Photos from the Roots and Rhythm Festival, Bristol

I've reached the end of the road, the last set of photos from our US trip, this time focusing on the Roots and Rhythm Reunion Festival in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia. The first act we saw was billed as the 'Queen of Austin soul' - Tameca Jones.

There's a marker in town to the 'Bristol Sessions' which are seen as the beginning of recorded country music, but also included gospel and blues.

Lee and Dave enjoying some of the street food at the festival, and the back of Alan's head.

Here's the star of the first day, Marty Stuart. The second photo shows Marty with his guitarist (a member of the Fabulous Superlatives) Kenny Vaughan.

Ranging from bluegrass to rock, here is Sam Bush.

Much hyped, but rather disappointing, here are St Paul and the Broken Bones.

This is country singer Jason Eady.

One of the stand out acts on day two was Mike Farris.

The Darrell Scott Bluegrass Band were impressive.

Headliner on day two was Wynonna (Judd) and the Big Noise, with a band led by husband and drummer Cactus Moser.

This is Lauren Morrow.

Rockabilly singer Jason 'Hoss' Hicks.

On the final day, here is singer/songwriter Jamie Lin Wilson.

For the third time on our trip, here is Jim Lauderdale.

Star of the final day, here is Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Driving back from Bristol we stopped off at Knoxville overnight and then on the final day in Cookeville, where I bought some 45s and where there is a small railway museum.

Photos from Tennessee and Kentucky

After Nashville we spent a few days touring around Tennessee and Kentucky en route to Bristol, which is on the border of Tennessee and Virginia. Here is a batch of photos from this part of our trip. First, here are some taken in Jackson, Tennessee, home town of Carl Perkins and the place that claims to be the birthplace of rockabilly, here's a mural in the town.

Here's Lee in the small square near the Rockabilly Museum/

Plaque to Carl Perkins at the Casey Jones Village.

Another Jackson resident was Sonny Boy Williamson the first. Here's a marker to him a few miles south of town.

Here are a few pictures inside the Rockabilly Museum, which is due to close soon. Carl Perkins' original blue suede shoes (allegedly), a broken pair of Roy Orbison's sun glasses (allegedly) and a display in the museum.

From Jackson we went to Central City, Kentucky, where there is a museum focusing on local boys the Everly Brothers. Here are a couple of photos of the museum plus one of Phil Everly's grave stone nearby.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, the fast food that is now available everywhere, started life in this diner in rural Kentucky.

We moved on Middlesboro which, as Lonnie Donegan fans will know, is 15 miles from the Cumberland Gap. First picture is taken at The Pinnacle, a viewpoint just outside town where you can see three states.

Back in Tennessee we came across the birthplace of Davy Crockett. We discovered that he wasn't born on a mountain top and we have doubts that he really killed him a bear when he was only three.

We arrived in Bristol and visited the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which celebrates the famous recording sessions of 1927 which saw the first recordings by Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family and others.

Finally in this batch, here's a photo of Lee and I with Marty Stuart who was visiting the museum, where he has an exhibition of his very fine photographs.

Nashville photos - Part Two

Here's another batch of photos from the Nashville leg of our US trip at the Americana Fest. Here's the ever youthful Bobby Rush with Mizz Lowe.

This is singer/songwriter Gary Nicholson with Canadian guitarist Colin Linden.

Nashville skyline at night.

This is gospel group the McCrary Sisters.

This is me with Alfreda McCrary.

Here's Rosie Flores at the Exit/In club.

Soul/Blues man Charles 'Wigg' Walker does a regular Saturday gig at the Acme Feed and Seed.

Here is Charles with me.

This is gospel group the Caldwell Singers.

This is New York band Daddy Long Legs.

L-R: Lee Wilkinson, Dave Carroll, Ron Cook, Nick Cobban.

Delbert McClinton.

Bonnie Bishop at the Gospel Brunch.

Bobby Rush and Delbert McClinton together.

Leah Blevins.

Country singer Brandy Clark.