Georgia Magazine - August 2019 - 26

KEITH MAY

KEITH MAY

Around GEORGIA

Top: The George Britt Band plays
every other month at the Lowell
Opry House. Right: As the show's
host, Mimi Gentry also brings
her vocal style to the shows.
Far right: Jimmy Caldwell, who's
been with the band for 10 years,
plays keyboards and guitar.
KEITH MAY

A sampling of opry houses in Georgia

"For years we traveled all over the Southeast-playing
clubs, events and festivals-and created a pretty good following," says Britt, who owns a kitchen cabinet business in
Carrollton. "Around 2007, we decided we wanted to play closer
to home. I had the idea to modify my airplane hangar in the
backyard and create a venue, so we started playing here a
couple of times a month."
On the first Saturday of January, March, May, July, September and November, that hangar becomes the Lowell Opry
House. The George Britt Band performs with occasional guest
artists. The hangar is set up theater-style and can seat about 200
people. A wood-hewn front porch is the focal point of the stage,
with façades on either side to create a backdrop.
Shows are built around themes, such as being on the road,
country love songs or particular country artists, like Merle Haggard or The Highwaymen. Admission is $12 per person.
"We typically do a mix of country covers and original
music," Britt says. "And we do throw in some of that 'Hee Haw'
humor from time to time."
Britt's wife, Joann, works the front of the house. The
couple's 30-year-old son, Joseph, whom everyone calls Bubba,
handles logistics.
"Bubba is also somewhat of a cut-up and comic, so he'll
add an occasional corny joke to the show, and the crowd seems

26

Georgia Magazine

August 2019

to love him," Britt says.
For locals, the opry house is more than a place
to hear music; it's a community gathering spot where
friends meet up to socialize and spend an evening
together.
"We don't do politics or religion at the opry
house," Britt says, "but you'd better believe that the
people here are fellowshipping."
Pamela A. Keene is a freelance writer who lives
in Flowery Branch.

* Everett's Music Barn, 4055 Stonecypher Road,
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Suwanee. Every Saturday. 8 p.m. Free; donations
accepted. (770) 722-1276. everettsmusicbarn.net.
Holland Music Place, 4134 Ga. Highway 203, Baxley.
Monthly; dates vary depending on availability of
artists. 7 p.m. $7. (912) 367-3379.
facebook.com/hollandmusicplace.
Hunter Opry House, 587 Hunter Road, Baxley.
Third Saturday of each month. 6:30 p.m. Free;
bucket passed for donations. (912) 367-4748.
bit.ly/fbhunteropry.
Lowell Opry House, 821 Liberty Church Road,
Carrollton. First Saturday of January, March, May,
July, September and November. 7 p.m. $12.
(770) 328-1024. lowellopryhouse.com.
Powersville Opry House, 240 Powersville Road,
Byron. Every Saturday, starting at 4:15 p.m. First
Sunday, gospel/open mic at 3 p.m. Every Monday,
jam/open mic at 7 p.m. Free. (478) 987-0915.
powersvilleopry.net.
Ringgold Depot Opry, Historic Depot, 155 Depot St.,
Ringgold. Second Saturday of the month, except
December. 7 p.m. Free. (850) 390-1804.
facebook.com/ringgolddepotopry.
Tallulah Falls Opry House, 195 Main St., Tallulah Falls.
Every Saturday. 7 p.m. Free; donations appreciated.
(706) 754-6040. tallulahfallsopry.org.
Woodbine Opry House, 305 Camden Ave.,
Woodbine. Every Friday and Saturday. 7 p.m. Free.
(912) 576-3027. thewoodbineopry.wordpress.com.

http://www.everettsmusicbarn.net http://www.facebook.com/hollandmusicplace http://www.bit.ly/fbhunteropry http://www.lowellopryhouse.com http://www.powersvilleopry.net http://www.facebook.com/ringgolddepotopry http://www.tallulahfallsopry.org http://thewoodbineopry.wordpress.com

Georgia Magazine - August 2019

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