Wednesday, January 25 – Annie Robinette, 8:30pm @620 State

Saturday, January 28 – These Undowners (w/Cruz Conteras (The Black Lillies), Josh Oliver (Jill Andrews, the everybodyfields), 8:00pm @Machiavelli’s

Wednesday, February 8 – JP Parsons, 8pm @620 State

Saturday, March 31st – Bentley (Jared & Vanessa Bentley), @Machiavelli’s

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is $1 million away from breaking ground on the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center.  Once completed, the Center will be a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, performance hall and education space that will pump $45 million into the region over the first five years it is open.  The plan is to start construction in 2013.

Friends of 1927 are 1,927 people giving $520 to raise $1 million for the Birthplace of Country Music Cultural Heritage Center.  A large plaque featuring the names of these founding Friends will adorn the halls of the center once it is built.  The music community in the Bristol area deserves the honor of being among them.

As it sometimes goes with “starving artists”, verbal support is often easier than the financial part.   So the BCMA is helping them raise the money to become an Artist for 1927 by using their gigs as mini-fundraisers so their fans can give them that gift.

The fundraisers will continue through May.  Any artist who wishes to host a fundraiser should contact Charlene Baker at 423-573-4898.

The deadline for entry is Friday, February 17, 2012 at 5pm. Any submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.   There is no fee to enter.

Artwork Content

Artwork should be original in content with a music or BRRR festival related theme. Original artwork derived from paintings or other mediums such as photography and graphic design will all be considered.

It is preferred, but not required, for entry to incorporate the following information: 12th Annual, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, State Street, Downtown Bristol, TN/VA, bristolrhythm.com, September 14-16, 2012.  An email request to obtain official BRRR logo should be sent to marketing@bristolrhythm.com. Please, do not attempt to get logo from any other online source. If you do not wish to use the above information and logo in your design, please note that it will be added later in final production.

To familiarize yourself with posters we have used in the past, click here.

Submission Format

Entries should be submitted as 18″w x 24″h, full bleed posters. Paper quality is of no concern. Please, do not submit a disc at this time, hard copy only. If your work is chosen we will ask that you send a high-resolution, electronic version measuring 18.25″w x 24.25″h to allow for full bleed printing.

Please, do not send three-dimentional objects, paintings or any medium that will have to be reproduced. Posters only. We are looking for as close to a finished product as possible for judging.

Submission Guidelines

One artist may submit multiple posters, but additions should be packaged together. Artist’s full name, address, phone number, year of entry and email address should be written clearly on the back of each entry. Original, signed release forms are required for the use of copyrighted images or “subjects” whether public or private citizens. Release forms are not provided by the festival.

Do not use collages or posters that mimic ad campaigns or use of celebrities or models who have not granted you permission to use their image.

Do not mount, frame or laminate your entry.

Posters should not be folded before mailing. Please roll them up into a tube.

Eligibility

There are no age, nationality or professional restrictions. The competition is open to everyone. If you are under 18 you must have written permission from a parent to enter.

Rules

If chosen as Grand Prize winner artist must agree to only minor revisions of artwork, if needed. Grand Prize winner must agree to be present at press conference for unveiling of the artwork. Electronic, high-resolution file of Grand Prize winning artwork must be supplied to BRRR after announcement. Grand Prize Winner will not re-produce artwork for sale. Only original version of artwork may be sold.

Prize

$250 cash will be awarded to Grand Prize winner. One poster will be selected and chosen as the official poster artwork for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2012.  The artwork is used on collectible festival posters, on the cover of Festival Guide, and in a number of other print and online campaigns during the year. The artist will be credited with the design in final print.  A press conference unveiling of artwork will be arranged. Online publicity about the artist will be delivered to all BRRR e-newsletter recipients and press contacts. Grand Prize winner will be allowed to keep artwork in its original format for resale. Artist poster signing at 2012 festival will be arranged if artist wishes to participate, participation is not required. Time and date of signing will be published in BRRR 2012 Festival Guide.

Where to Submit

All submissions should be mailed to BRRR 2012 Poster Art Competition, 416 State Street, Suite A, Bristol, TN  37620.  Any work received after the deadline will not be considered. Questions? Contact Charlene Baker, marketing@bristolrhythm.com.

This is a free event for the public and everyone is invited to come out and enjoy this unique experience!

It wouldn’t be Bristol Day without music entertainment from The Birthplace of Country Music.  From Virginia High School’s Choirs to the Mayor, BCMA and BRRR have the entire day’s soundtrack well covered.  The schedule for music entertainment is as follows:

10:30am - Virginia High School Chorale & Concert Choirs

Noon – Box Set

2:30pm – Amythyst Kiah

3:30pm – The Harlow Experience (featuring Bristol, VA City Mayor Ed Harlow)

Photo by Sarah Pelton, Virginia Intermont Photography

Bristol Artisans Take Part in City of Bristol Day

A wealth of artisans and Downtown Bristol business owners will also be on hand to represent Bristol with a Big Bang at Heartwood!

Renowned Bristol artist Pat Jessee will represent blowfish emporium with a two-hour “live painting” demonstration of The Harlow Experience as they perform.  Fine art photographer Benjamin Walls will display samples of his incredible work; most of his photographs were taken during his world travels.  Glass artisan Tammy Carter will also demonstrate her intricate craft.  Ed Lockett of One of a Kind Gallery will expertly throw pottery on his wheel.  Brian Bridgeforth of Bridgeforth Design just moved in to Downtown Bristol and astounds with his amazing computer graphics on site.  Nita Vollmer will demonstrate her unique talent of felting–the craft of twisting and molding felt into impressive works of art.  606 Gallery will showcase the work of local artists.  The Bristol Train Station, The Paramount Center for the Arts, Cranberry Lane, Theatre Bristol, the City of Bristol, Virginia and Mountain Music Museum will also be represented.

Heartwood is home to The Crooked Road, Virginia’s heritage music trail, and serves as the gateway to Southwest Virginia’s craft, music, food and local culture.  Once inside the 29,000 square foot facility visitors can shop crafts by local artists, juried to be the best of the best, and the most complete collection of Crooked Road old time, bluegrass and gospel music.  Heartwood also offers a coffee and wine bar featuring locally roasted coffees and regional wines, and a restaurant that serves locally prepared food with an upscale flair.  Heartwood is located just off Interstate 81, Exit 14, near the Virginia Highlands Community College campus.

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance

John Carter Cash will sign copies of his memoir “House of Cash: The Life, Legacy and Archives of the Man in Black” with help from our friends at Books A Million at the Bristol Store from 5-7pm.  Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event for $39.95.  For Books A Million Club Members, $35.95.  The following day, Cash will present a copy of his book to the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University and host a second book signing at 7pm inside the Bud Frank Theatre on the campus.

BCMA/BRRR will be set up outside our office at 416 State Street with hot, hokum blues by Blind Boy Chocolate & the Milk Sheiks.

Early bird Weekend Passes to BRRR 2012 will be on sale with tons of great festy and BCMA gear.  Our friends at Heartwood,  PickBristol.com, Speedway in Lights will have some unique gift items for those of you who are looking to brand your holiday gifts Bristol style!

Bristol’s Downtown Christmas Open House is free to the public and features horse and carriage rides, photos with Santa and Customer Appreciation night from Downtown merchandise.

Uncle BJ & Johnny Boy’s Chili took home the gold at this year’s Bristol Tennessee Virginia Association of Realtors Chili Cook-Off!  Second Place, team Chili Con Karma and rounding out third was Team BWOI.  Congratulations, ya’ll!

Priscilla Ward is the proud winner of the BRRR drawing for this Gerald Anderson original, hand-crafted acoustic instrument with Guardian guitar case. Congrats, Priscilla!

Congratulations to Bob Ellis, die-hard BRRR supporter and winner of our raffle.  He took home this gorgeous Larrivee PO-5 Parlour Guitar from Capo’s Music Store in lovely Abingdon, Virginia.

And Emory & Henry’s own Christopher Rock was the winner of The Avett Brothers ticket drawing! Hope you had a great time at the show, Christopher, thanks for playing!

We work very hard each year to try and top the year before, to improve the way we do things for our friends who come visit, and to bring audiences an evocative music experience that uplifts, inspires and moves the soul.  This year, we hope we have achieved that for all of you.

Thank you to our beautiful cities – Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia. We are so grateful to have your backing on so many levels.  From law enforcement, fire and emergency workers, to the folks who place the chairs and pick up after us.  Hundreds of you work long shifts over the course of the weekend.  We have been told by a number of other event planners how fortunate we are to have that support, many do not.  To you we are forever grateful.

We sincerely thank our Sponsors.  Without their generosity and support we would not be able to create such a quality, affordable event. It is our goal to keep our ticket prices to a miniumum for festivarians.  They are the folks you should thank for helping us do so.  Please take the time to check out our sponsors and support their businesses.

Thank you to our Volunteers.  From our hard-working Board and Committee Members to the folks that man the booths at the event, this event would not be possible without your dedication and service.  A lot of sacrifices are made throughout the year and during the festival to make everything look so effortless.  We are nothing without these hard-working people and we are blessed to have them.

Thank you to our Venues.  From historic listening rooms like The Paramount to all of our bussling eateries, we always say that State Street itself is as much a player in our event as the artists.  Every venue creates a unique atmosphere for our festivarians to enter into, and that is one of the reasons folks find our festival appealing.  We know how hard you work during our event and throughout the year to make Bristol a great place to live, work, shop and play.  We appreciate it, and so do fans.

To our Stage techs. Well done!  You keep the lights on cue and sound in pitch.  We appreciate your hard work and thank you for your expertise in the field.  Our festival is a unique challenge and we aren’t sure how you are able to manage.  Thank you so much for taking on such a monster task and pulling it off with such finesse!

We’d also like to thank our Artists.  We set the stage, but you provide the experience. As individual as you all are, we are so appreciative of your art and creativity.  Each year you amaze us with your talent.  You are all, now, a part of Bristol’s great music history and the sound of Appalachia.  Thank you for being part of the soundtrack of our lives.

Last, never least, much love and appreciation to all of you who made the pilgrimage to State Street to share the music with us.  We hope we’ve not only entertained you, but inspired you.  We hope you were able to share the experience with people you love.  We hope you came away with a new collection of artists to listen to and cherish.  We thank you for sharing us with your friends and families and for inviting them to check us out.  We hope we’ve made you proud!

Again, thank you. We appreciate you. God bless you. Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2012 is September 14th-16th, can’t wait to do it all again!