On September 17th Gail and I headed down to Bristol Virginia to the Rhythm and Roots festival where she had been hired to play. She was doing two sets on Saturday and I was excited to be invited to join her. I was ready for a road trip, and this one just happened to be in my old stomping grounds. Bristol is half in Virginia and half in Tennessee. It is part of the Tri-City area down there which includes Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City. I went to college for 2 years at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.
We decided to fly down, so we stayed at a hotel up by Bradley on Thursday night. (We had a 6am flight!). When we arrived in Bristol, we rented a car and headed over to the hotel.
Friday:
We decided that this is how we would travel next time!:
Here we are in the hotel elevator -- ready for our adventure!
Once we checked in to the hotel, we headed over to the festival. They basically shut down the main street that runs through downtown Bristol. There are multiple stages -- some large outdoor areas, some in theatres, some in coffeeshops and some are just tents set up on the sidewalk.
We laughed at this sign advertising Gail's show at a restaurant. They spelled her name "Galil". We decided that sounded Indian!
This sign is from the other stage Gail was going to be playing on. They spelled it right here!
At night this sign looks really cool. You can see how it points to the VA and the TN sides of the street.
Saturday: This is when things get hopping! The street is full of vendors, food, people and good music!
Tha amazing Gail Wade!
This little guy wanted to give Gail a bite of his cupcake.
I love this one.
This kid is a new fan. I think...
Rock it out momma!
This guy was awesome. He had all those instruments on the ground and you could just come up and grab one and "join the band". He also had what Taylor would call "wolf eyes".
Here's Gail (or Galil) at her second show.
And my roomate Tamie from ETSU( in 1986) came to hang out with us for the day!!!
We got to see the Gibson Brothers:
And Missy Raines and the New Hip:
And Joy Kills Sorrow:
And The Boxcars:
This cake was in the artist's green room. (Where us cool folk get to hang out!)
Speaking of cool folks!
OK, I had to put this picture in here because this actually happened to Gail and I at a restaurant down there!
Sunday: We headed back over to the festival before heading to the airport. We saw this set by the Darrell Scott Trio and it was one of those magical music moments. Incredible!!
Dancing Hippies!
End of our weekend. Enjoying a nice lunch!
Gail had NEVER had a funnel cake! She still hasn't, but now she has seen one!
These people were fun to listen to.
What happens in Bristol......
Yes folks, that says Gator Nuggets!
My artsy mando photo.
This is the crowd watching the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
On our way to the airport we took a detour to see my old college. This was my dorm!!
This was my favorite Bluegrass hangout when I was in college. the Down Home.
Then we went home...... But we will have great memories of our Bristol Adventure!!!!
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