(Mostly) Bluegrass Festivals/Shows in the Tri-Cities (Johnson City, Kingsport: home, theater)

[jabogitlu]

A few people have asked for my compiled list of bluegrass shows around the Tri-Cities, so I'll post it with a couple caveats:

1) This may not be complete. Feel free to add, if you know of any more.

2) At least one of these (Jonesborough's MotS) isn't strictly bluegrass, or country, or even traditional, but it's likely to be. You can call the Jonesborough Visitors' Center for more info about each act.


Music on the Square (Jonesborough)
Free to all, open air series of concerts in downtown Jonesborough on the courthouse steps. Bring your lawnchairs and coolers (but don't BYOB!). Every Friday night at 7 pm May through September.
Schedule: Music on the Square - Live from the Jonesborough, TN Courthouse square - Performances by local and regional bands, storytellers, poets, and other artists

Blue Plum Festival (Johnson City)
More open air (with stages), along with non-music festivities in downtown Johnson City. June 6 and 7, 11am-11pm. This year, venerable Doc Watson.
Schedule:
Main stage: The Blue Plum Festival - Main Stage
Roan stage: The Blue Plum Festival - Roan Stage
For info on the other events: The Blue Plum Festival - Home

Bristol Rhythm & Roots (Bristol)
Deffo one of the best bluegrass and prog-country festivals in the Southeast, if not in the nation (at least outside Colorado ). Sept 19-21. A slew of amazing performers, including Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, Doc Watson, The Infamous Stringdusters, Ralph Stanley, Sam Bush, The Dan Tyminski Band, The everybodyfields, and many others. For more info: Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival - September 19, 20 & 21st, 2008

Capitol Theater (Greeneville)
A charming renovated theater in downtown historic Greeneville. Throughout the year, performers include The Infamous Stringdusters, Grasstowne, The SteelDrivers, The Grascals, and JD Crowe & the New South. Generally, Saturdays at 7 pm, but consult the schedule:
Concert Series Upcoming Shows | The Capitol Theatre of Greeneville

Bluff Mtn Festival (Hot Springs, NC)
This is one of my favourites. No huge names here, which provides for a more relaxed atmosphere. Come enjoy yourself amongst the hillbillies, hippies, and country folk, sit on the grass or bring your chair. No dogs at this one. June 14.
Schedule: Bluff Mountain Festival Schedule of Events (http://main.nc.us/bluff/schedule.html - broken link)
(Be sure to catch Betty Smith. And the Ballad Set / Balladeers, the youngest generation to preserve the traditional art of singing the old Appalachian love songs, which came with us when we immigrated here from the Isles.)

Clinch Mountain Music Festival (Gate City, VA)
Never been to this one in Gate City (just across the line from Kingsport), but with Rhonda Vincent and JD Crowe there, it's gotta be good. June 13-16. Clinch Mountain Music Festival - June 13-15, 2008

Bluegrass on Broad (Kingsport)
7 pm on Fridays. Summer Concerts in Downtown Kingsport
Note that there are also listings for Thursday nights. These cover all genres (Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Delta Moon), while the Friday night shows are bluegrass/country oriented.

Dumplin Valley Festival & JuneFest - Kodak, TN
Technically not in the Tri-Cities, but I included it because it's a great festival. This year's DV fest includes IIIrd Tyme Out and Rhonda Vincent. Dumplin Vallley Festival (broken link)

Also they have a new festival called JuneFest (and Seldom Scene, my absolutely favourite group ever, will be there); JuneFest (broken link)


Again, this list is focused on mostly bluegrass and Americanaesque music. There is a ton of music in the Tri-Cities and in the Greater Metroarea (eg The Hot Springs Music Festival) that is classical-, rock-, jazz-, blues- and pop-oriented.

[jabogitlu]

Forgot to add that while technically not a festival, one might also find it suitable to keep track of the schedule at the Down Home (Down Home - The Eclectic Music Room ), which is also in downtown Johnson City. The have lots of solid acts, with a few brilliant ones (Sparrow Quartet, Casey Driessen, Dan Tyminski) coming through occassionally.

[fallfanatic]

Thanks jab...
I'm looking forward to checking all these out.

[williboy]

We were at Music on the Square in Jonesborough last night. It's always nice.