Cumberland Square Park volunteers (photo by Brandan Harris)
From Sept. 19–21, the heartbeat of Appalachian music pulses through historic downtown Bristol for the 24th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion — a beloved festival that brings our community together through great music, heritage and heart. But this three-day celebration of sound and soul doesn’t happen on its own. It takes hundreds of helping hands to bring it to life.
That’s where the public comes in.
Volunteer applications are open at BristolRhythm.com, and your involvement could be the key to preserving this cultural cornerstone — not just for this year, but for years to come.
Volunteering at Bristol Rhythm & Roots isn’t just about free admission or a festival T-shirt (though you’ll get those too). It’s about showing up for your community, supporting local culture and protecting the future of the arts. As state and federal grant funding for the arts continues to decline, volunteerism in local communities is absolutely essential.
Volunteers handle a wide range of tasks: greeting guests, scanning tickets, helping with merchandise, helping with recycling efforts on the festival’s Green Team, and more. Whatever your skills or availability, there’s a place for you.
The Birthplace of Country Music, the nonprofit that also brings you the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Radio Bristol, produces Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. All across the country, many arts organizations, nonprofits and events like BCM — that rely on grants to operate — are being forced to scale back or shut down altogether. When funding disappears, it’s the community — its culture, creativity and connection — that suffers. By volunteering, you’re stepping up to fill that gap. You’re helping to ensure that music, art and cultural expression remain vibrant and accessible in the region.
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion isn’t just a music festival. It’s a vital economic engine, a point of pride and a living tribute to our rich music heritage. The event draws tens of thousands of visitors, infusing millions of dollars into local businesses. Your time and energy help make that possible. Volunteerism is every bit as important as purchasing a ticket.
In return, volunteers receive an Any Day festival pass for every four-hour shift they work, a commemorative volunteer T-shirt, and the chance to be part of something unforgettable. More importantly, they’ll know that their work helped keep the spirit of the 1927 Bristol Sessions and the festival alive in the birthplace of country music — right where it belongs.
The Bristol community has always rallied around its arts and culture, and in times of uncertainty, that support matters now more than ever. Visit BristolRhythm.com today to fill out a volunteer application form and secure a spot. Help keep the music playing — for Bristol, for the arts, and for the generations still to come.
