Let’s make a few things clear off the top:
NO PETS, NO COOLERS, NO RECORDING DEVICES, NO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES, NO WEAPONS. PERIOD. WE MEAN IT.
Q: WHY CAN’T I BRING MY PET?
A: The crowds, the noise, the heat, and no green space. It is not a safe place for your pets and we don’t want to see them suffer. Plus we don’t like poop on our sidewalks. It’s gross.
Q: I’VE NEVER BEEN TO THE FESTIVAL. WHERE EXACTLY IS IT?
A: BRRR happens on four blocks of State Street in historic Downtown Bristol between Martin Luther King Blvd. and Commonwealth Ave./Volunteer Parkway. We shut down the streets and fill it with music all weekend long!
Q: WHEN DO THE GATES OPEN?
A: We will be up early on Friday morning with ticket booths blazing. The festival begins at 5:00 pm
Q: I HEARD YOU HAVE MORE THAN 20 STAGES. WHERE ARE THEY?
A: We have five main outdoor stages and a Dance Tent, the State Street Stage, Eatz on Moore, CJ & Company, The Piedmont Stage and the Country Music Mural Stage. We offer indoor stages at Java J’s, Machiavelli’s, Theatre Bristol, The Paramount Center for the Arts, KP Duty, Manna Bagel, Borderline Billiards, The Virginia Folklife Stage, Stateline Bar & Grill, Acoustic Alehouse, O’Mainnin’s, Macado’s, The Cameo, Shanghai and Troutdale Bistro. We also have a Kid’s Stage in Cumberland Square Park during our Children’s Day event Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm.
Q: WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU HAVE?
A: The best in Americana, country, bluegrass, old-time, Piedmont Blues, Celtic and progressive Appalachian music. You gotta have roots!
Q: HOW CAN MY BAND GET BOOKED FOR THE FESTIVAL?
A: Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion no longer accepts unsolicited artist submissions. We appreciate your interest in wanting to participate in our festival, but - due to the sheer volume of submissions we have received, we do not have the resources to give each submission its due diligence. We have an active Music Committee that is always exploring and researching. If they are interested in discussing an offer with you or your band, they will happily reach out to you. Thank you for your understanding.
Q: WHERE IS WILL CALL?
A: WILL CALL will be located at Volunteer Headquarters and opens at noon on Friday. Check the festival map for location, corner of Shelby Street and 8th Street on the Tennessee side of town.
Q: WHERE ARE THE BATHROOMS?
A: There will be Port-O-Lets set up all over the festival grounds in convenient spaces. Indoor venues have their own bathrooms. We set up hand sanitizing stations outside the Port-O-Lets so you can wash up. Check the festival map.