Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion also unveiled a special 10th anniversary poster that depicts all ten years of posters. This poster is available only to those who purchase a weekend pass in advance and to festival sponsors. Tickets for the 2010 festival are $35 for the weekend until June 30, and $40 starting July 1. Single day tickets are available at $25 for Friday, $30 for Saturday and $15 on Sunday. Tickets outlets that have the posters and tickets are:

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion – 29 6th Street, Bristol, TN

The Paramount Center for the Arts – 518 State Street, Bristol, TN

The Blowfish Emporium – 529 State Street, Bristol, VA

The Bristol Chamber of Commerce – 20 Volunteer Parkway, Bristol, TN

Misty Mountain Designs – Bristol Mall, 500 Gate City Highway, Bristol, VA

Bristol Supply and Equipment – 200 State Street, Bristol, TN

Artists scheduled to perform at the 2010 festival are: The Del McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson and Quick Silver, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Cadillac Sky, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Darrell Scott Trio, The Gibson Brothers, The Box Cars, Carolina Chocolate Drops, 18 South, James Hand, Dale Watson, Phil Wiggins & Rick Franklin, The Devil Makes Three, The Deep Dark Woods, Joy Kills Sorrow, Sarah Jarosz, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, The Hot Seats, The New Familiars, Kelley and The Cowboys, The Drunk Uncles, Larry Cordle, The Black Lillies and many others. The 10th annual musical line-up promises to be one that folks will be talking about for years. Festival commits to going “green”: Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion also announced their commitment to going ‘green’ in 2010. Festival director, Leah Ross, said “The number one comment last year was about the festival not being “green”. When our visitors speak, we listen.” Therefore, festival organizers are working with various businesses and Keep Bristol Beautiful to make recycling happen in 2010. All the particulars and partnerships for this program will be announced when plans are complete.

WDVX Radio Blue Plate Special to air live from the festival Friday and Saturday. WDVX a regionally focused radio station out of Knoxville, TN will air two Blue Plate Special radio shows live from the festival. The "WDVX Blue Plate Special" is a live radio show that airs weekdays at noon. The programming philosophy is to provide a stage for local and regional musicians and for travelling grassroots performers. On Friday, September 17, they will have their regular Blue Plate Special at the Square Room in Knoxville and at the conclusion kick it live to Bristol for a second hour. They will also have a live show on Saturday. Roger Harb, from WDVX, says, “We are so proud to be associated with an event that ties so closely to the format of our station. We are excited about broadcasting live from the festival this year and look forward to many opportunities to partner in the future.”

Chris Jones, host of Truegrass on Sirius Radio, will be at the festival to perform and record two live shows that will be aired two weeks after the festival in his regular time slot on Friday and Saturday. Dig deep into the rich history of bluegrass music with host Chris Jones. He’ll unearth timeless classics and lost gems, sharing legendary performances from legendary musicians.

This show is sponsored by Alpha Natural Resources, Bristol Virginia Utilities, City of Bristol Tennessee, Fox Tri-Cities, WETS, WOPI, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Artists featured in this year’s All-Star Jam include Terry Baucom, Alan Bibey, Dale Ann Bradley, Mike Bub, Kim Fox, Steve Gulley, Adam Haynes, Phil Leadbetter, Justin Moses, Missy Raines, Don Rigsby, Sammy Shelor, Kenny and Amanda Smith, and Tim Stafford. Cindy Baucom from the nationally syndicated “Knee-Deep in Bluegrass” and 2005 IBMA Broadcaster of the Year will emcee the show. For more information on the radio show visit www.kneedeepinbluegrass.com

Ticket prices are $25, ($15 students) / $20 advance). Show times for the Bluegrass All-Star Jam at 2:30 and 7:30. Tickets must be purchased individually for each of the day’s performances and are available at The Paramount Center for the Arts box office at 423.274.8920 or visit www.theparamountcenter.com or www.etix.com

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is a non‐profit organization dedicated to telling the story of the living musical heritage of the Appalachian mountains and the cultural traditions that sustain it. The BCMA is funded in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, call (276) 645‐0111 or visit online at www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org

Concerts are also scheduled for March and April. On Saturday, March 20th, the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys will bring their up tempo old time Appalachian music to the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center, and on Saturday, April 17th, The Black Lillies, with special guest Pete Kartsounes, will perform live by the lake. The featured bands will also appear at the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, located in historic downtown Bristol, between September 17th and 19th.

The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Pro Art, Richard D. Kennedy, Esq., Larry D. Sturgill/CPA, Culby Supply, and T&E Lawn Care are proudly sponsoring this season's concert series.

Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is funded in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, The Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

All shows in The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Concert Series begin at 8 P.M. and are free to the public. For more information, please contact UVa-Wise's Office of Student Activities at 276.376.4514 or go to www.bristolrhythm.com.

The Infamous Stringdusters burst on to the bluegrass scene in 2006, riding a wildfire of grassroots support before their 2007 release, Fork in the Road, garnered the group three IBMA awards and established them as the hottest young bluegrass band in the land. Since then, the band has become a regular fixture on the festival circuit - including two well received appearances at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion - and are now touring both nationally and internationally. Known for their tight licks and superior songwriting, The Infamous Stringdusters are redefining bluegrass music for a whole new generation of fans while remaining true to the roots of the genre so deeply set by folks like Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley.

Performing in support of The Infamous Stringdusters will be The Mountain Music School Kids, a quartet of young students from Mountain Empire Community College's annual Mountain Music School. Lauded for its dedication to preserving the rich musical heritage of the Appalachians, the Mountain Music School provides musically inclined students of the Mountain Empire the opportunity to learn, and carry on, the beloved sound of these mountains.

The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion is honored to present The Infamous Stringdusters in conjunction with Alpha Natural Resources and Pro Art.

Tickets are available at www.bristolrhythm.com or by contacting the Work Force Development Office in the Phillips-Taylor Building at MECC at 276.523.7464.

Who - The Infamous Stringdusters (with special guests The Mountain Music School

Kids)

Where - The Goodloe Center at Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap,

VA

Time - Doors open at 7:00/Show begins at 7:30

Tickets - $10.00 in advance/$12.00 at the door

Justin Townes Earle thrilled fans at the 9th annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in September. Originally scheduled to be at the Reunion for two days, Justin’s Sunday had to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond his control. His Saturday set had Bristol music fans clamoring for his unique brand of rootsy music that recently won him the Best New Artist Award at the Americana Music Awards.

Joining Justin will be Jessica Lea Mayfield. Jessica is a singer-songwriter known for writing dark, sad songs, with a plaintive minimalist style that draws on both country and rock music. Fans of The Avett Brothers should be very familiar with Mayfield; she has toured extensively with them recently. Other’s might recognize her “With Blasphemy so Heartfelt,” which is featured on the television show “Gossip Girl.”.

The performance will begin at 8:00 with Jessica Lea Mayfield. Justin Townes Earle will take to the stage at 9:30. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door. Machiavelli’s is located on 5th Street in Bristol, TN.

For more information about the show, please visit our website at www.bristolrhythm.com, or call the festival office during business hours at (423) 573-4898.

"Justin Townes Earle is living proof that despite the freak show that is modern day Nashville, there are still artists out there who revere the deep roots of the American musical tradition while still pushing the boundaries to create something new and wonderful." —PopMatters.com

“Our goal is to keep our ticket prices affordable for everyone,” says Bristol Rhythm & Roots Executive Director Leah Ross. “These weekend ticket rates allow festival-goers to enjoy more than 100 performances and receive entertainment valued at far more than the face value of the ticket.”

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the festival, those who purchase a Weekend Pass will receive a coupon for a limited-edition 10th ANNIVERSARY POSTER that features the nine previous annual festival posters, and the yet-to-unveiled 10th annual festival poster. This 10th ANNIVERSARY POSTER will not be available for individual purchase; it is offered only to those who purchase a Weekend Pass and the offer is valid only through Sunday, September 5, 2010.

The 10th annual festival poster is being designed by local artist, Charles Vess. It is sure to become another highly sought after poster, for Vess designed the 6th annual festival poster that has proven to be one of the most popular. The 1st and 6th annual festival posters are no longer available.

Both the 10th annual festival poster and 10th Anniversary Poster will be unveiled in early 2010.

For more information, visit the festival’s Web site at www.bristolrhythm.com or call the festival office during business hours at 423-573-4898.

Also, wearing apparel is still available: random sizes of the festival short and long-sleeve tees, green plain logo tee, logo sweat shirts, a few youth tees, and a few ballcaps and visors.

You should phone to check that what you may wish to purchase is available. If yes, purhcase can be made either in our office, located at 29 6th St., Bristol, TN, between 9:00 am & 1:00 pm, or credit card order by phoning 423-573-4898.

Mark received a liver transplant at the University of Virginia Hospital earlier this summer and has mounting medical bills from his treatment. He has had several hospital stays since the initial transplant.

The following bands are scheduled to perform during the benefit concert: Duty Free, The Fall Creek Band and Wires and Wood. Also volunteering their time and talents will be Darrell Webb, Robert Hale, Daniel Grindstaff, Johnny Miller, Tom and Beverly Horton, Tim Laughlin, David Yates, Kevin Jackson, Claiborne Woodall, Rachael Johnson, Adam Graybeal and other special guests.

Raised in Bristol, TN, Mark developed his love for Bluegrass and Old-Time music listening to Doc Watson and making the weekly trek to Webb's Store in Hickory Tree every Saturday night. After a "musical detour" that took him through the folk scene, rock and roll, and rock-a-billy Mark found his way back to his original musical love- Bluegrass. In the mid-1990's Mark met the other Wires and Wood band members at a Sunday night jam session and a friendship was formed. Mark made the transition from guitar to bass in 2000.

In 2001, Wires and Wood played their first show at the Bristol Motor Speedway and they continue to perform locally and regionally. Mark lives in Bristol, VA with his wife Lelia and daughter Chelsea.

“This collection needs to be in the hands of people who value its history, understand its worth and will take care of it and protect it,” Jay Dean, director of orchestral activities at Southern Mississippi, said. “For very logical reasons, the Bristol area is the most logical place for this material; it is part of your history.”

A native of Bristol, Ford is best known for the unexpected pop hit “Sixteen Tons” in 1955. He also is connected to Virginia Intermont, having begun his private music lessons at the college, and his teacher and her husband helped him break into radio, as an announcer on WOPI radio in Bristol.

Ford left radio to study classical music and voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Virginia Intermont during graduation ceremonies May 4, 1991.

The college is maintaining this historic collection in its library and will make it available for research and viewing by academic professionals, historians and music lovers. Those wanting to review it may call Librarian Jon Tallman at (276) 466-7959 to make an appointment