Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion isn’t just a music festival. It’s an infectious, three-day music experience, bursting with creative passion, electricity, and soul. Every third weekend in September, State Street in historic Downtown Bristol, TN/VA is amped to the beat of Appalachia’s past, present, and future. It digs down deep into the roots of traditional Appalachian sound and lifts its branches to new heights–and it all happens in the heart of The Birthplace of Country Music. It is, and isn’t, your Daddy’s country music. It’s hardly strictly bluegrass. It’s not a rock show, but it totally does. And if you’ve never been, you’ll never know how much.
2012 LINEUP
A Great Disaster
Alli Epperson
Amazed by Grace
Amythyst Kiah
Angel Snow
Annabelle’s Curse
Anne & Pete Sibley
Anthony Keys & Chris Rose
Apache Relay, The
April Taylor
April Verch Band
Balsam Range
Bearfoot
Beth Snapp
Bill Mize with Beth Bramhall
Billy Joe Shaver
Bits & Pieces
Black Lillies, The
Blakley Leonard
Bluff City UMC – Praise Through Song
Box Set
Boxcars, The
Brad White’s Open Mic “All States” Comedy
Breaking Tradition
Brittany Haas & Lauren Rioux
Buxton
Cahalen Morrison & Eli West
Calico Moon
Carl Anderson
Carrie Rodriguez
Charlie Engle & Megan Clay
Chris Thomas King
City and Colour
Comedy & Country Variety Show: The Moron Bros. & Phil Campbell of Hee Haw, hosted by Tim White of Song of the Mountains
Corklickers, The
Crooked Road Sinners, The
Daisi Rain
Dale Ann Bradley
Dale Watson
Dave Eggar & Deoro
David Mayfield Parade, The
David Via & The Bristol Pistols
David Wax Museum
Deep Dark Woods, The
Della Mae
Delta Reign
Delta Spirit
Dex Romweber Duo
Dismembered Tennesseans, The
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Dr. Dog
Duty Free
Earth By Train
East High Bluegrass Band
Ed Snodderly
Elephant Revival
Empty Bottle String Band
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper
Erin McDermott
ETSU Bluegrass
ETSU Celtic Band
ETSU Old Time Pride Band
Father Edward Richard
Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band, The
Folk Soul Revival
Gail Wade
Gerald Sheppard
Gibson Brothers, The
Girls Guns & Glory
Good Rocking Sam
Grass Cats, The
Ha Ha Tonka
Hard Times
Harlow Experience, The
Harris Brothers, The
Hello Stranger featuring Dale Jett
Hey Boys, The
Hollow Ground
Holston Mountain Boys
Honey Badgers, The
Hot Club of Cowtown
Humming House
Hundred Acres
If Birds Could Fly
Impeach Dixon
Jack Beck & Wendy Welch
James Justin & Company
Jay Clark & Jimmy Davis
Jess Nunley
Jim Lauderdale
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
Jonny Corndawg
Josh Oliver
Josh Phillips Folk Festival
JP Harris & The Tough Choices
JP Parsons
JP Stallard & Neal Huff
JV Squad
Kaitlyn Baker
Karen Poston & Poor Valley
Kazoobie Kazoo
Kenny Vaughan
Kim Lyons
King Super & The Excellents
Kristen Minor
Last Train Home
Leigh Beamer
Lore
Loves It!
Lydia Loveless
Lyons, Robinette, Snapp: Girls with Guitars
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues
Matt Flinner Trio
Matt Osborne Band featuring Darrell Webb
Mckenna Andrews
Megan Jean & The KFB
Megan McCormick
Milk Carton Kids, The
MilkDrive
Mountain Mission School
Mountain Music School String Band
Mountain Park Old Time Band
My New Favorites
Nomadz, The
Nu-Blu
Onward, Soldiers
Pam Tillis
Paper Bird
Paul Lee Kupfer
Pert Near Sandstone
Possum Creek Playboys, The
Rambling Rose
Rebekah Jean
Red June
Red Molly
Relacksachian
Republik Steele
Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Rex Montgomery & Mike Jessee
River Whyless
Roan Mountain Moonshiners
Robert Earl Keen
Roger Rasnake
Ron Short & the Possum Playboys
Sam Bush Band
Sam Lewis Band ft. Kenny Vaughan
Sapling Grove
Scotty Melton
Shadow Drifters, The
Shovels & Rope
Sierra Hull & Highway 111
Sigean
Silas Lowe
Skeeter & The Skidmarks
Slaid Cleaves
Sol Driven Train
Spirit Family Reunion
SteelDrivers, The
Steep Canyon Rangers
Surprise Artists Jam
Susan Brown & Friends
Symphony Rags
Tara Mills with Strings Attached
These Undowners
this mountain
Tift Merritt
Time Sawyer
Todd Grebe & Cold Country
Uncle Lucius
Underhill Rose
Virginia Whirlwind
VW Boys, The
Walden Stubbs
Wayne Henderson & The Virginia Luthiers
WDVX Blue Plate Special featuring Brittany Haas & Lauren Rioux / David Wax Museum
WDVX Tennessee Shines featuring Bearfoot & Folk Soul Revival
Anthony’s right, the entry fee IS getting too high. I’ve been to it three years, tho’ ,and it is still one of, if not the best, music festivals around for Bluegrass, folk and country music.
Hint-run in the 5k on Sat morning, downtown near the festival, and you will get a pass to the festival with your race entry fee (at least, it was like that for the 3 years I went)
It’s $35 for the whole weekend if you purchase early. Purchase now for $40 for the entire festival. Over 150 bands, over 20 stages. So, about 25 cents per band. Don’t wait till the last week to buy!
Wow really? Too bad those musicians have to eat and put gas in their vehicles. The ticket cost is less than a dollar an act. I would rather go to a festival like this than pay over $100 for a hat act in an arena.
Just bought 3 tickets for $40 for three days! As we would say where I come from “Cheap as Chips”!!! Brilliant value. I’m traveling from Dublin, Ireland with my wife, hooking up with my son in NY and driving to Bristol. The tickets are the cheapest part of the deal!
The best value festival I have ever come across and I can’t wait til September
WHERE: Bristol, TN/VA
Price is getting to high! It started out reasonable but started going up every year.
Anthony’s right, the entry fee IS getting too high. I’ve been to it three years, tho’ ,and it is still one of, if not the best, music festivals around for Bluegrass, folk and country music.
Hint-run in the 5k on Sat morning, downtown near the festival, and you will get a pass to the festival with your race entry fee (at least, it was like that for the 3 years I went)
It’s $35 for the whole weekend if you purchase early. Purchase now for $40 for the entire festival. Over 150 bands, over 20 stages. So, about 25 cents per band. Don’t wait till the last week to buy!
Anthony, where else can you get this much entertainment stretched out over 3 days for $40.00. I daresay nowhere! I can’t wait for this year!!!
Wow really? Too bad those musicians have to eat and put gas in their vehicles. The ticket cost is less than a dollar an act. I would rather go to a festival like this than pay over $100 for a hat act in an arena.
Just bought 3 tickets for $40 for three days! As we would say where I come from “Cheap as Chips”!!! Brilliant value. I’m traveling from Dublin, Ireland with my wife, hooking up with my son in NY and driving to Bristol. The tickets are the cheapest part of the deal!
The best value festival I have ever come across and I can’t wait til September
This is my first time @ R & R Festival. Can anyone tell me if I need to bring a chair or food, cooler, etc.?