Gene Watson
Texan Gene Watson sings as if the world may end tomorrow. His life, his soul, his twang-burning heart poured into each lyric, he earns awe with each song sung.
Be prepared. Wonders of country willpower will ooze from Gene Watson when the veteran country singer returns to the Jettie Baker Center in Clintwood, Virginia, on Friday, May 10.
Watson emerged from Palestine, Texas, during the late 1960s. A professional since age 13 during the 1950s, Watson worked as an auto body repairman until 1975’s sultry ballad “Love in the Hot Afternoon” made him a star. Streams of hits followed. Standards emanated from Watson like water from a leaky spigot. From 1977’s “Paper Rosie” through 1981’s “Fourteen Karat Mind” and more, Watson reached a peak of quality from which he has yet to subside.
If You Go
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Who: Gene Watson
When: Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Jettie Baker Center, 348 Main St., Clintwood, Va.
Admission: $45-$55
Info: 276-220-8105 or 276-219-3474
Web, audio and video: https://genewatsonmusic.com
Samantha Gray & The Jukebox Jam
Like an Alfred Hitchcock suspenseful thriller, intrigue encircles the music of Samantha Gray.
A longtime resident of Bristol, Gray leads her latest band, The Jukebox Jam, to a show at the Bristol Casino in Bristol, Virginia. See her blow the roof with a bevy of thunderous blues on Saturday, May 11.
Gray’s a powerhouse vocalist. Well within the grand tradition of such singers as Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington, Gray navigates blues music with parallel parts of suave subtlety and knock ’em out heavyweight hooks. She’s masterful. Swing and sway attached, Gray’s belting brand of music pops eyes wide and ears glued to her unbridled sounds of joy.
If You Go
Who: Samantha Gray & The Jukebox Jam
When: Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m.
Where: Bristol Casino, 500 Gate City Hwy., Bristol, Va.
Admission: Free
Info: 276-696-3660
Web, audio and video: https://samanthagray.net
Bugfest 2024
Cavalcades of local and regional rock music await all who wish to be entertained.
Johnson City’s Othercide Records presents the inaugural Bugfest 2024. Set to stage on Crolina Avenue in Bristol, Tennessee, Elderbug headlines the day-long event that heralds 11 bands. Music stars. However, attendees can avail themselves of plentiful food, games, raffles and community fun with your neighbors.
Panoramas of music swirl amid Bugfest 2024. There’s heavy metal by Northeast Tennessee’s Sick Beyond and Wytheville’s Inferior Design. West Virginia’s Blue Shell Paradox maintain a middle-road rock style. Polka Monroe offer blends of post-emo, punk rock, and hardcore strains within an Appalachian wrapping. West Virginia Zach Elmore conveys indie folk. Whatever your flavor of favor, Bugfest 2024 aims to deliver buzz aplenty.
If You Go
What: Bugfest 2024
Who: Elderbug, Sick Beyond, Inferior Design, A Blue Shell Paradox, Death Threads, Polka Monroe, Athiotic, Dream Killer 276, Get it Together, Accidents Club, and Zach Elmore
When: Saturday, May 11 at 12 p.m.
Where: 2125 Carolina Ave., Bristol, Tenn.
Admission: $10-$15; kids admitted free of charge
Info: 276-791-5188
Web, audio and video: www.otherciderecords.com/events
Music Notes
No other major music festival features as many local acts as Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. In that, fans of the local scene certainly have an abundance to embrace and celebrate.
Check this year’s lineup for the 23rd round of Rhythm & Roots. Slated to stage from Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 15 in downtown Bristol, there’s even a local act as a headliner – none other than Castlewood’s 49 Winchester.
Oh, but there’s far more. In the second tier of artists listed, you’ll find Jonesborough’s Trey Hensley as well as Mountain City’s Kody Norris Show.
Then comes Johnson City’s Ed Snodderly, Bristol’s Dallas Wayne as well as Bristol’s Dave Eggar and Bristol Lightning. Find Abingdon’s Adam Bolt, Bluff City’s Alli Epperson, Kingsport’s Chancellor Lawson, Bluff City’s Corklickers, Johnson City’s Dimestore Cowboys, Bluff City’s Duty Free, Hiltons’ Oscar Harris, Abingdon’s Post Bop Revival, and more.
In all, there are nearly 50 local and backyard musical acts slated to appear during this year’s Rhythm & Roots. Compared with other major music festivals, that’s exceedingly rare.
Oh, and check the styles of music as performed by those local musicians. You will find country, bluegrass, old-time, rock ’n’ roll, jazz, blues, folk, and more. Simply amazing.
For more information on Rhythm & Roots visit https://bristolrhythm.com or call 423-573-1927.
Download
Deer Tick, a Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion alum, bites to the core with this week’s free MP3 download. Reference https://archive.org/details/deertick2013-09-13.matrix.flac16 to find a full show from the band of rockers from 2013. Performed in Brooklyn, New York, Deer Tick did the show as their Nirvana alter egos, Deervana. The set’s 12 songs include their takes on such Nirvana favorites including “Heart-Shaped Box” and “All Apologies.”