Border Bash: John Stickley Trio with Hearts Gone South

Celebrating 24 years in Historic Downtown, Border Bash—Bristol’s premier summer concert series—is back for another amazing season! Hosted by Believe in Bristol and the Cities of Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee, Border Bash is about fun, family, great music, and creating memories to last a lifetime.

“Border Bash is a tradition that showcases everything that makes Downtown Bristol special, and that includes great live music,” said Maggie Elliott, Executive Director of Believe in Bristol.” Bristol’s downtown is definitely a hub for a wide variety of food, unique shopping, community events, and an all-around great place to come together with friends and family. This year Border Bash will introduce audiences to a whole new roster of talented, emerging acts as well as a few familiar favorites.”

June 21, 2024 — Piedmont (600 Block) 6:30pm — Hearts Gone South 7:30pm — Jon Stickley Trio

Jon Stickley Trio Bio: Jon Stickley Trio is a genre-defying and cinematic instrumental trio whose deep grooves, innovative flatpicking and sultry-spacy violin moves the listener’s head, heart, and feet. “It’s not your father’s acoustic-guitar music, Instead Stickley’s Martin churns out a mixture of bluegrass, Chuck Berry, metal, prog, grunge, and assorted other genres—all thoroughly integrated into a personal style,” -Guitar Player Magazine. Premier Guitar says, “Stickley’s trio… is not a traditional bluegrass group by any means… they are just nimble and ambitious enough to navigate EDM-style breakbeats as effortlessly as the old timey standard ‘Blackberry Blossom. With inspiration ranging from Green Day to Duran Duran, Tony Rice, Nirvana, The Dead, Grisman and beyond, the Trio is making waves with their unique sound. “In a time when a lot of instrumental music feels more like math than art, Jon Stickley Trio reminds us of the pure joy that can be created and shared through music,” -Anders Beck (Greensky BG)

Hearts Gone South Bio: Original classic-style country and honky tonk full of heart and soul, laced with wit and woe. Bringing fire and feeling to the age-old stories of heartbreak, love,and victory for the underdog. Hearts Gone South shoots straight from the hip with impassioned vocals, a tight rhythm section, and smoking leads, to hit their target dead on. Shining like diamonds in a rhinestone world.

Border Bash is hosted by Believe in Bristol and would not be possible without our community sponsors. Our sponsors in 2024 include City of Bristol, Tennessee, City of Bristol, Virginia, Eastman Credit Union, Bank of Tennessee, Bristol Gynecology & Obstetrics, East Tennessee State University, Front Row Music, GRIFOLS, Holston Medical Group, Strongwell Corporation, Audrey Zaidi, Anne & Ben Cowan, John & Brenda Fincher, Robin & Margaret Feierabend, Tommy Rivera, Van & Sarah Guthrie, Tom & Barbara Smith, Bonnie Flinner & Clint Holley, Kil’n Time Ceramic Studio, Bank of America, and 99.3 The X.

Hospitality Sponsors for 2024 include The Bristol Hotel, Delta Blues BBQ, Machiavelli’s, Southern Craft BBQ Bristol, Stateline Bar & Grille, The Corner, and Urban Thistle Bakery & Bistro.