Radio Bristol Archives - Page 2 of 16 - The Birthplace of Country Music

S.G. Goodman, Viv & Riley at Farm and Fun Time Aug. 10

July 25, 2023

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (July 25, 2023) – Kentucky alt-folk singer-songwriter S. G. Goodman and Viv & Riley, a country-folk duo based in North Carolina, joins the bill of WBCM Radio Bristol’s Farm and Fun Time variety show at 7 p.m. ET, Aug. 10 in the intimate performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

“If you weren’t able to catch S. G. Goodman’s fantastic performances at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion last year, you’re in for a treat,” said WBCM Program Director and show host Kris Truelsen. “We are also really excited to bring Viv & Riley to Bristol for the first time. It’s a fantastic lineup that will sell out quickly, so don’t wait to buy tickets!”

When S. G. Goodman released her first album, Old Time Feeling, she was rightly coined an “untamed rock ‘n’ roll truth-teller” by Rolling Stone. Drawing from influences from Velvet Underground, Pavement, Karen Dalton, and Chad VanGaalen, Goodman brings powerful vignettes to life through her latest recording Teeth Marks, with a sound that ventures deeper into indie rock and punk territory than she ever has before. Teeth Marks is about what love actually is, love’s psychological and physical imprint, its light and its darkness. It’s a record about the love we have or don’t have for each other, and perhaps, more significantly, the love we have or don’t have for ourselves.

Based out of Durham, North Carolina, Viv & Riley have tapped into the area’s eclectic and collaborative music scene, recruiting Alex Bingham of Hiss Golden Messenger to produce the duo’s latest album Imaginary People. Bingham brings a sunny, lush sound to Liv & Riley’s music, moving beyond their earlier country roots and toward a layered sound and sonic experimentation. The songwriting has evolved as well, from the world-weary, stripped-down country songs they’re known for to indie songwriting at turns sweetly sad and gently sardonic. Ultimately, Imaginary People is about carrying and honoring our pasts, about letting that inform our new steps forward. No matter how much we might cling to where we are, sometimes we need to uproot and take a leap of faith, to open ourselves up to new experiences and ideas in order to grow and blossom.

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 is edited for syndication on Blue Ridge PBS, East Tennessee PBS, and PBS North Carolina; check local listings for air times.

Farm and Fun Time July Show at the Paramount Rescheduled for Oct. 19

July 12, 2023

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (July 12, 2023) – Due to unforeseen circumstances, Rodney Crowell is unable to join us for our upcoming Farm and Fun Time show on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at Paramount Bristol. A new date has been confirmed for 7 p.m. ET, Oct. 19, 2023. We thank you for your patience and understanding and hope you will be able to attend.

All tickets purchased will be honored at the new Farm and Fun Time show date of Oct. 19. Refunds are also available at point of purchase for those who do not wish to attend.

Refunds will take three to five business days to process. The deadline to request a refund is Wednesday, July 26, 2023. If we do not hear from you by then, we will assume that you intend to keep your tickets and attend the new date.

If you have any questions, the Paramount Bristol box office team will be happy to assist you. Simply call (423) 274-8920 Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Jesse Daniel, Compton and Newberry at Farm and Fun Time May 11

April 20, 2023

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.

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, Time Sawyer on Farm and Fun Time April 12

April 4, 2023

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.