The first-ever Black Opry Revue is coming to Rockwood Music Hall, showcasing the powerful lyrics and authentic harmonies central to the Black Opry community. The traditional songwriter’s round will feature the songs, stories, and camaraderie cultivated in the Black Opry community: a home for Black artists and Black fans of country, blues, folk, and Americana music. The inaugural iteration of the Black Opry Revue features Tylar Bryant, Lizzie No, Roberta Lea, Joy Clark, and Jett Holden, and will take place on October 5, 2021, at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2 at 7 p.m ET.
The Black Opry Revue is hosted by Holly G., creator of the Black Opry music blog. Holly G. and the Black Opry community have quickly become a vital part of the roots music scene, advocating for Black artists and fans in country, folk, and blues. Black Opry also showcases one of the most valuable aspects of country music: its versatility and diversity in sound.
At the 2021 AmericanaFest in Nashville, Black Opry gathered Black artists and allies for five days of music and community. The invite-only Black Opry day parties and after-hours song circles saw appearances from country music heavy-hitters, including Rissi Palmer, Brittney Spencer, Frankie Staton, Joshua Ray Walker, Reyna Roberts, Miko Marks, and Chris Pierce, and up-and-comers such as Emily Scott Robinson, Tony Evans, Sarah Shook, Lizzie No, and Joy Clark. Black Opry also presented an official AmericanaFest panel moderated by award-winning journalist Marcus Dowling and featuring artists Miko Marks, Lilli Lewis, Queen Esther, Lizzie No, and Jett Holden. The Black Opry’s event series was a first-of-its-kind gathering that signaled the emergence of Black artists as a rising, unified coalition in country and Americana.
The potential and importance of the Black Opry community cannot be overstated. Since 2020, the music industry—and the Americana genre in particular—has faced an equity crisis. The movement provides an opportunity to platform music that more accurately reflects the changing demographics of our country, helps to create a level playing field for musicians of color and speaks out against long-standing prejudice in the music industry.
Black Opry is founded, in part, around the idea of exploring how country, blues, folk, and Americana music often overlap and weave together; the first-ever Black Opry Revue offers an observance of the myriad ways Black artists are poised to step into the spotlight.
Black Opry Revue, Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2, 7 p.m. ET, October 5, 2021.
