(BRISTOL, Tenn./Va.) – On Friday, the 23rd annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion kicked off on State Street and the surrounding area.
The streets, restaurants and businesses buzzed with energy on day one, as festival-goers flooded the event.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin also made a special appearance to welcome everyone to the festival.
“97 years since the Bristol sessions and country music was born,” Youngkin said. “It was born right here in Bristol, Virginia, and I want to thank everyone for coming and celebrating again.”
“One of the things that makes Southwest Virginia such a great place is the ability to live, work, raise your family and listen to great music,” Youngkin told News Channel 11 earlier at a separate event.
This year was not only the 23rd annual festival, but also the 10-year anniversary for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum (BCM).
BCM are the organizers of the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.
Charlene Baker, Communications Manager for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, encourages attendees to explore the museum and delve into Bristol’s rich musical history.
“So we’re really encouraging everybody to go over, tour the museum, and learn more about Bristol’s music history and why we do this festival and why Bristol is considered the birthplace of country music due to the 1927 Bristol Sessions,” Baker said.
Baker highlighted the festival’s app, which helps visitors track performances and stage schedules. This year’s lineup includes notable acts such as Russell County’s own 49 Winchester, Brittney Spencer, and a local favorite, Florencia & the Feeling.
They already rocked the stage on Friday night.
“We are a pop funk fusion group with Latin roots, which means that we have pop, we have rock, we have jazz, we have funk,” Florencia Rusiñol, of Florencia & The Feeling said. “Of course, we also have, a little bit of everything, R&B, but also we got some of those Latin rhythms. And as well, it’s definitely great dancing music.”
This is the group’s third year playing at the festival.
“We have felt the support of rhythm and roots ever since we became a band four years ago. And it has been just so beautiful to be able to return to this amazing location, amazing festival, but also just to be able to feel the support of this area and the support of the organizers, it’s really made us feel at home.”
The festival is also a huge boost for businesses in downtown Bristol, including the Winslow Savage Millinery hat shop.
“So many people coming from out of town,” Winslow Savage, the owner said. “And hat wearers are a unique group of people, their character. So they run in smaller circles. But it’s nice to have the people in from out of town. And then locals who normally do not maybe walk around downtown, get to see me because our entrance is right out there.”
Savage said she doesn’t even have to turn music on inside her shop during this weekend.
The music continues on Saturday and Sunday. To see a full lineup of the festival, check the Bristol Rhythm & Roots website .
The Bristol Session Super Raffle happens on Sunday in front of the BCM. A prize will be drawn every 5 minutes. Baker said tickets are sold out, but participants do not have to be present to win.
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