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Orthophonic Joy Comes to Bristol!

June 10, 2014
ORTHOPHONIC JOY: 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited

“Don’t deny yourself the sheer joy of Orthophonic Music”

Later referred to as the “Big Bang of Country Music,” the 1927 Bristol Sessions sparked
commercial popularity of country music, introducing people to music pioneers such as Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family.

Now, more than 80 years later, some of Nashville’s top recording artists have hit the studio with Grammy Award-winning producer Carl Jackson to capture the magic of those songs.

Orthophonic Joy: 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited honors the songs that Ralph Peer captured over the 12 days of recording on State Street in Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia.

Music legends Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, and Emmylou Harris are among the amazing roster of talent gathered for the project. Esteemed bluegrass great Doyle Lawson will also appear alongside some of country music’s hottest new acts, including Ashley Monroe and The Church Sisters.

In the spirit of Ralph Peer’s original call to artists, the Orthophonic Joy Music Contest was designed to discover new talent for the reinterpretation of songs from the classic sessions.

Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited will be released in
October 2014.

Believe in Bristol and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion calling for downtown businesses to enter the 2014 Rockin' Stroll Window Contest

June 10, 2014
Showcase your business and enter for a chance to win! Believe in Bristol and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion are calling for downtown businesses to join in the 2014 Rockin' Stroll Window Contest — with an earlier deadline date to coincide with the opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on August 1!

Participants will be part of the Rockin' Stroll self-guided walking tour during Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion on September 19 — 21, 2014. By committing to decorate your windows, you'll not only showcase your business to more than 50,000 visitors at this year's Reunion in September, but also to the many new visitors coming to our downtown with the Birthplace of Country Music Museum's opening at the beginning of August and Food City Family Race Night later that month! And you'll be helping to create a wonderful celebratory atmosphere for Historic Downtown Bristol!

The best part? Your participation puts you in the running to win some great prizes (to be announced) and full-on bragging rights for a year!

Further details about the contest, including rules and regulations and the application, will be distributed to downtown businesses in the next couple of weeks, but this gives you the opportunity to get your thinking caps on for the music-themed extravaganzas you want to create!

For more information, contact Believe in Bristol at 276-644-9700.

Jeff Tweedy and a host of other artists added to BRRR 2014's lineup!

June 10, 2014
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is over-the-moon ecstatic to announce groundbreaking singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy will join their already impressive 2014 lineup. Tweedy is scheduled to appear Saturday, September 20, 2014, during the three-day music festival. The Bristol date is part of his summer-long solo tour of the United States, promoting his new solo CD release.

"Having Jeff Tweedy at the festival with Emmylou Harris and the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience is the perfect trifecta of amazing talent," said Leah Ross, executive director of Birthplace of Country Music®, the parent organization of Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. "These artists, and many others on our roster, are groundbreaking, inspirational, and timeless. We are privileged to have them at our festival in September."

Fans of Tweedy will remember Uncle Tupelo's haunting rendition of The Carter Family's "No Depression in Heaven" on the band's first album, No Depression, in 1990. The homage is further evidence of the far-reaching impact of The Carter Family's lasting influence across the generations and genres.

Jeff Tweedy is "one of the most daring songwriters of his generation" and his band Wilco is "vital, adventurous...breaking new stylistic ground with each ambitious and creatively restless album." — Salon.com

As the founding member and leader of the American rock band Wilco and before that the co-founder of alt-country band Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy is one of contemporary American music’s most accomplished songwriters, musicians and performers. Since starting Wilco in 1994 Tweedy has written original songs for eight Wilco albums and collaborated with folk singer Billy Bragg to bring musical life to three albums-full of Woody Guthrie-penned lyrics in the Mermaid Avenue series.

Tweedy, an accomplished and in-demand producer beyond the Wilco realm, has collaborated twice with soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples, first on her 2010 release You Are Not Alone, and more recently, on the just-released One True Vine. Both albums were produced by Tweedy and recorded at the Wilco loft and both have garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Tweedy’s most recent producer credits include The Invisible Way by the Minneapolis trio Low, Wassaic Way by folk-rock duo Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion’s (co-produced with Wilco’s Patrick Sansone) and a forthcoming album by Austin’s psychedelic rockers White Denim.

A touring tour-de-force since the release of The Whole Love in September 2011 on the band’s own dBpm Records, Wilco has played more than 170 concerts worldwide including multiple tours of North America and Europe as well as tours in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Wilco also mans the helm at its own Solid Sound Festival at MASS MoCA in The Berkshires – a three-day event blending music, comedy, world-class contemporary art, and more.

In addition to his work with Wilco, Tweedy tours frequently as a solo artist, playing intimate unscripted acoustic sets that draw from his 400-plus song repertoire. A departure from Wilco’s carefully orchestrated, sonically complex performances, Tweedy’s solo concerts showcase his prolific output as a songwriter, his proficiency as a guitarist, his charismatic and compelling stage presence, and his wry sense of humor. www.wilcoworld.net/splash-wilco-page/.

In addition to Jeff Tweedy, a number of great acts have been added to the 2014 roster. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2014 is proud to announce the following acts will join the growing alumni family this September:

Robbin Thompson: Following stints with the Tasmanians and Mercy Flight, Robbin was the lead singer in the Bruce Springsteen band Steel Mill. He has won the American Song Festival twice, and has recorded more than a dozen albums. Thompson, along with friend Steve Bassett, authored the song "Sweet Virginia Breeze," which is considered by many to be the unofficial state song of Virginia. He has also written and recorded songs with Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit (who also sings harmonies on many of Robbin's recordings). Thompson has shared the stage with many recording artists, including Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Bruce Springsteen, and Bruce Hornsby, to name just a few.
www.RobbinThompson.com

Honey Island Swamp Band: Great music begins with great songs, and great songs are what the Honey Island Swamp Band is all about. The band came together when members were marooned in San Francisco after the levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and a chance encounter with fellow New Orleans evacuees at John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room on Fillmore Street. They knew each other from having all played together in some form or another in various New Orleans bands, and with the great unknown regarding their return to their underwater hometown looming in the distance, they decided to put together a band and get some gigs going. Fortunately, the Boom Boom Room’s owner Alex Andreas offered the band a weekly gig on the spot. Honey Island Swamp Band‘s music has been described as “Bayou Americana” with timeless songs highlighted by searing guitar, sure-handed mandolin, and 4-part vocal harmonies, all anchored by the powerful groove of a Louisiana stomp rhythm section. www.honeyislandswampband.com

Mandolin Orange: "Mandolin Orange carries an understanding of tradition and shape it into a thing of beauty. They craft simple songs that go beyond chord progressions and vocal harmonies, leading somehow toward something pure. Using acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and a hand-me-down fiddle, Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz allure with a heart-worn sensibility. Last year's Haste Make/ Hard Hearted Stranger combines bluegrass, rock and country for lullabies that swoon."
- Ashleigh Phillips, Independent Weekly www.mandolinorange.com

Elliott BROOD: Elliott BROOD have always been time travellers. The Toronto trio writes songs steeped in history that feel very present. They've done their share of actual travelling, too, these musical troubadours, acoustic guitars and banjos slung over their sharp suits as they barnstormed across Canada and beyond. For the new album Days Into Years, it was century-old stories encountered an ocean away that brought them closest to home. The album was recorded with co-producer John Critchley at Green Door Studios in Toronto at Avening Town Hall (a former army barracks) in rural Ontario, the album showcases a more amped up Elliott BROOD that will put the knell to the "death country" tag that described their early work. Now, the roof-raising rhythm stomp and mandolin collides with luscious harmonies, piano and, for the first time, electric guitar in a mix is "loud, heavy and rock 'n' roll." www.elliottbrood.com/Band.shtml

Gregory Alan Isakov: Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and calling Colorado home, Gregory Alan Isakov has been traveling all his life. Songs that hone a masterful quality beyond his years tell a story of miles and landscapes, and the search for a sense of place. His song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, with hints of his influences, Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen. He has been described as “strong, subtle, a lyrical genius.” Isakov has played numerous music festivals and venues across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. www.gregoryalanisakov.com

Other artists added to the festival lineup include Jerron Blind Boy Paxton, Blue Ridge Entertainers, Clay Prewitt, Earth by Train, Good Rocking Sam, L Shape Lot, Logan Fritz, The Railsplitters, Ron Short & the Possum Playboys, and Wires & Wood.

Governor Terry McAuliffe proclaims June as Business Appreciation Month!

June 10, 2014
Governor Terry McAuliffe has proclaimed June as Business Appreciation Month. This year's theme is "Celebrating Virginia's Businesses and Entrepreneurial Communities." There is a crucial correlation between strong business and strong communities. Vibrant and strong communities produce strong businesses, and strong businesses make communities strong and vibrant.

For more information, visit the Business Appreciation Month page on the DHCD website: http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/component/content/article/3-business-assistance/232-business-appreciation-month.html

Little Italy will be closed this week due to a death in the family

June 10, 2014
Little Italy will be closed this week due to a death in the family. Roland's son Jason Ramirez passed away on Saturday — please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. Visitation will be at Weaver Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 11, 6 — 7:45pm and the service will be at 8pm. The burial will be on Thursday at 11am at Eastern Heights Cemetery on Old Jonesboro Road.

Downtown Bristol Blog

ArtSmart Classes now being held at Bristol Public Library

June 14, 2014
ArtSmart art classes are back at the Bristol Public Library! Classes are held every second Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30am, and the next class is Saturday, June 14. Cost is $5.00 for supplies at the library, and the classes are open to ages 6 — 12 years old. ArtSmart is a partnership between William King Museum and the Bristol Public Library, and classes are centered around books and the exhibits at the WKM. For further information, call the library on 276-645-8780.

Benjamin Walls presenting a show at the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon

June 14, 2014
Downtown photographer and gallery owner Benjamin Walls will be presenting a show at the Martha Washington in Abingdon on Saturday, June 14, 6 — 9PM. Ben will be doing a new release presentation at 7PM, and showing off the two new images heading to the Smithsonian this September. This should be a fun night so come on out and support one of our downtown businesses "afield"!

AACA car show at TriSummit Bank Parking Lot

Photo courtesy of Randy Smith

June 13, 2014
Come downtown and enjoy the Antique Automobile Club of America – Appalachian Region Car Show on Friday, June 13! This car cruise-in is held every Friday night, end of April through October, 6 — 8pm in the TriSummit bank parking lot across from the Bristol Train Station in downtown Bristol. It's always a fun night — full of classic cars!

Tunes @ Noon with Young Artists at the Paramount

June 13, 2014
Young Artists will perform for Tunes @ Noon at the Paramount Center for the Arts on Friday, June 13 at 12pm. There is a $5 suggested donation at the door. For more information, contact the Paramount on 423-274-8920.

Rumba lesson and Ballroom / Latin dance at Bristol Ballet

June 13, 2014
A Rumba lesson and Ballroom and Latin Dance will be held at the Bristol Ballet Studio, 519 State Street, Bristol, VA on Friday, June 13 — lesson 7:30 to 8:30pm, followed by dancing until 10:30pm. Thers is a suggested donation of $5 per person to support the non- profit Bristol Ballet; refreshments provided, but snack to share always welcome. For more information, call the Bristol Ballet at 276-669-6051.

Support your local small businesses with Sunset Shopping Downtown!

June 12, 2014
As the weather continues to get warmer and brighter, remember to come out for Sunset Shopping in Downtown Bristol! We'll be here again this Thursday, June 12 until 8pm — and every Thursday night for the next six months! So go ahead and mark your calendars and make your plans — it's the perfect way to have a great night out and support your local businesses! Check out these specials for Thursday, June 12: * Studio 6 — 25% off of select maxis & shoes * Shoozies — $10 off of purchases $50+ * Pretty Girl Station — 10% store wide, 20% off of 2nd item * Misty Mountain Downtown — Spend $20 or more on clothing and get a free purse accessory or scarf; spend $20 or more on jewelry and get a free polishing cloth. For more information, please visit www.believeinbristol.org or contact Believe in Bristol at 276-644-9700, info@believeinbristol.org.

blowfish emporium painting party — Sunset

June 12, 2014
Come on out to blowfish emporium's regular Tuesday & Thursday night painting parties! The next Thursday painting party is Thursday, June 12 from 6 to 8:30pm. Be assured, this is NOT a painting class! It is very relaxed & informal. The point is to have fun & allow yourself the option to get as creative as you want. NO SKILL IS REQUIRED, really! The cost is $32 per person (includes EVERYTHING — canvas, paint, tools & instruction — you just show up!). For more information contact blowfish emporium on 276-644-1428 or info@blowfishemporium.com.
Click here to read more.

The State Street Project: Health Across the Borders event at the Foundation Event Facility

June 12, 2014
There will be a State Street Project: Health Across Borders event on Thursday, June 12 from 9:30 AM through lunchtime at the Foundation Event Facility located at 620 State Street in downtown Bristol. The schedule is as follows: * 9:30 AM — Registration and Continental Breakfast * 9:45 AM — Conference Program * 12 noon — Complimentary Lunch. Please mark your calendar and register for this special conference at http://www.healthyappalachia.org/state-street-project-health-across-borders.To register o-line or for further information: * VIRGINIA — Margie Tomann,mtomann@uvawise.edu,276-376-4882 * TENNESSEE — Ginny Kidwell,kidwell@etsu.edu,423-439-4651.
Click here to read more.

Health Education Series 2014 talk on Joint Replacements at the Bristol Public Library

June 12, 2014
Dr. Gabriel Hommel will be the June presenter for the Bristol Public Library’s June Health Education Series 2014 on “Joint Replacements.” Dr. Hommel who is with Appalachian Orthopaedics will speak on Thursday, June 12th at 6:30 PM in the J. Henry Kegley large Meeting Room at the Main Library at 701 Goode Street, Bristol, Virginia. The presentation is open to the public and free.
Click here to read more.

American Made Father's Day from Pointer Brand — Store Wide Discount!

June 11, 2014
In honor of dads everywhere, Pointer Brand is offering 20% off of everything store wide through Father's Day with the code '4DAD.' Don't miss out (and don't forget Father's Day)! Check out their website to find all the Father's Day gifts you'll ever need: http://pointerbrand.com/.

Get your tickets now! Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat at The Paramount Center for the Performing Arts

June 11, 2014
Theatre Bristol returns to the Paramount Center for the Performing Arts stage with the Broadway hit musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat" this June. Six performances of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat” will open on Friday, June 20th, and continue Saturday, June 21st, Sunday, June 22nd, Friday, June 27th, Saturday, June 28th, and Sunday, June 29th. Evening performances on Friday and Saturday will be at 7:30 pm and Sunday matinees will be at 2:30 pm. Tickets available now online or call the Paramount Box Office at 423-274-8920, Tuesday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. The show will open with a gala event with special $15 tickets. All tickets are already priced with group rates for everyone, including families, church, and community groups at $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Gold Circle seating is also available by calling 423-383-5979.
Click here to read more.

Quaker Steak & Lube Wingtastic Specials

June 11, 2014
Check out Quaker Steak & Lube's wing specials, every Tuesday and Wednesday! On Tuesdays, it's All You Can Eat Wings (mix & match) for $12.99. On Wednesdays, you can get breaded boneless wings (available in any of the award-winning sauces) for 60 cents each. Restrictions apply. For more information, call Quaker Steak & Lube on 276-644-9647.

Wm. King Clothiers — the perfect place to get the perfect gift for Dad!

June 11, 2014
Father’s Day is this Sunday, so why not brighten up good ol’ Dad’s closet with one of Wm. King Clothiers' great looking sport shirts? As always, our complimentary gift wrapping and free delivery are just two of the many services you receive from us. Now, how about a cool sport shirt for Dad...

Other World Gallery/Rhythm in Boots Going Out of Business 50% Off Sale

June 11, 2014
Rhythm in Boots and Other World Gallery are closing their doors in style with a generous sale. Come down and get 50% off of everything that both shops have to offer. Stock is going quickly so don't hesitate to come down. The shops are located at 600 State Street, Bristol TN 37620 and can be reached at (423) 573-6203

KP Duty Bank Street Catering is ready to fulfill all your catering needs!

June 11, 2014
Inspired Catering from KP: Weddings, Receptions, Business Meetings, Custom Parties! Don't let planning the menu for your special occasion become a blur of chaos and casseroles. KP Catering, the Southern hospitality experts, can make event planning easier by providing taste-tempting menus and attention to detail so you can attend to your guests in our beautiful Bank Street venue. From the casual comfort of traditional smoked turkey breast and spiral sliced Virginia baked ham to inspired culinary creations that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate, let KP Catering help make your special event memorable with a customized menu, elegant entrees, delectable desserts, and a beautiful presentation guaranteed to impress. KP can accommodate all your catering needs year-round: *Delicious, stress-free holiday catering * Rehearsal dinners & weddings * Business meetings & corporate events * Custom-themed parties. Call us today to discuss your catering needs at 423.764.3889.

Upcoming Events

Virgie R. Fleenor Art Gallery at the Bristol Public Library Features "Retric" Showing by Fiber and Mixed Media Artist Margaret Gregg

May 02 - June 28, 2014