Grand Ole Opry 8/19 & 8/20

Fresh from celebrating his 20th year as an Opry member, Vince Gill returns to the Opry stage this weekend for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. Joining Vince both nights will be Jimmy Wayne, who is almost becoming an Opry regular with the number of appearances he has been making. I understand that Jimmy has been in the studio working on a new album.

Friday night's show will feature Will Hoge, who has been in the music business for a while and is currently on tour promoting his new album that is out next month. Joining Will on Friday's show will be Troy Olsen and Exile, neither of whom are strangers to the Opry.

Saturday night's show will feature Bradley Gaskin, who is really starting to make a name for himself in Nashville and has a very nice voice. Also appearing will be Opry regular James Wesley and The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, who will be making their first Opry appearance. This bluegrass trio is from New Jersey, and they are young, being of the ages 8, 11 and 13. According to their website, their first album is due to come out shortly. We shall see.

Friday August 19
7:00 Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Troy Olsen
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jimmy Wayne
INTERMISSION
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene; Exile
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Connie Smith; Mike Snider; Will Hoge

Saturday August 20
7:00: Larry Gatlin (host); Jimmy C Newman; John Conlee; The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; James Wesley
INTERMISSION
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Jimmy Wayne; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Connie Smith; Bradley Gaskin

Interesting that you could call the 2nd segment on Friday night the "Jimmy" segment. Also, it is nice to see Larry Gatlin back on the Opry again.

The host of this week's Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree will be bluegrass artist Larry Stephenson, who I have seen before and does a great job. I look forward to hearing that.

Finally, here is the line up for the Tuesday Night Opry on August 23:

7:00: Jimmy Dickens; Brett Eldredge
7:30: Edens Edge; Heidi Newfield; Larry Gatlin
INTERMISSION
8:15: Trace Adkins
8:45: Rascal Flatts

Interesting that they are giving Trace and Rascal Flatts a whole half hour each. But, you sure can't complain about the line up for this show. It is very solid.