Border Bash: Larry Keel & Jon Stickley Duo with Blue Mountain Saints

Believe in Bristol is thrilled to announce the 26th Anniversary season of the beloved Border Bash summer concert series. Free and open to the public, Border Bash brings exciting live music, local vendors, and family-friendly fun to the heart of Downtown Bristol while showcasing a diverse array of talent - from local favorites to nationally recognized artists. Families with young children are invited to play games and make crafts in our Kid Zone, check out our food and craft vendors, and explore our locally-owned downtown businesses while you're there!
Presented in partnership with the Birthplace of Country Music, this season’s Border Bash will serve as a preview for the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, showcasing select artists who will also take the stage at the internationally celebrated music festival scheduled for Sept. 11-13 of this year.

July 10th - 800 Block State Street
6:30 PM – Blue Mountain Saints
8:00 PM – Larry Keel & Jon Stickley Duo

The Larry Keel & Jon Stickley Duo features two of the finest flatpicking guitarists of this generation. Both share a lifelong love of acoustic bluegrass guitar music made famous by influential duets Doc and Merle Watson, and Tony Rice and Norman Blake. Keel, Stickley, and other modern flatpickers like Billy Strings grew up studying these legends. These masters were role models who provided inspiration to both Larry and Jon to pursue careers as professional guitar players. Each has gone on to pioneer his own distinct interpretation of the bluegrass artform, as well as fusing genres from roots, jazz, prog, and beyond. Now, Keel and Stickley have themselves become new masters of acoustic guitar. With this act, the two celebrate the pure joy of playing acoustic guitar music as a duo, effortlessly complementing each other’s rhythm and lead playing while never losing their own individual personality. Their sophisticated and awe-inspiring performances suit an array of venues including festival stages, listening rooms, private functions, and nightclubs. At the core of the Keel/Stickley Duo is an intimate conversation between two guitars and voices, done with superior skill and taste, with more than a hint of explosive late-night-jam vibe.

Blue Mountain Saints - Born of “Folk Rock”. Raised in Country, Blues and Soul, Blue Mountain Saints cover all the bases in their shows. Five like-minded musicians from various backgrounds, with 100+ years of combined stage experience, come together for a fun filled live performance.