Rhythm & Roots reveal nightly lineups, poster

Radio Bristol Program Director Kris Truelson kicked off this year's Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion artist lineup announcement by welcoming visitors to the theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, making sure everyone was comfortable and ready. And then the festival folks promptly got to work. Festival staff and representatives spoke about the upcoming September celebration (September 11-13 to be exact), what to expect, and what it means to the City of Bristol and surrounding areas. There was discussion about the 25 years of music, memories, and community to be celebrated this year at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, the unveiling of the commemorative poster and the reveal of the lineup for what should be an amazing weekend of music. There was the connection of this 25th anniversary leading into the 100th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions and what that meant for our region and our music. Special guests included Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show and acclaimed poster artist Charles Vess, who each return for their fourth festival as artists. Deputy Director Baylor Hall spoke first, welcoming guests to the announcement. "It's hard to believe," she said, "that what began as a celebration of Bristol's musical legacy has become a legacy of its own." That legacy has turned into one of the best music festivals in the nation, according to USA Today - they named Bristol's Rhythm & Roots Reunion the number 5 best festival to see in America. And it is very well deserved, especially if you take into consideration the sheer amount of talent you see for such a small price. This year's lineup is another triumph, with St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Los Lobos and The War and Treaty headlining on Friday. Saturday sees Sierra Ferrell, The Del McCoury Band and more, and Sunday's lineup is anchored by Old Crow Medicine Show and Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives. Dozens more, who would headline most festivals this size, will be sharing stages. There are also more than 35 local and regional acts filling slots on the bill, according to Festival Director Richard Oakley, who is making his debut at this year's show, remarking that it is "the great privilege of my life to be trusted with Bristol's musical history." To see the weekend lineup in its entirety, visit www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org The latest festival poster, the fourth created by Hugo and Eisner Award-winning artist Charles Vess, was unveiled to the crowd in attendance and will be available for purchase at the festival. "I love music," said Vess. "I can't play it, I can't sing it, but I can draw it. I try to remember what it's like to be inside all that music during the festival and draw what I feel." One of America's premier artists and illustrators of mythic fiction, Vess has created another festival masterpiece. Old Crow Medicine Show's Ketch Secor is back for his fourth time at the festival as well, saying he and the band are "really proud to be a part of this 25th anniversary story and honored you've allowed us to come back." The Grammy-winning band has made quite a name for themselves at Rhythm & Roots, with high-energy shows that people still talk about often. Secor arrived from Hiltons, Virginia, the birthplace of A.P. Carter (on the A.P. Carter Highway), "with the windows down, driving the same road A.P., Sara and Maybelle drove to Bristol to make history." There was also information for those who wish to be involved in the festival as a volunteer. Customer Relations Manager Tyler Goad reminisced about volunteering for the full 25 years, starting as a high school student. "People give their time," he said, "because they care deeply about this festival, this city and the music. It honors our roots and brings people together through music and community." You can visit the website and sign up to give your time. Melissa Roberts, the Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music, finished the event. She discussed the evolution of the festival and the history it hoped to preserve with its inception. "25 years ago, people believed that the music here mattered. They believed that the history mattered and that downtown Bristol mattered… and if you paid it respect and presented it as it should be, people would come. And they did." These last 25 years have shaped what Bristol has become - the true birthplace of country music. Once the work was done to gain the recognition and recall the history, this festival has implemented a legacy to last generations. "The music recorded here didn't just change Bristol," said Roberts, "it changed America." Make plans, get tickets and prepare for a full weekend of entertainment in September.