BRISTOL, Va. — The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion returns to its traditional September weekend with a lineup of more than 100 artists including Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Band Perry and Lukas Nelson, son of country legend Willie Nelson.
Festival organizers revealed the full lineup April 16, some five months before music again resumes bouncing off the walls of downtown businesses Sept. 19-21, during an event at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
“This is a big moment for people. You already know you’re going to be on State Street. Now you find out who you’re going to be listening to on State Street at the Rhythm & Roots festival,” BCM Board Chair Brent Treash said following the announcement.
“You want to bring a diverse group of people and I think we’ve done a nice job of that,” he said. “When you look at people like The Teskey Brothers, Shane Smith & The Saints, Ricky Skaggs. All these groups are legendary at what they do. We try to do something that appeals to everybody out there and I think we have a good mix this year of both well-established bands and what we’re known for — which is those bands that are up and coming.
“That’s what our bread and butter is, is bringing you those groups that will be the next big thing in a year or two,” Treash said.
Other favorites include Steep Canyon Rangers, Mountain Grass Unit, Michael Cleveland, Theo Lawrence, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies and newcomers Joy Oladokun and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.
Knoxville native Ashley Monroe will make her first festival appearance. Among her recording credits is the Carter Family standard “The Storms Are on the Ocean,” for the 2015 “Orthophonic Joy” Bristol Sessions CD project.
Monroe’s career includes a stint in Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert, recording with Blake Shelton, Lambert, Alison Kraus and Vince Gill plus writing hit songs for Lambert and Jason Aldean.
The festival historically includes a number of regional artists and this year is no different.
“It’s a huge circle. About a third of our lineup is local and regional acts and we’ve always wanted to do that,” Treash said. “When you think about the Bristol Sessions were about, it was recording hillbilly music from folks in and around the Bristol region. We knew this was always going to be a big part of what we wanted to do.
“This area has so much talent, I’m confident — if a Ralph Peer [Bristol Sessions talent scout/promoter] is out there and wants to record the next ‘Big Bang’ of country music — he could do it in Bristol with all the talent we have in this area.”
The only acts not announced were the lineup for the September Farm and Fun Time show at the Paramount, held during the festival.
This year the festival has named Dave Eggar as its first artist in residence. Plans also include some late night sessions at the Machiavelli’s outdoor tent on Fifth Street and “barn dances” at the Country Music Mural stage.
Weekend passes to Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion are on sale now, with upgraded packages available. Visit BristolRhythm.com for tickets and information.