The Five Acts You Can't Miss At Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion This Weekend

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion has been a staple part of our festival calendar for well over a decade now.

A glorious celebration of country, Americana and roots music in the heart of the very birthplace of the sound, the festival has become a true exhibition of everything authentic and exciting in the country landscape, as well as a go to place to experience the icons who paved the way and made it what it is today.

With the festival once again taking place this coming weekend (13-15 September), we wanted to offer you our tips for who you cannot miss on what is an absolutely stacked line-up of greats. From newly found rising stars to titans in the country game, there's a whole banquet of good music to feast on.

So, without further ado, here's the five acts you can't miss at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion this coming weekend.

When it comes to distinctive style, unfathomable technical prowess and all around singular creativity, you'll be hard pushed to find someone more fitting of such a description than Grace Bowers.

The heart and soul behind her band The Hodge Podge, Bowers has evolved from a raw, unpolished blues talent into a group-leading powerhouse, an artist who uses the guitar to subvert the traditional facets of blues, country, soul and rock 'n' roll.

If you've already had the pleasure of hearing Bowers' debut album, the sonically hefty and collaborative Wine On Venus, then expect some jam-led golden takes on choice cuts, brought into further technicolour in a live setting.

If you haven't heard her before, then be prepared to be blown away by how Bowers turns everything up to 11.

Where and When?: Sun, September 15th - 4:30pm CT - Cumberland Square Park Stage

Song To Listen Out For?: 'Tell Me Why U Do That'

A Virginia native who's become a fast favourite here at Holler, Lillian Hackett will have you spell-bound with her traditional sounding take on the hurdles of young life and love.

Hackett not only possesses an all-encompassing voice that'll bellow all the way down State Street, but she writes the sort of bluegrass, barn dance boot tappers that'll make you want to pitch up and stay.

As much of a dab hand with a forlorn chord as she is with an old time lick, her most recent single 'Loving Someone New' is one worth turning up for alone - a tearful lament that'll leave you pining for that lost love you always thought would be yours.

Whether performing solo or backed by the some of the finest pickers in the mother of states, Hackett will send you off with a skip in your step and a tear in your eye, all in equal measure.

Where and When?: Saturday, September 14th - 6:30pm ET - Theatre Bristol Stage

Song To Listen Out For?: 'Loving Someone New'

It wouldn't be Bristol R&R weekend without some moving and musically stunning bluegrass to carry us in revelry.

Our fix of it this weekend comes in the form of AJ Lee & Blue Summit. Born out of the creative penchants of their Californian childhoods, the band have become a staple of the bluegrass and roots scene, consistently challenging the concept of what we believe the genre to be.

With their latest album, 2024's City of Glass, the band embraced the poetic, immersive narratives found traditionally in country and Americana, delightfully weaving their bluegrass instrumentalism into tender, candid notions of love and yearning.

If we're really lucky, Molly Tuttle may join her old friend AJ and the the group to perform their song 'I Can't Find You At All' together; a forlorn, tender number with beautifully frank lyricism and comforting harmonies from AJ and Molly.

Even if it doesn't end up happening, AJ Lee & Blue Summit will have enraptured you with their heartening take on traditional bluegrass.

Where and When?: Saturday, September 14th - 4:00pm ET - Cumberland Square Park

Song To Listen Out For?: 'I Can't Find You At All'

Bella White is one of very, very few artists who can stop us dead in our tracks. With a voice that carries the emotional weight of a ton of bricks and a lyrical style that's piercing in its self-exposure, it's hard to not get lost in White's world - even when we finally realise she's been holding the mirror up to us all this time.

Bella's live show embraces the waltzing qualities of her country, folk and bluegrass tendencies. Often backed by a duo of fiddle and double bass players, the trio sweep you up and take you on a journey through life and love in the very present.

Bella has been teasing new music of late; the release of her beautiful set of covers, Five For Silver, not only showed how creatively loose and playful White can be, but hopefully set in place plans for new music of her own to be coming soon. We've got all fingers crossed we'll hear new music from Bella, as well as dear favourites from Just Like Leaving and Among Other Things.

Where and When?: Friday, September 13th - 7:00pm ET - State Street Stage

Song To Listen Out For?: 'Unknown Legend'

If you're looking for the house band of Bristol Rhythm and Roots, look no further than our favourite lads from Castlewood, VA. This is essentially their festival - one they've made their own over their years of touring.

Back in 2022, following a triumphant set on the State Street Stage, 49 Winchester were invited to play at every single edition of Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion that they could for the foreseeable future.

Making the most of that invitation, the group returned last year and played two victorious sets, including a super show full of special guests and ripping covers to close the Sunday afternoon.

For their 2023 set, the band have a new album to share with us. Expect to hear a healthy dose of the new songs from the moving and emotional Leavin' This Holler, plus a rip-roaring run through of the honky tonk standards they've been treating us to since we first fell in love with them all those years ago.

Where and When?: Saturday, September 14th - 9:15pm ET - State Street Stage

Song To Listen Out For?: 'Leavin' This Holler'

For more on Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, see below: