Bristol Rhythm And Roots Festival

09/23/2018

Haven't updated in a while. In my last post I said that I was going to Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival and I have. It was fun spent the whole day listening to bands up and down the Bristol TN/VA border (State Street). I went a while back and did a walk about taking pictures of the memorial at Cumberland Square Park and the Birth Place Of Country Music Museum.

It was nice but you better have some good walking shoes on. The brochure said to bring your on chair. I did and carried it around all day. Would have been just as well to have left that in the car instead of carrying it around all day. There was chairs available during most of the day time shows. The last concert was the Old Crow Medicine Show and it was standing room only. The street was lined with chairs in front of the stage but you wouldn't have been able to watch the concert sitting down because everyone crowded in front of the chairs standing to see. I stood for the entire length of the concert.

It was hot during the daylight hours but the Paramount theater was a great place to go and get cooled off in the air conditioning. They where also some small bands playing there.

I used to go to the old Cameo Theater and Paramount when I was a kid. My sister collected bottled caps from soda bottles and when she collected enough we all where able to exchange the bottle caps for a movie ticket. I remember being excited about it. Actually, I think that was when I seen my first movie in a theater. Can't say that I remember the movie now but I do remember all of the family being excited about going. My sister Peggy and I used to walk to State Street when I was a kid she liked to go to the Five and Dime a fun place to go. They had bins in front of the store full of all kinds of stuff we would pick through and find something we could afford. Nail polish etc or a toy for myself. I can't remember the place we went to have milkshakes but I remember how good they were. Nothing like you get today. The big metal mixer tumblers and the metal machines. The shakes was so thick and so big. It was hard to drink a whole one.

Speaking of restaurants my great grandmother used to work at a place called the Coffee Cup in the 1950's somewhere along State Street. I was thinking it was the now Burger Bar a long standing cafe with the famous retro sign. Not sure but since I was there I had dinner at the Burger Bar. They had one of those retro milkshake machines there to. But, I actually didn't get the milkshake had hamburger and fries and drink. It was pretty good. But the price was high cost 10 dollars. I think they probably jacked up the price due to the festival.

Most of the music was old blue grass, banjo, fiddles, bass, including old folk songs. Many musicians lined the streets playing their songs with tips jars sitting near. Some looking for their big break and possibility of landing a gig. At least that's what I was thinking. Some young and up coming musicians and song writers in their teens/twenties. But, some older folks playing too. Art studio's displaying their art some of which is part of the Smithsonian. Other's from local area artists.

Store displays all made up with the feel of the event. Some showing antique guitars, radio's, record players and relics representing music and folk songs. Of course paintings and art as well. The stores themselves mostly closed for the event. Restaurants with chairs outside the business lining the streets most serving alcoholic beverages of some type. Was actually hard to find non alcoholic beverages. The cost of those where priced high also. A lemonade was 5.00 but you did get a plastic cup that could be used for 3.00 refills. The old Uncle Sams store was selling soda products in a can for 50 cents which I found to be the most reasonable option. But, I was in the mood for lemonade. Streets where lined with vendors.

The event did bring about some memories of my childhood and the music was great also. I used to work on State Street at the Bristol Rehabilitation Center which is no longer there.

Of course I took some pictures but not as many as you would think. I spent most of my day walking, listening and looking around. Here's a few......