Carter Family Fold

I’m from California and was in Bristol visiting cousins for a few days when they asked me if I wanted to go see some bluegrass while in town. I knew I liked bluegrass but honestly don’t know anything about the history of it, or country music, or even the Carter family. But I’m up for anything and When in Rome, right? We were late so we arrived between sets, around 8:45 and the band playing was Monroe Crossing. Immediately it felt like taking a step back in time, an older woman was sitting at a table selling tickets and my mom almost passed right by her. I called her back but I don’t even know that the woman would’ve said anything. Haha We bought our tickets ($ 10) and went to the counter where they were selling shirts. I have to say I did feel out of place, but in a good way. The kids behind the counter were 3^rd gen Carters, so cool. I bought a shirt for $ 12, and we got in the concession stand line. All drinks including bottled water were $ 1, hot dogs for $ 2, and the like. We found seats easily toward the middle of the third row. The sound in the building echoes a little but was good. Some people danced but not a lot, mostly those who were ready with their tap dancing shoes on and they were just as entertaining to watch as the band itself! I had a smile from ear to ear the whole time, good old fashioned fun. I didn’t notice until I go home that I left my Tshirt on the isle. I was so bummed as we were at least 45 minutes away. I immediately went on the FB page and sent them a message. The next day they found it and called me! My mom also lost an earring and they found that too, I couldn’t believe it! A woman who volunteers at the Fold was driving through Bristol so she brought them with her and met up with us to return them… So impressed. Things like that just don’t happen nowadays. I will definitely come back here if I visit again and highly recommend taking the drive out in the country to this magical time machine.

This place is truly fantastic. It’s built in roots and bluegrass tradition. It’s still holds true now. I started coming here at around age 20 and 2 decades later I now bring my son here to dance and experience this great timeless venue.
I travel to venues all over the country for music and I appreciate The Carter Family for creating and keeping this atmosphere for music.
Thanks again

At the corner of AP Carter Memorial Highway and Wildwood Flower Private Drive sits the Mecca of American Country and Folk Music.
This is indeed the town where the legendary Carter Family resided, and their spirit still lives on every Saturday night with mountain music concerts — in fact the 3^rd generation of Carters are running it now.
Shows begin at 7:30, and when the «flat-​foot» music kicks in the dancing starts up immediately afterwards. We saw everyone from kids to college students to senior citizens. Some were doing the «I’ve never really danced before» shuffle, some were getting in a circle, some were busting some mountain moves that must have taken years to master, and one elderly guy just put a bottle of water on his head and skedaddled around. The fiddle-​led band was going to town on music that sounded like the Harry Smith box in the modern age, but despite the amplification the clogs on the floor were providing heavy percussion. It was that kind of place (though there’s ample room for seating so you can let others cut the rug for you).
Admission is typically $ 8 for adults and $ 1 for kids aged 6+, but you’ll also want to bring extra cash because the Carter Family Museum & AP Carter’s childhood cabin are each $ 5 suggested donation. Also there are souvenirs (CDs and t-​shirts) and food (hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and ice cream). No credit cards taken.
We stayed in Kingsport TN and drove over, which was about 20 minutes’ worth of pretty driving scenery.
A pretty magical place, one for the ages.

What hasn’t already been said about the legendary Carter family, and their influence on early Americana music? If you have ANY interest in old-​time mountain or Bluegrass music, you owe it to yourself to visit this monument to the family and the music that started it all.
The Fold is a music venue that seats around 800, and was originally built by the daughter and son of A. P and Sara Carter in the 1970’s. The idea behind the Fold is to celebrate and perpetuate the music initially popularized by the Carter family, and it has weekly mountain music programs (usually on Sat nights) all year long with all kinds of local and regional old-​time and Bluegrass bands. If you’re lucky, you’ll visit the Fold the first weekend in August for the annual Festival celebrating the original «1927 Bristol Recording Sessions,» which got the whole thing started for the family years ago. The Festival is a two-​day affair, and also includes mountain craft artisans and multiple bands over the weekend, including at least one national/​international headliner (this year, the Carolina Chocolate Drops were there to close out the Sat session). And bring your danciing shoes — the dancefloor in front of the stage is continuously full of both locals and visitors out cloggin’ and flatfootin’, and just generally having a wonderful time.
Accommodations in Hiltons are non-​existent, and people usually stay in Kingsport, TN (about ½ hour away), or Bristol, TN/​VA (about 45 minutes away). We stayed in one of the many hotels on I26 in Kingsport, and our hotel was easy to find after leaving the Fold at midnight, even travelling on unfamiliar and very dark mountain roads. Hiltons does have fuel and a small store, so all you need to plan ahead for is accommodations.
The Fold is one stop on Virginia’s new Crooked Road, which is a marketing program started a few years ago by the State that promotes many of the smaller Southwest Virginia towns that have histories of and present venues and festivals celebrating old-​time mountain and Bluegrass music. This music is NOT Nashville Country. But if you have an interest in Nashville’s roots, and the type of music still played by a small, but dedicated, group of musicians including nationally-​known artists like Alison Krauss and Ricky Skaggs, you shouldn’t miss a trip to the Fold.