Festival Archives - Page 2 of 19 - The Birthplace of Country Music

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion named “Outstanding Festival of the Year” at SWVA Tourism Awards

August 7, 2025

BRISTOL, Va.-Tenn. (Aug. 7, 2025) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) earned top honors at the annual Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards, taking home six prestigious awards recognizing excellence in tourism leadership and marketing. The awards, presented by Friends of Southwest Virginia, were announced at a luncheon held Tuesday at the Wytheville Meeting Center in Wytheville, Va.

The organization’s flagship event, the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, received the Outstanding Festival of the Year award, a top honor in the Excellence in Tourism Partners category for events with more than 10,000 attendees. Additionally, longtime BCM volunteer Lawrence Inscho was recognized with the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award in the Excellence in Tourism Leadership category, celebrating his years of dedication and service to the organization.

“Honoring the vision and dedication of our tourism partners in Southwest Virginia, like the Birthplace of Country Music, is essential to the continued growth of our region,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia. “Tourism is a driving force in Southwest Virginia’s economy, and we’re proud to recognize organizations that preserve our culture, tell our stories, and inspire visitors to travel to our region.”

BCM was also honored with four Awards of Excellence in Tourism Marketing, showcasing the organization’s innovative and impactful promotional efforts for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion including Best Video Series for its Paste Magazine Sessions at the festival, produced by Bradley Wagner and Juan Soria of the production company I Know We Should, and Best Video Series for an Event for the festival’s recap videos, produced by Loch & Key Productions of Knoxville, Tenn. The festival also received honors for Best Social Media Campaign and Best PR Campaign.

“We are incredibly honored to be recognized among so many outstanding tourism partners in Southwest Virginia,” said BCM Executive Director Melissa Roberts. “These awards reflect the hard work of our staff, volunteers, and community who make Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion a world-class event each year. We’re especially proud of Lawrence Inscho’s well-deserved recognition—his dedication is a true embodiment of our mission.”

The Southwest Virginia Tourism Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in tourism across the region. The awards highlight the vital contributions of organizations, businesses, and individuals who are elevating the visitor experience and supporting economic development through tourism.

BCM’s award-winning Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is slated for Sept. 19-21 on State Street in Historic Downtown Bristol, Va.-Tenn., bringing world-class live music to the twin cities made famous by the 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings. Check out the lineup and purchase tickets at BristolRhythm.com. To plan your visit to the Birthplace of Country Music at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion recruiting volunteers

July 28, 2025

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (July 28, 2025) – The 24th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival is gearing up for an unforgettable weekend September 19-21, 2025, on State Street in Historic Downtown Bristol, and organizers are calling on music lovers and community champions to join the team as volunteers. With more than 800 volunteers needed to fill a variety of vital roles, this is a unique opportunity to be part of one of the region’s most beloved music events.

“As a nonprofit organization, volunteers play a crucial role in all areas of BCM, but especially during Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion,” said Melissa Roberts, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music, the parent nonprofit of the festival. “It’s a great opportunity to give back to the community while playing a major role in the success of the event.”

There are a number of areas at the festival that need help including the Green Team, merchandise tent, parking attendants, and beverage garden servers (must be age 21+ to work in beverage garden). Each volunteer will receive an Any Day festival pass for each four-hour shift they work. Volunteers will also receive an official festival t-shirt upon check-in at Festival Volunteer Headquarters.

Interested volunteers can sign up now at BristolRhythm.com under the Volunteer tab. This will take you to the Get Connected portal where you will need to register with a valid e-mail address. Volunteers will also be asked to accept the Volunteer Code of Conduct and Liability Waiver. Once signed in, you will be able to choose your shift and area of interest while they last.

Bristol Rhythm 2025 discount offer for MLB Classic Ticket Holders

July 25, 2025

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (July 25, 2025) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is offering an exclusive $20 discount on weekend passes to the 2025 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival for fans attending the historic MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway. This special offer is available exclusively to all MLB Speedway Classic ticket holders with proof of purchase, giving them the opportunity to experience the region’s vibrant music culture and rich history in full force. Offer is available for a limited time.

“We are so excited to welcome visitors to our region for the MLB Speedway Classic,” said BCM Executive Director Melissa Roberts. “It’s an incredible opportunity for fans to not only witness an historic baseball game, but also dive into the rich cultural heritage of country music here in Bristol. We hope they’ll stop by the museum and take advantage of this special offer to join us for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2025 — an unforgettable weekend of music, community, and celebration.”

MLB Speedway Classic ticket holders may redeem this offer in person at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, where they must show proof of purchase for their MLB Speedway Classic tickets to secure the discount. The ticket-for-ticket offer means that for each MLB Speedway Classic ticket, fans may purchase an additional Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion weekend pass at $20 off. For example, if a ticket holder has two MLB tickets, they may redeem discounts on two weekend passes.

The special promotion begins on Sunday, July 27 at 1 p.m. (when the museum opens) and ends on Friday, Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. (when the museum closes). Please note that this offer is available only in person at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and cannot be redeemed online.

The MLB Speedway Classic is set to take place on August 2, 2025, marking the first-ever Major League Baseball game at Bristol Motor Speedway between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. This exciting event will feature a pregame concert with Tim McGraw and Pitbull, as well as an interactive Fan Zone with live music and activities for all ages.

Tickets for the MLB Speedway Classic can be purchased at BristolMotorSpeedway.com.

2025 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion poster — Official Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2025 poster artwork | © Birthplace of Country Music, photographer: Ashli Linkous

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is scheduled for Sept. 19-21, 2025 on State Street in Historic Downtown Bristol. For more information about the Birthplace of Country Music and the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, please visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

While you’re visiting the museum, be sure and browse The Museum Store for one-of-kind gift items, including this year’s official Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion festival poster created by renowned Los Angeles-based illustrator and graphic designer Clay Hickson.

The festival poster is available in three distinct editions:

Standard Open Edition
Limited Edition Screen Print — 100 signed and numbered copies, printed in Virginia by Triple Stamp Press
Exclusive Gold Foil Screen Print — 50 signed and numbered copies, also printed by Triple Stamp Press

Raised amid the redwoods, apple orchards, and dairy farms of Northern California, Clay studied printmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His acclaimed work has been featured by The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Netflix, Herman Miller, Bloomberg Businessweek, and PBS. He is also co-founder of Caboose Books, an independent publisher of limited edition artist prints and books. To check out more of the artist’s work, visit his website at ClayHickson.com.

Posters are on sale now at The Museum Store inside the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and online at BristolRhythm.com, where you’ll also find festival lineup details and ticket information.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2025 drops schedule, day passes

June 26, 2025

Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (June 26, 2025) – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion has released its full artist schedule, revealing a massive 111 sets of live music across 12 stages over three days. Presented by the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music, the same organization that brings you the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Radio Bristol, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is voted among USA Today’s top 10 music festivals three years running. Celebrating its 24th anniversary this year, the festival returns to State Street in Historic Downtown Bristol, Tenn.-Va. Sept. 19-21. Any Day Passes are also now on sale; each guaranteeing entry for any day of the festival that you wish to attend.

Friday night headliners include The Teskey Brothers, Joy Oladokun, Mountain Grass Unit, Ashley Monroe, Fruition, and Michael Cleveland. Saturday’s packed schedule features Shane Smith & The Saints, Lukas Nelson, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Kaitlin Butts, Futurebirds, and many, many more. Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Band Perry, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sister Sadie, and Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley are among the acts who will conclude the music-filled weekend on Sunday.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion daily schedule lineup graphic

Any Day Passes to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion are on sale now for $99.99 (taxes/fees included). Weekend Passes offer the biggest bang for your buck at $169.99 (tax/fees included) if you purchase by July 20 when the price increases by $10. Payment plans are available. VIP passes offer an array of exclusive perks such as private performances, VIP lounge access, special seating and more. Purchase now at BristolRhythm.com. Artist schedule is subject to change without notice.