Crowd in Cumberland Park (photo by Heidi Holloway)
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, a division of the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music, is returning to State Street in historic downtown Bristol Sept. 11-13, boasting a stellar lineup including headlinersSierra Ferrell,Old Crow Medicine Show,St. Paul & The Broken Bones,Los LobosandThe War and Treaty,legendary favoritesMarty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, andThe Del McCoury Band,emerging artistsMon Rovîa,The Creekers,TrousdaleandThe Band Loula, and local artistsChancellor Lawson,Ashton DavisonandLogan & McKenna, to name a few.
“We are so excited to be celebrating 25 years of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion this year,” says Festival Director Richard Oakley. “Whether you’re returning or coming to the festival for the first time, we look forward to having you join us for three days of great music and community as we celebrate this milestone and look towards the 100th anniversary of the 1927 Bristol Sessions next summer. We’ve got a lot of fun planned that you won’t want to miss.”
The festival’s schedule is filled with special collaborative performances, musical setsand exciting new elements as the Birthplace of Country Music celebrates the festival’s 25th anniversary.
Friday afternoon, Jim Lauderdale and Donna the Buffalo open the State Street Stage together for a specialAnniversary Jamat 6:30 p.m. Later Friday evening, German music producer and songwriterToby Gadand Bristol’s own cellist and composerDave Eggar take over Paramount Bristol withThe Hitmaker Sessionsfeaturing many special guests beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday evening,Big Daddy Lovetakes the Country Mural Stage at 10:30 p.m. for a specialMo-Grassset featuring special guests.
A staple during Bristol Rhythm,Radio Bristol’sFarm and Fun Time, the popular re-imagining of the classic WCYB program, serves as the official25th Anniversary Celebration of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunionduring the festival, with musical guestsCruz Contreras & The Black Lillies,TrousdaleandThe Band Loulain Paramount Bristol at 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12. Radio Bristol’sFarm and Fun Time, hosted byKris Truelsenalong with house bandCountry Casserole, will be a celebration of the last 25 years of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, while looking ahead to the future. Elected officials, festival organizersand festival supporters from the past 25 years are invited to be in attendance for recognition.
VMFA on the Road Artmobileis at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum Sept. 9-13, and provides visitors the opportunity to see and experience authentic works of art from theVirginia Museum of Fine Arts. By way of VMFA’s Statewide Partners program, which includes 1,000 community centers, small museums, collegesand universities, VMFA on the Road brings enriching art experiences to thousands—literally meeting people where they are. This state-of-the-art mobile museum and education studio with its new exhibitVirginia as America: Navigating Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happinesswill be open to school groups, drop-in visitors, and Bristol Rhythm festival goers.
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, along with the Bristol Roots Project, host the 2025-2026 Bristol Roots Tradition Bearer Fellows and Cultural Caretakers as they showcase their crafts and organizations through theBristol Roots Showcaseduring the festival. Cultural Caretakers will have information booths, while the Tradition Bearers will present craft and artisan demonstrations, including basketmaking, woodworking, weaving, broom makingand more.
Saturday morning, Sept. 12 at 8:30 a.m., yoga instructor Christiane Popperwell and renowned cellist Dave Eggar provideMusic and Meditationhosted by Northeast State, on the lawn at the Lauderdale Stage. This experience includes a 60-minute Restore class followed by a 20-minute guided space meditation, all set to the soulful, soothing tones of the cello.Pre-registrationis encouraged.
Hoot & Holler Storytelling, a live storytelling event based out of Roanoke, Va., returns to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion for their fourth appearanceSaturday afternoon, Sept. 12. at 1 p.m. in Theatre Bristol. A little Vaudeville, a smidge of irreverent rock ‘n’ roll, a dash of freakshow, a heap of hilarityand a massive infusion of soul, Hoot and Holler will restore faith in the way we, as humans, share and listen to stories.
Saturday afternoon, theSongwriters of Highlands Appalachia, led by Mary Munsey, host aSongwriters Circle Song Swapfrom 2-4 p.m. just outside the Birthplace of Country Music Museum at the Bristol Sessions Super Raffle stage. This event is free and open to the public for anyone to join.
Sunday morning, Sept. 13, Bristol Yoga presents Yoga Rocks!on the lawn at the Lauderdale Stage beginning at 10 a.m. This rejuvenating wake-up session will be set to music and serve as the perfect start to the final day of the festival.
Sunday afternoon, the Birthplace of Country Music will host the eighth annualBristol Sessions Super Raffle, a fundraiser supporting the Birthplace of Country Music Museum that gives participants the chance to win more than $250,000 in cash and big prizes. The raffle drawings take place Sunday, Sept. 13 from 12-4 p.m. just outside the museum. Winners do not need to be present to win. Tickets are still available, and can be purchased atBristolSessionsSuperRaffle.org.
Ending the festival on a high note, the Birthplace of Country Music hosts the first-ever official after-party of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion,Party at the Paramount, presented by Raising Cane’s! Johnny Mullenax, Holy Roller, and Florencia & The Feeling will close out the evening in the Paramount Bristol beginning with doors opening at 8:30 p.m.Tickets to this eventcan be purchased online atBristolRhythm.comor at the door.
Children 12 and under can enter the festival for free with a ticketed adult.Kids Zone, sponsored by Brightspeed, is once again held in Johnny Wood Memorial Park, with crafts and activities scheduled throughout each afternoon for families to enjoy, including Friendship Bracelets with Friendship Cars, Art the Dude’s Hohner Harmonica Workshop and more family-friendly activities.
The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunionmobile app“BCM Bristol” is available for download on iOS and Android. Three-day general admissionand single day general admissiontickets are on sale online atBristolRhythm.comor in person at theBirthplace of Country Music Museum. VIP Experiences are also available, and selling quickly.
For tickets, updates, and more information, visitBristolRhythm.com.
