UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday, July 31, 2025, 12-1pm EST @ Greeneville Greene County History Museum, Greeneville, Tennessee
Story Time at the Museum
Join award winning storyteller Betty Ann Polaha for a free afternoon of storytelling at the Greeneville Greene County History Museum. The program is free and all ages are welcome.
Thursday, August 28, 2025, 7pm EST @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia
Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time: Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes
ON SALE NOW: The Kody Norris Show, Sarah Kate Morgan, plus host Kris Truelsen and the House Band take Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time stage at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Thursday, August 28.
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Whatever you do, don’t call The Kody Norris Show ‘retro.’
Because while the reigning SPBGMA Entertainers of the Year are known for the rhinestones that shine from their lapels and the fringe that hangs from their collars seem to conjure up memories of times gone by, The Kody Norris Show are very much directing their gaze forever forward. Now, more than ever before.
The talented group, made up of frontman Kody Norris, Josiah Tyree, Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris, and Charlie Lowman, finds themselves with a growing legion of fans craving the comfort that comes from their retro look, but equally craving dynamic instrumentation and thought-provoking lyrics – all of which can be heard throughout their epic new album Rhinestone Revival.
With the release of Rhinestone Revival comes a feeling that listeners have just begun to witness The Kody Norris Show’s very own revival, as the band finds themselves sprinkling their iconic rhinestones on a few different music genres to solidify their place on the musical landscape. And the fans can’t get enough.
They ain’t retro. They have something different. They have something uniquely theirs. They have something that makes them stand out.
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Born of Appalachian soil in Sharps Chapel, Tennessee, Sarah Kate Morgan sings, plays, and writes like she’s been in these hills since the dawn of time. She’s had plenty of varied influences, beginning with hearing a classical music CD belonging to her family and going on to discover old time music through a dulcimer built by her grandfather. She began playing dulcimer at age seven.
She’s gone on to build a unique personal style which honors mountain dulcimer giants such as Jean Ritchie while working across genres to build something new. Well-known and widely respected as one of the leading experts of the mountain dulcimer, Sarah Kate is also a first-rate singer and songwriter. Her earthy and poetic lyrics embrace the highs and lows of southern Appalachian life while her voice does the same – moving between alto and soprano parts with ease. Her crystal-clear but rootsy vocal style combines the best of country, old time, bluegrass, and gospel influences who, like Morgan, foreground their cultural roots. All of this goes hand in hand to create a musical experience akin to a sonic baptism.
None of this is lost on the giants of roots music. Sarah Kate has performed and/or recorded with artists like Tyler Childers, Amethyst Kiah and Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones.
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 6pm @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia
1927 Society Concert Series: Jontavious Willis
1927 Society Presents
Jontavious Willis
Tickets on Sale Now
The Birthplace of Country Music proudly presents the intimate
1927 Concert Series experience with cocktails
and catering on Saturday, November 1,
starting at 6 p.m. with Jontavious Willis!
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About Jontavious Willis
Jontavious Willis is resolved in his mission: to reinvigorate today’s Blues with the spirit of the past. Inspired by a time when the Blues were plentiful and rhythm reigned supreme, Jontavious leverages his unique sound—a synthesis of his Georgia heritage and reverence for traditional Blues—to get the world dancing again. A Grammy-nominated musician and songwriter, Jontavious performs original, toe-tapping tunes in the style of Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel Blues. Dynamic vocals, technical prowess, and an abundance of Southern charm keep Jontavious sending jolts of vitality through the Blues community.
Jontavious was born and raised in rural Georgia, an environment with deep cultural roots that provides the inspiration he has continuously drawn upon to create his unique sound. He spent much of his childhood singing Gospel music at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church with his grandfather, which provided him his first setting to perform for an audience. An early phenom, his passion for the Blues was sparked at age 14 when he came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man.” He achieved widespread acclaim when living legend Taj Mahal invited Jontavious to accompany him onstage in 2015, with Taj describing him as his “Wonderboy.” Jontavious was invited to open for Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ during their joint TajMo tour in 2018, giving him an opportunity to present his work on a national stage.
Blue Metamorphosis, his acoustic debut album released in 2016, garnered rave reviews in Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm and won the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge 2018 Award for Best Self-Produced CD. His Grammy-nominated sophomore album, Spectacular Class, sees Jontavious survey an array of Blues styles with lively ensemble performances.
His upcoming album, signed with Strolling Bones Records, is a testament to his love for songwriting. With solo tracks as well as duo, trio, and full band works, he articulates a totally original take on traditional Blues.
Jontavious features prominently in shows and festivals across the world, sharing his unique blend of time-honored yet modern, intellectual yet danceable Blues with all.
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About the 1927 Concert Series
The 1927 Concert Series is an intimate concert experience set in the “acoustically perfect” Performance Theater at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It’s more than a night of music, it’s a very personal event with some of the most renowned roots music artists performing today. Guests are asked to arrive promptly at 6 p.m. to enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar (ages 21+ with valid ID) before the show begins. Food and drinks are included in the ticket price.
Members of the Birthplace of Country Music’s 1927 Society are given access to exclusive ticket pre-sales to the 1927 Concert Series and other events before they go on sale to the public. Learn more about the many benefits of 1927 Society membership or email Lillie Snuggs, our Director of Development at lsnuggs@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
Friday, August 1, 2025, 10:30am EST @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia
Museum Story Time: Country Music History
Museum Story Time
Theme: Country Music History
Friday, Aug. 1 | 10:30 a.m. ET
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Aimed at toddler-aged children and their grown-ups, we will gather on the first Friday of each month for a music or Appalachia-related storybook, a tune or two with WBCM Radio Bristol program host and musician Ella Patrick, and a related activity or coloring sheet.
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 10am @ Heritage Alliance, Jonesborough, TN
NETMA Fall Quarterly Meeting
All NETMA members are invited to join us for our fall quarterly meeting, scheduled for Thursday, October 9 at 10am at the Heritage Alliance in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Joining via Zoom is an available option. Please email NETMA Chair Savannah Bennett (bennettse@etsu.edu) to receive the Zoom information.
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 7pm @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia
Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time: Caleb Klauder and Reeb Williams
ON SALE NOW: Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms Country Band, Ric Robertson, plus host Kris Truelsen and the House Band take Radio Bristol's Farm and Fun Time stage at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Thursday, November 13.
Dust off your boots and gather around for some true and original modern honky tonk music. An all-star cast of master musicians backs these two soul singers of country music, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms. These two are known to roots music fans across the globe for their soulful harmonies, driving dance tunes, classic original songs, and commitment to the raw truth of rural American music. They live in the San Juan Islands of Washington, though until recently, home was Portland, OR. They are foundational to the exceptional old-time and country music scene in the Pacific NW with the Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band and their membership in the Foghorn Stringband, of which Caleb was a founding member. Charismatic performers, they bring their unique set of talents to the stage with an eye towards good times and an ear towards the deepest songs and tunes.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 7pm EST @ Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia
"Chords of Community" with Ryan Nedrow
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum (BCMM) is proud to announce the upcoming Speaker Session titled “Chords of Community,” featuring Ryan Nedrow, Museum Manager for the Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The session will take place on Aug. 12, 7 p.m. ET, at BCMM. The event will also livestream on Radio Bristol’s YouTube channel.
“This session will provide an inspiring look at how music transcends boundaries to shape communities, particularly in small towns like Jonesborough,” said Museum Director Dr. Rene Rodgers. “Ryan and his team at Heritage Alliance do wonderful work, and we are excited to host him at the museum.”
In this insightful session, Nedrow will explore the importance and vitality of community-based music in small-town America, shedding light on how music unites people and shapes local identity. From parlor pianos played in the comfort of home to the vibrant music that fills the air during parades down Main Street, music becomes an essential part of everyday life in communities everywhere. In particular, Nedrow will examine Jonesborough, Tennessee, as a model for grassroots musical performance and the role it plays in shaping an ever-evolving national identity.
Drawing from his expertise in public history, museum studies, and military music, Nedrow will discuss the deeply-rooted connection between music and community in rural America. His work focuses on the power of music as a tool of connection and healing, particularly in times of conflict, and he will highlight how these themes manifest in places like Jonesborough, where music transcends generations and fosters community cohesion.
Nedrow is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Public History with a concentration in Museum Studies and Digital History at Middle Tennessee State University. His research focuses on military music studies, with a particular emphasis on the music of the American Civil War. His thesis will examine the role of music for the common soldier during the war, underscoring its importance as a source of strength and unity.
Monthly Speaker Sessions at the Museum are free and open to the public, but those who wish to attend in person are kindly asked to RSVP through the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
October 24-26, 2025 @ Rose Center, Morristown, Tennessee
Mountain Makins Festival
The beloved Mountain Makins Festival returns to historic Rose Center in Morristown,
Tennessee, for a weekend-long celebration of Appalachian culture, art, and tradition. Applications are now open for artists, crafters, demonstrators, and heritage performers to be part of this award-winning event.
Applications for artisan booths, craft demonstrators, and vendors are now open and can be
submitted online by going to rosecenter.org and clicking Mountain Makins 2025 Applications. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by June 22 to be considered in the first round of jurying. Applications for demonstrators, heritage performers, and food vendors are also available and will be selected by July 31.
The festival will begin Friday evening, October 24, with an exclusive Preview Party from 6:30 to
9:00 PM. Festival hours are Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday,
October 26, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For questions, contact Festival Director Sally Roberts at (423) 581-4330 or email events@rosecenter.org.
Rose Center, located at 442 W 2nd North Street in Morristown, is a nonprofit arts organization
hosting classes, concerts, a professional art gallery, a local artists' shop, and business and party rentals. More information about Rose Center’s programs is available at rosecenter.org or by calling 423-581-4330. Rose Center receives support from the Tennessee Arts Commission and United Way.