BCM News Archives - The Birthplace of Country Music

For the love of music, art, and learning

April 24, 2025

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (April 24, 2025) – For lovers of music and art, the Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) celebrates southern Appalachian spring melodies with a packed calendar in the month of May. Each event takes place at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Music Museum, located in the heart of Bristol’s historic downtown, with the exception of the spectacular Farm and Fun Time show, which will be held on the grand stage of Paramount Bristol at 7 p.m. ET, May 8. Musical guests The Dead South and Sunny War will perform on the popular WBCM Radio Bristol production, which is recorded live and edited for broadcast on PBS channels across the country. Tickets are on sale now at ParamountBristol.org.

Kicking things off May 1 at 6:30 p.m., travel through time to the Golden Era of radio and experience a rare, live recording of The Stanley Brothers & the Clinch Mountain Boys performing on WCYB Radio’s classic Farm and Fun Time program from the 1940s and 1950s. Thought to be lost forever, this historic gem has been digitally restored from a deteriorating transcription disc. There is no cost to attend the Listening Party and this glimpse into the early days of the group’s legendary career. If you plan to be there, please RSVP through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Artists and art lovers will have the opportunity to study under celebrated artist, muralist, and instructor Ellen Elmes during a hands-on music and art workshop May 3 at 1 p.m. During the workshop, Ellen will guide participants through the creative process to the accompaniment of live music by singer-songwriter and Radio Bristol show host Ella Patrick. Art supplies are included in the $20 (+tax/fee) registration. Class size is limited so don’t hesitate to sign up. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to take in a special exhibit of Elmes’ work, entitled Ellen Elmes: The Art of Music and Mountains, on display now at the museum.

Toddlers and their grown ups are invited to Museum Storytime on May 2 at 10:30 a.m., where they’ll read along to children’s books about “Highwaymen” Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, followed by a sing-along with Ella Patrick. Held monthly every first Friday in the museum’s Learning Center, Museum Storytime is a “priceless” experience for families. Older children who are interested in learning an instrument may take part in weekly group music lessons with JAM Kids held Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Lessons are priced affordably at $5 a class or $45 for 10 classes.

Local and regional songwriters commune and collaborate every second Saturday of the month at 2 p.m. during the Songwriters Circle, hosted by Mary Munsey of Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia. Every fourth Saturday the East Tennessee Bluegrass Music Association leads bluegrass musicians who just want to get together and jam. Songwriters Circle and Monthly Bluegrass Jams are both no-cost events.

May’s Speaker Session, entitled “Country Music, Comedy, and the Small Screen,” examines the cross-over careers of Tennessee Ernie Ford, Minnie Pearl, and Roni Stoneman and their characterizations of common Appalachian personas. The event is free to attend, but folks are asked to kindly RSVP. If you can’t be there in person, the program will stream live on Radio Bristol’s YouTube channel.

On May 17 eighth-generation Appalachian ballad singer Donna Ray Norton hosts “The Nest of Singing Birds Ballad Swap,” an evening where regional singers explore the legacy of this unique art form through story and song. The name of this program comes from early 20th-century song collector Cecil Sharp’s reference to Madison County, North Carolina’s rich ballad legacy as a “nest of singing birds.” Following Hurricane Helene’s devastation of their hometown, this group of ballad singers has been traveling their regular ballad swap at the Old Marshall Jail to raise awareness of the practice’s fragility and the region it depends on. Registration for the event is $15 (+tax/fee).

BCM May Events Calendar:

May 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Museum: Stanley Brothers Transcription Disc Listening Party

May 2 | 10:30 a.m. | Museum: Museum Storytime on The Highwaymen (Hello, I’m Johnny Cash by G. Neri, A Little Golden Book Biography: Willie Nelson by Jeffrey Ebbeler)

May 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 | 10:30 a.m. | Museum: JAM Kids Weekly Music Lesson

May 3 | 1 p.m. | Museum: Music & Art Workshop with Ellen Elmes (for adults)

May 8 | 7 p.m.| Paramount Bristol: Farm and Fun Time feat. The Dead South, Sunny War

May 10 | 2 p.m. | Museum: Songwriters Circle hosted by Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia

May 13 | 7 p.m. | Museum/Online: Speaker Session: Country Music, Comedy, and the Small Screen w/ Erika Barker and Julia Underkoffler

May 17 | 7 p.m. | Museum: Nest of Singing Birds: A Ballad Swap “Love & Murder A Capella” w/ Donna Ray Norton

May 24 | 2 p.m. | Museum: Monthly Bluegrass Jam hosted by East Tennessee Bluegrass Association

For tickets and more information about BCM events or to RSVP to an event, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Birthplace of Country Music appoints Melissa L. Roberts as new Executive Director

December 19, 2024

BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn., (Dec. 19, 2024) – The Board of Directors of Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa L. Roberts as the organization’s new Executive Director. An experienced leader in the community, Ms. Roberts most recently served as Executive Director of Appalachian Promise Alliance, based in Bristol, and previously held the Executive Director position at Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport, Tenn. BCM is the parent organization of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, and WBCM Radio Bristol.

“On behalf of the BCM Board of Directors, I am happy to welcome Ms. Roberts to BCM,” said Brent Treash, Chair of the BCM Board. “Melissa is an outstanding leader with deep experience and a proven history of driving results in the nonprofit sector. We are excited to have someone of her caliber join our team, and we are confident that her vision, dedication, and knowledge of our region will help us continue to foster sustainable growth, elevate our programs, and create new opportunities for the organization’s continued success.”

While at Appalachian Promise Alliance, Roberts expanded the organization’s service area to include eight counties in Northeast Tennessee, five counties in Southwest Virginia, and partnerships in 54 out of 55 counties in West Virginia, helping them to achieve Silver Level Recognition in the state of Tennessee as a “Better Workplace.”

Roberts earned her M.S. in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Mass Communications from Emory & Henry College. She has held seats on a number of boards and committees, including serving as Board Vice-Chair at Bristol Regional Medical Center and Co-Chair of Regional Resilience Committee for STRONG Accountable Care Community. Roberts is also a member of Rotary and National Society of Leadership and Success.

“I am honored to join BCM at such an exciting time,” said Roberts. “I have long admired the work of BCM and everything the organization has done to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Bristol’s downtown and the region. I am eager to contribute my experience to the growth of the organization, which includes completion of the expansion of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, and looking ahead to the 100th anniversary of the 1927 Bristol Sessions. I look forward to working with the dedicated staff, Board, and community partners to continue to serve our region and advance our mission of music.”

BCM looks forward to the leadership and strategic vision that Roberts brings to the organization as it continues to perpetuate and promote the legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter in the organization’s commitment to serving the region and its music culture with excellence and dedication.

For more information about BCM, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Calling all songwriters! Tennessee Songwriters Week is coming to Bristol

December 12, 2024

BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn., (Dec. 12, 2024) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) has announced it will again partner with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to host a qualifying round for the 7th annual Tennessee Songwriters Week in 2025. Songwriters of all genres are invited to sign up for qualifying rounds to be held across the state. Bristol’s qualifying round will be held on Jan. 31, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET, at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. From there, songwriters will compete for the chance to perform their original music at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Applications are now open; there is no fee to enter.

Songs will be judged by quality of the song (original lyrics/melody and clear narrative) and performance (ability to understand lyrics and connection with the audience). See the 2025 Tennessee Songwriters Week Sweepstakes Official Rules at tnvacation.com for more information.

Twenty (20) songwriters will be chosen from the pool of applicants to perform for judges during the Bristol qualifying round competition. From there, two (2) semi-finalists will advance to compete in the Tennessee Songwriters showcase event at Paramount Bristol Feb. 26. One finalist from the Paramount will be chosen to perform at the legendary Bluebird Cafe on March 30, along with other finalists from across the state. The deadline to enter the qualifying round in Bristol is Jan. 13.

The public is invited to be part of the audience at the museum to cheer on participants competing in the Bristol event. Tickets for spectators are $10, on sale now. To purchase, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Other venues participating in qualifying rounds in the Tri-Cities region include Model City Tap House in Kingsport on Jan.28, Boones Creek Museum & Opry in Johnson City on Feb. 6, and The Jackson Theatre in Jonesborough on Feb. 7.

Legal residents of the United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, qualify to enter. To enter the Tennessee Songwriters Week qualifying round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org where you’ll also find complete rules of entry and more details.

Tennessee Songwriters Week supports music venues, songwriters with live performances in all genres of music, drives visitation and inspires travelers to experience the state’s music stories, history, attractions and venues.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development partners with The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Taylor Guitars, and music venues and local convention and visitors’ bureaus, chambers of commerce and partners across the state, all committed to make sure songwriters can share their original work onstage with other writers.

Follow along with Tennessee Songwriters Week by following @tnvacation and #madeinTN, #NowPlayingTN

For more information about BCM, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

BCM Message: Cultivate Community “Homegrown in the Heart of Appalchia”

November 27, 2024

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (Nov. 26, 2024) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is encouraging everyone to cultivate community this holiday season by supporting locally-owned businesses, nonprofits and homegrown events that make Bristol and the surrounding region a truly special place. As an incentive, BCM is offering a special gift to the first 3,000 people who order discounted weekend passes to its 24th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, slated for Sept. 19-21.

“There’s no better way to show your love for the community than by supporting small, locally-owned businesses and nonprofits,” said BCM Executive Director of Advancement Leah Ross. “It’s like planting seeds in your own back yard. It takes time and care to nurture. Then it grows and brings beauty to your life and to the lives of your neighbors.”

Black Friday Deal: “Homegrown in the Heart of Appalachia”

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, one of the most beloved music traditions in our region, is a gift that lasts far beyond the holiday season. On Black Friday, BCM will offer weekend passes to Bristol Rhythm 2025 for the discounted price of $125 (plus tax/fees). As a special touch, the first 3,000 wristbands sold for the event will include a packet of wildflower seeds–a lovely reminder to nurture your garden as you nurture our local economy and community. Keep an eye on the festival’s social media channels on Black Friday for a special artist announcement!

The Black Friday sale will continue through Cyber Monday, Dec. 2. Tickets will be sold exclusively at The Museum Store at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and online at BristolRhythm.com. The deadline for online orders to be delivered in time for Christmas delivery is Dec. 11. If choosing the print-at-home ticket option, you will save on shipping and exchange your tickets for wristbands at the festival. Payment plans are also available.

Small Business Saturday: Shop small and cultivate local connections.

Join the nationwide movement Nov. 30 to champion small. locally-owned businesses in your community and help nourish your local economy. Do you have family in town for the holidays? Plan your downtown Bristol itinerary to include shopping, a tour of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, and a great meal at one of Bristol’s amazing restaurants. Need a souvenir? The Museum Store has an array of Bristol-centric and music-related items you won’t find anywhere else.

Artists Sunday: Celebrate local artistry.

Join the largest movement in the country to support local artists, creators and performers in your community on Artists Sunday, Dec. 1. Take the time to explore the wealth of talent found here in the heart of Appalachia with a growing number of artisans who create one-of-a-kind, handmade works of art or support your local music scene by buying merchandise and CDs directly from performers at their shows or through their websites. The Museum Store is one-stop shopping for artwork, pottery, jewelry, and more.

Cyber Monday: Cultivate growth locally.

Many locally-owned businesses offer the same shop-at-home convenience as online retailers and big box stores. Keep your dollars in your community by supporting local businesses with online storefronts. Starting on Black Friday, BCM will offer an exclusive “Homegrown in Appalachia” line of festival merchandise at BristolRhythm.com while supplies last.

Giving Tuesday: Planting seeds to help your community grow.

On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, take a moment to reflect on the importance of supporting local nonprofits that rely on donations to continue their vital work. From local food banks and charities to arts and culture organizations like BCM, it truly takes a village to make an impact. Just as you water and tend to a garden to see it grow, your support helps these organizations flourish and thrive, ensuring the future prosperity of our community. Consider a one-time or monthly donation to BCM at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org/donate-givingtuesday2024/ and help keep the legacy of the 1927 Bristol Sessions alive for future generations.

For more information about the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, or WBCM Radio Bristol, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.