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The 1,332 incandescent light bulbs that illuminate this National Historic Landmark straddling the Virginia/Tennessee state line, bring appropriate illumination to this western Virginia outpost.  It’s not only one of the few great American cities that share two states like Kansas City and Texarkana, but it’s also arguably the birthplace of what we now know as country music as the scene of the earliest recordings of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.  The “Singing Brakeman” cut two tracks in the afternoon of August 4th, 1927 for Ralph Peer of Victor’s Talking Machine Company, “Soldier’s Rest” and “Sleep, Baby, Sleep.”  The Carter family rolled in from Maces Spring to record “Wandering Boy” and “Poor Orphan Child,” that same year and they rest, as they say, is treasured history.  So this is a fitting setting for a three-day celebration of what the genre has become, a legion of devoted musicians just trying to do the right thing with what they’ve been given.  Dedicated disciples, two or three generations later, tapping the mother lode that ran through Bristol and the surrounding rolling hills.  Deep grats to Brad Spivey who called me from Bristol this time last year and said, “Where  the hell are YOU man?  This is right down your alley.”  And after taking it all in this year, the 10th edition of the Rhythm  and Roots Reunion, I’m still wondering how it took so long to put this remarkable event on my radar. It works by most every measure…the perfect setting in historic downtown Bristol whose State Street IS the state line between Virginia and Tennessee with a carnival-like assortment of food, arts and crafts vendors with over-the-top southern hospitality.  And then there’s the cavalcade of musical talent that populates this singular place for these three potent days…that’s what it’s all about.  What follows is an illustrated flat-rock skip over the river of music that flowed through this cultural crossroads last weekend.  It’s just a glimpse.

After a summer of Travelin’ McCourys out with the Lee Boys, Dierks Bentley and Dan Tyminski, the patriarch returned for a family reunion that brought it all home.

The no-punches-pulled full-tilt string band Cadillac Sky has gained well-deserved cult status for its resonant songwriting, its instrumental virtuosity and its unbridled energy on stage.  They held court mightily at the lovingly-restored Paramount Theater downtown.  At right are banjo shredder Matt Menefee and lead singer/songwriter Bryan Simpson in his favorite checkerboard flannel shirt.

The Infamous Stringdusters close out the festival’s first night on the Piedmont Stage and make it perfectly clear that they’re fully engaged in their mission of taking bluegrass to places yet unvisited.  Their joy in carving out their own groove is contagious…it’s a thrill to have been there at the beginning and to witness what this sextet has become.  Pure music power.

 

Seven-time IBMA bass player of the year Missy Raines strutted out her gifted young band, the New Hip early Saturday on the Paramount stage,  featuring yet another of those Berklee bluegrassers Dominick Leslie (left), a former Rockygrass and MerleFest mandolin winner.

 

Sugar Hill sensation Sarah Jarosz captivated a full-house in the old Cameo Theater with a solo set of her winning originals from Song Up In Her Head and well-chosen covers like Patty Griffin’s “Long Ride Home.”  This Austin-born and bred triple-threat has spent the last few years attracting an A-list of musical collaborators that would be the envy of anyone in this genre, let alone just another Texas gal in cowboy boots.  Keep an eye and an ear on this already mainstream teen talent.  Watch for her on Austin City Limits on November 6th.

Red Molly’s rich harmonies brought chills and throat lumps to a full Paramount Theater on Saturday…Abbie Gardner, Laurie MacAllister and Molly Venter have distilled wide influences into a lush mix.  Think Wailin’ Jennys meet Sometimes Why.

One of the weekend’s sweet surprises was finding Virginia’s resident fiddle-fatale Nate Leath leading a jazz- and blues- laced set in Bristol’s Shanghai back room with Lenoir, NC’s Harris Brothers.  Hot swing ruled…it was over the top good.

My honky tonk mentor Brad Spivey had encouraged us to partake of Kelley Breiding and the Cowboys sometime during the weekend…kind of a Loretta meets Patsy retro act that we found in the old Theatre Bristol space.  A Tar Heel with Texas tendencies, Kelley kept Mr. Spivey smiling as we enjoyed the intent dog house playing of Nick MacMillian (left).

I have such a renewed respect and admiration for upstate New York’s Gibson Brothers, who join the Stanleys, the Louvins and the Everlys in the firmament of the music’s most compelling brother acts with solid songwriting and a vise-like grip on harmony as it should be sung.  They’ve weathered the vagaries of the bluegrass business and are back on top of the heap and deservedly so.  Eric and Leigh are more than worthy.  If you haven’t discovered them, it’s time.

Saturday night’s headliner, with a head lately full of silver locks, was veteran torch-bearer Ricky Skaggs and his finely-tuned bluegrass machine Kentucky Thunder, playing to a huge Saturday night outdoor crowd in perfect pre-fall weather.  There’s no way around the chops this band has maintained for decades…faster and cleaner than the rest, and yes, he still misses his momma’s fried chicken, if there was any doubt.

There will be some who will contest my assertion that RS&KT were Saturday headliners, as the closing honors on the Piedmont Stage went to the darkly mysterious king of the country western troubadours, Unknown Hinson…think Eddie Munster grown up and gone wrong.  I’ve missed his previous Richmond appearances and may very well miss the next one.

Day three began with a delightful reunion with Annie & the Beekeepers on the breezy Moore Street stage…we haven’t enjoyed Annie Lynch & Alex Spaulding and their delicate harmonies and thoughtful lyrics since a quiet night in Bruce Olsen’s northside Sound Dog Studios a year or so ago.   Bruce’s son Adrian (below left) lent a hand on bass and drums.  It was the perfect way to ease into our last day of Rhythm & Roots. 

 

One of this generation’s most profound songsmiths Darrell Scott held forth Saturday night in the Paramount where he alternated between a powerfully-played concert grand piano and his expressive six-string.  He also called upon the bottomless well of fiddle chops, Casey Driessen for a couple of show stoppers including “With A Memory Like Mine” and closed with his signature coal miner’s lament, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.”  He did another strong Sunday set outdoors on the Piedmont Stage (above) with Casey and mandolin great Matt Flinner.  Few have earned more respect from fellow artists and fans alike than Darrell Scott.  Did you catch him on Jimmy Fallon’s show last night in Robert Plant’s new Band of Joy?  Not sure who the drummer was, but I did also recognize Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin and Byron House.  And Darrell’s also part of this weekend’s Williams Fortune Music Festival just east of Staunton, hosted by Robin & Linda Williams and Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune.  Gotta make that trip one of these years….but I digress.

A festival like this tenth anniversary edition of Bristol’s Rhythm & Roots Reunion is heavy with top-drawer talent both familiar and not.  I’ve only scratched the surface of the incredible roster of Americana acts that rivals MerleFest and Floydfest in its extent and quality.  If I hadn’t read the artist writeups rather thoroughly Friday night for example, we would have likely missed the new Nashville supergroup 18 South comprised of longtime favorite Jon Randall Stewart and a gifted Jessi Alexander sharing vocal chores and accompanied by guitar wizard Guthrie Trapp, keyboardist Jimmi Wallace, the great Mike Bub on bass and the go-to acoustic rhythm king Larry Atamanuik on drums.  I hope this proves to be the long-overdue vehicle that brings Jon the notice he’s deserved for so long.  Gotta get them to R’Town somehow.

If it’s a proper Virginia roots festival, you can count on state folklorist Jon Lohman (above left) holding forth with his own stage dedicated to informal and insightful performances including the stirring Sunday gospel workshop with the Reverend Frank Newsome and members of Doyle Lawson’s celebrated Quicksilver.  The harmonies brought tears and Rev. Newsome’s lined singing of “Amazing Grace” with the audience reverently following his lead, was supernal.  Thanks again Jon.

And a parting shot of those fine Honey Dewdrops from Scottsville (Kagey, Laura & Barry) who played their first BRRR and like us, are confident it won’t be their last.  Save those dates…September 16-18, 2011! 

 

So we segue into our third Richmond Folk Festival which is just two weeks away down by the river.  Jon L. will again be bringing a treasure chest full of Virginia talent and craftsmanship to the Virginia Folklife Area and the main festival stages will again ring with a fresh collection of some of the world’s most formidable musical artistry.  Chris Bopst and I were interviewed for story on programming the festival in rvanews.  160,000 people can’t be wrong…if you weren’t among them for last year’s festival, don’t miss it this year.  No excuses…it’s free.  And check out the art on this year’s souvenir poster by Drive By Truckers illustrator Wes Freed.  Very cool…

Off to Nashville next week for the IBMA festivities…I’ll be reporting back as time and energy allows. It’s the last day of summer…and I couldn’t be more ready for the equinox.  Full moon, rain and cool on the way…pretty please….TT