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.