THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC

Tiebreakers

Consider visiting Tiebreakers Arcade & Restaurant, Bristol Motor Speedway, The Kingsport Carousel, Fizzy Fairway Putt Putt, Wetlands Water Park, Brights Zoo, and Kingsport Aquatics Center. For those interested in history and culture, don’t miss the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Hands On! Discovery Center, and Gray Fossil Site.

Festivals

Northeast Tennessee is known for its lively festival scene, offering family-friendly events throughout the year. Make sure to grab tickets for upcoming festivals such as Meet The Mountains Fest, NoliFest, FunFest!, the Iris Festival, Rhythm & Roots Festival, Mountain City Sunflower Festival, National Storytelling Festival, Rogersville Heritage Days, Covered Bridge Days, and many more featuring stellar headliners and a fantastic time for all.

Nature

Take a family bike ride to the Watershed Trails in Hampton or embark on a hike up Buffalo Mountain to enjoy breathtaking views of Johnson City, or get some miles on the Appalachian Trail. Enjoy skipping rocks at South Holston or Watauga Lakes, or join a guided fishing tour with River Run Angling and East Tennessee Guide Service, where you can catch rainbow and brook trout while creating unforgettable memories.

Pack your bags, get ready to explore, and create memories that will last a lifetime in beautiful Northeast Tennessee!

Bristol is the place where country music was born. Back in the summer of 1927, this unassuming town–which straddles the state lines of Tennessee and Virginia–is where record producer and talent scout Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Co. traveled to record new talent. The sounds he unearthed sent shockwaves through the record industry, creating what musicologists refer to as the “big bang of country music.” Though Nashville is the undisputed home of country music, the impact of the 1927 Bristol Sessions was paramount to its commercial success.

Bristol’s birthright anchors the story, but it does not end with the history. Bristol and the leaders at BCM are present-day troubadours who champion the music and the artists. Take the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, one of the premier festivals in the U.S., now in its 22nd year. Celebrating the spirit of the “big bang” for three days from this beautiful corner of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, headliners over the years read like a list of who’s who in the industry: Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Tanya Tucker, Rosanne Cash, Buddy Guy, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, The Drive-By Truckers, Wynonna Judd, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Moon Taxi, Béla Fleck, Robert Earl Keen, and Steve Earle & The Dukes.

Bristol Rhythm takes pride in amplifying the careers of starson-the-rise on its lineup. The festival introduced audiences to The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Margo Price, Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings, early-on in their journeys.

WBCM Radio Bristol’s monthly Farm and Fun Time variety show, tapes live for broadcast on several PBS stations across the southeast and features today’s top roots music artists.

Birthplace of Country Music Museum

The award-winning Smithsonian affiliate tells the story of the 1927 Bristol Sessions through glorious sight and sound. Through modern, interactive permanent exhibits, evocative theater experiences, artifacts and rich displays, the story of the “big bang” comes alive. The museum also houses an intimate, state-of-the-art performance theater, a special exhibits gallery, and hosts a plethora of educational programs, concerts, and community events. Exhibits curated by the museum and other traveling exhibits, from the Smithsonian and beyond, are also hosted at the museum year-round. The museum opened its doors to the public in August of 2014.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion

Listed among Rolling Stone’s“Top 20 Tours and Festivals,” the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is a celebration of the “big bang” and everything after. Every September since 2001, Bristol’s State Street welcomes around 40,000 festival goers to take in the very best national and international touring acts. From banjo intensive bluegrass and old-time to alt-country and indie rock, Bristol Rhythm is a festival known for showcasing artists on the cusp of greatness. Set against the backdrop of a vibrant and quaint downtown, the festival offers several main outdoor stages, strategically located near famous Bristol landmarks. Fans may also take in sets in one of the festival’s colorful indoor venues, which include the beautifully restored Paramount Bristol and The Cameo Theater. It’s truly a reunion like no other!

WBCM Radio

Broadcasting live from within the exhibits of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, WBCM showcases the diversity of American roots music from the early recording era to today, with a variety of original programming that celebrates the roots and branches of early country, bluegrass, Americana, and much, much more.