After completing its winter run at the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry returns to the Grand Ole Opry House this weekend with two pretty nice Opry shows.
Even with a number of the Opry members missing this weekend due to the two country cruises taking place (actually finishing up), there is still a nice group of members who will be performing.
Grand Ole Opry members Riders In The Sky and Connie Smith are scheduled for both nights. They will be joined on the Friday Night Opry by Bobby Osborne, Mike Snider, Terri Clark, Marty Stuart and Vince Gill. For Terri, this will be her first Opry show of 2020 while Marty makes it two weekends in a row.
Joining the Riders and Connie on Saturday night will be John Conlee, Trace Adkins, The Whites, and making a return to the Opry, Jesse McReynolds. Jesse has been missing for about a month and it is nice to see him returning to the Opry stage.
There are three guest artists scheduled for Friday night. Hailey Whitters, Zach Williams and The Isaacs are listed, with The Isaacs also on the line-up for Saturday night. On Saturday they will be joined by William Michael Morgan, Temecula Road, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, and making their Grand Ole Opry debut, Hawktail.
Friday January 31
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Hailey Whitters; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Terri Clark (host); Mike Snider; The Isaacs
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Zach Williams
Saturday February 1
7:00: John Conlee (host); William Michael Morgan; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Temecula Road; Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); The Whites; Hawktail Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Trace Adkins (host); The Isaacs
That adds up to 10 artists on Friday night, 7 of which are Opry members, and 11 artists on Saturday night, 6 of which are members of the Opry.
As mentioned, this will be the Grand Ole Opry debut for Hawktail.
Known collectively as Hawktail, fiddler Brittany Haas, bassist Paul Kowert, guitarist Jordan Tice, and mandolinist Dominick Leslie have combined their monstrous compositional and instrumental forces once again for a much-anticipated sophomore album, Formations. Released in January, Formations took only two months to write and four days to record, a far cry from the 3-year process of their debut album, Unless. “We had studio dates to record a quick EP of covers, arrangements we’d been playing live,” explains Kowert, “But we had these strong starts that felt so good that we were like ‘let’s finish THESE instead,’” Adds Haas, “We found a new joy in creating, tapping into the experience we gained from writing and recording Unless.”
Fans that were around for the beginning of Hawktail may notice a slight change in the energy each instrument brings from song to song. This new energy is largely due to Leslie’s presence from the inception of Formations. “Our first album had more or less been written by the time I joined the band, so it was more about finding a complementary part,” says Leslie. “On Formations, I was there for the writing, which resulted in the mandolin having a fundamental role in the music.”
With Formations, it’s become clear that Hawktail are quite capable of blazing away at their own trail, successfully challenging the traditional roles of their respective instruments and genres. “We’re just trying to find something good to play,” says Tice. “We’re not interested in adhering to the same old forms—merely adding some spice to something that we all know how it’s going to end.”
And now, the Grand Ole Opry line-up from 25 years ago, Saturday February 4, 1995:
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Hank Locklin; Alison Krauss
7:30: Johnny Russell (host); Grandpa Jones; Chonda Pierce; Jerry Clower
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jack Greene; Jean Shepard; The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Charlie Louvin; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim and Jesse; Hank Locklin; Stonewall Jackson
10:00: Jack Greene (host); Jerry Clower
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Josh Crowe and David McLaughlin
10:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky
11:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Four Guys; Alison Krauss; Johnny Russell
And from 50 years ago, Saturday January 31, 1970:
7:30: Hank Locklin (host); Charlie Louvin; Ray Pillow; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Hank Locklin; Diane McCall
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Glaser Brothers; George Morgan; Crook Brothers; Del Wood
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Archie Campbell; Stu Phillips; Stringbean
9:00: Tex Ritter (host); Jim and Jesse; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Margie Bowes
9:30: Billy Walker (host); Willis Brothers; Bob Luman
10:00: Charlie Louvin (host); Hank Locklin; Ray Pillow; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
10:15: Glaser Brothers (host); George Morgan; Jim and Jesse; Del Wood
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Archie Campbell; Stringbean; Margie Bowes
10:45: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Crook Brothers
11:00: Tex Ritter (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Justin Tubb (host); Bob Luman; Jeanne Pruett
Taking a closer look at that show from 50 years ago, here is the running order from that night:
7:30: Standard Candy
Hank Locklin (host): Flying South
Charlie Louvin: Here's a Toast to Mama
Ray Pillow: Working Man Blues
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: It Started Again
Hank Locklin: Anna
Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall: If I Were a Carpenter
Ray Pillow: I'd Fight the World
Hank Locklin: Today I Started Loving You Again
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Salty Dog Blues
Glaser Brothers: Wicked California
George Morgan: A Walk on the Outside
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Lester Flatt: Mocking Banjo
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
Glaser Brothers: Release Me/Then I Turned & Walked Slowly Away/Many Tears Ago/There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight/Bouquet of Roses
George Morgan: Four Walls
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Earl Scruggs Revue: Pike County Breakdown
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Stu Phillips: Little Tin God
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
Stringbean: Lonesome Road Blues
Earl Scruggs Revue: Maggie's Farm
Stu Phillips: Wild Side of Life
9:00: Luzianne
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Jim and Jesse: Golden Rocket
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Tex Ritter: Just Beyond the Moon
Jim and Jesse: My Baby's Gone
Margie Bowes: Take Me As I Am (Or Let Me Go)
Tex Ritter: High Noon
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Walker (host): Thinkin' 'Bout You Babe
Willis Brothers: Poor Boy
Bob Luman: Memphis/Guitar Man
Billy Walker; Cross the Brazos at Waco
Willis Brothers: Gypsy, Rose and Me
Bob Luman: Getting Back to Norma
Billy Walker: How Great Thou Art
10:00: Fender
Charlie Louvin (host): You Gave Me a Mountain
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Ray Pillow: I Don't Know Why I Keep Loving You
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I'm Going Home on the Morning Train
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
10:15: Pure
Glaser Brothers (host): Lover's Farewell/Oh, Lonesome Me/Like All the Other Times/Just One Time
George Morgan: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Jim and Jesse: Then I'll Stop Going for You
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Glaser Brothers: California Girl & Tennessee Square
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Little Maggie
Archie Campbell: Scarlet Ribbons
Stringbean: That's What I Like About the South
Margie Bowes: Understand Your Gal
Lester Flatt: I've Been Walking
10:45: Beechnut
Roy Acuff (host): Pins & Needles
Earl Scruggs Revue: Get Together
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
11:00: Coca Cola
Tex Ritter (host): Boll Weevil
Willis Brothers: Bob
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dance All Night
Tex Ritter: Deck of Cards
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Stu Phillips: He'll Have to Go
Sam McGee: Railroad Blues
11:30: Lava
Justin Tubb (host): Be Glad
Bob Luman: Sing the Blues to Daddy
Jeanne Pruett: I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again
Weldon Myrick: Fraulein
Bob Luman: Getting Back to Norma
Justin Tubb: Lucky, Lucky Someone Else
There you have it for this week. It should be another good week at the Opry as the show returns to the Opry House. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.
For Marty Stuart Fans...Marty Stuart will be on Eddie Stubbs show on WSM 650 or wsmonline.com Wednesday February 5th from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM Central Time. Bob
ReplyDeleteThe Glasers' number 50 years ago would have been a version of the medley they did on the Hank Snow tribute online. The only change, I think, was replacing "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" with "You Win Again."
ReplyDeleteThe Opry will not be returning to the Ryman Auditorium in November and December, instead staying at the Grand Ole Opry House. Rumors had been out there about this which was the reason why no tickets for the Opry were available after October. Sad to see this move as I always enjoyed my December trips to Nashville to see the Opry at the Ryman.
ReplyDeleteThat is sad. It seemed liked the artists liked performing at the Ryman. I wonder what the reason is? Bob
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat about January and the Country Classics?
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
I'm wondering about Country Classics also. Bob
DeleteTo answer a couple of questions:
ReplyDeleteOpry Country Classics will remain at the Ryman Auditorium. As to January 2021, nothing has been announced so I do not know if the Opry will return downtown just for that one month.
From what I have heard, the basic reason behind the move is that the Opry had a number of sold-out shows this past November and December, and the feeling was that a lot more tickets could be sold if the Opry went back to the Opry House and it financially made more sense to have the Opry at the Opry House, with its larger capacity, then having a holiday show there.
I would not be surprise if between Thanksgiving and Christmas for the Opry to offer multiple weeknight and matinee shows to take advantage of the visitors to Nashville during the Christmas season.
Back when the Opry started going back to the Ryman 20 years ago, it made sense as there were many winter nights when the Opry House had a lot of empty seats. That is not the case any longer.
For the Ryman, I would not be surprised to see the highly successful Vince Gill and Amy Grant return for another year and to include some weekend dates. This also gives the Ryman the opportunity to book other weekend shows that they have been missing out on.
I always have enjoyed going to the Ryman for the Opry in December. It is a special building. While I will miss the Ryman, I will not miss the high parking fees, the crowds of people trying to get through security on 2 show nights, and the massive amount of people downtown on hockey or concert nights at the Bridgestone Arena.
If Opry attendance is so good then why haven't they brought back the second show or at the very least expand it back to 2.5 hours as it used to be? There is just something special about the Opry being at the Ryman that makes the hassle with parking and crowds worth it.
ReplyDeleteI'm nearly 100% certain that the Opry will return to The Ryman for January 2021 as this will give the Opry House time to have any "Heavy Maintenance" completed. I would expect this to be an annual occurrence for the foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is a hassle to get parking and deal with the crowds of people in downtown, both of which were minimal when the Opry moved back to The Ryman for the winter about 20 years ago (which I think was originally only for January). I am a local and know my way around downtown and how to secure reasonable parking, but it is still a hassle to get there and deal with crowds, traffic and construction.
All in all, I think it's a positive move.
Can confirm that the current plan is for the Opry to return to the Ryman for the month of January.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jesse McReynolds has cancelled for Saturday night. No replacement other than The Whites have been shifted to his slot.
Surprised to hear Loretta Lynn’s comments to Martina that country music is dead. She really seemed unhappy about the music today. Wonder if that will get any rebuttal. She is still pretty powerful in Nashville.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Loretta. When I turn on the radio, I want to hear "real" country music. It makes me sad that even WSM radio doesn't play traditional country, like they used to.
DeleteI could not agree more with your comment Lora.
ReplyDeleteIt's getting worse on WSM since they became prt of the circle network.
Where can I find the Loretta comments?
Never mind, found it.
ReplyDeletehttps://thefederalist.com/2020/01/31/loretta-lynn-declares-country-music-dead-theyre-completely-losing-it/
I disagree Nat ----Eddie Stubbs plays a blend --some of the new stuff along with Kitty Wells, Ray Price, George Jones, Moe Bandy, ET, Faron, Lefty, etc, etc ---- no matter how much we want to hang on to the past, progress looms ----- Eddie does a great job of respecting the traditional stuff -- Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan ---
ReplyDeleteJeff Hoag is very good when he is on also. Bob
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree on Eddie Stubbs and Jeff Hoag. They're my radio heroes, and have told both of them so in emails.
ReplyDeleteBut when they're not on WSM, the times "they are are a' changing," and not for the better.
I don't mind new TRADITIONAL country music, but Bro Country, Rap Country, and Rock Country don't cut it with me. And I'm hearing it just a little more of it sneaking into the broadcast day at WSM.
I still listen to WSM a LOT, but not with the passion I used to.
The new Circle Network sidekicks on Bill Cody's morning show, Country, Coffee and Cody (and Charlie) bring nothing to the broadcast and are annoying. The afternoon drive time sounds just like any other country radio station. Eddie still brings it nightly and Jeff is a refreshing ray of sunshine.
ReplyDeletePatrick,
DeleteYou NAILED it.
My thoughts exactly.