Staff Picks: Bristol, TN/VA
Music Roadtrip
Description: Welcome to the birthplace of country music—where the Tennessee–Virginia line splits the street, but the rhythm runs right down the middle. This self-guided Music Road Trip through Bristol takes you from the city’s creative heart to its musical soul, blending history, sound, and small-town charm. Start your visit at The Bristol Chamber of Commerce, your friendly gateway for local maps and insider tips. Just down State Street, explore Holler House, a gallery and creative hub celebrating Appalachian makers and musicians. Then step into the grandeur of the Paramount Center for the Arts, a 1930s gem where live shows keep Bristol’s vintage glow alive. The city’s biggest celebration, the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, fills the streets each September with the best in Americana and roots music—proof that Bristol’s sound is still alive and evolving. Swing by Cheap Thrills Records to dig for vinyl treasures, and round out your trip at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, where the 1927 Bristol Sessions come roaring back to life through immersive exhibits. Every stop on this route tells part of the same story: one city, two states, and a legacy that changed American music forever.
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