museum [1], located on the lower level of the Bristol Mall, exit 1, Interstate 81.
On Saturday, December 6 at 12:30 PM, local bluegrass band The Ball Sisters will be holding a CD release/signing for their new CD, “Christmas with the Ball Sisters,” distributed by Dobbie Shea records. The Ball Sisters Band features the award winning musicianship of fiddler Jessica Ball and guitarist/mandolinist Cris Ball who are joined by their father, Randy Ball on guitar and John Skelton on bass. Last year, the Ball sisters played at over seventy performances in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina.
On Friday, December 12 at 2:00 PM, Ralph Moore will conduct a discussion/book signing of his recent book, The Death of Hank Williams: The Mystery of his Final Journey. Moore’s book discusses the legendary performer and his fateful New Year’s Eve journey from Knoxville through Bristol to Oak Hill, WV, where he was found dead in the back seat of his Cadillac.
On Saturday, December 13 at 1:00 PM, Lee Pinkerson of Floyd, VA will perform old-time mountain songs in a tribute to June Carter Cash entitled “Wildwood Flower.” Pinkerson, a graduate of Marlboro College in Vermont with a degree in environmental science/art, moved to the mountains of Appalachia to develop her flat-picking acoustic guitar style and collect mountain and American Indian folksongs. She performs regularly at libraries, schools, and festivals.
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On Saturday, December 20 at 7:00 PM, local bluegrass band Fescue will perform and conduct a CD signing for their new all gospel CD “From the Heart.” The CD features twelve classic gospel favorites. Fescue is a five piece band whose stage show is comprised of a wide range of bluegrass music from slow ballads to hard driving energetic bluegrass tunes. Complimenting these different types of songs are the various combinations of harmony vocals available within the members of the band, comprised of Jordon Blevins, fiddle; Mike Goodman, banjo; Garnet Lester, guitar; Raymond Campbell, mandolin; and "Fat Albert" Blackburn rounding out the group playing the bass. Fescue has received many awards which include several first place wins at various Bluegrass festivals, including first place in the Bluegrass Band competition at the prestigious Galax Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA in 1997 and 2000. “We are happy to be able to offer such a wide diversity of programming at our museum this month,” comment Bill Hartley, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. “Hopefully, as people are out shopping this holiday season, they will stop by our museum in the mall and learn more about our region’s musical heritage.” The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is a non-profit group dedicated to the music and culture of Appalachia and the role played by the region in the development of Country Music. To learn more about the BCMA, call (276) 645-0035. |