Hope stars to perform at Kentucky Opry

Two of Hope’s treasured musical talents, the Night Owl Country Band and singer/songwriter Avery Tallent, will debut on the Kentucky Opry stage at 7:30 pm. Friday.

“I like this role,” Matt Lee, Night Own Country Band lead singer says of his band’s continuing success. “I have an idea of where we are going and I’m trying to drive it there.”

This show will also feature the first time out-of-state debut for Hope’s own singer/songwriter Avery Tallent, who will be one of five acts opening for the NOCB.

The 20-year-old says he was quite surprised by Lee’s invitation to perform since he had never met him. Tallent says he has heard some of NOCB’s songs on YouTube and iTunes, but hadn’t been able to catch a live show.

The Hope native admits he was hesitant about whether his Christian rock sound would fit with the NOCB’s repertoire of songs.

“It was kind of a shock,” Tallent says. “I thought he would want more of a country act to warm up, but turns out he liked my music and I thought it was a cool opportunity.”

But, as it turns out, the NOCB has a diverse playlist planned, including a couple of gospel songs, according to Tim Dooley, the band’s guitarist.

“This is our show and we are in more control of what is going to happen and it’s going to be a fun show,” Dooley says.

Rhythm guitarist Brett Denney echoes Dooley’s sentiment.

“To be headlining the Kentucky Opry is something I never thought I would be doing,” Denney says. “So I am truly excited about this.”

But even more importantly, this show is an opportunity to give back, band members say.

“We want to help other people along the way,” Dooley says.

When it comes to nerves, the guys are divided about anxiousness.

Lee says he’s at ease performing and doesn’t get too rattled before going onstage. But if you ask Dooley, there is a little shaking going on.

“I’m always a little bit anxious until I get down there,” he says. “You don’t always know what you are going to run into with these gigs.”

But the audiences’ enthusiastic reactions reinforces his passion for performing onstage.

“It makes me want to be a better player and put more of my heart into it,” Dooley says.

The venue’s management asked Lee to book the show’s opening acts and he took advantage to help those who have helped the band along the way, he says. And to open the door for up-and-coming local talent.

“We wanted to get someone local from the hometown,” Lee says. “I went ahead and looked up Avery and he’s pretty good.”
Lee sees this upcoming show as more surreal than the band’s previous shows, including their playing Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.

“This time we are going to have our own green room,” he says. “I actually am writing up the show, how long it will be, what people will be singing and how long they will be on stage.”

The Kentucky Opry Theatre, located in Draffenville, is a nearly five hour drive from Hope. The Opry seats more than 500 and has featured performances by many big-name entertainers, including Ray Price, Lee Greenwood and Jack Green.