Summer of Music

Tune the guitars and lend an ear.
With the heat of summer comes music outdoors in downtown Bristol. In particular, the summer-long concert series at the Downtown Center on State Street at the country music mural in Bristol, Tenn.
Scheduled twice weekly through the end of September, the long-running series offers live music from local musicians.
Add the mostly monthly “It’s Great on State” music series, which begins May 29 in the 800 block of State Street.
Then, there’s the Steele Creek Park music series, which starts May 30. Finally, music fans can look forward to Border Bash, a monthly concert series also scheduled for downtown Bristol through the summer.
“Downtown Bristol is the place for music,” said Darlene Cole, manager of the Downtown Center.
Apparently. Cole said that more than 27,000 people attended events, including the It’s Great on State series at the center last year.
“The crowds are very lively,” said Frank Perry of Old Dogs, New Tricks, who are scheduled to perform next at the center on June 11. “They seem to enjoy the music.”
However, frequent patrons will notice one change. Last year’s Downtown Center series featured music on three nights; this year’s series has been pared to two nights.
“No Mondays,” Cole said. “We just wanted to consolidate. Also, we moved Monday night to accommodate the Great on State series. It’s just shifting.”
So this year’s Downtown Center series features music on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first and third Tuesday will feature bluegrass, such as by the group Sapling Grove.
“If you enjoy bluegrass,” said Ray Dearstone of Sapling Grove, “you can come and have a great time. The price is right, that’s for sure.”
The second and fourth Tuesday features what Cole termed “nostalgic” music. Thursdays herald country music such as Perry’s Old Dogs, New Tricks.
“We are a three-part harmony group that plays classic country, classic rock and gospel music,” Perry said.
Meanwhile, the monthly It’s Great on State music series begins on May 29 and concludes on Sept. 11.
“The type of music for Great on State is a little different than last year,” Cole said. “It’ll be more like Rhythm and Roots-type music.”
Altogether, Bristol equals music. And on that note, Cole said that the best place to hear music in Bristol is downtown.
“Music has really brought people back downtown,” she said. “It’s clean. It’s safe. It’s a family atmosphere at the Downtown Center. It’s beautiful down there.”
And yet, apparently, many folks either haven’t a clue as to the existence of live music downtown, Cole said.
“After all these years, it’s been a well-kept secret,” Cole said. “If you love live music, if you want to celebrate your heritage, come on down and hear local music. It’s an opportunity to come and hear different genres of music.”
Bring a lawn chair, stand or dance. Grab a hot dog. Commiserate with the community, make new friends and hear local pickers.
Then, there’s history to consider. On-site music began long before there was anything called the Downtown Center. Dearstone goes way back to when folks gathered in jam session circles and let it fly.
“Used to we’d have a jam in that parking lot that’s there,” Dearstone said. “It’s fun to play there.”
Look to the wall. If not for the 1927 Bristol Sessions principles as depicted in the mural – the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Ralph Peer and Pop Stoneman – perhaps there would be no music in downtown Bristol.
“It’s a privilege to play out there,” Perry said.

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .

IF YOU GO
What: Downtown Center music series
When: Now through September each Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m.
Where: Downtown Center, 810 State St., Bristol, Tenn.
Admission: Free
Info: (423) 764-4171
Web: http://www.bristoltn.org/downtowncenter.cfm

DOWNTOWN CENTER SCHEDULE
May 21: Southern Countrymen
May 26: Rambling Rose
May 28: Southern 76

IT’S GREAT ON STATE SCHEDULE
May 29: Smart Brothers and Simplified
July 31: Christabel and the Jons and The New Familiars
Aug. 14: Langhorne Slim and Bombadil
Sept. 11: Yo’ Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Asheville Horns

STEELE CREEK PARK MUSIC SERIES SCHEDULE
May 30: Megan Mullins
July 10: TBA
Aug. 12: Jason Michael Carroll

BORDER BASH SCHEDULE
June 19: Those Darlins and Oneside
July 17: Samantha Crain and Paleface
Aug. 28: Brian McGee & Hollow Speed and Sam Quinn & Japan 10