News Category: Radio Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (April 8, 2024) – WBCM Radio Bristol‘s Farm and Fun Time live variety show returns to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol, Tenn.-Va. with the exceptional talents of Pony Bradshaw and Shay Martin Lovette. The event will take place at 7 p.m. ET, April 11.

“Bradshow and Lovette are true masters in the craft of songwriting,” said Radio Bristol Program Director and show host Kris Truelsen. “This is going to be one great night of amazing stories set to music.”

Pony Bradshaw, known for his haunting and literary songwriting style, draws inspiration from his extensive reading, crafting narratives rich in detail and emotion. His latest album, “North Georgia Rounder,” is a love letter to the place he calls home and the woods, rivers, and mountains of Appalachia.

Shay Martin Lovette, a wayfaring songwriter deeply connected to the natural world, brings his unique perspective and musical voice to songs that have garnered praise from esteemed publications such as American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Situation, and No Depression, among others. His latest EP, “The True as They Come,” is slated for release April 26.

Tickets to Farm and Fun Time are $40 and may be purchased online through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Farm and Fun Time is made possible by Eastman Credit Union, Toyota of Bristol, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the City of Bristol, Tenn. The program broadcasts live on WBCM Radio Bristol at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area with streaming available on the station’s Facebook page, at ListenRadioBristol.org and through the station’s free mobile app. The program will record live for later broadcast on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina.

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (Nov.17, 2023) – Two-time GRAMMY legend and Blues Hall of Famer Bobby Rush headlines WBCM Radio Bristol‘s Farm and Fun Time at 7 p.m. ET, Dec. 14, at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol. Country rock outfit Cole Ritter & The Night Owls will also perform at what is destined to become an historic event in the history of the program.

“Bobby Rush is a blues icon and it is such a privilege to host him for the first time in Bristol,” said Kris Truelsen, Radio Bristol program director and host of Farm and Fun Time. “Many will recognize Cole Ritter from his appearance on American Idol. His band is top notch and they are rising quickly on the Americana scene. We predict this show will sell out quickly, so don’t hesitate to order tickets.”

At 90 years young, Bobby Rush continues to be an electrifying performer, songwriter, and composer with a long pedigree that took him from the juke joints of the deep south to blues clubs of Chicago where he perfected his craft alongside his friends Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Etta James and Howlin’ Wolf. Rush was 83 years old when he received his first GRAMMY. He just released an album of new music entitled “All My Love for You,” made a cameo appearance as himself in the Eddie Murphy film “Dolemite Is My Name,” and released a critically acclaimed autobiography “I Ain’t Studdin’ You: My American Blues Story.” Rush has been featured in two documentaries about the blues including the Martin Scorcese production “The Road to Memphis” and “Take Me to the River,” where he appeared with Terrence Howard, Snoop Dogg and Mavis Staples. He’s currently co-writing “Slippin’ Through the Cracks,” a Broadway musical that’s still in development, with playwright Stephen Lloyd Helper who co-wrote “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.” Among his many successes and accolades, Rush is also an inductee of the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Founded in 2019, Cole Ritter & The Night Owls have since been pioneering new sonic spaces and finding their very own home-grown sound that is completely new, yet nostalgic. The award-winning band is helmed by Cole Ritter, a Nashville native who has devoted his life to music. Cole was featured on season 20 of American Idol and was chosen as Hunter Girl’s duet partner. His songwriting draws inspiration from many genres including country, rock, folk, and the blues. The Night Owls features a lineup of some of Nashville’s best up-and-coming instrumentalists and musicians. Ritter and the Night Owls were chosen as the inner of Belmont University’s Country Showcase in 2020.

Farm and Fun Time house band Bill and the Belles, led by Truelsen, leads the program with musical segues and original underwriter messages, weaving in humor, a Farm Report and a homespun heirloom recipe segment that’s fun for the whole family. Tickets are on sale now for $40 to be part of the live studio audience; to purchase and more information visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Farm and Fun Time broadcasts live on WBCM Radio Bristol at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area with streaming available on the station’s Facebook page, at ListenRadioBristol.org and through the station’s free mobile app. The program will record live for later broadcast on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina.

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (Oct. 24, 2023) – Twangy, good-time Canadian export Boy Golden and The Resonant Rogues, an Appalachian folk duo based in North Carolina, will perform on WBCM Radio Bristol‘s Farm and Fun Time variety show at 7 p.m. ET, Nov. 9, at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol. The program will record live for later broadcast on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina.

“Boy Golden puts on an amazing live show and rarely tours in the United States,” said Kris Truelsen, program host and Radio Bristol program director. “To say this is a rare opportunity is an understatement. Don’t miss it!”

Everything becomes fluid when you can pass through time and space like a ghost, a story, a melody. Boy Golden manifests all three on his latest album “For Jimmy.” From classic country to psych-folk, alternative to roadhouse pop to Appalachian bluegrass, Boy Golden’s abilities lies in the songwriting of Liam Duncan – the songs your friends tell you about, the stories you hear from your neighbors, your community. Since releasing the band’s debut album “Church of Better Daze” in 2021, their single “KD & Lunchmeat” charted #1 on Canadian alternative radio, they have toured more than 60 venues and festivals across North America and Duncan has produced several albums with friends. Farm and Fun Time will be Boy Golden’s Bristol debut.

The Resonant Rogues are fronted by the songwriting duo Sparrow and Keith Josiah Smith, who share a passion for movement and sound. Before meeting, falling in love, and forming the band in 2013, both traveled extensively throughout the U.S. – Keith by hopping freight trains, Sparrow with a circus troupe. In addition to their North Carolina holler homestead, New Orleans and Nashville are their other musical homes and the influence of both can be felt on their self-titled, fourth album which offers sounds of Appalachian old-time, classic country, and vintage soul.

Farm and Fun Time house band Bill and the Belles, led by Truelsen, leads the program with musical segues and original underwriter messages, weaving in humor, a Farm Report and a homespun heirloom recipe segment that’s fun for the whole family. Tickets are on sale now for $40 to be part of the live studio audience; to purchase and more information visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Farm and Fun Time broadcasts live on WBCM Radio Bristol at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area with streaming available on the station’s Facebook page, at ListenRadioBristol.org and through the station’s free mobile app.

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (Sept. 28, 2023) – Multi-GRAMMY Award-winning “songwriter’s songwriter” and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Rodney Crowell headlines WBCM Radio Bristol‘s Farm and Fun Time show on the historic stage of Paramount Bristol at 7 p.m. ET, Oct. 19, with special guests Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, the duo Vintage Guitar magazine heralds as an “acoustic firestorm.” Doors open at 6 p.m.

“Crowell is such an iconic songwriter whose influence extends way beyond country music,” said Farm and Fun Time show host and Radio Bristol Program Director Kris Truelsen. “Combine that with the virtuosic talents of Ickes and Hensley and you’ve got a really powerful combination fans won’t want to miss.”

The show was previously scheduled for July, but had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Tickets previously purchased are still valid for admission to the October date. Tickets are still available at the Paramount box office and online at ParamountBristol.org.

Truelsen’s house band Bill and the Belles, a lively, internationally touring string band known for signature harmonies, candid songwriting, and pop sensibilities, leads the celebration of Appalachian music and culture with homespun humor and and heartwarming performances the entire family will enjoy.

Farm and Fun Time is recorded for television syndication on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina; check local listings for air time. Folks may also tune in to the broadcast on WBCM in the Bristol area at 100.1 FM and through the station’s free mobile app. For more information, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (April 20, 2023) – Classic country king Jesse Daniel meets the dynamic bluegrass duo of Compton and Newberry on the next edition of WBCM Radio Bristol‘s Farm and Fun Time at 7 p.m. ET, May 11, in the performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Historic Downtown Bristol, Va.-Tenn. Hosted by Radio Bristol Program Director Kris Truelsen and his house band Bill and the Belles, the evening promises to be a toe tappin’, knee-slappin’ hootenanny of a good time!

“I’m a big fan of Jesse’s music and his live show is not to be missed,” said Truelsen. “He’s currently packing much larger theaters out west with his rockin’ country show. This is one of those ‘don’t miss’ experiences you’ll be bragging about for years to come. Compton and Newberry will bring their unique old-timey flavor – it’s a real treat to have them on the same bill at Farm and Fun Time.”

Saving Country Music heralds Jesse Daniel as “One of the best live experiences in independent music.” He has been touring the country for years with his top notch band and earning fans the old fashioned way – with honest songs played well. The California native is blazing the trail for a new wave of traditional artists, bringing his hard core country music to stages all over the U.S. There are many making traditional country music in modern times, but no one is making it like Daniel. His sound uniquely his own, while rooted in the tradition of his Bakersfield heroes like Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. Over the past few years, Daniel and his band have toured and shared stages with artists Colter Wall, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Charley Crocket, and American Aquarium, to name a few.

Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, masters of old-time mandolin and banjo/guitar, dig deep into early country music and blues. Their duet-singing, two-man string band ranges between traditional songs, instrumentals, ‘mother’ ballads and original tunes. It’s not about the number of notes with Compton and Newberry, but telling the truth and respecting the song.

Compton is a GRAMMY Award-winner, IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year nominee, and mandolinist for the Nashville Bluegrass Band. The musician was also a steady sideman for John Hartford from 1994 until his death in 2001. Newberry is known far and wide for his powerful banjo playing but is also a prize-winning guitarist, songwriter and singer. In addition to his work with Compton, Newberry plays with fiddler and step-dancer April Verch. He has been a frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion and was a featured singer on the “Transatlantic Sessions.” He won a songwriting prize for Gospel Recorded Performance at the IBMA’s with the tune “Singing As We Rise” and was co-writer for the song “They Called It Music” with Eric Gibson, which earned the IBMA Song of the Year.

Farm and Fun Time host band Bill and the Belles is based in Johnson City, Tenn. The band tours internationally and is known for combining a stringband format with their signature harmonies, candid songwriting, and pop sensibilities. Rolling Stone referred to the band as “…committed to helping early country music remain appreciated – not just replicated.”

Tickets to Farm and Fun Time are $40 and may be purchased online through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. The program may also be accessed in its entirety live through WBCM Radio Bristol’s Facebook page, on the air at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, online at ListenRadioBristol.org or via the station’s free mobile app.

Farm and Fun Time is recorded before a live audience and syndicated for television on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina.

Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (April 4, 2023) – WBCM Radio Bristol constellates the funky, neo-soul of Joslyn & The Sweet Compression with Time Sawyer‘s rootsy, folk-rock for a kinetic edition of Farm and Fun Time. The wholesome, live variety show will broadcast and tape live for television at 7 p.m. ET, April 12, in the performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

“While we continue to honor the history of Farm and Fun Time, we want the show to reflect the diverse evolution of roots music and just how far it has come,” said show host and Radio Bristol Program Director Kris Truelsen. “There really is no limit to the great music that’s out there – we’re here for it all!”

After cultivating her dynamic voice and performance skills in backup roles and stage plays, Joslyn Hampton teamed with her stepfather, Marty Charters (a touring guitarist and songwriter who has shared the stage with legends such as Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, and Van Morrison), to compose a captivating set of tunes and assemble an ace band. Joslyn & The Sweet Compression (Robert Frahm – guitar, Smith Donaldson – bass, Rashawn Fleming – drums, Trevin Little – saxophone, and Isaac Stephens – trumpet) combine to deliver a hook-filled mix of funk and soul on their self-titled debut album, released in 2019. A headlining favorite at regional clubs and music festivals – including Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in 2022 – the band is poised to engage fans across the country with widespread touring in 2023.

Time Sawyer’s name reflects the pull between the past and the future. The character Tom Sawyer evokes the rural background and love of home the band shares. Time is a muse for songwriting; it’s the thread that runs through life, bringing new experiences and giving a sense of urgency, while still connecting us with our past. The band has performed on stages of the Southeast’s most iconic festivals, including Merlefest, Floydfest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and more. Time Sawyer has also shared bills with Hiss Golden Messenger, Steep Canyon Rangers and The Wood Brothers.

Farm and Fun Time host band Bill and the Belles is based in Johnson City, Tenn. The band tours internationally and is known for combining a stringband format with their signature harmonies, candid songwriting, and pop sensibilities. Rolling Stone referred to the band as “…committed to helping early country music remain appreciated – not just replicated.”

Farm and Fun Time is recorded before a live audience and syndicated for television on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina. Tickets to the show range from $43.02 – $85.13 and may be purchased by visiting the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.

Farm and Fun Time may also be accessed in its entirety live through WBCM Radio Bristol’s Facebook page, on the air at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, online at ListenRadioBristol.org or via the station’s free mobile app.

Bristol, Tenn.-Va. (Jan. 30, 2023) – Legendary newgrass phenom Sam Bush headlines WBCM Radio Bristol‘s Farm and Fun Time live variety show, along with Bristol’s very own alt-folk sensation Annabelle’s Curse, at 7 p.m. EST, March 16, live from the historic stage at Paramount Bristol. Hosted by Radio Bristol’s Kris Truelsen and his house band Bill and the Belles, this is a Farm and Fun Time not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now to the public at the Paramount box office and online.

“With the combination of trailblazer Sam Bush and the vitality of Annabelle’s Curse, we’ve curated what promises to be a fantastic, high-energy show,” said Truelsen. “Dancing in the aisles is not only encouraged, it’s expected!”

There was only one prize-winning teenager carrying stones big enough to say thanks, but no thanks, to Roy Acuff. Only one son of Kentucky finding a light of inspiration from Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys and catching fire from Bob Marley and The Wailers. Only one progressive hippie allying with like-minded conspirators, rolling out the newgrass revolution, and then leaving the genre’s torch-bearing band behind as it reached its commercial peak.

There is only one consensus pick of peers and predecessors, of the traditionalists, the rebels, and the next gen devotees. Music’s ultimate inside outsider. Or is it outside insider? There is only one Sam Bush.

Bush has released seven albums and a live DVD over the past two decades, and in 2009 the Americana Music Association awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist. Punch Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Greensky Bluegrass are just a few present-day bluegrass vanguards among so many musicians he’s influenced. His performances are annual highlights of the festival circuit, with Bush’s joyous perennial appearances at the town’s famed bluegrass fest earning him the title “King of Telluride.”

Electrified Appalachian folk-rock band Annabelle’s Curse has gathered quite a following in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond with a reputation for captivating audiences with its dynamic and energetic performances. Formed more than a decade ago, the band is a staple at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and one of our region’s must-see acts. A review published in Huffington Post read: “This five-piece alternative folk band from Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia doesn’t seem to be cursed as much as blessed with talent.”

Farm and Fun Time host band Bill and the Belles is based in Johnson City, Tenn. The band tours internationally and is known for combining a stringband format with their signature harmonies, candid songwriting, and pop sensibilities. Rolling Stone referred to the band as “…committed to helping early country music remain appreciated – not just replicated.”

Farm and Fun Time is recorded before a live audience and syndicated for television on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina. Tickets to the show range from $43.02 – $85.13 and may be purchased by visiting the Paramount’s website at ParamountBristol.org or by visiting the Paramount box office.

Farm and Fun Time may also be accessed in its entirety live through WBCM Radio Bristol’s Facebook page, on the air at 100.1 FM in the Bristol area, online at ListenRadioBristol.org or via the station’s free mobile app.