Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Guidebook

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16th ANNUAL

Welcome HOME, Friends!

Welcome to the 2016 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival. The festival has evolved and grown into one of the premier music festivals in the southeast. We are proud of the positive impact the festival has on our region, and we want to thank you for your support and dedication throughout the years.

This year the festival has assembled a great lineup of artists that is sure to please. We are excited to announce we have moved back the State Street Stage to give you more viewing room. In addition, we are switching up Children’s Day on September 17th. This year, Children’s Day will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and will focus on music-related activities and crafts for the kids.

We are truly thankful for all the support we receive from our many volunteers each year. Over 800 volunteers work together to make this event a success. In addition, thank you to our sponsors, partners, downtown merchants, and the City of Bristol, Tennessee and the City of Bristol, Virginia for helping us make this event possible.

Sincerely,

Charles Earhart Chairmen, 2016 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Committee 4

BIRTHPLACE of Country Music TEAM BCM BOARD

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

Dan Bieger Charles Earhart Larry Gorley Bill Hartley Edd Hill Larry Kirksey Emily Lee Kathi Leniski Kimberly Leonard Keith Liskey Rob Nicar Lea Powers John Rainero Ed Stout Brent Treash Craig Turner Nita Vollmer

Artist Hospitality Artist Merchandise Atmosphere Children’s Day Concessions Green Team Logistics Marketing Music Security Souvenirs Transportation Vendors Volunteers City of Bristol TN Rep City of Bristol VA Rep

IN J. W. Addison Brian Andrews Gene Boyd Monette Vanover Fair

BCM STAFF

Kathi Leniski Nikki Nash Tara Russo Tammi Berry Gwen Talley Tasha Foy Terry Napier Kimberly Leonard Brent Treash Charlie Phelps Angela Costagliola David Shumaker Katie Sword Larry Denney Margaret Feierabend Doug Fleenor

Memoriam Rex Gearheart Ralph Stanley Gary Redden Wiley J. Smith

Scotty Almany Charlene Baker Tracey Childress Erin Dalton Kim Davis Brett Davis Schaap Freeman DeAnna Greene Hannah Holmes Carey Kidd Allison Linder Becky Littleton Josh Littleton Landy Mathes René Rodgers Leah Ross Chad Smith Nathan Sykes Kris Truelsen Jessica Turner Cheryl Wedel

Georgia Warren Sue Ella Boatright Wells

Contact us BristolRhythm.com | 423.573.1927 Info@BirthplaceofCountryMusic.org

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Calendar

of EVENTS Visit BristolRhythm.com for more information.

BLUEGRASS JAM CAMP

SEPTEMBER 13-16 (TUESDAY-FRIDAY) TUE 1PM-6PM, WED-FRI 10AM-6PM LOCATION: JUBILEE HOUSE RETREAT CENTER 822 E MAIN ST, ABINGDON, VA 24210

Jam Camp is designed to give you knowledge, clues, and practical experience playing by ear with others. Gilbert Nelson, along with his expert professional teaching and coaching staff, shows you the way. Most of all he makes it fun! Jam Camp is taught according to the Wernick Method. Advanced Registration Required.

RADIO BRISTOL PRESENTS: FARM & FUN TIME

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 7PM LOCATION: BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM 520 BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC WAY, BRISTOL, VA

Kicking off the 2016 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Radio Bristol is proud to host a special Farm & Fun Time live broadcast and concert on Thursday before the festival begins. Featuring an all-star lineup, this will be a Farm & Fun Time you don’t want to miss! Additional Ticket Required.

5K ROAD RACE & 2 MILE FUN RUN SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 5K ROAD RACE STARTING TIME: 8:00AM 2 MILE FUN RUN STARTING TIME: 8:05AM LOCATION: ANDERSON PARK 341 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD, BRISTOL, TN

The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 5K Road Race and 2 Mile Fun Run returns once again to Historic Downtown Bristol. The race will begin at the intersection of Anderson St. and Martin Luther King Blvd.

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CHILDREN’S DAY

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 10AM–1PM LOCATION: CUMBERLAND SQUARE PARK

Our free Children’s Day event at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is a great day of family fun with live entertainment and lots of activities the kids will enjoy.

To help celebrate Bristol’s music heritage, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum will provide hands-on activities for Children’s Day attendees. There will be no inflatable bounce houses this year.

Entertainment by Silly Bus and Empty Bottle String Band.

YOGA ROCKS IN THE PARK! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 11AM LOCATION: ANDERSON PARK 341 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD, BRISTOL, TN

Join Bristol Yoga for yoga in the park. Bring a mat, your zen, and we’ll do the rest. It’s a beautiful way to start your day!

The class is free of charge.

CHILI COOK-OFF

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 12:00PM JUDGING & TASTING 1:00PM WINNERS ANNOUNCED LOCATION: CUMBERLAND SQUARE PARK

The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Chili Cook-Off is the tastiest competition in the Tri-Cities. If you think you have the recipe to beat, this is the competition for you! Advanced Registration Required.

GUIDED JAM

SEPTEMBER 17-18 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: 12PM-5PM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: 2PM (JAM CLASS DEMONSTRATION) LOCATION: 516 BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC WAY

FREE! Did you bring your instrument to our festival but feel shy about taking it out and actually playing with other people? You are not alone, even if it sometimes feels that way! Join us for the Guided Jam.

YOUTH MUSIC COMPETITION & UKE JAM

YOUTH COMPETITION: SEPTEMBER 17 10:00AM AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM UKE JAM: SEPTEMBER 18 12:00PM AT CAPO’S MUSIC STORE TENT - VA SIDE OF STATE STREET

Bristol Rhythm and Capo’s Music Store, LLC unite once more for the 3rd Annual Youth Music Competition. The competition is open to youth ages 5-18 playing the banjo, fiddle/violin, guitar, mandolin, or uke. Bands are now also welcomed in the competition.

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Visitor Information FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL

TICKETS

CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER FREE 2016 WEEKEND PASSES: $100 AT THE GATE, INCLUDES BRISTOL, VA ADMISSION TAX INDIVIDUAL DAY PASSES AT THE GATE: FRIDAY $45 | SATURDAY $50 | SUNDAY $45 INCLUDES BRISTOL, VA ADMISSION TAX

GATES OPEN:

Friday 1PM | Saturday 9AM | Sunday 10AM

REUNION POLICIES

NO COOLERS. NO ILLEGAL DRUGS.

NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL PERMITTED. Per Bristol, TN/VA City Ordinances, no alcohol or open containers are allowed outside designated, gated beverage gardens or restaurants where alcohol is served. PLEASE drink responsibly for your safety and the safety of others. Those who display inappropriate or sloppy behavior will be asked to leave the festival.

NO PETS ALLOWED. Service animals are permitted.

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ADA INFO ADA PARKING: ADA parking is available at Regions Bank (corner of Volunteer Parkway and Shelby Street, Bristol, TN – enter from Shelby Street). Once your state-issued auto identification is verified, you will be instructed where to park. ADA parking is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Disabled Veterans of America operate the ADA parking area; donations for parking are appreciated.

SERVICE ANIMALS: Pets are not allowed at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. Service animals are allowed.

GETTING IN AND AROUND: Scooters, wheelchairs, power chairs, and other mobility devices are only permitted for use by those with mobility disabilities. All entrance points into the festival are handicap friendly.

WHEELCHAIR AND COMPANION VIEWING AREAS: Bristol Rhythm provides reserved viewing areas for patrons with mobility challenges (and one companion) during the festival. A roped off area near or alongside the festival seating area at the eight outdoor stages is reserved for fans in wheelchairs.

ACCESSIBLE PORTABLE TOILETS: Accessible portable toilets are located throughout the festival footprint; please refer to the festival map for the closest location.

ACCESSIBLE ATMS: Several accessible ATMS are located throughout the festival footprint; please refer to the festival map for the closest location.

COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: Meeting the needs of our Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion fans with disabilities is a never-ending commitment. In our quest to continually improve accessibility, we ask that you contact us with your comments, questions, and suggestions at info@bristolrhythm.com.

SHUTTLE SCHEDULE

FRIDAY: 3:00pm – 1:00am SATURDAY: 10:00am – 1:00am SUNDAY: 10:00am – 8:00pm

SHUTTLE COST: $10 (Covers All Weekend) CHILDREN (12 and Under) ARE FREE

SHUTTLES WILL PICK UP/DROP OFF PASSENGERS FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: THUNDER MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND (2623 Volunteer Pkwy.) 6.7 mi.

DAYS INN (Volunteer Pkwy.) 1.7 mi HAMPTON INN/FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES/AMERICAN INN (Exits 74A or 74B, W. State St.) 4.7 mi ECONO LODGE (Exit 3, Commonwealth Ave.) 1.8 mi.

BRISTOL MALL ENTRANCE (Exit 1, 500 Gate City Hwy.) 2.7 mi.

COMFORT INN (Exit 5, Lee Hwy.) 3.3 mi.

HOLIDAY INN / COURTYARD MARRIOTT (Exit 7, Linden Dr.) 4.6 mi.

HILTON GARDEN INN (Exit 7, 121 Village Circle) 6.7 mi.

QUALITY INN & SUITES (Exit 7, 131 Bristol East Rd.) 6.4 mi.

SUGAR HOLLOW PARK CAMPGROUND (Exit 7, Lee Hwy. Pick up at softball & soccer fields) 6 mi. – Transportation from campground provided by the City of Bristol, VA Cost for this shuttle is $5 per trip. (Festival shuttle wristband does not apply to this shuttle route) 9

BRONZE

SILVER

GOLD

PLATINUM

2016 Festival Sponsors

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A & S Sanitation Appalachian Chiropractic Wellness Center Atmos Energy AtWork Personnel Services Ballpark Signs BB&T Blood Assurance Bolts & Screws, Inc. Brew Rebellion Bristol Golf Carts Bristol, TN School System Cabela’s

Campbell Printing Cavalier Comics Cavalier Pharmacy Citizens Bank Coca-Cola Comfort Systems USA EcoLogical Energy Systems Edward Jones – Rob Simis & Greg Fahn Elliott Lawson & Minor, P.C. Express AV, LLC Ferguson Animal Hospital John & Brenda Fincher

First Tennessee Foundation William Handy, MD Holston Medical Group William C. Horne, Jr., D.D.S. Jerry Peters Sales Kerr-Boswell, Inc./AutoOwners Insurance King University La Leche League of Bristol Marsh Propane Necessary Oil New Peoples Bank PennStuart

Pratt-Triad Packaging/ Display Pro-Art Renasant Bank Seaman Corporation Shearer’s Foods Inc. Mike & Karen Spear Sunbelt Rentals TriSummit Bank The University of VA’s College at Wise VALIS, Inc. Virginia Electric Supply Wise County Tourism WoodmenLife

We Thank You! PLATINUM MEDIA SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSORS

HOST HOTELS

CONTRIBUTORS Clear Creek Golf Course American Red Cross Coeburn Home Center Charles Anderson Colgate Bright Smiles Appalachian Sustainable Bright Futures Development Crutchfield Bebo’s Music Daniels Heating & Plumbing Bristol Yoga Edward Jones Financial Wynn Canes Services - Office of James Central Christian Church Children’s Advocacy Center Lawson Family Protective Services of Bristol/Washington Funk Drilling Company County, VA Girl Scout Troop 402 Children’s Inc.

Girls Inc. of Bristol Iron Order Motorcycle Club Jeremy O’Quinn Law Offices Junior League of Bristol Keep Bristol Beautiful KS Promotional Products Lowe’s Home Improvement Morgan-McClure Morrison School Pulitzer Orthodontics

Dr. Tommy Potter Revolution Curbside Recycling Southern States St. Anne Catholic School Sullivan County Imagination Library Wellmont Diabetes Treatment Center YWCA Bristol TechGYRLS

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Highroad

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Reunion Artists A Great Disaster

SAT. State Line 9:30p

AMERICANA

Despite the band’s name, A Great Disaster’s tasty, improvisational grooves have international appeal on a catastrophic scale. This amazing quartet from Johnson City, Tennessee, creates danceable, jammy, earworms with a feel-good vibe from a chop salad of rock, jazz, pop, and R&B. This is a solid act with limitless potential. If you like the Dave Matthews Band and the String Cheese Incident, A Great Disaster is a welcome cataclysm of the soul.

Aaron Lee Tasjan ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

SAT. Paramount 5:00p SUN. 6th Street 2:30p

Aaron Lee Tasjan shed his former skin as a much sought after rock guitarist with groups like The New York Dolls and Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ and has transitioned into one of America’s most acclaimed and insightful songwriters. Often getting on stage with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and a fuzz pedal, Tasjan weaves songs of eternal truth, half-true stories and epic guitar work into a one-man show that Guitar World Magazine calls “… extraordinarily engaging.” ASCAP called him “one of America’s great songwriters of the next generation.”

Adam Lawson

SINGER-SONGWRITER

SAT. Shanghai 6:45p SUN. Mach Indoor 3:00p

Quietly and consistently, Adam Lawson has built solid relationships with the Tri-Cities’ best artists and venues, earning respect along the way. The prolific songwriter makes music that sounds like beer, cigarette smoke, and rural highways that lead to ramshackle roadhouses; they sound like a cry to a star-filled sky, a dreamer’s diary, the words of the last romantic. Lawson’s Americana sound drips with twang, grit, and that high lonesome sound.

The Americans AMERICANA

SAT. Piedmont 1:30p SUN. 7th Street 2:00p

Formed in Los Angeles, The Americans perform original Rock ‘n’ Roll with deep roots in traditional American music. The band appears throughout American Epic, a four-hour primetime PBS / BBC special produced by Jack White, Robert Redford, and T Bone Burnett.

In the film the band appears alongside a number of amazing artists including Elton John, Taj Mahal, Beck, Willie Nelson, The Avett Brothers, and Merle Haggard. The Americans’ music is also featured in the Michael Mann-produced film Texas Killing Fields, starring Sam Worthington and Chloë Grace Moretz.

FRI. Piedmont Station 9:15p Amythyst Kiah & SAT. Paramount 3:00p Her Chest of Glass

SOUTHERN GOTHIC

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Amythyst Kiah is well on her way to becoming a powerhouse vocalist pantheon. Drawing heavily on an array of influences—from the Mississippi Sheiks, Olla Belle Reed, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Adele—Kiah’s self-described “southern gothic” sound is amplified to eleven with the addition of backing band Her Chest of Glass, comprised of members of the band this mountain.

Anderson East

SINGER-SONGWRITER

FRI. Piedmont 8:15p

Produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson), the release of Southern Family culminates a breakout year for Anderson East following his widely praised album, Delilah. Of East, Cobb comments: “When he sings you can hear the soil and landscape of great southern soul in his voice and he’s an amazing writer as well.”

Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats

FRI. State Line 7:45p SAT. Piedmont Station 11:00p SUN. Mach Outdoor 6:00p

ALT-FOLK

Based in the music mecca of Asheville, North Carolina, Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats are winning over audiences with their high-energy live performances and eclectic mix of rock, blues, jazz, and funk. The band is consistently touring and was ranked the #1 rock ‘n’ roll band in western North Carolina in 2015 by readers of Mountain Xpress Magazine.

Annabelle’s Curse ALT-FOLK

SAT. Mach Outdoor 5:15p SUN. Paramount 2:00p

Annabelle’s Curse is an alt-folk band from Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia. Its members are Tim Kilbourne (vocals, banjo, guitar), Carly Booher (vocals, mandolin), Zack Edwards (guitar), Travis Goyette (percussion), and Tyler Luttrell (bass). As an independent band, Annabelle’s Curse’s fan support has been instrumental to their success. They have released three fulllength albums; the most recent two, Hollow Creature and Worn Out Skin, were fully funded by fans.

Avers

FRI. O’Mainnins 7:00p SAT. 7th Street 1:00p

ROCK

Psychedelic pop. Blistering garage rock. Fuzzed-out shoegaze. Free-formed throwback jams. With their amps cranked high and their voices doused in reverb, the Avers brew up their own kind of spacey swirl. It’s a sound that keeps one foot in the past and the other in the present, like some kind of 1960s time capsule unearthed by a group of 21st-century indie kids. Their latest album, ‘Omega/Whatever,’ was released this summer.

Balsam Range

FRI. Mural 10:00p

BLUEGRASS

Balsam Range is a group of five outstanding acoustic musicians and bluegrass vocalists with an impressive list of credentials. In 2015 the band received IBMA’s “Vocal Group of the Year” and “Song of the Year.”

The band was voted “Entertainer of the Year” in 2014. The band’s fifth album, Five, made its Billboard Chart debut at #4 where it stayed for six weeks.

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Reunion Artists SUN. Shanghai 3:15p

Banjo Banditas BLUEGRASS

The Banjo Banditas, featuring Andromeda “Andi” Strong and Halie Lynn, hail from Southwest Virginia, where they first began making music together at the Big Stone Gap Wise JAM program. The girls perform traditional Appalachian music while continuing to acknowledge the contemporary influences that surround them.

Becky Buller

FRI. Mural 5:30p FRI. Near Moore 8:30p

BLUEGRASS/AMERICANA Becky Buller is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer who has traipsed the world over performing bluegrass/Americana/roots music to fund her insatiable habit of songwriting. Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver have recorded Buller’s music. In 2015 she was honored with three IBMA Awards including “Emerging Artist of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year,” and “Recorded Event of the Year.”

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn

SAT. Mural 8:00p

AMERICANA/ROOTS

Multi-Grammy award-winning Béla Fleck just may be the most revered banjo player in the world. Abigail Washburn is an accomplished singer/ songwriter and clawhammer banjoist whose inspired fusion of Chinese folk and Appalachian music has earned critical acclaim internationally.

Ben Gilmer

AMERICANA/COUNTRY/ROOTS

SAT. Blackbird 6:15p SUN. Piedmont Station 12:00p

Ben Gilmer grew up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia where he passed his time messing around the farm with his brother and cousins and playing music with family.

Gilmer’s songwriting reflects a strong sense of place deeply rooted in Central Appalachia— honest songs about hard times, family, and love. His album Russell County Fair is equally inspired by joy and hardship and wrestles with Central Appalachia’s past and present with clear eyes fixed toward a new Appalachia built on the lessons of its history.

Beth Snapp

SINGER-SONGWRITER

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SAT. Blackbird 9:30p SUN. O’Mainnins 1:30p

Beth Snapp is a well-kept secret in the music world of East Tennessee, but her songs are snatching the hearts of more and more listeners. Focusing on the interplay of light and dark using raw honesty, empathy, and vulnerability, Beth peeks into the intricacies of everyday life with almost severe introspection. Combined with a unique musical blend of folk, pop, jazz, and a hint of bluegrass, Beth offers a glimpse into the human heart.

Bill & the Belles HILLBILLY MUSIC

FRI. Paramount 9:30p SAT. Mural 12:30p

Bill & the Belles delivers delicately crafted early popular country music and long forgotten sentimental songs for the modern listener. Lifelong musicians Kris Truelsen, Grace Van’t Hof, Kalia Yeagle, and Karl Zerfas bring to the stage an uplifting show unlike any other, full of humor, high spirits, and all-around revelry.

Billy Crawford Band

SUN. 6th Street 4:30p

BLUES/ROCK

Blues guitar might be associated with Mississippi, Texas, and Chicago, but a man of the mid-South has something to say about that. Billy Crawford was raised playing bass in church, then gained an early hard-rock pedigree on electric guitar. But for the past three decades, he has turned his six-string action toward the blues. For much of the 1990s, audiences around the world heard Crawford’s intense work with blues-rocker Deborah Coleman. Crawford is a Bristol-based musician who rips through blues, ballads, rock, surf, and even New Orleans-style music.

FRI. 7th Street 9:30p Blair Crimmins SAT. 6th Street 9:45p and the Hookers SUN. Mach Outdoor 4:00p

RAGTIME/DIXIELAND JAZZ

Blair Crimmins began his current music career in Atlanta, Georgia, with a determination to bring ragtime and 1920s-style Dixieland jazz to new audiences. Now, four years and five hundred shows later, he has toured the eastern United States playing large venues and has opened for national acts such as Mumford & Sons and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Boots on the Ground BLUEGRASS

FRI. Mach Indoor 5:30p FRI. Shanghai 9:30p

Boots on the Ground was formed in 2012 out of a love for playing and a desire to carry on the tradition of bluegrass music. The band has performed at a number of festivals, venues, parades, and churches in the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia region and at events for The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Music Heritage Trail. Comprised of skilled and award-winning instrumentalists, the band brings high energy to traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. Boots on the Ground is made up of band members Colton Powers, Ryan Henard, Cayce Herron, Ethan Tollison, Beecher Powers, and David Henard.

The Boys

FRI. Blackbird 7:45p SUN. Borderline 1:00p

AMERICANA

The Boys’ unique brand of “Appalachian Americana” is guaranteed to leave fans of all genres tapping their toes. Mixing old-time mountain influences with modern styles, these natives of Southwest Virginia are seasoned crossover artists. The band includes Ben Casteel on mandolin, Brian Allgood on plectrum banjo, Nate Tayloe on bass, and singersongwriter Clint Miller on guitar and vocals.

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Reunion Artists Breaking Tradition

FRI. Near Moore 5:30p

BLUEGRASS/GOSPEL

A four-piece bluegrass band, Breaking Tradition brings high energy, tight harmonies, and capable musicianship to every performance. Playing together for over 16 years, the band continues to bring traditional bluegrass gospel music to their fans throughout the Tri-Cities. Band members include Lester Parks, Hal Boyd, Trever Bartley, and Dan Carty.

BRUNS

ROCK/AMERICANA/FOLK

SAT. State Line 5:30p SUN. Mach Outdoor 2:00p

A classic American rock band, B R U N S is made up of Tim Burns, Ryan Harris Brown, and Tom Whall. B R U N S is a gospel-infused Tom Petty as much as it is Bruce Springsteen in the New South. While the rest of the country yearns for simplicity, they have somehow adopted a style of music that only becomes more complicated with the passage of time.

B R U N S is a well-earned retreat from the modern noise.

Brushy Rides

FRI. Blackbird 5:00p

FOLK/AMERICANA

With an exciting and unique modern Americana sound, Brushy Rides melds the sounds of Appalachia with their own blends of homespun Americana.

Band members include Shay Lovette, Locke Griffith, and Chad Lovette.

Buddy Guy

FRI. Piedmont 10:15p

BLUES

Buddy Guy is one of the most celebrated blues guitarists of his generation (and arguably the most celebrated), possessing a sound and style that embodies the traditions of classic Chicago blues while also embracing the fire and flash of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Guy is a genuine American treasure and one of the final surviving connections to an historic era in the country’s musical evolution. And still, as one glorious track on Rhythm & Blues puts it, he claims that “All That Makes Me Happy is the Blues.”

C2 and the Brothers Reed PROGRESSIVE ROCK

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FRI. 7th 6:00p SAT. 6th 7:45p

From Lexington, Kentucky, the band is self-described “bourbon favored rock and soul.” The brothers explore gritty Rock ‘n’ Roll while referencing 1960s- and 1970s-era soul music, embracing a sound that dives head first into dirty rock riffs and raw grooves that are seemingly classic yet completely refreshing and new. C2 and the Brothers Reed’s authenticity shines through in their studio debut Weigh Station Tour.

Carol Torch Torricelli

FRI. Blackbird 6:30p SAT. Manna Bagel 4:00p

SINGER-SONGWRITER

Carol Torch Torricelli is a singer-songwriter who currently resides in Richmond, Virginia. Her soulful sound celebrates her roots and her passion for music. Nothing brings Carol greater happiness than connecting and sharing her passion through the songs that changed her life.

Carolina Catskins

RAGTIME/APPALACHIAN SWING

FRI. Piedmont Station 5:45p SAT. Borderline 3:30p

Birthed in North Carolina, the Carolina Catskins are known for their jug band sound and Appalachian Swing. Band members include Lanky Strawbones, Dirty “big spicey” Spice, Rhino Horn, Ginger Tiddley Winks, and Hersh Mcgersh.

Chris Jamison

FRI. Mach Indoor 9:30p SAT. Piedmont Station 2:30p SUN. Blackbird 1:45p

AMERICANA Lovecraft, Chris Jamison’s fifth studio album, was released in the spring

of 2015. The album was mixed by Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, LakeStreet Dive) and mastered by Scott Hull (owner of the famed Master Disk in New York). Recorded out of an old school house in a ghost town high in the mountains of northern Arizona, and small home studios in Austin, Texas, Lovecraft represents the next leap for this young up-and-coming artist.

Clear Plastic Masks ROCK

FRI. 7th Street 7:45p SAT. Piedmont Station 8:30p

Formed in New York City, Clear Plastic Masks quite literally have honed a world of influence into bluesy, punk and soul informed rock ‘n’ roll. In 2012, the band moved to Nashville for the opportunity to work on their debut album Being There with producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Benjamin Booker, Hurray for the Riff Raff). Since then, the band has played a major role in the burgeoning Nashville Rock ‘n’ Roll scene.

The Comet Conductors

SAT. Mach Indoor 3:00p SAT. Quaker Steak 7:00p

ROCK

The Comet Conductors combines blues, funk, soul, and Rock ‘n’ Roll elements to form a cohesive and complex blend of passionate and accessible music. Band members include Jake Quillin (guitar), Magus Vaughn (bass), and Mike Lubrano (drums).

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Reunion Artists Corbin Hayslett

SUN. Mural 12:00p

BLUEGRASS

An award-winning banjoist, Corbin Hayslett is fast becoming an accomplished performer of old-time, traditional and acoustic Americana music. Hayslett appears on Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited with Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, and Vince Gill, among others, and weaves the history of “America’s instrument” with family-friendly performances, a lively stage presence, and dry wit.

The Corklickers

OLD-TIME MOUNTAIN MUSIC

FRI. Near Moore 7:00p SAT. Piedmont Station 6:30p

This band is one with a rich history. The Corklickers have been performing their tunes since 1976. The band is made up of several members including Gil Adams, Mark Adams, Rick Palmer, Rick Moore, and Brian Yerman. Past members include Mack Vannoy (Corklickers’ guitar player for many years), Clay Buckner, Ben Moore, Dick Tarrier, Andy Wallach, Monroe (Mike) Fisher, David Burns, and Casey Morell, plus others such as Rob Nicar, Ron Rasnick, Ray Bibee, Paul Herling, Jenny Cleland, and Doug Dorshug to name a few.

Cracker

SAT. Piedmont 7:30p

ROCK

Cracker has been described as a lot of things over the years: alt-rock, Americana, insurgent-country, and have even had the terms punk and classic-rock thrown at them. Co-founders David Lowery and Johnny Hickman have been at it for almost a quarter of a century—amassing 10 studio albums, multiple gold records, thousands of live performances, hit songs that are still in current radio rotation around the globe, and a worldwide fan base that continues to grow each year.

Cumberland River BLUEGRASS

SUN. Quaker Steak 5:30p

Paying tribute to tradition, while carving their own distinct sound, Cumberland River has found its own unique style in the bluegrass world. Family members Dustin Middleton, Joey Jones, and Jamie Stewart, along with the talents of Brandon Elkins and Jamie Clark come together to infuse a passion passed down by generations of musicians to make their distinct sound.

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Darrel Scott Band

FRI. State St 10:00p

AMERICANA/FOLK

Darrell Scott is a Grammy-nominated performer and recording artist, a highly demanded multi-instrumentalist, and an ASCAP “Songwriter of the Year.” Darrell delivers his soulful performances in solo, duo, trio, band, and string quintet configurations, all equally dynamic and powerful. Songwriting credits include the Grammy Award-winning “Long Time Gone” and “Heartbreak Town.” When not on tour with his own shows, Darrell plays in Robert Plant’s Band of Joy.

Dave Eggar

ROCK/JAZZ/CLASSICAL/WORLD

FRI. Cumberland 7:15p SAT. Mach Outdoor 10:00p SUN. Near Moore 4:45p

A music prodigy, Dave Eggar is as well known for his high-energy, on-stage gymnastics as he is for his virtuosic talent. Eggar has performed worldwide as a solo cellist and pianist. A virtuoso of many styles, Dave has performed and recorded with artists in numerous genres including The Who, Josh Groban, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, Fall Out Boy, Evanescence, Dave Sanborn, Ray Lamontagne, Roberta Flack, The Spin Doctors, Carly Simon, Sinead O’Connor, Bon Jovi, and many more.

David Gans FOLK-ROCK

SAT. Near Moore 4:30p SUN. Theatre Bristol 12:30p

World-renowned radio host of “The Grateful Dead Hour” and writer David Gans’ “solo electric” performance is likely to consist of several elements: country-blues-style fingerpicking; loop-based improvisations created in the moment; sweetly-sung ballads, original or borrowed; and Grateful Dead songs reinterpreted to suit his voice and guitar.

David Peterson & 1946 BLUEGRASS

SAT. Mural 6:30p SAT. Near Moore 9:45p

David Peterson & 1946 capture the true essence of why bluegrass was so direct and compelling in its original form, and why we’re still enjoying its complicated reverberations years later. David Peterson is a rare combination: a savvy independent recording artist and a bluegrass singer who cherishes tradition. His voice has that lofty quality that carries from mountain-top to mountain-top. In his music, you can count on hearing the sound of the Big Bang itself, and that makes him a worthy part of the American musical firmament.

Dead Horses FOLK/AMERICANA

SAT. 7th Street 3:00p SUN. Quaker Steak 1:30p

Raised on Bible hymns by her preacher father, Dead Horses front woman Sarah Vos’ backstory sounds more like that of an old bluesman from the Mississippi Delta than a young folk singer from Wisconsin. But despite their youth, the Milwaukee-based Americana trio has crafted a timeless sound, informed as much by modern folk as it is by the classics. Vos’ gospel, living free and unapologetically, is supported with conviction by Peter Raboin on mandolin and guitar, and Daniel Wolff on double bass.

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Reunion Artists Demon Waffle SKA-ROCK

FRI. O’Mainnins 11:00p SAT. Quaker Steak 9:00p

Demon Waffle provides a fun, high-energy live set, blending reggae, rock, punk, soul, funk, and ska to make a sound that is easy to love and hard to duplicate. Formed in the spring of 2010, seven music students from ETSU’s Mathes Hall decided they’d like to bring something different to the local music scene. Three horns and a rhythm section later, Demon Waffle was formed. In their five years they have performed all across the southeast, from Kentucky to Florida.

The Derailers

COUNTRY/ROCKABILLY

FRI. State St 8:15p SAT. 7th Street 5:00p

Challenged by their fans to create a sound that mirrors the shuffle of happy boots on a hardwood floor, The Derailers have fed the hungry dancehall crowds with their classic country beats and a 1960s’ pop sensibility. Fans continue to show their appreciation and admiration with requests for encores long after the last drink has been served. Their music celebrates the legacies of Buck Owens, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, and the Beatles.

Dexter Ramey & Friends OLD-TIME

FRI. Theatre Bristol 6:30p

Dexter Ramey began learning to play tunes on the hammered dulcimer and autoharp in the mid-1970s while a student at Clinch Valley College (University of Virginia at Wise) in Wise, Virginia. Originally from Haysi, Virginia, he currently lives in Abingdon, Virginia, and hosts a weekly and monthly “old-time” jam called “The Abingdon Thumb Strummers.” Now in its fifth year, Dexter and his Abingdon Thumb Strummers provide music on the first Thursday of each month at Abingdon’s Arts Depot.

Dirk Quinn Band

HIGH-ENERGY FUNK/JAZZ

SAT. Quaker Steak 3:00p SAT. Borderline 7:30p

Dirk Quinn Band’s infectious energy and musical interplay routinely attracts listeners that are admittedly more accustomed to lyric-based music. With great melodic sensibilities, rhythmic experimentation, and an accessible modern edge, The Dirk Quinn Band has developed a unique and progressive style - one that appeals to a wide variety of music listeners with fans ranging from jam band hippies to jazz enthusiasts.

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Dori Freeman AMERICANA

SAT. Theatre Bristol 7:45p SUN. Near Moore 2:45p

Dori Freeman is a musician native to Southwest Virginia with a rich musical heritage. She has been singing ever since she can remember, and at age 15, Dori picked up a guitar where her natural talent became evident. Her musical influences span a varied and unique list of musicians including: Jackson Browne, Iris DeMent, and Peggy Lee, along with many others. Dori effortlessly blends together jazz and swing tunes with traditional and acoustic instrumentation to create a sound all her own.

Ed Snodderly

SAT. Theatre Bristol 4:15p SUN. Near Moore 12:45p

SINGER-SONGWRITER The Tennessee native looks a bit like Doc from Back to the Future with shorter hair and Buddy Holly glasses. His voice is the sonic equivalent of an old denim shirt, creased and worn and reassuring. While “folk” doesn’t quite capture Ed Snodderly’s essence—he is more singer-songwriter steeped in country and bluegrass—he is nevertheless finely tuned to the eccentricities of traditional music.

Ed Young & Friends OLD-TIME/BLUES

FRI. Borderline 5:00p FRI. Shanghai 7:30p

Ed Young was raised on the family farm on a dirt road in the Back Valley section of Russell County, Virginia. As a teenager he also found great joy in listening to Motown music on the transistor radio placed under his pillow at night. Young is an award-winning singer-songwriter and loves to entertain with his special blend of homegrown southern roots, gospel, boogie-woogie, blues, and foot-stompin’ electric/acoustic music.

Eli Fox

ROOTS/AMERICANA

SAT. Piedmont Station 12:45p SAT. Shanghai 8:45p

Eli Fox was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the rich Appalachian musical landscape from blues to bluegrass has contributed to his unique style and development.

Eli has an extraordinary passion and desire to learn, practice and listen to all kinds of music past and present. Eli’s infectious music performances have won over his classmates and a growing audience of roots music fans.

Elliot Root ALTERNATIVE

FRI. 6th Street 9:15p SAT. Cumberland 5:30p SUN. 7th Street 12:00

Elliot Root is an American alternative music group based in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. After releasing two EP’s (II and Thoughts from Yesterday) in early 2015, the band has steadily become one of the most watched new acts in Nashville. Band members include Scott Krueger, Sean Truskowski, Justin Smith, Todd Bond, and Melissa Mattey.

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Reunion Artists

EmiSunshine

SUN. State St 1:00p

OLD-TIME/COUNTRY/AMERICANA

It’s impossible to explain the exceptional talents of EmiSunshine, an 11-year-old East Tennessee prodigy who has captured the nation’s attention as a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Steeped in Appalachian music, she is a true vocal stylist, one who instinctively knows how to interpret the nuances of a song with her impressive range, even though she has yet to gain the life experience and empathy seemingly necessary to fully comprehend the words she sings.

The Empty Bottle String Band

SAT. Children’s Day Artist SAT. Blackbird 4:30p SUN. Theatre Bristol 4:00p

OLD-TIME

The Empty Bottle String Band specializes in playing toe-tapping, highly danceable traditional Appalachian music. They are known for their upbeat fiddle tunes and feel-good music, with the occasional murder ballad thrown in for good measure. The band is composed of former and current members of the East Tennessee State University Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music studies program.

Fiddlin’ Carson Peters & Iron Mountain

SAT. Theatre Bristol 1:00p

BLUEGRASS

A prodigy at age three, Carson Peters has been playing in fiddle competitions and jamming at festivals since he was four. Peters has been a guest on NBC’s Little Big Shots and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and was invited by Ricky Skaggs to perform with him on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, which led to an appearance at the Opry with his own band. A native of Piney Flats, Tennessee, Peters is a fine example of how musicians are grown, not made, in our region!

Folk Soul Revival

ALT-COUNTRY/AMERICANA

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FRI. Paramount 5:00p FRI. Cumberland 9:00p SUN. Piedmont 5:00p

Based in Bristol, Folk Soul Revival is one of the southeast’s most beloved and sought after acts. The band’s radio-ready lyrics, driving melodies, and the distinct, velvety vocals of front man Daniel Davis have garnered the band much success with high profile gigs opening for the likes of Travis Tritt, Jason Isbell, Eric Church, Justin Townes Earle, Dr. Ralph Stanley, and more. The band’s loyal and massive fan community is lovingly referred to as “The Congregation.”

Forlorn Strangers AMERICANA/FOLK

FRI. Mach Outdoor 9:15p SAT. 6th Street 12:45p

Forlorn Strangers is a Nashville, Tennessee-based Americana quintet, with members hailing from the great states of Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. The band is comprised of five songwriters, each having their own distinct sounds and styles that blend into one cohesive voice. Their music is rooted in family harmonies and flavored with guitars, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, Dobro, and foot-stomping percussion.

Fox Run

SAT. Blackbird 1:00p SAT. Shanghai 4:45p

BLUEGRASS/OLD-TIME Based in Southwest Virginia, Fox Run is a young roots band led by mandolinist Thomas Cassell. The group pulls most of its influence from music like bluegrass, old-time, and blues, but also breaches into new genres like newgrass and progressive acoustic music.

The band’s members are Cassell (mandolin), Peyton Kendrick (guitar), Maggie Gatley (fiddle), and Sam Shortt (bass).

Front Country

AMERICANA/BLUEGRASS

FRI. Paramount 5:00p SAT. Country Mural 2:00p

Front Country’s dynamic instrumental textures take flight with grace and gravitas while rooted in relentlessly soulful vocals. The quintet has been called “passionately intoxicating” and “orchestral,” and their bluesy vocals have been described as “rafter-shaking.” Front Country is seldom traditional, always original.

Gary Hensley Jr.

FRI. State Line 5:45p

AMERICANA

Gary Hensley Jr. is a singer-songwriter who has been playing guitar and writing songs since he was a teenager in Indiana. Currently living in East Tennessee, Hensley has released three CD projects, Give A Little Back, Wright’s Corner and his most recent Bristol to Memphis. The past few years have been spent playing listening rooms and festivals.

Hensley’s music is influenced by many styles, which give the albums a sound that is uniquely Americana.

the grand shell game

FRI. Quaker Steak 8:00p SAT. Cumberland 2:00

ROCK

In Carrboro, North Carolina, the grand shell game was formed in 2014.

They bring together an eclectic, rock-based blend with intriguing lyrics and strong musicianship.

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Reunion Artists H. B. Beverly

FRI. Borderline 11:00p

AMERICANA

H. B. Beverly offers up an Americana experience of his own compositions written over the last 30 years and influenced by Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, James Taylor, and Jimmy Buffett, among many others. It’s hard to tell what his cover songs will be that day, but you can bet they’ll be entertaining!

Handsome & the Humbles

SAT. Mach Indoor 7:00p

ALT-COUNTRY/AMERICANA/FOLK-ROCK Handsome & the Humbles formed in early 2014, coming together to create a sound that has been described as “Garage Americana.” Their songs, which are inspired by the people they met and stories they heard while growing up in East Tennessee, aim to introduce elements of Appalachian/southern culture that may cause the listener to think, “There’s more to those people than I thought.”

6th Street 12:30p The Harris Brothers SUN. SUN. Borderline 5:00p

AMERICANA

Reggie and Ryan Harris are a brother duo born and raised in Western North Carolina where they were exposed to a wide variety of music from an early age. The Harris Brothers started playing string instruments and singing as small children and are part of a musical family that still gets together to play. They have been playing professionally as a duo for more than 20 years, showcasing their unique style.

Hayes Carll

SAT. State St 6:00p

AMERICANA

Texas troubador Hayes Carll delivers both rollicking honky-tonk and sentimental ballads with passion, skill, and intensity. His latest album, Lovers and Leavers, was recorded in just five days and features songs co-written by Jim Lauderdale, Darrell Scott, Will Hogue, and Allison Moorer.

Hello Stranger ft. Dale Jett OLD-TIME/FOLK

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SAT. Mural 3:30p

Singer/musician Dale Jett is a third generation member of the legendary Carter Family. Like his grandfather A. P., Jett is a collector of songs. His dedication to the preservation of traditional music, along with his love of Carter Family songs and his admiration for other songwriters, is evident in his performances. Jett’s choices are eclectic and his performances and recordings encompass a unique combination of traditional songs blended with a mix of others that extend the boundaries of conventional country.

The Honey Badgers BLUEGRASS

FRI. State Line 11:45p SAT. O’Mainnins 11:00p

Comprised of a rotating group of notable Tri-Cities-based musicians, this band’s just crazy - about traditional bluegrass! Throw in a little newgrass, they don’t care! Artistically speaking, they take what they want! Stomp your feet, clap your hands, cut a rug!

HoneyHoney FOLK-ROCK

SAT. State St 12:45p SUN. Cumberland 4:00p

The third full-length effort from Los Angeles-based duo HONEYHONEY, III is an album born from fascination with the sweet and the sleazy, light and dark, danger and magic.

Working with Dave Cobb (the producer behind Jason Isbell’s Southeastern and Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music), lead singer/banjo player/violinist Suzanne Santo and vocalist/guitarist Ben Jaffe twist their gritty, harmony-driven brand of southern-flavored Rock ‘n’ Roll through tales of lost souls, broken boys, and girls with gold in their spit.

Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

SAT. 6th Street 2:30p SUN. State Line 2:45p

AMERICANA/OLD-TIME/FOLK

While strongly rooted in bluegrass, old-time, and folk music, this band produces a sound that draws on the vaults of music collectively and individually enjoyed throughout the course of their lives. Being mostly inspired by rivers, valleys, good friends, and good drink, this five-piece is as sturdy as any Midwest riverbed and will make your toes tap from sundown to sunrise.

Hot Club of Cowtown

SAT. State St 4:15p SAT. Paramount 8:45p

WESTERN SWING/JAZZ/FOLK

Since its beginnings in the late 1990s, Hot Club of Cowtown’s star has continued to rise as its reputation for jaw-dropping virtuosity and unforgettable live shows has become the band’s global brand. Lauded for its “down-home melodies and exuberant improvisation” (The Times, London), the Hot Club of Cowtown has always woven a combination of seemingly disparate styles together to its own magical effect. American Songwriter observed that “the excellent three players of this band could be doing anything but have chosen to honor the greats of jazz and swing with their sound.”

Houndmouth

FRI. Cumberland 10:45p

AMERICANA/POP

Less than a half-decade ago in the small Indiana city of New Albany, four pals were crafting tunes on their own, with few ambitions of turning those songs into a spectacle. In just five years on the scene, Houndmouth’s success has landed the band notable appearances at Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo. They’ve toured with the Drive-by Truckers and the Alabama Shakes, and have enjoyed Top 40 radio airplay.

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Reunion Artists Indighost ALT-ROCK

SAT. Borderline 5:30p SAT. Quaker Steak 11:00p

Indighost is an alternative rock band from Johnson City, Bristol, and Abingdon. The band is a modern take on the psychedelic vibes of the 1960s with dirty guitars, stunning live visuals, and a vocally driven stage show.

With moody blues and thick tones reminiscent of delta blues and vintage psyche, Indighost delivers a fast-paced, intricate live show that will have you moving your feet.

Indigo Girls

SAT. Piedmont 9:45p

ALT-FOLK

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are the Indigo Girls. Rolling Stone describes them as the “ideal duet partners. Their voices soar and swoop as one, alternately raucous and soothing. When they sing together, they radiate a sense of shared purpose that adds muscle to their lanky, deeply felt folk-tinged pop songs.� Together they write, arrange, record, and perform music that over the course of 25 years has become a vital part of the lives of their legion of devoted fans around the world, informing and rewarding them day to day.

Jana Saltz

SUN. Piedmont Station 4:00p

SINGER-SONGWRITER Jana Saltz is a singer-songwriter from Abingdon, Virginia, who has a growing audience all over the region and within the music community.

With a wide range of musicality and instrumentation, she has received a massive amount of support from fellow musicians, venues, and fans. Her unique melodies, upbeat rhythms, and powerful voice are causing many people to take a closer look at this small town ukulele player.

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Jill Andrews

SAT. 7th Street 9:00p SUN. Paramount 4:00p

AMERICANA/SINGER-SONGWRITER

A native of East Tennessee, Jill Andrews kicked off her songwriting career as co-founder of the everybodyfields, a band whose mix of southern genres — folk, country, bluegrass — and male-female vocals helped pave the way for future groups like The Civil Wars. These songs feel present, and they’re delivered the way Andrews always delivers them: with raw emotion that is as real to her as it is to the listener.

Jim Lloyd

SUN. Blackbird 3:45p

OLD-TIME

Raised in the coalfields of western Virginia, Jim Lloyd now makes his home in Rural Retreat, Virginia, where he operates Lloyd’s Barber Shop, a local gathering spot for collecting and trading tunes, stories, and songs. His musical roots extend back through at least four generations of fiddlers, guitar players, dancers, and singers from the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. Lloyd is known especially for his skills on guitar and banjo.

Joe Purdy

SAT. State St 2:30p

AMERICANA

Joe Purdy runs a staunchly independent music career in spite of getting major TV placements and having sold over one million singles. The prolific songwriter has been invited by Pete Townshend to play with him at his acoustic Attic Series, performed at Carnegie Hall (for a tribute to Neil Young) alongside artists like Patti Smith, Glen Hanard, and Jakob Dylan, and earned critical props for his authenticity and drive to make each sound as pure on record as it is live.

The Josh Daniel-Mark Schimick Project

FRI. Cumberland 5:30p SAT. Mach Outdoor 3:30p SUN. Piedmont Station 2:00p

AMERICANA

Josh Daniel and Mark Shimick have been fixtures on the Americana circuit for years, Josh with The New Familiars and Mark with Larry Keel and Natural Bridge. These passionate multi-instrumentalists have a way of blending their harmonies and intricate string work into something that appeals to a wide variety of listeners.

Kacey Buchanan SINGER-SONGWRITER

SAT. Blackbird 2:45p SUN. Shanghai 1:15p

Singer-songwriter Kacey Buchanan was born and raised in Bristol, and she is now raising her own family in the city that she grew up in and loves. Music has always been her passion, and from a young age she has been a singer, dancer, and songwriter. It is a lifelong dream and goal to pursue and do what she believes she was created and born to do: write songs that speak to the human heart.

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Reunion Artists Keller Williams

SAT. Cumberland 8:45p

SINGER-SONGWRITER

Since he first appeared on the scene in the early 1990s, Keller Williams has defined the term independent artist. His stage shows are rooted around him singing his compositions and choice cover songs while playing acoustic guitar. Williams’ solo live shows—and his ability to improvise his determinedly quirky tunes despite the absence of an actual band— quickly became the stuff of legend, and his audience grew exponentially when word spread about this exciting performer.

The Kindest People

SAT. Mach Indoor 1:00p

INDIE/PUNK

Named after his 2015 album, The Kindest People is the live product of Bristol singersongwriter Matthew Sykes. In the summer of 2015, members Matthew Sykes and Spencer Otey (formerly of The Down Spouts) were booked to play shows in Johnson City and Asheville. This band has developed an extensive catalog of original songs and continues to add new tunes with every additional show.

The Kodiak Brotherhood

SAT. O’Mainnins 7:30p SUN. Quaker Steak 3:30p

SOUTHERN ROCK/ALT-COUNTRY

The Kodiak Brotherhood is a home-grown outlaw country band hailing from Concord, North Carolina. The four-piece band is made up of longtime, experienced musicians who’ve played in (and still do play with) the likes of The New Familiars, Sugar Glyder, Solar Cat, and more.

Larry Sparks

BLUEGRASS/GOSPEL

FRI. Mural 8:30p

Larry Sparks is among the most widely known and respected touring musicians in bluegrass and gospel music today. He began his career in the mid-1960s as a guitarist with the Stanley Brothers and later became lead vocalist for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys. In 1969 he went on to form The Lonesome Ramblers and has recorded and toured with them for over four decades. His many accomplishments include inductions into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame, the Bill Monroe Hall of Fame, and the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame.

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Latrelle

INDIE/FOLK

FRI. Mach Indoor 11:30p SAT. Shanghai 2:45p

Latrelle is the musical moniker of Tyler Luttrell. After graduating from Milligan College with a Bachelor’s of Music Education, Latrelle began combining his training in classical music and jazz improvisation with his songwriting and ambient rock roots. Jazz chords, thick textures, and wandering vocal lines are common traits throughout Latrelle’s compositions.

Levi Lowrey

FRI. 6th Street 6:00p SAT. Theatre Bristol 6:00p

SINGER-SONGWRITER

After a turbulent five years, Levi Lowrey has reached the top of the country music charts by penning “Colder Weather” with Zac Brown; has graced the stages of the Ryman, Red Rocks, and Madison Square Garden; has toured internationally with country music’s premier acts; and has released two stellar albums, all while dealing with the personal tragedies affiliated with the “Songwriter’s Curse.” Every song in his repertoire is plucked straight from Lowrey’s life, leaving the listener feeling as if they’ve personally known him for years.

Liam Purcell

FRI. Manna Bagel 5:45p

OLD-TIME/BLUEGRASS

Growing up just down the road from Doc Waston, multi-instrumentalist Liam Purcell performs as a solo artist. He blends old-time, bluegrass, and progressive themes together for a unique show that ranges from Grisman’s E.M.D. to Gold Rush to obscure old-time tunes. Purcell plays festivals, concerts, bars, barn dances, and he won the top folk music award in the state of North Carolina last year during the state fair.

Liz Vice

SAT. 6th Street 6:00p SUN. Cumberland 6:00p

GOSPEL/SOUL/R&B

Oregon native Liz Vice has been a featured artist in Portland for such events as Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland Soundcheck, Soul’d Out Music Festival, Siren Nation Music Festival, and Music on Main Street, and has opened for such artist as Cody Chesnutt and St. Paul and the Broken Bones. With a love of storytelling, Vice’s songs feature dynamic, soulful vocals with timeless, classically influenced lyrics that reference her deep-rooted spirituality.

The Local Honeys

SAT. Borderline 1:30p SAT. Manna Bagel 6:00p

OLD-TIME/BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY

TThe Local Honeys – a charming duo, born and raise in central and eastern Kentucky – is comprised of Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokley. These ladies have cultivated a distinguishing sound by utilizing their powerful voices, in both sweet and haunting, intricate harmony. Their voices lay fittingly suspended in air in a capella fashion or befittingly entwined with appropriate instrumental accompaniment.

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Reunion Artists Logan Fritz and the Redux

FRI. Borderline 9:00p SUN. State Line 4:45p

ROCK

Logan Fritz and the Redux is a three-piece roots-rock outfit from Abingdon, Virginia. With influences ranging from Bob Dylan and Hank Williams to the Replacements and the Violent Femmes, this band plays an eclectic brand of rock ’n’ roll. Lead singer and songwriter Logan Fritz has been honored to play at Bristol Rhythm Roots twice before.

The Lonely Biscuits ALT-ROCK/POP

SAT. Mach Outdoor 7:15p SUN. O’Mainnins 5:30p

From Nashville, Tennessee, The Lonely Biscuits gained national attention while students at Belmont University. The last four years the band has been headlining small clubs across the U.S. and opening for other national touring acts. In 2013 mtvU named the band “College Artist of the Year” and gave them the opportunity to share a stage with Maclemore, Tegan and Sara, Alt-J, and many more. They have played Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Hangout Music Fest, Austin City Limits, and South by Southwest.

Loretta Lynn

SAT. State St 8:15p

COUNTRY

Country music royalty, Loretta Lynn first arrived in Nashville 55 years ago.

A self-taught guitarist and songwriter, this coal miner’s daughter is one of the most important country music artists of all time. Her boundarypushing music in the 1960s and 1970s was groundbreaking and earthshaking and always drew from her own life experiences as a wife and mother. It is an honor and privilege to host this legendary artist at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, in the heart of the birthplace of country music.

Los Colognes

SAT. 6th Street 4:15p SUN. Piedmont 1:00p

PROGRESSIVE ROCK/JAM

With influences ranging from JJ Cale and Dire Straits, Nashville-based band Los Colognes (pronounced cuh-LONE’-ez) is making jam music for fans of songwriters: classic rock for a younger generation. From opening for The Head and the Heart to playing major festivals like Austin City Limits and Hangout Music Fest, Los Colognes is skirting the line of what a jam band has been and can be.

The Mantras

PROGRESSIVE ROCK/JAM

FRI. Mach Outdoor 11:15p SAT. 7th Street 11:00p

The Mantras, a six-piece jam machine born in Greensboro, North Carolina, have been progressively conquering crowds and melting minds all over the country for 10 years. The Mantras have shared the stage with Umphrey’s and collaborated with members of the String Cheese Incident, Tea Leaf Green, and Perpetual Groove.

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Marble City Shooters SAT. Borderline 11:30p JAZZ

Marble City Shooters recreate a time in the southern city of Knoxville, Tennessee, where people made for themselves–where hard work and long hours for what you needed weren’t just admired qualities, it was what everyone did to survive. With a firm grasp on the genre, the canon and the jazz credentials, the band is currently performing in the southern states of Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia.

Mark Webb

SAT. O’Mainnins 2:15p SAT. Mach Indoor 9:00p

AMERICANA

Mark Webb sings with his eyes wide open. Soft-spoken and jovial, the Greenville, South Carolina, pop poet thrives on weaving tapestries from the cuts, bruises, and blossoms of life. Built on hooks and heartstrings, Webb’s tender voice carries a timbre unique to Americana with his crisp amalgamation of folk, rock, and soul. From coffeehouses to The Masters, Webb’s songs ring of hearts on sleeves and sweat on brows. Signing to Gold Ship Records, Mark Webb is on track to take flight on the blue highways of America this year.

Marshall Ballew SINGER-SONGWRITER

FRI. Mach Indoor 7:30p FRI. Blackbird 9:15p

Marshall Ballew is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a large repertoire of songs spanning many years and genres, including old-time, bluegrass, country, reggae, Rock ‘n’ Roll, celtic, blues, hokum, jazz, and ragtime. He has played a number of festivals throughout the southeast, including the National Slide Guitar Festival, Carolina Downhome Blues Festival, Piccolo Spoleto, Smilefest, Lowcountry Blues Festival, Riverplace, Fall For Greenville, NC Barbecue Festival, and many more.

Marty Stuart

SUN. State St 5:00p

COUNTRY/AMERICANA For over 40 years, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives—the five-time Grammywinning multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, photographer, and historian—has been building a rich legacy at this very crossroads. On his latest release with his band The Fabulous Superlatives, the double-disc Saturday Night & Sunday Morning, Stuart captures all the authentic neon and stained-glass hues of country music—from love to heartache and hardship to family and God—in 23 tracks.

Mic Harrison & the High Score

SAT. Mach Indoor 11:00p

ROCK/COUNTRY/INDIE

Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Mic Harrison, lead guitarist Robbie Trosper, bassist Vance Hillard, acoustic guitarist Chad Pelton and drummer Don Coffey, Jr. have a chemistry that can only come from long term friendships and shared experiences.

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Reunion Artists Michael Daves & Friends featuring Tony Trischka

SUN. Mural 4:30p

BLUEGRASS

Born in the southern empire of Atlanta, Georgia, Michael Daves grew up playing bluegrass in that grand old tradition of staying up late and singing real loud. Since 2006 Daves has maintained a weekly residency on Tuesday nights at The Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan where he continues to draw a devout following and uses the informal setting to showcase special guest appearances with a who’s who of bluegrass musicians.

The Midatlantic

AMERICANA/FOLK-ROCK

FRI. O’Mainnins 9:00p SAT. State Line 7:30p

Midatlantic—a crew of five eclectic musicians hailing from the Cape Fear coast of North Carolina—is an exciting and refreshing brand of folk-rock that excites audiences, leaving them wanting more. With a unique blend of progressive folk, Americana, bluegrass, and a hint of rock and jazz, The Midatlantic produces their unique brand of modern folk rock.

Don’t be fooled by the montage of acoustic instruments. They always deliver a wide range of dynamics, energy, and melodic harmonies through songs that are sincere to love, emotions, and life experiences.

Mike Farris

SUN. State St 3:00p

SOUL/GOSPEL

The blue-eyed soul of powerhouse vocalist Mike Farris is truly something to witness. Farris gives all—and then some—at each and every goose bump inducing performance. Evocative, spiritual, and thoroughly entertaining, Farris is among the great voices of our time. His latest album Shine For All The People earned him the well-deserved Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album last year.

Mipso

SAT. 7th Street 7:00p SUN. Mural 1:30p

FOLK/AMERICANA/BLUEGRASS With award-winning songwriting crossed with a renegade approach to American roots, the rebel traditionalists of Mipso are doing their part to push the Appalachian folk and bluegrass tradition into new territory. This North Carolina four-piece borrows the best from bluegrass, contemporary country, pop, gospel, folk, and American singer-songwriter traditions to create their hallmark sound.

Monster Atlantic ROCK

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SAT. O’Mainnins 4:00p

Monster Atlantic is a rock music experiment that hails from the heart of Roanoke, Virginia. The band delivers a high energy rock show full of collaborative original music fueled by the combination of singer and rhythm guitarist Lance Smith, lead guitarist Matt Stump, bassist Jason Davis, and drummer and backing vocalist Tad Dickens. Monster Atlantic has opened recent shows for Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Carbon Leaf and Allen Thompson Band.

Mountain Faith

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SUN. Mural 3:00p

BLUEGRASS/GOSPEL

Since 2000, Mountain Faith’s Appalachian take on gospel, bluegrass, folk, R&B, and pop music has earned them televised appearances on Daystar and, most recently, America’s Got Talent. When not touring the bluegrass festival circuit, Mountain Faith performs on the stage of Dollywood where they have quickly become a crowd favorite.

Natasha Borzilova FOLK-ROCK/AMERICANA

SAT. Near Moore 2:45p SAT. Theatre Bristol 9:30p SUN. Mach Indoor 5:00p

Natasha Borzilova moved to Nashville as the lead singer and acoustic guitarist of Grammynominated Russian band Bering Strait; she also has four solo albums. From her early days as a classically trained guitar prodigy, Borzilova has consistently created music that says something, and in a fresh way. That hasn’t changed with Out of My Hands, her self-produced third solo release—and her most personal collection yet. Fans of singersongwriters will savor this captivating, intelligent, and highly listenable artist that rivals the best in folk with tinges of pop, rock, and Americana.

Noah Gundersen SINGER-SONGWRITER

SAT. Paramount 1:00p SAT. Piedmont 5:30p

Noah Gundersen’s music often projects a cinematic, if blighted, landscape of despondency that has appeared in scenes of network TV shows including Sons of Anarchy, The Vampire Diaries, and The Following. His subtle vocals belie the weight of his penetrating and often heartbreaking lyrics. For Noah Gundersen, the past few years have brought about immense growth and change, both as an artist and as a young man grappling with issues of identity and independence.

Old Heavy Hands

FRI. Quaker Steak 10:00p

COUNTRY/SOUTHERN ROCK They say appearances are everything, but in the case of North Carolina’s tattooing troubadours, Old Heavy Hands, appearance is a livelihood. The unassuming trio comprised of Nate Hall, Larry Wayne, and David Self are crafting some of the finest southern music.

Old Heavy Hands lives just as comfortably on the record shelf next to Willie Nelson or Neil Young as it does between Lucero and Wilco.

Pale Root

FRI. Manna Bagel 7:45p

FOLK/AMERICANA

Knoxville-based Americana duo Pale Root was born from the collaboration of songwriters Aaron Freeman and Jordan Burris. Together the two craft tales influenced by their love of traditional folk, country, and bluegrass, as well as modern folk and Americana. They explore the subjects of love, loss, religion, and redemption as well as the journeys that bind these themes together.

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Reunion Artists Paul Lee Kupfer

SAT. O’Mainnins 5:45p

FOLK/SINGER-SONGWRITER Originally from the mountains of West Virginia, Paul Lee Kupfer started traveling as a solo performer out of Philadelphia, and then Tennessee and Montana. He founded the band The Bus Driver Tour with friends Ian Thomas and Danny Freund and recorded two albums from 2013-2015.

PJ Steelman

SAT. Shanghai 1:15p SUN. Manna Bagel 2:30p

AMERICANA

PJ Steelman has musical beginnings from the everglades of Florida to the red clay of south Georgia, passing through Atlanta and on into the Great Smoky Mountains, before making a side trip through the Carolinas to Virginia and Kentucky and resting in Nashville. The smell of honeysuckle, a sip of a mint julep, the beauty of one red rose, and the sound of fiddle and steel—that’s right, you’ve got it…the music of PJ Steelman. Steelman’s sound is kind of like Frank Sinatra meeting Janis Joplin.

Pointer Brothers BLUEGRASS/FOLK

FRI. Quaker Steak 6:00p SAT. Manna Bagel 8:00p

The Pointer Brothers is an acoustic trio based in Southwest Virginia with one foot firmly planted in the world of traditional bluegrass, country, and folk and the other foot exploring “dawg”—a genre coined by Dave Grisman to describe a mixture of bluegrass and jazz. Pointer Brothers have been playing together now for nearly a decade. Their appreciation for tone, taste, and making music has kept this trio going and kept their appreciative and dedicated fans coming back for more.

Possum Creek Playboys

SAT. Near Moore 12:00p

BLUEGRASS/OLD-TIME

The Possum Creek Playboys is a reunion of 15 to 20 musicians from a number of regional bands including: The Swamp Cats, The Corklickers, Sugar Hill String Band, The Rebel Yellers, The Rough Riders, and many more. It’s an old-time, fun-jam, and a stompin’ good time to be had by all!

3:30p Roadkill Ghost Choir SUN.SAT.7thPiedmont Street 4:00p

FOLK-ROCK

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Emerging fully-formed from the desolate heart of Central Florida, Roadkill Ghost Choir make unsettling, powerful American rock reminiscent of Tom Petty by way of Radiohead and Cormac McCarthy. Set against ghostly pedal steel, their songs conjure an allegorical American landscape of drifters, specters, and violent saints. Notable performances include stops at David Letterman, Governor’s Ball, Austin City Limits, Shaky Knees, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza.

Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

SAT. Mural 5:00 SAT. Near Moore 8:00p

BLUEGRASS/COUNTRY

This unique collaborative effort between two uniquely gifted musicians is bound to be a revelation to traditional music fans on several counts. Rob Ickes is a longtime, well-established instrumental giant, and Trey Hensley is newly arrived in Music City, bursting with talent both as a vocalist and guitarist.

Rob Nance & the Lost Souls

FRI. Piedmont Station 7:30p SAT. Quaker Steak 5:00p

FOLK/AMERICANA

Rob Nance began his journey into music and songwriting growing up in North Carolina, firmly rooted in the musical traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Since his debut, Lost Souls and Locked Doors, his music has evolved into a richer, more focused sound that can at times sweep from introspective folk ballad to experimental instrumental within the same set.

Russell Moore & lllrd Tyme Out

FRI. Mural 7:00p

BLUEGRASS

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out celebrates 25 years of making groundbreaking music. Moore is the International Bluegrass Music Association’s most awarded male vocalist, taking home the award a record five times.

This band continues to bring fresh music to the ears while staying true to the tradition that has made them an industry favorite for over two decades.

Ryley Walker

SAT. Cumberland 3:45p SUN. Paramount 12:00p

FOLK

Ryley Walker is the reincarnation of the true American guitar player. That’s as much a testament to his roving, rambling ways, or the fact that his Guild D-35 guitar has endured a few stints in the pawnshop. Though seen as part of the fraternity of young guitar masters like William Tyler and Daniel Bachman, his voice defies that stereotype. He is finding a new path refracting the British traditional spectrum, from Bert Jansch to Nick Drake, and defying all the limitations of the genre.

Scratch River AMERICANA/ROCK

FRI. State Line 9:45p SUN. O’Mainnins 3:30p

Scratch River is a five-piece band from Southwest Virginia. Their sound seamlessly blends elements of blues, folk, and early Rock ‘n’ Roll into something truly original. The band’s sound has the characteristics of a Rock ‘n’ Roll band; however, their roots go much deeper than that. They draw inspiration and musical elements from blues, folk, rockabilly, and even country.

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Reunion Artists Scythian

SAT. Cumberland 7:00p SUN. Piedmont 3:00p

CELTIC FOLK/ROCK Named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythian (sith-ee-yin) plays immigrant rock with thunderous energy, technical prowess, and storytelling songwriting, beckoning crowds into a barn-dance rock concert experience. Scythian celebrated 10 years of getting people dancing all night with their latest album, Jump at the Sun, released last summer just before they embarked on a tour of Ireland.

Seth Walker

AMERICANA/BLUES

SAT. Paramount 7:00p SUN. Cumberland 12:00p

Revered roots music troubadour Seth Walker recently took up residency in New Orleans.

Upon relocating to the Big Easy, the North Carolina native completed his rounds of the Holy Trinity of southern American music cities. His journey began in Austin where he fast became a staple of the Texas blues scene. He’d later shuffle off to Nashville where he’d absorb the cosmopolitan twang of its storytelling tradition. Clearly, however, it is the influence of his current NOLA home, with its funky melting-pot swagger, that inspired the gospel-soaked fervor and gritty guitar burn at the core of his latest album, Sky Still Blue.

Shady Appalachia FOLK/BLUEGRASS/ROCK

FRI. Shanghai 5:30p SUN. Manna Bagel 1:00p

Listen here for heartbreak. Listen closer for hope. Rock ‘n’ Roll, bluegrass, folk, and progressive elements are all manifest in Emery Reid’s latest project, Shady Appalachia. Accompanying him on mandolin is Blake Collins: local jeweler and talented, ever-in-demand guitar teacher and member of the Hey Boys and These Undowners, Evie Andrus: a fiddling phenom whose warm heart and free spirit sing along with her strings, as well as Abe McConnell: a smooth-cruising bass fiddler and founding member of Damascus, Virginia’s own Christian phenomenon, Handmade.

Sigean

FRI. Borderline 7:00p SUN. State Line 1:00p

IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC Sigean was formed in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1997 for the sole purpose of performing traditional Irish music. Since that time, the band has performed for all of the major festivals in East Tennessee and also performed at events in North Carolina, Virginia, and California. The band continues to present traditional music with acoustic instruments so as to give audiences the feeling of being in a pub in Ireland.

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Steep Canyon Rangers SAT. Mural 10:00p BLUEGRASS

From Asheville, North Carolina, Steep Canyon Rangers is an acoustic bluegrass group. A bluegrass band at their core, the Steep Canyon Rangers effortlessly walk the line between festival favorite and sophisticated string orchestra. They’re as danceable as the most progressive, partyoriented string band, and equally comfortable translating their songs for accompaniment by a full symphony.

Steve Gilbert AMERICANA

SAT. Borderline 9:30p SUN. Mach Indoor 1:00p

From Bristol, Steve Gilbert travels the U.S. playing a mix of Americana, country, and punk music. Gilbert has opened for American Aquarium, Cory Branan, Bobby Bare Jr., Caleb Caudle, Will Hoge, Joe Buck, Matt Woods, Gasoline Heart, and many more.

The Successful Failures

SAT. State Line 1:30p AMERICANA/INDIE-ROCK No Depression dubbed The Successful Failures as “one of the hardiest and

most prolific outfits on the planet” playing “instantly infectious melodies that tread the line between power pop and Americana without wholly committing to either.” The band continues to showcase their versatility, seamlessly marrying power-pop, garage-rock, classic country and unaffected Rock ‘n’ Roll with roots-inflected rock and winsome, harmonic, pop.

Symphony Rags

FRI. Theatre Bristol 8:15p

INDIE

Symphony Rags from Bristol, Tennessee, play songs from all over the map of American music. Their original material won first place in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest, and their songs make audiences laugh, dance, and sing along. Nick Friedman writes “supervirtuosic, superfun, Symphony Rags are pushing the boundaries for what could be considered ‘Americana’ music.”

Tennessee Stifflegs

SAT. Mach Indoor 5:00p SUN. Theatre Bristol 2:15p

OLD-TIME/WESTERN SWING

The Tennessee Stifflegs are from Knoxville, Tennessee, and play timehonored harmonies and high-energy swing classics. The band values the raw imperfections of an Appalachian string band, while drawing from the cannon of early western swing, hillbilly jazz, and blues music. The musical stylings of the Tennessee Stifflegs will inspire folks to dance, and are a common prescription for a bad case of the blues.

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Reunion Artists this mountain

FRI. 6th Street 7:30p

FOLK/ROCK

this mountain is a collaborative group of friends and musicians making music forthemselves and others. From Johnson City, Tennessee, they have been capturing ears and getting bodies moving in the region with their heavy blend of folk-rock that’s just powerful enough to move mountains.

The Tillers

AMERICANA/OLD-TIME

FRI. Near Moore 10:00p SAT. Theatre Bristol 2:30p SUN. Borderline 3:00p

The Tillers are Cincinnati’s traveling minstrels. Their sound has proven to be an appropriate fit with a wide range of musical styles—traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock, and anything else they might run into. They continue to plot their travels around the map, electrifying new places and making new friends wherever they go. From place to place, they carry with them more instruments, new songs, and funnier stories.

Travis Atwell

SINGER-SONGWRITER

SAT. Manna Bagel 2:00p SAT. Blackbird 8:00p

Travis Atwell is, foremost, a passionate believer in the power of storytelling and language. He has been writing songs for nearly a decade, capturing the highest and the lowest emotional and experiential images of youth and young adulthood. His passion for simple, melodic composition and heartfelt performance creates an intimate, refined, and emotional experience that glides seamlessly between introspective melancholy and unbridled fun.

Trevor McKenzie

FRI. Manna Bagel 9:45p

OLD-TIME

Trevor McKenzie is a multi-instrumentalist and singer originally from Southwest Virginia.

The progeny of cattle farmers, he first gravitated to old-time music through an early interest in regional history and a keen desire to avoid doing manual labor. Though only mildly successful in the latter ambition, he gathered a respect for the communities, historical events, and stories which continue to build the canon of traditional music.

Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

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FRI. Piedmont 6:30p

Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown is a Rock ‘n’ Roll band born of Nashville, Tennessee. Their sound is a soulful patchwork of roots-infused melodies and muscular riffs, all woven tightly with the thread of their alternative psychedelic mystique. It’s as rambunctious, raw, and real as rock ‘n’ roll gets these days.

Ulali Project FOLK

FRI. Paramount 7:45p SAT. BCM Museum 2:30p

Bringing together three diverse artists, the Ulali Project has claimed a unique space in contemporary American music. Often described as a Native American musical group, Ulali’s work also bears strong elements of bluegrass, jazz, soul, and folk. Demonstrating its versatility, the group has worked with Robbie Robertson, the Indigo Girls, and Rita Coolidge, in addition to providing vocals for the soundtrack to the television documentary The Native Americans and tracks to the movie Smoke Signals.

Unknown Hinson

SAT. Cumberland 11:00p

PSYCHOBILLY/COUNTRY/ROCK While singing his own hilariously politically incorrect songs, Unknown Hinson plays guitar in a style incendiary enough to have Satan himself reaching for the antiperspirant. But don’t dismiss him as a novelty act, he’s one hell of a talent! Looking somewhat like Dracula’s nasty little brother who spent some hard years drinking and working as a carnival barker for a second-rate freak show, Unknown Hinson translates that vibe to his style of country and western-tinged psychobilly.

The Way Down Wanderers

FRI. Mach Outdoor 5:45p SAT. O’Mainnins 9:15p

AMERICANA/ALT-FOLK The Way Down Wanderers draw in audiences with soulful generosity, soaring instrumentals, lively harmony vocals, and foot-stomping singalongs. This youthful group of professionally trained musicians has been compared to Trampled by Turtles, Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, and the Lumineers.

The West End String Band BLUEGRASS/AMERICANA

SAT. Quaker Steak 1:00p

The West End String Band is dedicated to playing and performing traditional bluegrass music and old country songs with modern appeal. Charlie McDaniel, guitar and vocals, moved to the upstate area about 20 years ago from Rutherford County, North Carolina. He was a member of the popular regional band, Hickory Flat, for over 20 years. Hickory Flat brought home a top 10 finish in the SPGMA bluegrass band world championship, followed by several busy years on the festival circuit. Charlie‘s soulful singing puts the blues in bluegrass.

Wild Reeds AMERICANA

FRI. State St 6:30p SAT. Mach Outdoor 1:45p

The Wild Reeds can be defined by one word: harmony. However, the music is nearly indefinable. The sound from this Los Angeles-based band fronted by Kinsey Lee, Mackenzie Howe, and Sharon Silva dips in and out of multiple genres—some etherial folk, a hint of country twang, and some Rock ‘n’ Roll rhythm (from Nick Jones and Nick Phakpiseth). But it all comes back to the root of this band’s power: the fact that Lee, Howe and Silva harmonize like triplets separated at birth.

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Reunion Artists Wires and Wood

SAT. State Line 3:30p

BLUEGRASS/FOLK

Wires and Wood has something for all acoustic fans. Original compositions, traditional classics, bluegrass, and rock classics played in the acoustic style are the cornerstone of the band’s sound. Strong instrumentation, powerful vocals, and good times are the hallmarks of a Wires and Wood performance.

Wise Old River

FRI. Theatre Bristol 10:00p SAT. Piedmont Station 4:30p

ECLECTIC-AMERICANA Wise Old River is an acoustic/electric group that brings together a variety of influences and instruments that blend tradition with originality. The group features vocalist/guitarist Jamen Denton who sings and plays with a rare authenticity. Jeanne Denton provides wellcrafted harmony vocals, while Jim Denton adds lap steel and bouzouki to the mix. Derrick Boardwine adds an excellent touch on the seven-string electric guitar.

Woody Pines

RAGTIME/BLUES/SWING

FRI. Mach Outdoor 7:30p SAT. Near Moore 6:15p SUN. Cumberland 2:00p

Ragtime, boogie, viper jazz, lightning speed folk. Full of stomp and swing, and jump and jive. It’s old-time feel-good music done by a young master who clearly understands that this kind of music was always about having a great time. This is serious roots music that’s as much a way of life as an aesthetic choice. This music isn’t for dabblers; you gotta feel it in your bones. Let Woody Pines help.

The Worthless Son-in-Laws SAT. State Line 11:30p AMERICANA/SOUTHERN INDIE ROCK

The Worthless Son-in-Laws are a Boone, North Carolina-based band formed and baptized with their grammatically incorrect moniker in the wee hours of 2004. They play Appalachian Mountain indie rock, which various people have likened to some combination of Ryan Adams, Son Volt, Wilco, early REM, the Jayhawks, the dB’s, Mark Eitzel, the Allman Brothers, and Justin Townes Earle. Jimmy Davidson (acoustic guitar/vocals) and Rob Brown (electric guitar/vocals) write songs about t-shirt shops, Mississippi highways, weddings, and life on container ships, among other things.

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