Caption: Bristol Rhythm and Roots crowd favorites Folk Soul Revival played their much-anticipated final show in 2021. Local boys made good 49 Winchester have become this year’s must-see set in a prime-time slot Saturday. Photo by Bill Foster.
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by Luke Brogden
(with guest contributions from the Journalism I class from Kingsport’s STEM Academy, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL, credited after each blurb)
Photos by Bill Foster
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Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion is now legal drinking age.
The 2022 iteration of the nationally-renowned roots music festival, starting this Friday afternoon in Bristol, marks the 21st installment of the annual gathering in the historic downtown, debuting in 2001 and convening fans of the genre from around the globe to commemorate the historical 1927 Bristol Sessions, in which New York-based CBS Records executive Ralph Peer traveled to the tiny mountain hamlet with a carload of new-fangled recording equipment to capture the sounds of the people of the mountain empire (or as it was known at the time, “hillbilly music”).
The sessions are universally recognized for having set off the “Big Bang of Country Music,” a term used broadly in music publications but most prominently and recently by Colleen Creamer for the New York Times in 2019, when the paper covered Ken Burns’ appearance in Bristol promoting his well-received “Country Music” documentary. Early stars of the genre, like the Carter Family from Hiltons, Virginia and Jimmie Rodgers of Asheville, rose to international stardom as a result of those recordings and forged the beginnings for an entire industry based around roots music.
Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion has become known for showcasing the broad, diverse and complex musical ecosystem known as “roots music,” which can include, but is not limited to such beloved subgenres as: old-time, bluegrass, country, alt-country, outlaw country, rockabilly, blues, jazz, funk, twangy indie rock and more. The festival also prides itself on a robust undercard, utilizing bar stages up and down State Street and around downtown to showcase the region’s best talent while the nationally and internationally-known acts headline the main outdoor stages.
This year’s festival is no exception, with country music royalty like Roseanne Cash and Tanya Tucker sharing the bill with hot indie-roots artists like Fantastic Negrito, stars on the rise like Knoxville’s Adeem the Artist (recently signed to Thirty Tigers and going national), and tried and true local roots groups like the ETSU Bluegrass Band.
After a rough 2020 that saw the festival canceled and a successful but somewhat muted celebration in 2021, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion 2022 appears set to jet and bands and fans look forward to a full return to the jubilant liveliness the festival has espoused in years past.
In this preview guide, readers can find blurbs on bands who will be appearing in the 2022 lineup, composed by BLANK staff as well as journalism students from a local STEM high school, to be credited at the end of each band’s description.
Music starts Friday at 4:30pm and weekend passes cost $130 at the gate or online. Stay tuned all weekend for our daily coverage package-each morning we’ll recap the night before and preview the day to come. It’s Bristol, baby!
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Annabelle’s Curse
Annabelle’s Curse is a five-piece folk band hailing from Bristol. Since 2010, Annabelle’s Curse has made an amazing headway, touring the country, receiving coverage in national publications and venues and moving up the festival bill at Bristol each year, becoming a fixture and returning now for the first time in two. The band has been less active during COVID and as multiple members began families and other bands like mandolinist/singer Carly’s new band The Bar Birds, but the band has toured the region throughout the summer recently dusted off the rust at Front Porch Fest in Stuart, VA on Sep 3. Annabelle’s Curse plays 4:45 pm Saturday on the State Street Stage.
(contributed by Morgan Lane, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Basement Days
Every band has to start somewhere. They start locally and grow into a band that hopefully becomes a household name. A local band that goes by the name of Basement Days will be performing at Bristol Rhythm and Roots for the second year in a row. Basement Days is a young indie rock band from Abingdon, Virginia. They have four members: Juan Lopez and Zane Cardinale on guitar and vocals, Lillie Hayes on bass and vocals, and Tyler Rajeski on the drums. Basement Days performs in places such as Capone’s in Johnson City, The Market Street Social Club in Kingsport, Cascade Draft House in Bristol, and Greekos Grill and Cafe in Abingdon. They perform on their own or occasionally team up with other local bands for events such as Puddles of Plastic, a band that originated from the Tri-Cities. They have 97 monthly listeners on Spotify and 793 followers on Instagram. They have two albums and three singles as of now on their Spotify. Their two albums, “Ghost Stories” and “Life as We Know It” are buoyed by their singles “Midwest Drive,” “Mcnightshift,” and “5,7,9.” As stated on their Instagram bio, “We make music about being sad and stuff.” Basement Days will be performing at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Friday, September 9th, from 5 p.m to 6 p.m. on the 7th Street Stage.
(contributed by Carleigh Gordon, Dobyns-Bennet EXCEL)
Jade Bird
Jade Bird is becoming one of the most exciting new British voices. The release of smash single “Love Has All Been Done Before” (with almost 2 million views on YouTube) got people interested and made her a dark horse candidate for new artist of the year. Her music talks about disillusionment, divorce, cheating, sorrow, and having an independent mind. The music excites crowds on tour and Bird loves to make them feel included in the music; someone who can make music like that is extremely rare to find. Jade Bird is performing at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion on September 9th, 2022, at 8 pm on the Cumberland Square Park stage.
(contributed by Chloe Parks, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL).
Roseanne Cash
One of the singers who will be attending the Bristol Rhythm and Roots is a famous Tennessee local from Memphis, TN, Rosanne Cash. Cash is so successful in her own right it is easy to forget that she’s the daughter of roots icon Johnny Cash. Rosanne Cash has written and performed songs professionally for more than 40 years. She has released 15 albums and won 4 Grammy awards along with 12 nominations. Her songs consist of many genres such as: folk, pop, blues, rock and more for all generations to enjoy. Recently Cash has released two new songs ” Crawl into the Promised Land” and “The Killing Fields.” To add to her recent accomplishments, two years ago Cash was awarded the 2020-2021 Edward MacDowell Medal. Individuals interested in catching Cash can come see her at the Rhythm and Roots on Sunday, Sep 11 from 5:15 pm – 6:30pm on the State Street Stage.
(contributed by Katelyn Williams, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Cruz Contreras
Cruz Contreras is an East Tennessee-based multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and bandleader who formed The Black Lillies in 2009 and toured for a decade behind a rotating lineup of roots aces. The band was active till 2019, releasing five records and touring worldwide. At the end of 2019 and, unfortunately, the rise of Covid-19 in early 2020, Contreras started a solo career as an established artist, sometimes bringing a band featuring his wife Molly and Knoxville all-stars billing as Cruz Contreras and Friends. To combat the virus, Cruz would perform in socially distanced “yard parties” and outdoor events to combat the musical struggles of Covid-19. Currently Contreras is in the stages of touring behind “COSMICO”, his debut solo album. Contreras is soon to perform at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2022 in Bristol TN in September to kick off his end-of-summer tour.
(contributed by Elizabeth McClain, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
ETSU Bluegrass Band
This year’s Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion features a very exciting lineup of bands and players from all over the spectrum of Americana music. The festival features many big names, notably Rosanne Cash and Jim Lauderdale as well as many returning bands. Two names that stick out to locals in particular: the ETSU bluegrass band and Ralph Stanley II. The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band has some very talented and award winning players who study or have studied under ETSU’s renowned music program, the oldest of its kind offered by a four year institution. The band members as of 2022 are: Layla Cantafio on fiddle, Lydia Hamby on mandolin, Will Potts on bass, Will Hart on guitar, Justin Alexander on banjo, and Lizzie Cahalan on guitar. This was the first college associated band to have not one, but two student-written and performed songs on the top charts in bluegrass. Since their success then, they have gone on to perform in seven different countries by invitation at locations such as the Kennedy Center, NATO headquarters in Brussels, and the Smithsonian Folklife festival. It’s very nice to have some local names right up there with the big ones in this festival representing the culture of East Tennessee and Appalachia as a whole.
Ralph Stanley II
Ralph Stanley II has some very deep connections with old time gospel and country. It all starts back in 1946, when his father, Ralph Stanley, decided to join with his older brother Carter Stanley and form the Clinch Mountain Boys. In 1971, they started the Hills of Home festival. It was in 1995 that Ralph II started playing with them and eventually took over the festival in 2012 and the Clinch Mountain Boys in 2016 when his father passed. The festival is very laid-back and personal, shows usually running longer than scheduled and band members down in the crowd mingling with viewers. In fact, it’s common for Ralph II to stand near the entryway and greet everyone that comes by. He is a four time recipient of the Mountain Music Memorial Legacy award for carrying on the tradition his father established and helping keep the Appalachian culture alive. The Clinch Mountain Boys have changed with the retirement of former members, currently it consists of Stanley Efaw on fiddle, mandolin and vocals; Landon Fitzpatrick on banjo and vocals; Randall Hibbitts on the upright bass and vocals; Caleb Shifflett on guitar and vocals; and Ralph Stanley II on the guitar and lead vocals. Overall, this year’s Rhythm and Roots festival is something to be looking forward to.
(contributed by Connor McGlothlin, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Fantastic Negrito
With five albums, one EP and a Grammy award under his belt, Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz–better known as Fantastic Negrito–is bringing his unique brand of roots and soul to the international music scene. When he was young, Dphrepaulezz’s idol was Prince, and he would sneak into music classes in his town until, eventually, he got picked up by Prince’s manager. Dphrepaulezz debuted his first album, “The X Factor,” under the name Xavior, and his eponymous first album under the Fantastic Negrito moniker was released in 2014. Since then, Fantastic Negrito has only grown in popularity, with his most recent album “White Jesus Black Problems” released in 2022, becoming his highest-rated album yet. Negrito’s music is centered around his ancestors, as he has mentioned in interviews, commemorating his family’s history. Fantastic Negrito specializes in many genres, including blues, R&B, and roots with a gospel overtone to his music. Negrito has dipped his toes in other works besides his own music, announcing a new movie project, an artist collaboration album, and working on the Netflix show called “Arcane.” Fantastic Negrito is no stranger to traveling, holding multiple tours across the United States (eight of them, according to Riff Magazine), averaging about 50-60 shows per year. Along with a new tour coming up, Fantastic Negrito will be playing at the Bristol Rhythm and Blues Reunion September 9th on the Cumberland Park Stage.
(contributed by Benjamin Berry, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Briston Maroney
Briston Lee Maroney is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Knoxville, Tennessee. “It’s been a journey to arrive at the current moment,” Maroney explains in his press bio, “a mental, physical, emotional, and musical one.” But it’s left him equipped: not only with a deep understanding of self, discovered through life’s trials and errors, but just as important, with a piece of art that reflects his personal growth. Maroney was first brought fame on American Idol over a decade ago, reaching into the top 30 singers at the young age of 15 years old. He has a unique rock mix that has his pure heart poured into each song. With a new indie/folk-rock band Maroney has many sold-out shows and accrued millions of streams from his hit songs. “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate,” “Small Talk”, and “June” are just some of his popular songs that broke through providing a path for Maroney to make it in the music industry. Maroney played at venues at Dollywood and worked as a guitarist in Subtle Clutch, a smaller and lesser-known bluegrass band that also produced solo artists Eli Fox and Devin Badgett, and then went solo, eventually signing with major labels and opening for acts as big as Jack White. “Sunflower,” Maroney’s debut album, is the culmination of the past decade of the now-22-year old’s life. “It’s all of the things I’ve been stoked about since I was 12 coming together,” the wise-beyond-his-years, Nashville-based singer-songwriter says with a laugh of his striking album. “It’s been a literal and physical relationship with the record as far as coming to a point where I understand what parts of me it represents, what it means to me as a person and what it means for my entire life.”
(contributed by Lacey Brotherton and Noah Trent, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Ian Noe
32 year-old Ian Noe will be rolling into Bristol, TN on Friday, September 9th-10th for the famous Rhythm and Roots Festival. Noe will be performing Friday on Paramount Center Stage from 10pm-11pm. On Saturday, September 10th, Noe will be back at the same stage from 5:30pm-6:30pm with another performance. Noe is native to a small town in Kentucky named Beattyville. Noe jumped right into the music world when he was just a child. Noe’s father and grandfather would teach him how to play the guitar. In Noe’s teenage years he developed an interest in songwriters that specialize in storytelling. Noe had a song book where he put original tunes and started to play locally. Noe won a grand prize in 2007’s Appalachian StarSearch with his original tunes. He went on to record his collection of original songs. He released the ten songs in 2008. He was also named the finalist in the Boston Folk Festival for a songwriting competition. Jason Momoa had Noe on his YouTube Channel, gaining more mainstream attention for Noe. Noe recently got a contract from Thirty Tigers, a major label promoting artists like Alanis Morissette. Today Noe has two albums and one EP while boasting 536,937 monthly listeners on Spotify and 24K on Instagram. Noe’s songs fall under the genres country folk and Americana, perfect for Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots Festival.
(contributed by Abigail Brammer, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Oh He Dead
The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion is a great way for folk and country music lovers to come together and experience new artists. Oh He Dead started as a duo between C.J. Johnson and Andy Valenti, although they later added three more members to round out the lineup (guitarist Alex Salser, bassist John Daise, and drummer Adam Ashforth). The band had been together for four years and had experimented with different genres. As one of the vocalists, C.J. Johnson stated, “A lot of people ask us what’s our genre, and we can’t really give you an answer because we bring in all of these influences that are kind of all over the place”. Although that is true, many listeners have found Oh He Dead to share an eclectic mix of jazz, folk, along with funk music. The band is excited to be part of the festival this year and is looking forward to the support of their fans.
(contributed by Eden Dutro, D-B EXCEL student)
Miss Tess and the Talkbacks
Miss Tess likes to experiment in terms of creating music, this could be described as defiant music, but not in the expected understanding of the word. Vacillating wildly from jazz to classic rock, blues, and country, to cleverly tweaking it to sound unique and unforgettable. While her music is unique, her voice has been reviewed as lovely to listen to while alternately alluring and modest. Musical partner and co-writer Thomas Bryan Eaton helps to arrange the songs with his pedal steel guitar and really brings the songs together cohesively. Miss Tess and the Talkbacks is poised and polished and will surely shine brightly throughout this festival.
(contributed by Levi Pridemore, D-B EXCEL student)
The Wood Brothers
When you think of folk music, which states come to mind? The Tennessee/Virginia region is popular. Some think of California. But beyond its Greenwich Village heyday in the 1960s, it’s been a while since most music-lovers have associated folk with New York. The Wood Brothers, founded in 2004 in NYC, is a 3-person band with brothers Oliver Wood and Chris Wood with Jano Rix as multi-instrumentalist to add percussion and piano. The Wood Brothers have done music in gospel, blues, jazz, and folk. The brothers may have bonded over similar music tastes but they diverged to Atlanta and NYC to perform in their own bands before coming together with Jano Rix to tour together as one throughout the states. Recently, they have been on a Greensky Bluegrass tour across America stopping through Bristol as a headliner of this year’s fest. If you want a band whose music has a campfire old-folk tone to it then the Wood Brothers will play the Piedmont Stage Friday at 9:30pm.
(contributed by Eric Thomas, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
Tanya Tucker
Photo courtesy Adkins Publicity
American country singer/songwriting icon Tanya Tucker will be playing Friday, September 9th from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Bristol Rhythm and Roots festival in a headlining main stage slot rescheduled from 2021, when she canceled her appearance, citing COVID concerns. Tucker, who is one of the most successful female country artists of all time, began to make waves in the industry when she released her first single “Delta Dawn,” at the age of 13. The album reached the Billboard Top Ten after its release in 1972. Before she had even turned 14, she had become a huge country music sensation. Today, she has 23 Top 40 albums and a string of 56 Top 40 singles, ten of which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard country charts. Some of her hits include, “Strong Enough to Bend,” “Love Me Like You Used to,” “It’s a Little too Late,” and many more. Weekend tickets are $115. See you there!
(contributed by Breanna Overbey, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
49 Winchester
Saturday is the day everyone gets together to celebrate at Bristol Rhythm, and 49 Winchester’s slated performance Saturday at 7:30pm on the State Street Stage promises to be one of the festival’s most anticipated sets. Coming from Russell County, VA, 49 Winchester is a true rags-to-riches success story, taking their chances to play on the road, and they didn’t disappoint. From bar and listening room sets at regional venues like The Willow Tree in Johnson City, the band took it to the next level with highly-praised sets at major fests like Floydfest and Bristol Rhythm last year, which grew the band’s rabid fanbase, quickly turning into one of the fastest-growing in the country. “Fortune Favors the Bold” finds the band signed to CAA and touring the nation’s theaters and festivals and exclusive clubs like the EXIT/IN, where the band recently filmed a music video for the single “Damn Darling.”
(contributed by Noah Tweed, Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL)
