I’d lost track of how many years I’d wanted to go to a music festival but hadn’t done it yet. I spotted an article on Jambase about The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion festival in the Birthplace of Country Music, Bristol, Tennessee. Financially speaking, I had no business even thinking about it. But I wasn’t any better off not going, and who knows what nonsense I’d have spent the money on. I booked it, not just because I wanted to go, but because of two specific artists on the bill, namely Margo Price and Marty Stuart. A couple of shots from the festival…

The festival was incredible. I’d end up meeting Margo and Adia Victoria along the way, seeing Larkin Poe, and loads of young bands, such as Tan & Sober Gentlemen from North Carolina. The people there were fantastic, the town was cool, I visited The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, and decided by the end of the 1st night that I’d be back for the ’24 edition.

I’d always wanted to see Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Marty was playing professionally by the age of 12, as guitarist and mandolinist with the gospel group The Sullivans. Meeting fiddle player Roland White from Lester Flatt’s band lead to an invitation for Marty to sit in with Lester at a show in Delaware. He ended up joining Lester’s band and would remain there through his 20th birthday. He is a true renaissance man, with album after album of style shifts and themes.

I’ve been a fan for years now, but what really made me a fan was catching episodes of The Marty Stuart Show on RFD-TV. It’s a very traditional Country Music television show, and many legends have appeared over the years, including Merle, Loretta, Connie Smith, Roger McGuinn…there are too many to mention. There are tons of clips and full episodes on You Tube, I urge you to check some out. But I have a few favorites:

Johnny Rivers playing “Summer Rain” in 2013

Willie paying tribute to Waylon:

John Prine in 2010:

And of course, Dolly singing about her childhood:

I’ll let Marty himself take it home, from 2011 on with David Letterman, “Country Boy Rock & Roll” featuring the incredible Kenny Vaughan:

One last thing about Marty. He was at one time a Son-in-law to Johnny Cash. A few famous others have had that title as well. Today’s Playlist is a SomethingIsHappening compendium of songs by those Son’s-in-law:

#MartyStuart #JohnnyCash #BristolTN #BirthplaceOfCountryMusic #WillieNelson #DollyParton #JohnnyRivers #MargoPrice #JohnPrine #RodneyCrowell