Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (July 21, 2022) – In celebration of the 95th anniversary of the 1927 Bristol Sessions, the public is invited to attend the world premiere of “Born in Bristol” at 8 p.m. EDT, July 30. The 1920s-themed, outdoor watch party will be held at the Downtown Center (810 State Street) in Bristol. Festivities kick off with live music by Northfork. The watch party will synchronize at 10 p.m. EDT with Circle Network‘s global premiere.
“We are very excited for ‘Born in Bristol’ to be shared with the world and to celebrate this historic 95th Anniversary,” said Leah Ross, executive director of advancement for the Birthplace of Country Music, the parent nonprofit of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, and WBCM Radio Bristol. “Many of our local residents and locations are featured in the docudrama, and we’re thrilled to share the world premiere with our wonderful community.”
The event is free, but the public is asked to RSVP online through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the period of the roaring twenties. Movie concessions and adult beverages will be available for purchase; alcohol will be sold to patrons 21 and over with valid photo ID.
“Born in Bristol,” produced by Tennessee Tourism and Plan A Films, is a 53-minute docudrama profiling the 2015 recording of the “Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited” album project. “Orthophonic Joy” was produced in partnership with Tennessee Tourism and the Virginia Tourism Corporation. The film features interviews with artists including Ashley Campbell, Ashley Monroe, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Eric Church, Marty Stuart, Shannon Campbell, Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, and Vince Gill, as well as GRAMMY-winning producer Carl Jackson. Cinematic reenactments were shot in several locations in Historic Downtown Bristol.
“Born in Bristol” will premiere globally on Saturday, July 30 10/9c on Circle Network and repeats throughout August. It will also debut on connected devices worldwide on DittyTV on Saturday, July 30 at 8/7c with repeats in August.
The “Born in Bristol” outdoor watch party is presented by the Birthplace of Country Music, in partnership with the City of Bristol, Tennessee, Bristol, Tennessee Parks & Recreation, Believe in Bristol, Explore Bristol, Express AV and Bristol Broadcasting Company. For more information visit the Events page BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.