Chattanooga’s 3 Sisters Festival of Bluegrass Music is a Family Affair
In 2006, George Bright walked into his dad’s office with a vision. Inspired by the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, George wanted to create a similar event in Chattanooga. His father, Fletcher Bright—a well-known philanthropist and local bluegrass legend—was immediately on board. The festival needed a name, and George turned to one of his sisters, Lizzer, for help. “Dad and our two brothers are talented musically, but we three sisters just aren’t,” Lizzer Graham said. “I thought, well, we’ve got to get some credit here, so I said, ‘How about 3 Sisters?’ and George said he liked it.”
Today, the 3 Sisters Festival of Bluegrass Music is a beloved annual fall event at Ross’s Landing, remaining free to attend even after 17 years. The festival boasts a lineup that includes performers such as The Infamous Stringdusters, The Steeldrivers, and The Brothers Comatose performing on October 6-7.
Grass Roots
Fletcher’s lifelong dedication to bluegrass began during his time at the McCallie School, where he formed the band The Dismembered Tennesseans in 1945. From then on, Fletcher’s fiddle was ever-present. “I remember sometimes our mom putting Dad in the bathroom and closing the door when he would practice,” Graham recalls. Another sister, Lucy Griffin, adds, “The fiddle would wake me up at six in the morning. He even got a silencer for the fiddle, which I have to this day, but it didn’t quiet it quite enough.” Fletcher passed away in 2017, but his band lives on under a modified name, The New Dismembered Tennesseans, who open the festival each year.
The Business of Bluegrass
The festival falls under Carla Pritchard, owner of Chattanooga Presents, who coordinates various events throughout the year. “That would have to take place as one of the earliest steps, but we don’t have to in this case because the Bright family makes it their gift to the community,” Pritchard says. “It takes a big amount of the pressure off.”
The three sisters—Lizzer, Lucy, and Ann Monk—are responsible for securing performers, aiming for a balanced mix of traditional and progressive bluegrass bands. Notable acts include the Grammy-winning The Steeldrivers and The Brothers Comatose, who became fan-favorites last year. Laura Walker of The New Dismembered Tennesseans even joined The Brothers Comatose on stage during last year’s festival. “It just put a tingle down my spine to hear her singing with them, and that’s just an example of how they embrace the festival,” Pritchard remarks.
In addition to the musical acts, the festival features food and drink vendors and fosters a family-friendly atmosphere. “You lay out your blanket and a chair and bring out your kids and dogs on leashes,” Pritchard says. “It’s a feel-good event that feels like it’s for everyone, and from year one, we’ve had a packed park.”
A Blue Streak
Although the festival now draws large crowds, it wasn’t always a sure thing. “I’m smiling because the first year, we didn’t know how many people would be there or if it would just be our family,” Griffin says. “I think it exceeded expectations for sure.” Over the 17 years, not much has changed apart from larger crowds, Graham notes. The bluegrass community in Chattanooga now has even more to look forward to. Starting in 2025, Chattanooga will host the World of Bluegrass Festival, a five-day event by the International Bluegrass Music Association, beating out 30 other cities for the honor.
Fletcher’s legacy, coupled with his children’s dedication to promoting bluegrass in Chattanooga, likely played a role in securing this major event. “If 3 Sisters has helped keep bluegrass relevant in Chattanooga, then we’ve done our job,” Griffin states. Graham adds, “That’s what George’s aim was: to promote the love of bluegrass.” “We call ourselves bluegrass evangelists,” Griffin concludes.
