Named one of USA Today's top 10 music festivals in the country two years in a row, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion has added more acts to its already-stellar lineup--which includes 49 Winchester, Ashley McBryde, The Wallflowers, The Red Clay Strays, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Sam Bush, Wilderado, The SteelDrivers, and Brittney Spencer. Produced by the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music and presented by Ballad Health, the 23rd annual event is slated for Sept. 13-15 along the state lines of Virginia and Tennessee--home of the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions.
New to the lineup and making their debut at Bristol Rhythm in 2024: Nashville Southern rock outfit Hippies and Cowboys and eastern Kentucky underground oddity Laid Back Country Picker. Other announcements include Sam Grisman Project, The Resonant Rogues, renowned bluegrass vocalist and musician Junior Sisk, and emerging blues artist Justin Golden. Bristol Rhythm is well-known for finding stars on the rise; musical prodigies Wyatt Ellis, 14, and Parker Collins, 16, are among the youngest added to the mix.
There is a deep well of under-the-radar talent in Bristol and the surrounding region, and the festival takes great pride in showcasing those artists. Russell County's 49 Winchester is but one example; the band is among Rolling Stone's "Country Music's Buzziest of Buzz Bands" and taking the alt-country scene by storm. Another is singer-songwriter Noah Spencer from nearby Tazewell County; a Season 24 competitor on NBC's "The Voice." Coincidentally, 17-year-old Lillian Hackett from northern Va. is an alum of "American Idol" Season 22 on ABC.
Additionally, Bristol Rhythm announces the return of "Hoot and Holler," Roanoke, Va.'s live storytelling event, and WBCM Radio Bristol's popular "Farm and Fun Time" variety show, broadcasting live from the festival.
Previously announced performers on the Bristol Rhythm lineup include Drayton Farley, Jaime Wyatt, Bella White, Silverada, Grace Bowers, Dale Watson & His Lone Stars, Hannah Dasher, Stephen Day, Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, Tommy Prine, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, and The Kody Norris Show, to name a few.
In all, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2024 offers 92 acts on a dozen stages over the course of a rockin' three days--for the affordable price of $145 (plus tax/fee) per weekend pass. At about a buck-fifty per band, it's an authentic music experience set where country music icons Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family made history. For budget-conscious fans of country music, it's a no-brainer.
While you're there, be sure to visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, to learn more about Bristol's important place in music history. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the interactive museum, a milestone among many sweeping across The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail--which celebrates its own 20th anniversary this year.
For tickets and more information, visit BristolRhythm.com.
