Due to an unexpected medical emergency, the Bellamy Brothers were forced to cancel their performance at the Gathering in the Gap Music Festival this Saturday, May 24. The Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum and all involved with organizing the festival express their hope for a swift recovery. The Bellamy Brothers look forward to returning to what they love the most, bringing music to their fans. Festival organizers acknowledge the disappointment this news may cause and extend sincere apologies for any inconvenience experienced by attendees.

In light of this change, the Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum have collaborated with various community partners, including Virginia State Parks and the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, to secure a new headliner for the main stage event. The Tennessee Bluegrass Band will take the place of the Bellamy Brothers, bringing their renowned bluegrass sound to the Gathering in the Gap Music Festival. The Tennessee Bluegrass Band is rapidly making a name for themselves as an exciting new group with great passion for the music they play.

The group was formed from top-notch musicians that gained expertise through performing with some of the industry’s leading bands, and they have a passion for making music that combines the ideas of the past with modern-day creativity. The Tennessee Bluegrass Band has earned numerous accolades including IBMA for New Artist of the Year Nominee, SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year Nominee, #1 Traditional Album on RMR’s Top 50, #1 Gospel song on Cashbox Magazine and #1 Music Video on the Bluegrass Standard.

Gathering in the Gap will also feature Dave Eggar and Bristol Lightning as the opening act for The Tennessee Bluegrass Band. Dave Eggar is a grammy-nominated musician and is regarded as one of the finest cellists in the world. His list of awards and accomplishments includes accolades from Time Magazine, ASCAP, The National Endowment for the Arts, Sony Records Elevated Standards Award in classical music, the Geraldine Dodge & Leonard Bernstein Foundations, and at 15, he was the youngest winner in the history of the Artists International Competition. Along with his Chambergrass band, Bristol Lightning, Eggar is expected to deliver a dynamic and engaging performance, setting the stage for an exciting day of music at the festival.

For those who would like to request a refund on tickets purchased for the main stage event, please email the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park at swvamuseum@dcr.virginia.gov or call the Southwest Virginia Museum at 276-523-1322. Museum hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1p.m. – 5 p.m. We will do our best to respond to all inquiries in a timely manner. However, we hope all festival goers will still make plans to attend. We have a wonderful festival lineup, and it’s going to be an exciting day!