Bristol, Va./Tenn. (Sept. 2, 2020) – With the cancellation of this year’s Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion came the promise of a few “surprises” on what would have been festival weekend – and the Birthplace of Country Music (BCM, parent nonprofit of the annual event) is making good on it.
Celebrating Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Live Stream will take place September 10-13, 2020 with virtual, live concert events that include Jim Lauderdale, Acoustic Syndicate, Amythyst Kiah, Morgan Wade, and Martha Spencer, a WBCM Radio Bristol Farm and Fun Time show, flashback performances from festivals past, and the Bristol Sessions Super Raffle drawing.
“It’s important for us to do something to commemorate the Festival this year even if it can’t be in person,” said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. “This would have been our 20th anniversary, a milestone. We can’t let that go. We also felt that our community and our staff really needed something positive to help fill that void.”
The schedule for Celebrating Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Live Stream is as follows:
Thursday, September 10 – 7:00 p.m.
Kick off the weekend with a Farm and Fun Time show from the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, featuring host band Bill & The Belles – artists to include Po’ Ramblin’ Boys and 49 Winchester.
Farm and Fun Time is presented by Eastman Credit Union and with support from Holston Medical Group.
Friday, September 11 – 7:00 p.m.
Join us Friday night as we partner with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to celebrate Virginia Music Heritage Month. This show will feature music from Amythyst Kiah, Morgan Wade, and Martha Spencer. The night will be filled with live music, announcements about the 2021 Festival line-up, and more!
Friday evening is presented by Virginia is for Lovers and
Holston Medical Group.
Saturday, September 12 – 1:00 p.m.
Festival Flashbacks – Join us on Saturday afternoon to watch some past Festival performances. Past shows will include Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, The War and Treaty, Mike Farris, Folk Soul Revival, Jerry Douglas and the Earls of Leicester, and the Way Down Wanderers.
The Festival Flashback is presented by Bristol Tennessee Essential Services.
Saturday, September 12 – 7:00 p.m. Kick off Saturday night with two live performances with Acoustic Syndicate and Jim Lauderdale. We will also celebrate the incredible support we have received from our 2020 Festival Heroes, Downtown Bristol community, and our sponsors. We’ll even reveal additional artists that will be playing at the 2021 festival.
Saturday evening is presented by Holston Medical Group.
Sunday, September 13 – 12:00 p.m. Join us for the Bristol Sessions Super Raffle Drawing as we give away $250,000 in prizes.
To view the Live Stream tune into the following links:
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Facebook Page
Radio Bristol Facebook Page
Birthplace of Country Music Facebook Page
YouTube
Radio Bristol YouTube Channel
Website
BristolRhythm.com
In addition to the live stream, BCM will wrap up the 2020 Festival Hero Campaign. Festival Heroes are patrons who donate $75 or more to the Festival Recovery Fund to help recoup losses from this year’s cancelled event. Donors will be listed as 2020 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Heroes on a permanent display in the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, receive a Special Edition 20th anniversary poster signed by the artist, a discount on tickets for 2021, and more. Donations of over $250 will receive all of the above, plus a one-year membership to the organization’s 1927 Society, and other festival merchandise. All donations are tax-deductible, and 2020 tickets may be “donated” back to BCM to receive incentives. Visit BristolRhythmHero.com for more details.
The 20th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival has been rescheduled for September 10-12, 2021 in Historic Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee.