Welcome to “At the Festival,” a blog series where I share my personal music festival experiences, with a focus on the performances of women and gender-diverse artists (that means I’ll be there early and might just completely skip the headliners). I’ll also be connecting with fellow festival-goers and sharing their stories, giving a crowd-sourced perspective of what makes each festival special. The goal is twofold: to share and spotlight often-overlooked artists, and to illustrate the power of music festivals in bringing people together and fostering communities.

The first country music recordings were made in 1922, mostly in New York City studios. Since musicians had to travel to the city, much of the recorded music was considered less authentic. Seeking “real” country music, and with new recording technology available, Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company traveled across Appalachia and the South in 1927. Using a Western Electric microphone, he recorded blues, ragtime, gospel, and string bands. The most famous of these recordings took place in Bristol, TN, where 19 artists recorded 76 songs, including the first recordings of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. These sessions, known as the “Bristol Sessions,” have been called the “Big Bang” of country music.

The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, established in 2001 in Bristol, TN/VA, celebrates the legacy of the Bristol Sessions and the region’s rich musical heritage. The annual festival features a lineup of modern country, folk, roots, bluegrass, and blues, with music spread across downtown Bristol. In addition to established headliners, the festival has become known for launching the careers of up-and-coming artists. Performances take place on large outdoor stages and in smaller indoor venues like theaters and restaurants. The main stretch runs along State Street, which marks the TN/VA state line, meaning that as you explore the stages, vendors, and food trucks, you might just cross the border dozens of times in one night!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th

Bristol Rhythm & Roots has been on my list of festivals to attend for a few years now, attracting me due to both the unique setting and the recent lineups. I couldn’t make it last year when Nickel Creek and Margo Price headlined, but I was excited to finally attend in 2024. I flew into Knoxville, TN, on Thursday and made the two-hour drive to Bristol on Friday, also making my first-ever pilgrimage to Buc-ee’s along the way. With limited downtown parking, the festival provides a shuttle service to and from most area hotels, so I got to ride a school bus at the fifth different festival this year. Near the entrance to the festival, on the Virginia side, is the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which opened in 2014. The festival grounds consist mainly of a long stretch of State Street, lined with shops and bars, most of which were open during the festival. Dozens of vendor tents are set up in front of them and indoor stages are scattered down the street. Outdoor stages are tucked into cross streets and at nearby Cumberland Square Park.

LAUREN MORROW — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE

The first set I caught on Friday (which starts in the late afternoon) was on the State Street Stage, which faces directly down the street, placing stage right in Virginia and stage left in Tennessee. Lauren Morrow and band took the stage, marking her return from a nearly year-long break from music. The Nashville-based artist is a favorite of fans at Bristol, a feeling that she reciprocates, calling it her favorite festival and a perfect place to return. Having quit drinking in the last year, Morrow joked about still partaking in other habits, noting that one was interestingly legal on only one half of the stage. Her set was an introduction for me to her music, and I’d never have guessed she had taken such a break from performing. Lauren and her band played songs from her debut solo album, People Talk, which was released last year and blends Americana with an eclectic range of influences. Her songwriting is at times both fun and deeply personal. Seeing an artist live for the first time is one of my favorite experiences, and watching Lauren was a great way to start my Bristol Rhythm experience.

Earlier in the day, on the bus ride to the festival, I met a fellow music festival fan named Lance. He is from Virginia, about 2 hours from Bristol, but had never attended the fest before. He had been to an impressive number of country, roots, and bluegrass festivals this summer and we discussed our favorites. He told me that he’s been a huge music and festival fan for his entire life, having followed the Grateful Dead around the country when Jerry Garcia was still alive. At Bristol Rhythm, he was most looking forward to a local Virginia group The Jared Stout band as well as Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, who I was excited for as well. One of the magic things about music festivals is that someone like Lance, a big-bearded, Southern, 55-year old man and I (generally not bearded, runs on Dunkin’) can come to the same place for the same experiences. And Bristol Rhythm does a great job of curating a festival that invites exactly that.

ASHLEY MCBRYDE — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE

Headlining the first night on the State Street stage was Ashley McBryde, country star and Opry member. While I honestly haven’t listened to most of her music, I always recall the incredibly moving ACM Awards performance of “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” when I hear her name. The songwriting prowess evident in that song was a constant throughout the set, as was her rock and roll swagger and a palpable joy for performing. There were plenty of loud or lighter moments (including the first bra I’ve ever seen thrown from stage during “Brenda, Put Your Bra On”) but the highlights for me were the more heartfelt songs like recent single “Light On in the Kitchen” and “Sparrow” which showcased the talent of her entire five-piece backing band. Ashley mentioned several times her appreciation for the place where we were standing and the people who gather there to celebrate. “Trace your favorite artist back,” she told us, “and you’ll trace them back here.”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th

On Saturday, I prepared for a full day of music this time and took the bus back downtown again. Like I usually do, I had the artists I intended to see circled on the schedule, but with the understanding that it wasn’t a rigid plan. The physical schedule listed sets across 12 different stages and I tried my best to see somebody play at every one of them. Because I wasn’t able to attend Sunday, I didn’t quite complete that goal. But in addition to all of the outdoor stages, I did see music in a black box theater and a Chinese restaurant.

CLAUDIA FENOGLIO — INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE

I began the day at Cumberland Square Park, on the Virginia side of the city. In addition to a permanent stage, the park is home to a war memorial and a US Army helicopter display. The stage is at the bottom of a hill so that viewing angles are plenty. Many people were already settled in with chairs or blankets when I arrived a couple songs into the first set. Alone on the stage was a young woman with a telecaster guitar. Claudia Fenoglio is from Leeds, UK and her show at Bristol (which I later learned is her father’s hometown) was her very first live US performance. She has cited boygenius, Taylor Swift, and Bon Iver, as influences which gives a pretty good estimation of her sound. She played from 2023’s What If I’m Here Forever EP, earlier singles, and new songs. Singing mostly on the soft side and occasionally layering her vocals, she asked us before one song to imagine her band behind her. But even without the full instrumental, her sound was airy and perfect for that early afternoon hour under the trees in the park.

After Claudia’s set, I talked to a young couple with a toddler who had been sitting in the grass watching the show together. Maggie and Josh are from North Carolina and are seasoned Bristol Rhythm attendees, with the festival having become a tradition in Maggie’s family starting all the way back in 2004. It was even their 2-year old daughter Frances’s third time! She was first here as a newborn and this was her first time here being “mobile,” so she was taking full advantage of the space in the park as we talked. I asked Maggie what brought them back time after time, and in addition to the tradition, it was the discovery of new artists. One of her coolest memories was seeing The Avett Brothers there before they gained popularity. They were excited to see The Wallflowers and Wilderado later on, but always left time open to see artists they don’t know, like Claudia, who we all agreed has a bright future.

SARAH KATE MORGAN — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE

After wandering and catching parts of sets by The Great Big Hug and AJ Lee & Blue Summit, I found the Bristol Theatre, a black box children’s performance theater. I was about 15 minutes late to the start of the set, and the seats were filled when I arrived. I lingered until I was able to get a seat towards the top of the small audience. I was immediately caught by the musicianship of the two women on stage, Sarah Kate Morgan playing a mountain dulcimer, and collaborator Meghan Gregory on a fiddle. Performing a mix of original and traditional songs, both with and without vocals, the duo were totally mesmerizing. The audience was pin-drop silent as they played, and very few people left their seats once they sat. They told stories between songs that flushed out the music, such as how her debut album was recorded in a weaving studio in a one-stoplight town. Morgan carries with her the lineage of Appalachian music, both keeping its past alive and contributing to its future with her originals like “All Your Secrets” from last year’s Old Tunes and Sad Songs, a total gem.

BRITTNEY SPENCER — WEBSITE INSTAGRAM SPOTIFY APPLE

After the sun went down and I carefully ate a massive funnel cake by myself, I returned back to Cumberland Square Park for Brittney Spencer. I was excited to see her again for the first time since her album release; I last saw her while I floated in the ocean at Girls Just Wanna Weekend 2023. She started a bit late due to a special recording for Paste (listen here once it’s up!) went long, but once she and the band arrived on stage, it was to a park full of enthusiastic music fans which she appreciated, remarking “there are so many of you here—wow!” before launching into songs from last year’s My Stupid Life. Most of the set focused on her upbeat songs, which had everyone up and dancing. They played one of my favorites, “Bigger Than the Song,” which reflects on how deeply a song can resonate with someone. The track mentions Alanis, Dolly, and Beyoncé among others, and took on a whole new meaning when Brittney was featured on Beyoncé’s interpretation of “Blackbird” on Cowboy Carter earlier this year. Included in the set was a new song that was played for audience for the first time. It was a fun set that left me excited for whatever she puts out next.

As the night continued, I caught Amanda Fields under an outdoor tent. She played bluegrass-informed country with a super tight, talented band to a super enthusiastic crowd. They eventually had to contend with some very loud sound bleed from the next stage, but expertly swapped in some louder songs to wrap up a fun set. I stopped by The Wallflowers briefly, heard “One Headlight” then hustled back to the park for Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. I wrote about them in my Newport Folk Fest story, so I won’t get too deep this time, but the band was phenomenal as always and the set featured guest appearances by Molly’s brother Sullivan and AJ Lee.

Overall, Bristol Rhythm was a great experience. The music was excellent and the setting unique. The atmosphere was pure positivity, and artists and fans alike all seemed happy and appreciative of the history surrounding us. The feeling I got from interacting with people was that “Reunion” is a perfect descriptor for the festival. I even met a large group making their annual trip to the festival all the way from Sweden. It’s the kind of community-first event that thrives when properly nurtured. More than two decades in, it’s clear that Bristol Rhythm is doing it right.

Thank you to Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, the volunteers and staff, and all the fans who were gracious enough to share their stories with me!

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