When George Bright was a student at Davidson, his late father, Fletcher Bright, sent him a copy of Bluegrass Unlimited. The magazine featured a story about a free bluegrass festival on the river in Louisville, Ky., and a light bulb went off in George’s head. George decided a free bluegrass festival in his hometown of Chattanooga would be awesome, and the idea percolated in his head for decades. Thirty years later, the inaugural 3 Sisters Music Festival took place at Ross’s Landing, and its 17th year is coming up on Oct. 4 and 5. Named for George’s three sisters, Lizzer, Ann and Lucy, 3 Sisters is free to the public, yet features top names in contemporary and traditional bluegrass.