acquainted with other museums and cultural hotspots? And sometimes just have a complete nerd-a-thon about history and culture with some geeky museum folks? Then Museum Talk is the show for you! Merging with BCM’s Radio Bristol Book Club (every fourth Thursday of the month), you can join hosts Erika Barker, Sam Parker, and René Rodgers on the other Thursdays at Noon to explore all things museum-y, hear some tunes, and meet interesting people across the airwaves!

Outside The Box
2026-02-26 14:00 - 15:00 | VA
Join Roxanne Thursdays at 2pm for an eclectic mix of all things country and country-adjacent. From iconic hits to obscure treasures, from the world stage to local artists, Roxanne brings along a little bit of everything. With a blend of music, talk, live performances, and interviews, you’re sure to encounter old favorites while discovering new ones.

Pressing Matters
2026-02-26 16:00 - 17:00 | VA
Dive into the ever expanding world of vinyl records with host Clint Holley. Vinyl records, once considered a “dead” format, have exploded in popularity during the last decade. Join Clint Thursdays at 6pm as he plays new music being released on vinyl, explores newly pressed re-issues, and dusts off some lost classics. As a bonus, find out more about vinyl culture as Clint interviews the people who are driving the new found enthusiasm for vinyl through their passionate work and collecting. Show replays Sundays at 3pm.

Diggin' with Big Lon
2026-02-26 17:00 - 18:00 | VA
Diggin’ with Big Lon discovers the rich musical heritage of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia one dusty record at a time. Big Lon has combined his love of history and music to build a collection of local 45rpm and 78rpm records. Tune in every Thursday at 5pm! Check out his story on Facebook at Big Lon’s Crateful Dig.

Plum Wild
2026-02-27 11:00 - 12:00 | VA
Buckle up! Plum Wild with Ole Justin Chambers is hittin’ the airwaves on Radio Bristol! He’s spinnin’ full-throttle country gold: current cuts, timeless classics, and the wonderfully weird. From oddball outlaws to cowboy poets, deep-cut songwriters to cosmic crooners—if it howls, twangs, or stirs the soul, it’s fair game. It’s country radio the way it oughta be. Tune in every Friday at 11a EST and get Plum Wild!

Country Song Round Up
2026-02-27 12:00 - 15:00 | VA
Craving country authenticity? Tune in on Fridays, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. ET for Country Song Round Up. From Roy Acuff to Dwight Yoakam, it’s twang aplenty and songs of substance. Your host and longtime music journalist, Tom Netherland, will present a good natured riot every week.

Blowin' The Fuse
2026-02-27 16:00 - 17:00 | VA
Get with the program every Friday starting at 4pm as we get crazy with fuzz toned garage rock and jump into blues with a feeling and of course, a back beat. All vinyl, all the time!

The Pocket
2026-02-27 17:00 - 18:00 | VA
“The Pocket” is an hour-long, weekly show that hopes to introduce the listener to soul music, or at least remind them of something they might have forgotten about along the way. Playing his favorite soul songs on the radio is not something host Jared Bentley thought he’d get the chance to do, but he’s certainly reveling in the opportunity, so tune in and see what it’s all about. Tune in every Friday at 5pm EST.

Indie This Indie That
2026-02-27 18:00 - 19:00 | VA
‘Indie This Indie That’ brings you indie folk, Lo-Fi, and indie pop chillness with Swirly guitars, soothing vocals, and sounds that will make you say “what instrument was playing that cool riff?” Get ready to gently head bang to bands like Big Thief, Slow Pulp, Julia Jacklin, and Andy Shauf. Every Friday at 6p EST with host Ash Wright!

1927 Society Concert Series: Hogslop String Band
2026-02-27 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 Hogslop String Band. 1927 Society Concert Underwriting Support Provided By Meade Tractor and Freedom Automotive.
Date: Friday, February 27, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Performance Theater, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Tickets: $119.57
GET TICKETS
—Presale for 1927 Society Members starts on Thursday, December 4
Check email for Access Code
—Public Onsale starts on Thursday, December 11

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 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. Music begins at 7 p.m.
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 Hogslop String Band
Staying true to tradition while maintaining a bold irreverence is something that rarely goes hand-in-hand, but Hogslop String Band manages to walk that line. With their roots in old-time string band music, and their energy based in wild rock- and-roll; you could almost call them punk purists.
It’s an unlikely combination, but given the talents of singer and fiddler Kevin Martin; guitarist, harmonica player and singer Gabriel Kelley; banjo player and singer Daniel Binkley, and bassist and all-round entertainer Pickle, they pull it off with natural ease. The name alone hints at their wacky ways, but catching them live will give you a true sense of these bizarre, seemingly contradictory descriptions.
They thrive on crossing genres, casting off the confines of straight old-time and bluegrass, delving into a deep repertoire of rock, folk, psychedelic, and original numbers that can only be described as,”The Hogslop Sound.” It’s clear that these guys are going places, and they’ve quickly become one of the most unique and exhilarating outfits in live music today. After making their Opry Debut in 2022, Hogslop String Band has begun to cross the lines of more than genre.
www.hogslopstringband.com

Woodsongs
2026-02-28 09:00 - 10:00 | VA
Folksinger Michael Johnathon’s WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour is an hour long, weekly live-audience, Americana format show that presents the best grassroots and acoustic music to our global audience. Tune in every Saturday morning at 9am!

Weekly Music Lessons with JAM Kids at the Museum!
2026-02-28 10:30 - 11:30 | VA
Date: Weekly on Saturdays
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: $5 per class or $45 for 10 lessons
Through a new partnership with Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a new affiliate location for the program, offering weekly music lessons at the museum for children grades 4-8 and beyond. JAM Kids introduces music through small group instruction on acoustic instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Students may bring their own instruments, or they can be provided as a loan while your child is participating in the program. Other instruments may be introduced as to be determined by instructors. Weekly classes will be held throughout the year, and students can join the program at any point in the year.
Registration is required to participate in this program. You can download the Registration Forms and bring it with you when you drop off your child for their first lesson or complete it at the museum’s front desk upon arrival. Each week, lessons will be filled based on arrival and capped at 30 students. Registration allows you to participate but does not guarantee your spot each week.
We do not offer online registration or spot reservations for this program. Lessons can be purchased as-you-go for $5 or as a bundle of ten pre-paid lessons for $45. The bundle is a discounted rate and will expedite your check-in process, but does not guarantee your spot each week. The class will be closed if capacity is reached before your arrival. Scholarships are available upon request. For more information about signing up for JAM or to inquire about scholarships, email Erika Barker at ebarker@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
Registration Forms: Please bring all three forms with you when you arrive for your first lesson.

Registration Form
Student Contract
Media Release Form

Junior Appalachian Musicians is a non-profit and the parent organization for 50+ after-school programs for children in grades 4 – 8. We provide communities with the tools and support they need to teach children to play and dance to traditional old-time and bluegrass music. JAM introduces music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as fiddle, banjo and guitar. Each JAM program is individually operated and funded. By affiliating with the JAM organization, each program is eligible to receive support and resources for free and is licensed to use “Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)” to identify their traditional music education program.
Be sure to check out JAM Kids on Facebook and Instagram!

The JAM Program Model
JAM is an after-school program for children in grades 4 – 8 and beyond that introduces music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as fiddle, banjo and guitar. Each JAM program is individually operated and funded. By affiliating with the JAM organization, each program is eligible to receive support and resources for free, and is licensed to use “Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)” to identify their traditional music education program.
Junior Appalachian Musicians ® is a registered trademark of Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc.
In JAM, instrument instruction is often augmented by dance and vocal instruction as well as string band classes and group enrichment lessons, which introduce children to additional Appalachian culture and history. The JAM program model provides children with opportunities to not only learn traditional music, but to also perform in small and large groups. Field trips, visiting artists and an introduction to the rich history of music unique to each local community further supplement program offerings. Each JAM program is encouraged to foster musical traditions by teaching local styles of traditional mountain music and dance to children. Instructors are also encouraged to teach students to learn music by ear, as to preserve oral traditions as much as possible. Other teaching methodologies and instructional skills are covered in regional professional development and training sessions held multiple times per year and hosted by JAM. JAM also encourages student engagement across programs with regional performance and learning activities throughout the year. For a full list of benefits to affiliates, click here.
JAM believes that all children should have access to traditional old time and bluegrass music. It is recommended that each program provide financial assistance through scholarships to children in need. The program model bases tuition fees on student lunch status: $10/week for full pay children, and $5/week for reduced pay children.
Class sizes typically have a student teacher ratio of 8:1 or less. JAM mandates that each affiliated program conduct criminal background checks on their instructors, directors, and other staff members and volunteers. Programs must be held in public facilities accessible to the community. Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc prohibits discrimination against any persons on the bases of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, political beliefs, familial or parental status, and sexual orientation.
For a full listing of affiliation requirements, click here.
History of JAM
Realizing the need to preserve a vital aspect of mountain culture as well as the need for positive activities to underserved youth, Helen White, then a guidance counselor at Sparta Elementary School, founded the first JAM program in Alleghany County, NC in the spring of 2000 with help from other local musicians and educators. Interest in the program spread rapidly with assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts, NC State Arts Council, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and “The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.”
In 2007, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation provided funding to allow the development of a regional infrastructure. The Dana Foundation, Virginia Commission for Arts, the Virginia Foundation for Humanities, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Harris and Frances Block Foundation and the Tides Foundation have provided funding for materials development.
“Junior Appalachian Musicians” was incorporated in 2008 as a non-profit 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation to promote a shared vision of JAM and to provide an umbrella through which to offer resources, training materials and activities to benefit programs individually and collectively. Currently in nearly 30 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, JAM affiliates are providing access to the joy of music to thousands of youth while instilling renewed interest and pride in their heritage.
Interested in learning more about JAM? Click here.

Big Al and Sandy Show
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00 | VA
Hosted by Big Al Wheetley and Sandy Shortridge. Every Saturday 1-3p EST.

Connecting Appalachia
2026-02-28 15:00 - 16:00 | VA
A radio show designed to connect younger audiences (ages 16–35) through a fusion of Hip-Hop, R&B, culture, and networking. The show will spotlight emerging artists, young entrepreneurs, and community voices while blending entertainment with opportunities for collaboration. Tune in every Saturday at 3-4p EST!

Monthly Bluegrass Jam
2026-02-28 15:00 - 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 3-5 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.

Random Rules
2026-02-28 16:00 - 17:00 | VA
Random Rules Radio is a radio show started by Tyler Moody and is now carried on by his son Henry. From Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement to Dead Man’s Bones, The Technicolors, and Czarface and Madvillan. It’s random and it rules. Tune in Saturdays at 4pm EST for Random Rules Radio!

In The Pit
2026-02-28 23:00 - 23:59 | VA
From Legends to local, Mike V. delivers a different show every week taking you straight to the pit!! Including punk, metal, doom, and much more!

Righteous Fuzz
2026-03-01 00:00 - 01:00 | VA
Righteous Fuzz is where the gritty howl of garage rock meets the soul-stirring twang of classic country gospel. Tune in for a wild ride through fuzz-drenched riffs and heavenly harmonies—think dusty amplifiers cranked to eleven alongside heartfelt hymns that echo through the ages. This show blends the raw, rebellious spirit of garage legends with the timeless redemption of gospel classics. Whether you’re a sinner, a saint, or somewhere in between, Righteous Fuzz delivers a sound that’ll shake your bones and lift your spirit.

Stained Glass Bluegrass
2026-03-01 10:00 - 11:00 | VA
Probably more than any other popular music, bluegrass has always embraced gospel. The harmonies of church hymns and hand-clapping songs of praise are part of the roots of bluegrass. Many festivals still devote the Sunday morning stage to gospel sets, and it’s common for bluegrass radio shows to play a gospel number or two every hour. Bluegrass fans have enjoyed the sounds of Sunday morning gospel since 1974, when Stained Glass Bluegrass first aired on WAMU-FM. The show has been continuously broadcast every Sunday since then, and is a mainstay of Bluegrass Country Radio. Over the years, we have heard from listeners from just about all faiths and those who somehow relate to or simply enjoy the vocal harmonies, melodies, or the instrumentation and sincerity of this music. We invite you to join host Cindy Baucom every Sunday morning at 10 AM EST, and become a part of the Stained Glass Bluegrass family right here on Radio Bristol!
