Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion hits an impressive milestone this year with its silver anniversary.
For a quarter of a century, roots music enthusiasts from around the region, country and globe have descended on Downtown Bristol in mid-September to memorialize and pay tribute to “The Big Bang of Country Music,” an iconic, seismic, epochal cultural event in 1927 that changed the face of popular music as we know it today.
It started when Ralph Peer, a New York record man. was sent down with mobile equipment to capture this new novelty of “hillbilly music,” which he found in great supply and enthusiasm from the residents of Bristol and the surrounding mountain communities.
The Carter Family of Hiltons, Va. and Jimmy Rodgers of Asheville were among the breakout stars from those sessions, which many consider to be the advent of country music as a popular American musical genre.
The first Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion was held in the shadow of national tragedy, just weeks after the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.
Over the years, the fold has grown to include regional bluegrass, Nashville country, Brooklyn-based Americana indie-rock, Memphis blues and more.
Luminaries like Ricky Skaggs, Jeff Tweedy, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam and more have graced the dozens of stages up and down State Street and various side streets and bars across Downtown Bristol.
This year’s line-up is one of the buzzier ones in recent memory: Old Crow Medicine Show will headline along with Sierra Ferrell, whose popularity continues to grow after a sweep of Americana awards at the 2025 Grammys.
Just a few years back she was on the Country Mural Stage and now she’ll be the mainstage primetime headliner in Cumberland Square Park. Hispanic 90s country-rockers Los Lobos and Alabama-based soul revue-style neosoul of St. Paul and the Broken Bones round out the headliners.
Longtime country and bluegrass stars like Marty Stuart and Del McCoury will return, as will festival mainstay Dave Eggar.
Hot indie group Holy Roller returns and some other freshly minted young stars like TikTok sensation Mon Rovia will attract new folks to Bristol.
But perhaps the unifying experience that draws people back most is the feeling of community at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion.
It’s off the charts. The nature of the genre makes it accessible to all ages and walks of life. The unique mountain, roots and hippie vendors, the sizzling food aromas wafting off grills in tents around downtown, the art installations, the live radio spots – it all makes for a pleasantly captivating experience for those who find themselves ambling around downtown.
New this year is a special Anniversary Jam in the style of a Bonnaroo Superjam, in which roots icon Jim Lauderdale will perform a set with Americana indie country stalwarts Donna the Buffalo, also veterans of the fest.
As usual, Blank will have daily recap/preview pieces with help from our student reporting team from D-B EXCEL in Kingsport (bylines are listed underneath blurbs they wrote).
Let’s have an amazing silver anniversary of Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion! See you down there.
Here are a few suggestions on who to check out when you come. (Luke Brogden)
Sierra Ferrell
Sierra Ferrell is on fire. Within the few years since her last appearance on the Country Mural Stage, Ferrell returns to this year’s festival as a headliner, now an Americana star in her own right. She dominated the 2025 Grammys for “Trail of Flowers” including Album of the Year, and among others, Best Americana Song and Best Americana Performance for her now iconic, generation-defining smash single “American Dreaming.” Collaborations with straight-up pop stars like Post Malone and Zach Bryan pulled her onto the train headed for the top of the mainstream charts. But what shines through brighter and brighter is the essence of the plaintive country gypsy persona Ferrell introduced on “Pretty Magic Spell” in 2018, an authentic image springing from her freewheelin’ youth as a busking van-lifer. Ferrell is hip in the zeitgeist, putting up huge numbers on special segments like NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert and celebrity musicians like Shaboozey and Joe Jonas have collaborated with her and sung her praises. Sierra Ferrell plays 9:30 pm on the Cumberland Square Park Stage and you may want to show up early to secure a good spot. (LB)
Braxton Keith
Braxton Keith a 26 year-old singer is set to play in the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival this Saturday, late-night. His style of music comes from the great state of Texas and he does as well. Born in Midland, Texas, he started his music career early in life. He wrote his first song “Make Up Your Mind” released in May 2019. But Keith’s most popular release is his smash-hit “Cozy,” released March 2024, which launched his career into the neotraditional country scene.His music flows smoothly and his voice sultry and southern blends well with his guitar, complimenting each other. Mixing honky-tonk and Texan country with story telling and older country he appeals to many. Come check Keith out on the Piedmont stage at 10pm Saturday.
(by DB EXCEL Student Editor Mathias Guffey, Senior)
Kris Truelsen
Kris Truelsen is one of the “glue guys” of the local, regional, maybe even national and international roots scenes. His work with Birthplace of Country Music and bands Bill and the Belles and Kris Truelsen and Country Casserole has brought old-time music across the globe. His emcee talents at Farm and Family Funtime and other segments he helms throughout the weekend are not to be missed as he constitutes one of the best descriptive voices of this subculture. 4pm Piedmont Stage Friday for his band and you should see him all around the festival in different capacities across the weekend. (LB)
Bailey George and Hit Parade
Bailey George is a local who resurrects the gear, sound, aesthetic and performance styles of the intersection of 50s pop country, rockabilly and more. With a vocal style that harkens back to the golden age of radio and an encyclopedic knowledge of roots standards as well as retro-sounding originals, Bailey George is another annual return who contributes immeasurably to the whole vibe of the weekend. Bailey George and the Hit Paraders play the 6th Street Stage 1pm on Saturday. (LB)
Lucille Klement
Lucille Klement is a Johnson City-based indie rocker repping local label Downspout Records with some of the most pristine, shimmering recordings and dynamic, tautly-executed live shows; the band’s tight command of its sound and Klement’s surefootedness vocally and her stage presence and guitar playing transcends its interesting genre and songwriting–the execution itself makes the songs sparkle and sound like something that should already be on your playlist with the rest of today’s top indie rock. Klement plays with her band at 7:30 pm at the Machiavelli’s tent stage Friday evening. (LB)
Toby Gad and Dave Eggar
Dave Eggar is a cello virtuoso who studied early under neighbor and classical icon Aaron Copland, falling in love with the region via Copland’s seminal piece “Appalachian Spring” and eventually moving down to the region at the height of his public profile. He’s recorded with Coldplay, toured with Foreigner, played Carnegie Hall, been nominated for Grammys and also appeared on numerous local debut releases. But what Bristol may best know now fixture Dave Eggar for is assembling, designing or joining extremely special one-off bands that blend genres and celebrate his joyful ethos in a one-time magic. This time it’s joining forces with songwriting megastar Toby Gad, responsible for hits by John Legend, Beyonce and more. Don’t sleep on this dark horse candidate for the most interesting set of the weekend. Eggar and Gad hit the Paramount Theatre Friday at 7pm. (LB)
Acoustic Syndicate (Reunion!)
Acoustic Syndicate has produced some of this festival’s most memorable sets with epic acoustic jams (anyone remember their set-ending bluegrass-style “Baba O’Reilly” in 2018?), but shocked and saddened fans a few years back when they played their final set at a festival at Abingdon Vineyards in the early 2020s. This weekend they’re back on the “Rainbow Rollercoaster” of joyfully existential acoustic jam-rock with a special reunion set at the State Street Stage 6:00 Saturday. If you’re a true acoustic jam fan, come early to this stage at 4:30 to catch Larry Keel and Jon Stickley Duo. (LB)
Maggie Antone
An exciting new voice in the country community, Maggie Antone made a debut in the Grand Ole Opry in December of 2024, cementing her into the country genre. Her critically-acclaimed album Rhinestoned released and quickly took off. The leading track “Jonny Moonshine” rapidly reached 12 million streams on Spotify. So why not give her a listen at The Piedmont stage at 4:15, this Sunday afternoon.
(by DB EXCEL Student Editor Mathias Guffey, Senior)
The Boys From Bristol
The Boys From Bristol are a young Appalachian bluegrass band made from a group of teenagers. The musical duo/group grew out of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s “Pick-Along” Summer Camp. Key members include Eamon Russell (who plays mandolin and writes original songs like “Big Wilbur”) and Easton Compton. They play old-time, traditional roots, and bluegrass favorites—including tunes from The Andy Griffith Show and classics by the Stanley Brothers. and Rocky top. They have performed at regional events and spots like the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Fiddlers Restaurant in Abingdon, local fairs, and the Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival. The young pickers aim to keep traditional mountain music alive with dreams of playing the Grand Ole Opry and touring on a band bus once they finish high school.They recently played a featured set at the annual Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival at Natural Tunnel State Park.The Boys From Bristol perform at the State Street Stage at 1:00 pm. Come check these guys out!
(by DB EXCEL Junior Kyle Waycaster)
Ranford Almond
A singer from North Carolina, Ranford Almond sings original folk music and roots music. Singing with deep lyrics and storytelling his most recent album Old Soul is a great example of his raspy lyrics and deep messaging behind his songs and you can give him a listen at 3:30 at the Lauderdale Stage this Saturday.
(by DB EXCEL Student Editor Mathias Guffey, Senior)
The Creekers
The Creekers, coming from Leslie County, Kentucky, are a lively six-piece family band that help to bring a refreshing and high-energy based presence to our modern roots of music. While they’re deeply rooted in traditional Appalachian bluegrass, the band easily blends into country and pop beats to help build a unique sound. They quickly grew a passionate fanbase before eventually exploding onto the National stage with their hit single, “Tennessee,” which spent multiple weeks in the Top 5 of Spotify’s viral 50-USA chart. Combining their tight instrumentals, addicting rhythms, and their powerful vocal harmonies, The Creekers offer an insane showcase of next-generation roots music that festival-goers would not wanna miss. Catch them on the outdoor stages along State street. Friday, September 11th at 10:15 in Cumberland Square Park. It is a must watch festival set you would not want to miss.
(by DB EXCEL Arieana James, junior)
Mon Rovîa
A new face at the Rhythm and Roots festival in Bristol, Mon Rovîa is being introduced to play this year. Born in Liberia during a civil war, his mother died while he was an infant, leaving him with his grandmother. To avoid becoming a child soldier his grandmother placed him with Christian missionaries. At the age of just seven the Christian missionaries adopted him and moved to America to avoid the severe violence of the war. In 2017, Mon Rovîa started to upload his music to platforms, blowing up mid-2023 Mon Rovîa has done tours and released much more music since then. Playing this Saturday, September 12th of 2026 at 7:30pm Cumberland Square Park. (LB)
Alpine Motel
Alpine Motel, an American indie-rock band based in Abingdon, Virginia is returning to Bristol’s 2026 Rhythm and Roots Reunion after their 2025 appearance in which they performed their recent full-length album Chiaroscuro. Over the years, the band has cultivated a reputation for their many live performances and local competitions. Their music mainly consists of mellow, ambient-like sounds with smooth and rich vocals, giving it a dream-pop-esque sound. Their music utilizes the traditional instrumental setup that most bands use—using guitars, bass, and drums—but their sound is highlighted by their implementation of having dreamy and ambient-like soundscapes with twinkly reverb on the guitar. A majority of their songs are played at a slow tempo; the drums are defined by having a calm and sentimental rhythm that complements the guitars. The band is scheduled to perform at Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots Reunion—at Machiavalli’s Outdoor Tent Stage—at 3:30pm on Saturday.
(by DB EXCEL Junior Zach Haskins)
