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Those Darlins and Oneside to Perform at Border Bash

Border Bash, a monthly concert series in historic downtown Bristol, continues its 10th Year concert series on June 19th in the 600 block of State Street.  The evening’s events will start with children’s activities, crafters, and concessions at 6PM. Live music begins at 7:00PM with Those Darlins followed by Oneside at 8:30PM. Border Bash is free to the public! 

“We are thrilled that this is Border Bash’s 10th Anniversary!” commented Christina Blevins, Executive Director of Believe in Bristol.  Blevins added “With the continual growth of Border Bash and downtown, we want to showcase our beautiful State Street, so this year we will be moving from block to block, this is a huge change since we have been on the 500 Block for the past 9 years.  This will give the opportunity for all the stores and restaurants downtown to play an active part in our celebration.  Come and enjoy this milestone with us. We hope to see you on State Street!”

The event is hosted by Believe in Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.  Sponsors for 2009 are:  Gold Sponsors - Wachovia, PennStuart, Dent K. Burke & Associates, Citadel Broadcasting, Nash & Powers Insurance, Greg Fahn, Rita Mercier, and Rob Simis– Edward Jones, Merrill Lynch, Cherokee Distributing-Coors Light, Waste Management, and Blakley-Mitchell. Silver Sponsors- Campbell Printing, Curcio & Stout and Kerr-Boswell, Inc. In-Kind Sponsors-Coca Cola Distributing, CW4 and Fox, and Bristol Herald Courier.  Contributor-Oakley- Cook Funeral Home.

The best pop groups create their own universe, and make up their own ways of playing music and dealing with the big, bad world outside.  Those Darlins are a pop group, if they are any one thing, which doesn't mean anybody with ears can't hear the country and rock 'n' roll in their sound and stance.  Or maybe this trio of young women (early twenties, although no one's telling exactly), who live a long stone's throw from Nashville, Tennessee in the college town of Murfreesboro, are punks straight out of London or Cleveland, 1977.

Being informed by Nashville and its intersecting indie, pop and country scenes, and aware of the twisted tradition of Appalachian roots music that stretches back to the Carter Family, Those Darlins nevertheless aren’t of Nashville.  They write their own songs, record in New York City, and talk convincingly about female empowerment, music history and egalitarian ideals of performance and business.

The rockers in question are Kelley Darlin, the group's bassist, Jessi Darlin, who plays guitar, and Nikki Darlin, on baritone ukulele.  Everyone sings. Playing mostly in and around Nashville, they attracted immediate attention for their raucous, cheerfully sarcastic and sometimes booze-fueled live show and unique play of their distinct personalities. For more on Those Darlins visit http://www.thosedarlins.com/bio.html

Oneside’s Ned DeBary, lead singer and guitarist, is joined by Grafton Pease on bass, Jake Brooks on drums and Chris Hersch on banjo. The four-some met in 2002, and have since toured the country regularly. They've opened for such musical luminaries as Bobby Bare, Jr., Railroad Earth, The Damnwells, and Grace Potter. They've spent the last three springs stopping by the renowned South by Southwest Festival and were asked by Paste Magazine to make an appearance at 2007's Austin City Limits. The band has also played at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and even beloved Fenway Park in Boston. This summer, Oneside will be gracing the stages of California's High Sierra Music Festival as well as Virginia's Floydfest 2008.

Oneside's debut album, First, To Last, is full of structures, lyrics, and licks that are unabashedly plucked from the traditional American canon. Songs like "Lisa" and "Got To Go" would sound perfectly at home on a Nickel Creek or Alison Krauss album. But right from "First, To Last's" foot-stomping, bluesy opening track "The Letter," which combines elements of bluegrass, rock, jazz, and even reggae, it is apparent that Oneside isn't afraid to make departures from traditional styles. Other songs would fit right in on a Sufjan Stevens or even a Radiohead album. Yet all of the songs are deftly written and produced to create a coherent, if unique and slightly irreverent, sound. Other bands may play strictly in a conventional roots style but what sets Oneside apart is their willingness to take these traditional fundamentals and place them firmly in a modern context.

For more information visit http://www.onesidemusic.com/

Border Bash features live music on the third Friday of every month from May through August, showcasing musicians who will perform later this year at the 9th Annual Rhythm and Roots Reunion. “We hope that individuals, families, and visitors will come downtown to experience Bristol’s unique music” commented Bill Hartley, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance.  Hartley added that between the youth activities, artist’s exhibits, and musical fare offered that there should be something for everyone.  For more information, visit www.believeinbristol.org, www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org, www.bristolrhythm.com or call (276) 645-0111 or (423) 423-573-2200.