Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
It was fabulous night at the Grand Ole Oprey.
We booked the tour in Australia, not fully aware of what the evening would bring, but thought it would be a "good thing to do in Nashville". Picked up from our hotel n a minibus and then travelled out of town to Opreyland. This is a huge new area, the hotel has 2880 rooms and the shopping centre boasts the largest mall in Tennessee (but we weren't going shopping), and the concert arena which hosts the Grand Ole Oprey.
The auditorium could hold over 4000 people, and it was nearly full the night we were there. The seats were like church pews, similar to the Ryman theater, and people were bringing their hotdogs, popcorn, drinks, fried chicken, pretzels, and all other manner of food in with them. It reminded me of having a picnic before a big show in a park, but this was inside a large theatre, and people were ready to be entertained. The atmosphere was fantastic, a real buzz, a family night out with the kids.
At 6.30 pm, a MC in a glitzy suit emerged from behind the curtains to welcome us to the Oprey. Basically we were in for a night of live entertainment, being broadcast on air radio station 620am WSM, across the nation and world, and we were to show our enthusiastic support for all the performers! The crowd cheered and clapped just to show him we were fully able to obey this command. There were guests present from all over the USA, as well as, from other countries - including a few from Australia!
At 7.00pm we went ON AIR, the curtains were raised and our MC for the night welcomed us to the Nashville Grand Ole Oprey, the place where country music singers for nearly a 100 years had been coming to perform. Singers who were hoping to break into the music scene and become a star, and singers who were already stars and legends in their own right. The Ryman theatre in downtown Nashville had been hosting the Grand Ole Oprey from 1927 until the 70s, when it was decided a more modern venue was required, and so this new venue was built and the radio show moved out of town.
Interestingly, the developers brought part of the old wooden Ryman stage to this new theatre, and placed it in the form of a circle at the heart of the theatre, at centre stage. This was a powerful reminder that "the circle will be unbroken" and that rising new stars could step in the footprints of those who had gone before them, the superstars of country music.
For over 2 hours we experienced a fantastic show with 8 artists performing. It was a real taste of new and old talent, of different genres of country music, and the hype associated with being part of a live audience for a radio show. We heard country rock, blue grass, ballad and pop. From banjos to electric guitars, from groups to individuals, and from those who just picked and plucked the strings of a range of instruments, we were treated with excellence in country music. I think I may become a fan!
Wynonna Rudd was the final act and she broughtvthe house down with her powerful performance. However, the talent of the two young people who were brought together by their college professorand who have become rising stars, particularly in the TV series "Nashville" was amazing. When I find the program I will remember their names!
It was a great night at the Grand Ole Oprey.
- comments