6th Annual Rhythm and Roots Reunion

This year’s stellar cast includes even more country music than ever before, and more stages. The festival’s preliminary list of performers (subject to change):
Marty Stuart, The Del McCoury Band, Junior Brown, Hot Buttered Rum, Seldom Scene, Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, Jim Lauderdale, Darrell Scott, Railroad Earth, Vince Herman, The Drew Emmitt Band, Red Stick Ramblers, the everybodyfields, Chatham County Line, Dale Jett, Celtibillies, Sigean, The Divine Maggees, Matt Lindau, ETSU Bluegrass Band, Reagan Boggs, Moccasin Gap, Janie Gray, Virginia Ground, Steven Foster Band, Kim Lyons, Danielle Walters, Foghorn String Band, Old Line Skiffle Combo, Sparky Rucker, Roger Rasnake, Ed Snodderly, Wayne Henderson, Peyton Tochterman & High Society, April Taylor, Jim Waive & the Young Divorcees, Corklickers, Wrinkle Neck Mules, Lucy Angel, Lightnin’ Charlie, Virginia Cross Ties, Holston Mountain Boys, Highway 11, Jan Smith, Southern 76, Blue Country, Ramblin’ Rose, Montage, Steven Foster Band, Crushed Velvette, Valley Street, Gary Hensley, Alecia Nugent, Lost Mountain String Band, and a Piedmont Blues Showcase featuring George Higgs, Cool John Ferguson, and Little Pink Anderson.

The Venues

Year after year our festival poster has proven not only to be a valuable marketing tool for Rhythm & Roots, but a hot collector’s item. This year we are proud to have commissioned the talents of internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist Charles Vess, who is known world wide for his work with major book publishers Viking, Tor, Simon Schuster, as well as comic book heavyweights Marvel and DC. In addition to his marvelous illustration for various authors and publishers, Charles Vess produces personal works of art from his studio Green Man Press in Abingdon, Virginia.

A Bristol, Virginia resident, Vess’ has won an assortment of major awards including two World Fantasy Awards; one for Best Short Story, shared with author Neil Gaiman, and another for Best Artist. He also holds a pair of highly esteemed Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for Best Penciler/Inker and Best Painter.

Currently, Vess is working on several projects including: “Blueberry Girl” (Harper Collins), a picture book with long-time collaborator Neil Gaiman; “Fables: A Thousand and One Nights of Snowfall” (DC Comics); the design and sculpting (with noted bronze artist David Spence) of a 16-foot sculptural fountain for the Barter Green in Abingdon, and illustrations for Susanna Clarke’s new collection of stories, “The Ladies of Grace Adieu” (Bloomsbury). Additionally, a previous book with Gaiman, “Stardust, Being a Romance Within the Realms of Faerie” is now being transformed into a full-length motion picture starring Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfieffer, and Claire Danes.

All-New Midnight Super Jam

The Reunion is reaching back to the tradition of good old Appalachian pickin’ parties by hosting our very first Rhythm & Roots Reunion Sprint (soon to be EMBARQ) Midnight Super-Jam. Be prepared to stay up late Friday night, as the Paramount Center for the Arts plays host to some of the finest acoustic musicians from across the country between the witching hour and 2am.

Hosted by Vince Herman of the legendary Leftover Salmon, the Midnight Super-Jam brings together musicians from any of the bands playing over the course of the festival. While subject to change, the line-up currently includes Tim Carbone, Andy Goessling, and John Skeehan of Railroad Earth, Erik Yates, Aaron Redner, and Bryan Horne of Hot Buttered Rum, Tyler Grant of the Drew Emmitt Band, members of Red Stick Ramblers, the everbodyfields, and more.

A gathering such as this promises a night of original, spontaneous, acoustic improvisation and experimentation—a once in a lifetime occurrence. It is destined to go down in history as one of the greatest events at the festival!

Recognizing the need to educate audiences of the importance of the African-American influence on Appalachian roots music, Rhythm & Roots has teamed up with Music Maker Relief Foundation. Dedicated to helping the true pioneers of Southern blues for such basic needs as medical care, food and shelter, this non-profit organization represents a wealth of artists and are dedicated to preserving one of the most influential genres of music in history: the blues. The aid Music Maker provides improves the quality of life for artists through grants and services, while also preserving the valuable blues music these artists helped pioneer. Seated on their board of directors, the great Taj Mahal, among their advisory board, Bonnie Raitt, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Dickey Betts, Derek Trucks and BB King. Music Maker coordinates bookings for an array of artists including Etta Baker, Cora Mae Bryant, George Higgs, Little Pink Anderson, Sonny Boy King, Mudcat, John Dee Holeman and Lightnin’ Wells.

Click on the image for more information or to purchase tickets

Rhythm & Roots is committed to keeping The Reunion a low-cost, family event for festivarians and music lovers alike. While other festivals charge up to hundreds of dollars for the quality of music RRR provides, we want to make sure our local audiences get pre-ticket advantages before anyone else!

By purchasing your ticket now, you save money BIGTIME with our affordable weekend passes offered at $30 for the entire weekend. This gives you access to all outdoor and indoor venues, crafts, and vending with the exception of the Midnight Super Jam.

If you are among the first 1,000 people to buy a weekend pass online at www.ticketweb.com, you will also get a FREE festival poster at Will Call during Rhythm & Roots. For an added $10 (Total - $40), you will also receive a ticket to The Reunion’s Midnight Super-Jam while they last.
Remember, only the the first 1,000 orders get a FREE festival poster designed by world-renowned artist Charles Vess, so act now!

Advanced weekend passes and tickets to the Midnight Super-Jam will also be available for purchase at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, The Paramount Center for the Arts Box Office, and Mountain Air CDs on State Street while supplies last.

Because there are only a limited number of advanced tickets printed, tickets at locations in and around Bristol will go fast. Locals, take advantage now! if you wait until a week or perhaps even a month before the festival, the advanced tickets will be gone!

For more information on Bristol’s 6th Annual Rhythm & Roots Reunion, please visit our website at www.bristolrhythm.com or call the festival office during business hours at (276) 591-4898.