May Events at BCM

Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (May 4, 2021) – This May the Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is welcoming live music back into the Performance Theater of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum for socially-distanced, in-person concert events with the return of Radio Bristol Premieres: The Kody Norris Show on May 8 and the Farm and Fun Time variety show, with special guests Parker Millsap and Alexa Rose, May 13. 

“We are thrilled to offer live performances again, but COVID-19 isn’t over,” said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. “BCM will continue to consult with local health officials and follow our Infectious Disease Prevention and Safety Plan – which includes distancing and the use of face coverings. It’s going to look a little different, but at the end of the day it’s good to see venues reopening safely and musicians getting back to work.”

In-person tickets to Radio Bristol Premieres and Farm and Fun Time in May sold out in a matter of days to BCM e-newsletter subscribers, as only one-third of the museum’s 100-seat capacity Performance Theater will be filled. Fans who weren’t able to purchase tickets to the live events will have access to them via livestream, with a $10 fee to view Radio Bristol Premieres: The Kody Norris Show. There is no cost to view Farm and Fun Time, which will stream live on Radio Bristol’s Facebook page.

Radio Bristol will kick off its annual Fund Drive May 12–13 with a special Farm and Fun Time Noon Show with hosts The Kody Norris Show, followed by the Radio Bristol DJ Showcase. The DJ Showcase will feature performances from some of the station’s on-air talent – who just happen to be prominent musicians of the region. The lineup includes The Kody Norris Show, Kris Truelsen and Kalia Yeagle (of Bill and the Belles), Rich Kirby, Marshall Ballew, JP Parsons, Bailey George & Jukebox Jess, Scotty Almany, Moose “Trainwreck” Roberts, Virginia West, Bill Smith, The Boys, Momma Molasses, and Ivy Sheppard. There will be no live audience for either program, but you may view them on Radio Bristol’s Facebook page. 

For more information about Radio Bristol Premieres, Farm and Fun Time, and the Radio Bristol Fund Drive, visit ListenRadioBristol.org. 

Virtual experiences will continue to play a role in programming at the museum and includes the Virtual Speaker Series May 4 with guest Pat Jarrett, Interim Director of the Virginia Folklife Program, who takes us on a tour of some of the Commonwealth’s cultural festivals. Two new Virtual Story Time’s will be shared on the Museum from Home section of BCM’s website: Georgia Music, written by Helen V. Griffith and illustrated by James Stevenson, on May 7 and Cowboy Dreams, written and illustrated by Dayal Kaur Khalso,on May 21.Also, the award-winning Radio Bristol Book Club “meets” on the air May 27 to explore Trampoline by Robert Gipe, an illustrated novel about a gutsy 15-year-old who joins her grandmother’s fight against mountaintop removal in Eastern Kentucky. The book club discussion will be followed by an interview with author Robert Gipe. All of these events are free of cost, but you must pre-register for the Virtual Speaker Series event through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

The special exhibit Our Living Past: Platinum Portraits of Southern Music Makers, featuring the stunning tintype photography of Music Maker Relief Foundation co-founder Tim Duffy, remains on display in May and continues through September 30. 

Weekend passes to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion’s 20th anniversary event, scheduled September 10-12, 2021 are on sale now, with the full schedule and single-day tickets coming soon! Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Tanya Tucker, Blackberry Smoke, Yola, Dr. Dog, and many more are scheduled to perform. Visit BristolRhythm.com for tickets and full lineup.