Archive

Bristol, VA/TN (April 19, 2013) – At a press conference on Friday, April 19, Believe in Bristol, alongside community partners Birthplace of Country Music® and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, revealed plans for a summer packed with free live music and family fun on State Street and beyond.

Border Bash, the twice-monthly free concert series held annually May through August, celebrates its fourteenth anniversary as a roving mini-fest that has grown to include children’s activities and vendors in addition to live music.

“Border Bash attendance has seen steady growth over the years because it is a quality family event and always a fun-filled evening,” says Believe in Bristol Associate Director René Rodgers. “We are very grateful to our volunteers, sponsors, and community partners for their continuing support – they are what makes Border Bash possible.”

Border Bash will take place on the first and third Fridays, May through August, with the exception of July 4. Children’s activities will begin at 6:00p.m., live music at 7:00p.m. Admission is free.

“Our first Border Bash in July will be on Independence Day as part of the Celebrate Bristol festivities,” states Vicie Dotson, Believe in Bristol Promotions Committee Chairwoman and Celebrate Bristol organizer. “Our Border Bash concert on that Thursday will be held at Cumberland Square Park.”

Celebrate Bristol’s Independence Day activities will be announced at a later date.

In May, Border Bash will be held on the 700 block of State Street. The event moves to the 600 block in June and July (with the exception of July 4), and to the 500 and 400 blocks in August.

The band line-up for Border Bash consists mainly of artists slated to play Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September. A third group has been added to the June 21 line-up, courtesy of King University. A few of the Border Bash acts will also perform at Birthplace of Country Music®’s monthly free Concert Series at Big Glades in Wise, VA, May through August.

“We consider it a mini-tour of emerging artists,” says Birthplace of Country Music® Executive Director Leah Ross. “Our Wise concerts were first held on the University of Virginia’s College at Wise campus. We moved the event to the new Big Glades Community Square facility with amazing results.”

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion’s Concert Series at Big Glades, located on East Main Street in Wise, VA, is the first Saturday of each month, May through August. Each concert begins at 6:00p.m. Admission is free.

Border Bash is hosted by Believe in Bristol, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and Birthplace of Country Music®. Our sponsors in 2013 include AACA, Bank of Tennessee, Blakley-Mitchell, Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol Virginia Utilities, Burke, Powers & Harty, Campbell Printing, Child Study Club, Citizens Bank, City of Bristol, TN, City of Bristol, VA, Coca-Cola, Cranberry Lane, Edward Jones Investments, Express AV Productions, First Bank of Virginia, First Tennessee Foundation, William and Brenda Johnstone, Kerr-Boswell Inc., King University, Mary Landrum, MedExpress, Merrill Lynch, Serendipity, Tom and Barbara Smith, Spiegler Blevins & Company, Strongwell, Tri-City Tent & Event, Walling Distributing, WCYB News 5, Wells Fargo, WAEZ 94.9, and Z-Rock 99.3.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion’s Concert Series at Big Glades is sponsored by Town of Wise, Pro-Art, Cavalier Pharmacy, The Hangar Grill, Dr. William C. Horne, Jr. DDS, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, The Inn at Norton, and Edward Jones Financial Consultants.

Border Bash and BRRR’s Concert Series at Big Glades are partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and Virginia is for Lovers.

The band schedules for Border Bash and the Concert Series at Big Glades are as follows:

Border Bash:

May 3 – This Mountain
Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts

May 17 – River Whyless
Lizzy Ross Band

June 7 – Woody Pines
Paul Burch

June 21 – The Tillers
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Rosco Bandana

July 4 – L Shape Lot
Jon Stickley Trio

July 19 – Barlow Gin & The Hatchetmen
Field Report

August 2 – Erick Baker
Amber Rubarth Trio featuring Dave Eggar

August 16 – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers

Big Glades Concert Series, Wise, VA:

May 4 – This Mountain
Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts

June 1 – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Earth By Train

July 6 – L Shape Lot
John Stickley Trio

August 3 – Erick Baker
Amber Rubarth Trio featuring Dave Eggar

For further information, contact Believe in Bristol on 276-644-9700 or info@believeinbristol.org, or check the website www.believeinbristol.org.