Organizers ofBristol Sessions Nights: Road to 100announced that tickets for the yearlong cultural series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1927 Bristol Sessions will cost$27 per event, a move designed to make the experience accessible to a wider audience as Bristol prepares for one of the most significant milestones in American music history.
The reduced ticket price is made possible through support from cornerstone sponsors including Tennessee Hills Distillery, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, and additional regional partners committed to expanding access to the series while preserving its intentionally intimate format. Attendance for each event remains capped at 100 guests.
A full-series passport covering all 12 events is available for $300.
BeginningMay 22, 2026, and continuing through April 2027, Bristol Sessions Nights: Road to 100 will guide audiences through the music, storiesand cultural legacy born from the 1927 Bristol Sessions, recognized by the U.S. Congress as the single most important event in the history of country music. Those original sessions launched the careers of The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers and helped shape a genre that continues to influence American culture nearly a century later.
“Today, Tennessee’s music industry is a globally recognized brand generating billions annually to the state’s economy,” said Tennessee Entertainment Commission Executive Director Bob Raines. “The Tennessee EntertainmentCommission is honored to be supporting the Bristol Sessions Nights series and lead up to the 100thyear celebration of the big bang of country music.”
Hosted inside the historic L.C. King Building in downtown Bristol, the series is designed as an immersive storytelling experience combining live music, history, conversationand regional culture in an intimate setting.Doors open at 7p.m. with programming beginning at 7:30 p.m.on the third Friday of each month.
“As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions, we recognize that this isn’t just something to celebrate; it’s something to elevate, and that’s what Bristol Sessions Nights: Road to 100 is all about,” said Bristol, Tennessee Mayor Vince Turner. “These event nights are also an opportunity to lift up our local businesses; our restaurants, shopsand other small business owners who are such an essential part of what makes Bristol special. Come early for shopping and dining, stay for the unforgettable music experience, and stick around after to experience everything our downtown has to offer.”
The 12-night series unfolds in three acts, each exploring a different chapter in the evolution and impact of the Bristol Sessions:
The journey culminates in May 2027 with the inaugural Bristol Sessions Festival, a Memorial Day Weekend celebration commemorating 100 years since the recordings that changed music forever.
The full schedule of nights is as follows:
|
Night |
Date |
Title |
Theme |
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|
1 |
May 22, 2026 |
The First Take |
Series Kickoff / Songwriter Round |
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|
2 |
Jun 19, 2026 |
The Carter Sessions |
Carter Family Legacy |
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|
3 |
Jul 17, 2026 |
The Blue Yodel |
Jimmie Rodgers & Early Roots |
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|
4 |
Aug 21, 2026 |
A True Taste of Tennessee |
Full Sensory Journey of Local Music, Food/Spirits Pairings |
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|
5 |
Sep 18, 2026 |
Mountain Songs |
Appalachian Roots Showcase |
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|
6 |
Oct 16, 2026 |
The Pickers |
Bluegrass & Instrumental Virtuosity |
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|
7 |
Nov 20, 2026 |
Her Song |
Women of Country Music |
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|
8 |
Dec 18, 2026 |
The Holiday Sessions |
Acoustic Holiday Heritage |
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|
9 |
Jan 15, 2027 |
New Voices |
Next-Generation Tennessee Songwriters |
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|
10 |
Feb 19, 2027 |
Outlaws & Renegades |
Outlaw & Modern Country |
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|
11 |
Mar 19, 2027 |
The Echoes |
Bristol’s Lasting Impact |
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|
12 |
Apr 16, 2027 |
The Gathering |
Pre-Finale Celebration |
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|
? |
May 28-29, 2027 |
The 100th Session |
Centennial Festival / Grand Finale |
Additional details, including ticket information, are available atbristolsessionsfestival.com.
