Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion 2024 is underway!
On Friday, Day One, of the festival, music and friends were made and fun was had.
Gates opened at 3pm, but the crowds were already swelling by 5pm Friday, with paid lots filling up and folks starting to straggle in from surrounding quarters on the fringes of downtown, filtering into the festival grounds, adorned as usual with multiple selfie-worthy pop-up sculptures, stilt-walkers and more.
The weather was nothing short of perfect, balmy and breezy in the mid-70s with sunny, clear skies over Downtown Bristol-comfortable enough for a variety of summer and fall fashions to flourish as festivalgoers shared their flash and panache around the grounds.
The Ferris wheel is back and BLANK tested it–riders get four times around, and outstanding views over all of downtown Bristol from the top.
Some return foodie favorites like the Pakalachian Southern-infused Pakistani food truck offered hot eats for hungry attendees. The Bristol Hotel this year had its own food tent at street level selling gourmet tacos and other various and sundry grab-and-go items.
The vendors continue to intrigue and inspire. A young girl was spotted getting a tarot reading from a woman with a painted face. Multiple painters, jewelry-makers and clothing merchant lined State Street hawking their goods to interested passers-by.
Busking continues to be a strong tradition at Bristol Rhythm and Roots, with official and unofficial stations all up and down State between the stage areas, adding music to every square inch of the aural experience.
For families, KidZone, near the State Street Stage, delivered with a spot for parents to decompress while kids play different station games.
A few musical highlights:
The Kindest People brought intense, high-energy hard rock to the Machiavelli’s outdoor stage.
Florencia and the Feeling tore up Stateline Bar and Grill with funky, jazz-infused soul-pop, with incredible musicianship from the band and a charismatic, physical performance from frontwoman Flori Rusinol.
Hippies and Cowboys delivered a barn-burning blues-infused Southern rock set from the 6th Street Stage–often the site of some of the most epic indie up-an-comer sets from the undercard of the festival bill.
Ashley McBryde brought a big country rock sound to the State Street Stage as the sun set and the stage lights glowed. Ebullient and defiant, McBryde shines with straight-ahead pop-infused country rock that makes for easy dancing and singing along.
The Red Clay Strays brought the vintage 1950s early rock and roll with songs like “Stone’s Throw” and “Rambling,” and sharing tunes from the new album “Made by These Moments.”
Offerings from Dave Eggar and Wilderado took the music late into the night.
Coming up today:
Roanoke area Southern-inspired jam rockers The Jared Stout Band hit the Cumberland Square Park stage at 2pm.
Local favorite country rockers Dimestore Cowboys will be at Machiavelle’s Outdoor Tent at 2:30pm followed by Abingdon favorites Orbital Planes at 4:30.
Sam Grisman continues in the family way, sharing some of his father and Jerry Garcia’s Grateful Dawg music along with new originals of his own, with Sam Grisman Project on Piedmont Stage at 4:30.
Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies) is at 6:30 on the Piedmont Stage, followed by headliners the Wallflowers at 8:30.
Dale Watson and his Lone Stars take over the Country Mural Stage at 8:30.
49 Winchester headlines the State Street State at 9:15.
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway close down the Cumberland Square Park Stage at 10.
We hope to see you!
