News Category: Special Projects

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (May 7, 2024) – We’re one month away from the inaugural In the Pines, coming June 1 to Historic Downtown Bristol, Tenn.-Va. This latest music venture for the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music (BCM)–the same organization that brings the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival–unites an extraordinary grouping of outlaws and straight-shooters in one white-hot concert event, including GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker Dwight Yoakam, sassy, multi-platinum cross-over queen  Elle King, “unboxable” alt-country crooner Paul Cauthen, and Wyatt Flores, an emerging artist All Country News refers to as a “musical juggernaut and country music phenom.” BCM is fine-tuning In the Pines as we draw closer to the date, including making it easier for folks to buy tickets..

“We have added guest check-out so you won’t need to create an account to purchase tickets, a site map, and frequently asked question updates to the website,” said Shauna Tilson, BCM’s Director of Development. “We’ve also updated our re-entry policy, which will now allow ticket buyers to come and go from the event site up until 6 p.m. that evening.”

Additionally, BCM has added a payment plan for those who wish to purchase in installments. General admission tickets are $100 (+ tax/fee). For those who prefer the VIP treatment, $200 (+ tax/fee) will get you a ticket to the event, preferred seating, access to the VIP restroom trailer, a drink ticket and an event t-shirt.

“To see any of these artists individually, you’re looking at $40 to $100 a ticket depending on the venue and where your seats would be located,” adds Tilson. “We are so excited to bring them all together in Bristol for an economical price.”

Gates for In the Pines will open at 2 p.m. ET and be located at the intersection of Cumberland and Lee Streets by the Bristol, Va. City Courthouse. The event stage and seating area will be inside the parking area between the Bristol Train Station and WCYB.

Road closures will only affect the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. between WCYB, the Bristol Va. City Courthouse and the Bristol Train Station up to State Street, which will remain open to traffic. On the Virginia side, Scott and Lee Streets will remain open for detours.

A clear bag policy will be strictly enforced. Only clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ X 12″ will be allowed. Seating at In the Pines will not be provided; event-goers are encouraged to bring their own camp chairs or blankets. There will be a designated dance area in front of the stage where chairs will not be allowed. Food, beverage, and merchandise vendors will also be on site.

“At the end of the day, In the Pines is a fundraiser for BCM,” adds Tilson. “All proceeds from the event go towards operating costs for our organization. We sincerely hope the community will show their support and buy a ticket–it’s going to be an amazing music experience you won’t want to miss!”

For tickets and more information, visit InThePinesBristol.com.

Northeast Tenn. (May 2, 2024) – Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC), Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TNDECD), and the East Tennessee State University Research Corporation have come together to announce the Northeast Tennessee Music Census will go live May 8 at www.NETNmusic.com.

The Northeast Tennessee Music Census is an online survey that will collect a variety of data from local musicians, music educators and professionals, music nonprofits, and music venues as it relates to how they both live and work within the region of Hancock, Hawkins, Greene, Washington, Unicoi, Sullivan, Carter, and Johnson Counties and the city of Bristol. All people 18 years and older who make music happen across Northeast Tennessee are invited to take the survey and let their voices be heard. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The results will then be analyzed to provide community leaders and policymakers insights into the region’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth.

The Northeast Tennessee Music Initiative is spearheaded by ETSU’s Research Corporation in collaboration with the Birthplace of Country Music, Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association, Sync Space, Launch Tennessee, ETSU’s Department of Appalachian Studies, and the Dobyns-Bennett High School Bands. It is supported by funding from TEC and TNDECD. The organizations will work with Sound Music Cities, a civic-oriented music policy firm, to capture quantitative information to help community leaders make informed, data-driven decisions about the local music economy across eight counties in Northeast Tennessee.

For more information about the Northeast Tennessee Music Census, and to take the census, visit www.NETNmusic.com.

BRISTOL, Tenn.-Va. (March 19, 2024) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) proudly presents the next installment of its acclaimed 1927 Society Concert Series featuring dynamic singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge. Scheduled for Saturday, June 22 at 6 p.m. ET, the event will take place in the “acoustically perfect” performance theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

The 1927 Concert Series offers attendees a unique experience with some of today’s most esteemed artists. Guests are invited to arrive at 6 p.m. to indulge in heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar before the concert, offering a selection of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (ages 21+ with valid ID). Food and drinks are included in the ticket price.

Pokey LaFarge’s journey to this moment has been one of personal and creative evolution. His latest album, “Rhumba Country,” showcases LaFarge’s dedication to crafting music that radiates pure joy, drawing from diverse influences such as mambo, tropicalia, rocksteady, and mid-century American rock.

Reflecting on his musical evolution, LaFarge shares, “The songs that naturally come to me are upbeat and make you wanna dance or at least bop your head – they’re all very colorful. I used to think of my music in dark blue, but now I see it in technicolor.”

LaFarge has performed at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion since early in his career; a life-sized photo of the artist swing-dancing at the festival with an unnamed partner, is part of the mural surround inside the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s Immersion Theater exhibit.

Tickets for the 1927 Concert are $100 and on sale now. Visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org for tickets and more information.