The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is making up for lost time and ramping up the excitement for its annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival with a monthly outdoor concert series starting in June.

The Road to Bristol Rhythm Concert Series, sponsored by Virginia is for Lovers, will offer our community and visitors a taste of what they've been missing during the pandemic, with elements of the September festival's best features - great live music by premier talent set in a glorious location in Historic Downtown Bristol.

"Bristol is the birthplace of country music, but one important element has been missing - live music in the streets of Downtown," said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. "We've partnered with Virginia is for Lovers and The Sessions Hotel to bring it back this summer!"

The Road to Bristol Rhythm lineup includes performances by Morgan Wade, Jim Lauderdale, and Amythyst Kiah, all scheduled to appear at the festival in September. Dates are as follows:

Saturday, June 19: Morgan Wade

Saturday, July 17: Jim Lauderdale

Saturday, August 7: Amythyst Kiah

Each concert will take place on the grassy lawn outside The Sessions Hotel on State Street in Historic Downtown Bristol starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT. 

Morgan Wade is among our region's ascending singer-songwriters, one who is fast emerging on a national level. The Floyd, Virginia native's latest release Reckless is a country-rock truth-teller, bleeding with longing, intimacy and achingly conveyed in Wade's evocative vocals. The recording is receiving rave reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and American Songwriter, among others.