The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance begins a new series, Birthplace of Country Music @ The Paramount starting in January 2010. Birthplace of Country Music is offering a limited number of Patron's Benefits associated with purchasing a Winter Series package.  The Patron's Benefit Packet price is $275 and includes 2 tickets per concert for the series (total of 6 tickets), preferred seating at The Paramount Center for the Arts, and discounts on Birthplace of Country Music merchandise.  Further discounts to be announced.

 "We are excited about offering this program to the community," noted Bill Hartley, Executive Director of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance.  The performers for the series display a diversity of styles and talents, ranging from contemporary to traditional, which represent the roots and branches of the region's musical heritage.   "In addition to the performance, we are also adding educational components where possible," added Hartley. 

The Winter Concert series is sponsored by Alpha Natural Resources, Bristol Virginia Utilities, City of Bristol Tennessee, Fox Tri-Cities, WETS, WOPI, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 Acts for the Winter Series include:

o       Bluegrass All Star Jam, January 30, 2010 - This show provides the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance with an excellent opportunity to showcase some of the most talented individuals in the bluegrass music industry who are carrying on our region's living traditions.  The format of the show includes each artist appearing performing two songs with the other artists, as an emcee introduces the song selection and the performers as they appeared on stage. The artists then speak to the crowd and perhaps give their reasons for their song selections or related stories.  Artists scheduled for the Bristol show include Steve Gulley, Alan Bibey, Terry Baucom, Mike Bub, Sammy Shelor, Don Rigsby, Phil Leadbetter, Kenny Smith, Amanda Smith, Dale Ann Bradley, Kim Fox Missy Raines, Tim Stafford, Justin Moses, and Adam Haynes.

o       Dale Jett, Roni Stoneman, and Darrell Scott, February 13, 2010 - This concert features three members of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance's artistic council.  Jett is a third generation member of the legendary Carter Family, the son of Janette Carter and grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter.  His dedication to the preservation of traditional music, the love of Carter Family songs, and his admiration of other songwriters are evident in his performances.  Roni Stoneman, dubbed "the first lady of the banjo," may be best known for her role as Ida Lee, the gap-toothed, banjo-playing lady from "Hee Haw." But she's also a fine musician and the current custodian of the musical heritage of her father, Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman, who had the first million-selling hit in country music with the song "The Sinking of the Titanic," and also had the first country music radio show. Darrell Scott is best known as a songwriter for Garth Brooks and as a sideman for singer/songwriters like Guy Clark and Tim O'Brien.  Scott is a Grammy-nominated artist, an award-winning songwriter and a first-call session musician.

o       Riders in the Sky, March 27, 2010 - For thirty years, Riders in the Sky have been keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing the genre.   While remaining true to the integrity of Western music, they have themselves become modern-day icons by branding the genre with their own legendary wacky humor and way-out Western wit.  Riders in the Sky have won two Grammy Awards.  In addition to the performance, an hour-long presentation on the singing cowboy will provide an insight into American history, popular culture, musicology, and folklore in a relaxed and enjoyable manner.

For information on purchasing a special Patron's Benefit Packet please call Suzanne Brewster at 276.591.4667.

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of the living musical heritage of the Appalachian mountains and the cultural traditions that sustain it. The BCMA is funded in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts Tennessee Arts Commission, and National Endowment for the Arts.  For more information please call 276-645-0111 or visit online at www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org