The town, which lies on the border of USA states Tennessee and Virginia was the location of the two-week recording session in late July and early August, 1927.

This was where pioneer artists The Carter Family and Jimmy Rodgers cut their first records with producer Ralph Peer.

Until Peer took a mobile recording device to the Appalachian town, the few hillbilly music songs recorded until that point had all been made in New York.

Johnny Cash, who married a daughter of The Carter Family, once said: “These recordings in Bristol in 1927 are the single most important event in the history of country music.”

Between July 25 and August 5, Peer recorded almost 80 songs from more than 20 singers and groups at Bristol where he had set up a studio in the upper storeys of the Taylor Christian Hat company on State Street.

Among the few artists to record country music prior to the Bristol Sessions, was Bristol local Earnest Stoneman, so when Peer was looking to record more music, he headed to Stoneman’s hometown.

The Carter Family recorded their first four songs on August 1, and Rodgers recorded two songs on August 4. 

This week’s celebrations will include concerts, and a premiere screening of a new movie, Born in Bristol, which highlights the history and features several artists.

Watch the trailer: