Andrew Scotchie gets wild on Saturday afternoon at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion 2021. Photo: Bill Foster
Photos: Bill Foster
Story: Luke Brogden with Bill Foster
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Saturday is typically the time where a festival hits its stride and folks really start having fun, and this year’s Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion was no different.
Systems were running more smoothly, and the natural swell of weekend-warrior locals with day passes brought the downtown crowds closer to the normal energetic buzz while still providing enough breathing room for folks to choose to keep distance if desired, or enter the fray in some dancing throngs near the stage. Vendors’ business picked up with longish but manageable lines–a favorite of BLANK’s has been The Pakalachian Food Truck, southern-inflected Pakistani fare out of Abingdon.
Longer days on festival Saturdays mean (among other things) more time for both artists and fans to warm up and loosen up, which plays no small part in what ends up with a lot of improvisational moments like fiddle players wandering into the crowd or strangers striking up a jokey (or flirtatious) conversation–and those types of interactions add a spark and a glow to everything.
Far from comprehensively listing every wonderful show that undoubtedly went down, these recaps are a way for BLANK to geek out for a few hundred words about wonderful days we had experiencing music with our fellow humans and the moments that really seemed to illustrate a theme or a certain indescribable vibe in the air…
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Early in the day, .49 Winchester got their second chance and wowed crows with their sharpshooting alt-country rock and one of the fastest growing, most rabid fanbases in the country.
Virginia Ground, Steel Wheels, Possum Creek Playboys, Ed Snodderly, and Jim Lauderdale brought all flavors of Americana to the people like they’ve been doing year after year, wearing in the rhythms and changes to fit like an old glove while remaining vital and vibrant each new time around with constant restless artist’s spirit.
Bluesman and the Blues Essentials, a family band fronted by the Bluesman and joined onstage by virtuosic sons George Ferrell on bass and Jon Ferrell on drums, brought the soulful, funky blues to the Delta BBQ backstage. This one was particularly special for this writer and spouse as they’d played the rehearsal dinner for our wedding almost 15 years ago now!
An awestruck crowd assembled in the street in front of the Delta Blues BBQ State Street window stage we’ve been raving about all weekend as local TJ Darnell performed an absolutely stunning, soulful rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” His gorgeous piano arrangements and sensational vocal prowess (along with that enviable bodacious bleach-tipped mane of his) make Darnell stand out as one of the most iconic and raw talents of the younger crop of mountain empire entertainers coming up.
American Aquarium brought the tight alt-country rock to the Piedmont Stage heating things up just as the sun began to go down. Knoxville’s own Adeem the Artist just came off a raucous week of dates with the band and fans were raving about their onstage collaborations on John Prine classic “Lake Marie.” The band recalls the more raucous early Drive-By Truckers with slightly more hard-driving, alt-rock influenced rhythms and fuzz.
Mama Molasses brought vintage western, swing and old-time to the fore with velvety drawl and apt fingerpicking, bringing her setlist of vintage standards reinterpreted and new originals that incorporate all those elements.
Dave Eggar brought his usual unencumbered joy to the Paramount Theatre Stage, with his trademark mix of virtuosic classic chops and joyful improvisational jamming.
Madison Cunningham and her groovy band brought a more intimate vibe to the tented 7th Street stage after a big sound on State Street on Friday. Again, the control and dynamics become so important when a group is trying to flex instrumental arrangements while clearing way for a vocal showcase for the singer and they walked the line perfectly.
On the Cumberland Stage, it was indie time. Illiterate Light, our Second Bell headliner from 2019, created the biggest two-man sound in the region since Jeff the Brotherhood rocked that same stage to pieces in 2012 during Mumford and Sons’ Gentlemen of the Road Stopover. Drummer Jack Cochran plays standing up and plays real hard rock drums–this ain’t no indie gimmick–while bursting forth with powerful harmonies that sometimes briefly morphed into lead vocals. Guitarist and singer
Dr. Dog, festival veterans many times over, have a reputation for putting on some of the most inventive and exciting live shows that only increases in bells and whistles each year — three and four part harmonies, masterful and affecting effects usage at signature moments, and an overall tight dynamic and exuberant joy that infectiously prompts the crowd to sing and dance along. Achieving the perfect blend of folk, jam, and indie rock with Beatles-esque vocal arrangements, Dr. Dog is one of those bands where no one in the crowd is disappointed when they play their “new stuff,” because over 15 years and a handful of amazing records, they still have not peaked yet.
Sol Driven Train party on 6th street stage, benefitting from the critical mass Yarn built up there during a strong set earlier. Both groups have a lighthearted, airy, worldly type of jam reminiscent of older groups like Rusted Root.
Bill Foster:
“Although Blackberry Smoke was the nominal headliner, Folk Soul Revival has been woven into the fabric of the soul of this festival for over a decade. Performing their last ever show on the Piedmont stage, they may have had a larger crowd than the headliners. The show was ebullient and heartfelt, blending their songs with a few choice covers including “Will the Circle be Unbroken,” which has been the last song of the festival many times (a tradition which I highly encourage the return of).
Meanwhile Blackberry Smoke played their usual powerful set on the State Street Stage in front of a large but scattered crowd. It’s a minor complaint, but the headliner setup of three tents blocked the usual egress routes from the area and resulted in a lot of confusion and chaos on the periphery from folks trying to find their way in and out. Nonetheless, it was a great performance, heavy on new material, with one of the best light shows I’ve seen at Bristol.
Andrew Scotchie and the River Rats have been festival favorites for five years, slowly working their way up from small stages to their first State Street performance. Scotchie is a dynamic and exciting performer, with catchy songs highlighted by the best showmanship of the festival, constantly in the crowd.
The only complete set I caught was Harrisonburg’s Illiterate Light. As usual, they were tuneful, dynamic and exciting, confirming the entire staff’s belief that it’s just a matter of time until they explode. Their own songs were all melodic with driving riffs and strong drumming and the penultimate cover of Neil Young’s Vampire Blues was a showstopper.
Other shows of note included local favorites Fedor and the Denim Denim whose catchy songs had the crowd dancing and Virginia Ground, with some spectacular guitar playing. 49 Winchester made up for their abbreviated appearance yesterday (because of power issues) with a standout set in front of a large crowd. Great Peacock made a welcome return. Bill and the Belles were as charming and fun as always. Cicada Rhythm was a wonderful new find.”
BLANK’s Sunday Must-Sees:
-Justin Fedor and the Denim-Denim. Fedor is the unofficial Chairman of the Board of the Charlotte scene, and his groups like The New Familiars and Ancient Cities have been gracing Bristol stages for years.
-Thrift Store Cowboys, Knoxville-based these days after coming up in Lubbock, Texas scene in the aughts and gracing Bristol stages for over a decade, returns for this year’s festival with some extra tricks up their sleeves that will be sure to delight this year’s crowds.
-Anyone who got down too late for Amythyst Kiah’s amazing Friday set can catch her in a more intimate setting in the Paramount at 4.
-A Thousand Horses closes out the festival on the State Street stage at 6pm.
