Large Crowds Greet Opening Night Of Annual Ryhthm & Roots Reunion

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BRISTOL, Tenn. – A twist of fate – or more specifically a broken hand – means fans of this weekend’s Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival are getting a unique treat.

Large crowds greeted opening night acts on Friday as the eighth annual music festival, which is scheduled to continue through Sunday, began in the Twin City’s downtown. Last year’s festival attracted more than 20,000.

One of the most enthusiastic crowd responses Friday evening was for mandolin wizard Mike Marshall and his latest musical project, “Big Trio.”

Marshall was originally scheduled to perform with longtime duo partner, Darol Anger, but Anger’s broken hand sent the noted fiddler to the sidelines.

“He had a little accident on his bike. The good news is he should be back in a couple of months,” Marshall told a crowd of about 200 assembled at the country mural stage.

“I’ve been working with these guys [Big Trio] for about a year and we just finished recording a new CD. So when I found out Darol couldn’t play, I knew just who should do that gig,” Marshall said earlier during a phone interview.

The trio – which also includes 16-year-old fiddle player Alex Hargreaves and 21-year-old bassist Paul Kowert – unleashed a fusion of jazz, bluegrass and classical music during their opening set.

Their hour-long, instrumental set provided a stark contrast to Bawn in the Mash, a traditional bluegrass group that had folks dancing at the nearby Piedmont stage.

“This is a world premiere for us and we’re nervous as we can be,” Marshall told the crowd.

Loud shouts and applause from the crowd let band members know they had nothing to worry about.

“It ain’t bluegrass, but they’re mighty good,” said Bill Smith of North Carolina.

“These two young guys represent the future of virtuosity string band. They will be the next Mark O’Connor – the next Edgar Meyer,” Marshall said during the phone interview.

Hargreaves, a native of Portland, Ore., has played music for most of his 16 years and recently completed his first solo CD. Kowert, a protege of noted bassist Edgar Meyer, is currently on full scholarship at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pa.

Marshall, whose own musical influences range from Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs to Brazilian and Cuban music, said the talented trio defies description.

“We are who we are as players,” Marshall said.

While the trio has no shortage of talent, Marshall acknowledges their name may need some fine tuning.

“We’re toying with names right now,” he said. “It’s hard enough to come up with a name, but it’s hard to rename.”

There is no shortage of suggestions, including Triple Creek and Lookout Three, but no decisions have been made, Marshall said. They hope to make a final decision before their CD is released early next year.

Big Trio is scheduled to return to the country mural stage at 5:30 p.m. today at the Downtown Center.

Crowds spilled out onto sidewalks at most of the indoor venues up and down State Street Friday nigh, as music lovers listened to a series of bluegrass, country, Americana and folk artists.

The festival continues today. Other Saturday headliners include Doc Watson, Sam Bush, Cherryholmes, Langhorne Slim, Scott Miller & The Commonwealth, Darrell Scott, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Red Stick Ramblers and Pete Kartsounes.

Aside from the music, the day’s schedule includes a 5K road race and two-mile walk, a chili cookoff, free children’s day activities and a series of musical workshops all afternoon inside Theatre Bristol.

Tickets for Saturday are $20, with children ages 12 and under admitted free.

dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532