This edition of the BCM Blog is contributed by Coleman Austin, our marketing intern and senior from Virginia High School. He’s been attending the festival with his friends since he was a middle school student, so we asked him for his perspective on the experience. Here’s what he had to say...
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion has been a part of my life since I moved to Bristol in 2012. I go to the festival every year I can and love it! Bristol Rhythm is such a fun experience for everyone. The festival always has something to do, for kids and adults. I highly encourage all my friends to go with me, and they always enjoy it regardless of if they like folk/country music or not. Going to the festival is an amazing opportunity for everyone to experience different walks of life, different people, and to learn about historic Bristol’s downtown and how country music came about.
The Live performances are the main attraction at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, there is something for everyone. This year’s artist lineup consists of some big names such as Margo Price, Nickel Creek, 49 Winchester, Bruce Hornsby, and so many more that you can find here. There are well over 70 performers at Bristol Rhythm this year. The most popular genres of music at the festival consist of Americana, folk, blues-rock, folk rock, country, and bluegrass. I never knew I was a folk music fan until Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion! The festival features tons of up and coming artists, for example I got to see Rainbow Kitten Surprise at Bristol Rhythm in 2019 before they shot up as stars in the music scene. Rhythm and Roots has hosted The War and Treaty, Charley Crockett, Lucy Dacus, and so many more before they got their music fame. Luckily I have been at the festival in past years and been able to see these bands and artists perform first hand and been able to call myself a fan of theirs before they blew up.
Some of my favorite things about the festival are not necessarily going to all the live performances with my friends but everything else Bristol Rhythm has to offer also. Bristol Rhythm has so much more to offer than the live performances. Some of my favorite things to do at the festival other than the live performances consists of walking the streets and seeing downtown Bristol decorated for the festival, hanging out with friends at Cumberland Square Park, stopping by all the food trucks and trying new food, making new friends, and shopping on the streets of downtown just to name a few things. Although I am not of age anymore to participate in Children’s Day I still have very fond memories of the event. Children’s Day is held on Sunday in Anderson Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. There you can expect to see food trucks, arts and crafts, and live entertainment. For more information on Children’s Day you can click here.
My friends and I have created very fond memories at Rhythm and Roots. The festival truly is like no other. You will never run out of things to do, people to meet, food to eat, or music to listen to too. It is a great experience, and I believe everyone, especially in the local area should try going at least once. There is something for any bodies of any age at Bristol’s very own Rhythm and Roots. For more information on the festival click here.
Photo Credit : Earl Neikirk/Neikirk Image