One of the highlights of last September’s festival, the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, was the bluegrass band Missy Raines & Allegheny. The quintet opened with the classic Ola Belle Reed composition, “I’ve Endured.” Even as Raines was belting out the lyrics, “Now, I’ve worked for the rich; I’ve lived with the poor. I’ve seen many a heartache; there’ll be many a more,” she was steering the ship with her muscular thumping on the stand-up bass.
Missy Raines, who has been voted the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Bass Player of the Year 10 different times, wore a bright-red pantsuit as she paid tribute to such trailblazers as Sara and Maybelle Carter and Hazel Dickens by singing their songs. But Raines also previewed such recently penned songs as “Listen to the Lonesome Wind,” “Fast Moving Train” and “Ghost of a Love” from her forthcoming album.