Sunny skies and warm smiles prevailed over an incredible lineup of artists at the 23rd annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion last weekend. The celebratory gathering, presented by Ballad Health and produced by Birthplace of Country Music, honored the far-reaching influence of the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings in grand style, with well-rounded offerings of rock, country, bluegrass, Americana, and more - genres with roots that trace all the way back to the "big bang." Set along several blocks of State Street, where Tennessee meets Virginia in Bristol's vibrant and welcoming city center, the festival entertained fans from 42 states and at least five foreign countries. With final attendance count still pending, the festival has announced dates of its return - Sept. 19-21, 2025.
The twin cities' esteemed history wasn't lost on its musical guests; they understood the assignment and passed the vibe test - with extra credit. Like many others throughout the weekend, GRAMMY Award-winning artist and festival headliner Ashley McBryde gave Bristol its just props, proclaiming from the State Street Stage on Friday night; "Whoever your favorite artist is, you can trace them back to here, this is the Mecca of country music."
A couple of blocks up the road, fans of Alabama honky-tonk export The Red Clay Strays packed the Piedmont Stage for a white-hot set which included songs from their latest release "Made by These Moments." Over on Cumberland Square Park's permanent stage, Wilderado captivated fans with their brand of hypnotic, alt-rock grooves.
Dynamic cellist and composer Dave Eggar, known for assembling an eclectic group of collaborators at Bristol Rhythm, surprised us once again by hopping on the Country Music Mural Stage with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley for a rousing rendition of the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil." In an exciting twist, the duo later joined Eggar's Paramount set with rapper-songwriter-actress Le'Asha Julius and renowned Djembe percussionist Weedie Braimah.
Other opening day highlights included stellar performances by country-folk Chartreuse Bella White and alt-country outlaw Jaime Wyatt, both making their Bristol debut. Other notables on Friday included killer sets from Holy Roller, Laid Back Country Picker, and local pop-funk fusion outfit Florencia & The Feeling.
Historically, Saturdays at Bristol Rhythm are a marathon of music; requiring intense tactical planning, sensible footwear, and mindful hydration in preparation for the cornucopia of experiences that await. Unplanned side missions are often rewarded by moments of discovery and magical memories to last a lifetime.
Speaking of moments, Jim Lauderdale's Jedi Master to young Wyatt Ellis' Padawan at the Country Music Mural Saturday afternoon gave us all the feels. The King of Americana joined Ellis on The Stanley Brothers tune "If I Lose." Lauderdale is well-known for his generosity and support of other artists; seeing his encouragement for the next gen of bluegrass was truly special.
Other Saturday happenings included WBCM Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time variety show at Paramount Bristol. Always a treat, this year special guests included Silverada and Logan Ledger. Soulful country music phenom and Bristol first-timer Brittney Spencer won the hearts of every single audience member at Cumberland Square Park. Festy veteran and honky-tonk hero Dale Watson & His Lone Stars performed his seventh Bristol Rhythm this year.
The undefinable country firecracker and TikTok sensation Hannah Dasher ate and left no crumbs in her custom red suit, cooking up hot guitar licks and Southern gal anthems to a packed 6th Street Stage. She and her band were later spotted cheering on 49 Winchester, who were presented with an official proclamation from the Commonwealth of Virginia just prior to their exuberant set.
To the delight of 90s kids, The Wallflowers played their hits and then some, driving home an encore of Tom Petty classics on Piedmont. The evening closed on Cumberland with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, who had earlier joined AJ Lee & Blue Summit's late afternoon set on the same stage. AJ returned the favor during Molly's set. There were shenanigans as Joel Timmons (husband of Tuttle's bassist Shelby Means) danced around the stage in a giant bunny costume head to "Alice in the Bluegrass." Molly's brother, Sullivan Tuttle, joined her for a haunting rendition of the Carter Family-Bristol Sessions classic "Bury Me Beneath the Willow," a song she recorded for "The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" soundtrack.
Improvisational jazz outfit Post Bop Revival, a local favorite, set the pace for an easy Sunday with a classy, two-hour set under the tent at Machiavelli's, complementary to the synthy and soulful sounds of Stephen Day midday on State Street.
Family, friends, and fans of the late Jamen Denton gathered in the park for a moving tribute to the beloved singer-songwriter, taken from us too soon. Jamen's son, Noah Denton, an emerging talent in his own right, led us on an unforgettable journey through his father's catalogue alongside his mother, Randi Denton, former Virginia Ground bandmates Jon McGlocklin and William Outlaw, and others. Mother and son's stark rendition of Jamen's "Impossible to Please" was perhaps the most poignant moment in the set, with not a dry eye in the house.
Jim Lauderdale & The Gamechangers, Lonesome River Band, Ed Snodderly, and Nashville's Goldpine kept us entertained all afternoon, leading up to impeccable performances by The Waybacks and the ever-energetic newgrass icon Sam Bush.
18-year-old guitar prodigy Grace Bowers and her band The Hodge Podge brought the funk and then some, mesmerizing fans with delicious jams that would make George Clinton himself land the Mothership.
Skilled musicianship with a unique sound is a theme at Bristol Rhythm; The SteelDrivers are an embodiment of it. Known for their live performances and signature blend of blues-bluegrass, the band is a true original that engages fans like no other. It was the perfect ending to a perfect festival, over way too soon.
Something fans missing the festival can look forward to from behind the scenes at Bristol Rhythm 2024, video sessions of selected artists were recorded at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for Paste Magazine by the production company I Know We Should all weekend long. A total of nine videos will be released by Paste online and via the outlet's YouTube channel. Several artists participated in the sessions including Brittney Spencer, Grace Bowers, Wilderado, Hannah Dasher, and more. Keep an eye on Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion's social media channels for a release schedule, coming soon.
Tickets to Bristol Rhythm 2025 are on sale now for $135 (plus Bristol, Va. admission tax, ticketing agent fee). Visit BristolRhythm.com for more information.
