The Ridgeway Opry House is back open for business as of this Saturday evening. And Frieda Harlow invites anyone interested in hearing – or playing – some good ol’ fashioned country bluegrass music to come on out. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the music commences at 6:30 p.m.
Locals Jimmy Barrier and Keith Aiken are among those musicians that are scheduled to perform, Harlow told Bill Harris on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
Harlow owns the Opry House, located at 704 U.S. 1 in Ridgeway. She said she is dedicated to the preservation of old-time country bluegrass mountain music, but she’s open to other types of music that folks want to bring to the stage.
There’s been beach music and other types of music – “a lot of fine musicians” who have come to play.
“Dwight Moody came in one Saturday night,” Harlow recalled. “He came in all dressed up – boy, he looked good. He could really play the fiddle, he played guitar and sang.”
And then there’s Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange, now called Watchhouse. “He started out coming to the opry when he was about 14,” Harlow said of the Warrenton-born Marlin. She said she didn’t know much of the music he played, but that’s ok. “I always give them a chance,” she said of musicians and singers. “And look where Andrew is now.”
Just as she did when Marlin took the stage, she puts singers and musicians down to play three or four songs. Bands get an hour of playing time, she said.
“All you’ve got to do is call me and I’ll put you on stage,” Harlow said. “I’ll make you a star for a night and make your dreams come true.”
Tickets are $7. Soft drinks are available, and feel free to bring some snacks for the evening. The opry can hold about 100 people and Harlow said she hopes to fill it up on Saturday night.
Contact Harlow at 252.456.3890 or 919.702.2464 to arrange to be on the program.
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