Bob Weir....”Bringing it all Back Home”

 Nov. 08, 2018

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

And with a lil help from my friends.....

Julia Nichols, Deseare Iwin-Gnann, Karen Dismukes-Cooper, and more

The Wolf Brothers (Bob Weir, Jay Lane, Don Was) stopped in at the Ryman Auditorium to pay homage at the “Mother Church” of Americana. Ever since receiving the 2016 Americana Lifetime achievement award Nashville seems to be a special spot for Bob. As Bob said then in his acceptance speech....”You take musical traditions from England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain a little bit, a little bit from France, and blend them together with a rich variety of African musical traditions, and stir it up. You let is simmer for 200 to 300 years and see what happens. This could only happen in a new land. Physically, culturally, and spiritually. That place was and is America.” It was very appropriate to have some special guests that are prominent artists in the Americana genre, Margo Price, John Oates, and Buddy Miller to join in to make it a very special evening.

Sweetheart of the Rodeo returns to the Ryman

Oct.11, 2018

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Fifty years ago the Byrds were in Nashville recording “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”, having been influenced by the country roots of Gram Parsons who joined after the departure of David Crosby.

Country Rock's birth happened and although it took decades this album is now considered one of the most influential for the “Americana” genre today. To celebrate it's 50^th anniversary Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman joined forces with Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives (“cousin” Kenny Vaughn, “handsome” Harry Stinson, and Chris Scruggs) to perform not just the songs from album but also legendary songs from the Byrds catalog of hits along with a special nod to Tom Petty with whom all had collaborated.

Photographer Les Leverett's Opry Debut at 91

May 12, 2018

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

After a lifetime of photographing the artists on stage at the Ryman Auditorium Les Leverett took the stage to make his Opry debut singing with Marty Stuart and his Superlatives. It was Opry Country Classics night which was very appropriate because Les himself is a classic.

  

“A Song for You”...Tedeschi Trucks start 3 nights at the Ryman

March 4, 2017

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

The Tedeschi Trucks Band opened the first night of their March weekend Ryman run by showcasing Jorma Kaukonen as their opening act. Leon Russell was to be but his passing necessitated the change.

Joe Russo's Almost Dead at the Ryman

Jan. 14, 2017

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Joe Russo's Almost Dead (or JRAD) made their first visit to the Ryman Auditorium and proceeded to”tear this old building down” in true deadhead fashion. JRAD, a self confessed “Dead” cover band, consists of Joe Russo , Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz, Scott Metzger, and Tom Hamilton and were joined by Nashville's own Nicole Atkins on vocals.

Bob Weir brings the Campfire tour to the home of Americana

Oct. 24, 2016

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

 Returning to the “Mother Church” of Americana where he had just received a Lifetime Achievement award the month before, Bob performed his “Campfire Tour” show to a sold out show of fans. 

This was the culmination of Bob's 2 day visit to Nashville. Night one was what will be for ever known as a legendary sit in with his “50^th Fare Thee Well” band mate Trey at the Phish show. The next day Bob shopped at Carter Vintage Guitars and picked up a Gretsch “Chet Atkins” model #6120. He also stopped in at the famous “clothier” to the stars, Manuel's, shop and picked out a custom blue cowboy shirt, both of which made an appearance at his Ryman Auditorium show that night.

Americana Awards 2016...Bob Weir, George Strait, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, and many more

September 29th, 2016

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

The 2016 Americana Awards show at the Ryman was a true tribute to the music of America. It honored those who have passed on, it honored those still here whose lifetime of music making made them a place among the honorees, and it recognized those rising stars continuing the tradition of making music, Americana Style. Bob Weir, Dwight Yoakam, John McEuen,The Nitty Gritty Dirtband, William Bell, Jason Isbell, Margo Price, George Strait, Jim Lauderdale, Shawn Colvin, Bonnie Raitt, Emmy Lou Harris, Buddy Miller, Steve Fishell and more contributed to the night's success.

Wild Feathers Ryman Auditorium Debut

June 25, 2016

Nashville, TN

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

The Wild Feathers made their debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium to a sold out crowd of enthusiastic fans on Saturday night. The hallowed walls shook from the the energy generated from the band to the fans and back to the band again.

It is a sign that the time has come for the Wild Feathers to take their place among the the great Rock N Roll bands on the planet.

Emi Sunshine's star shines brighter at Sam's Place!!

Nov. 11, 2015

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Emi made her debut at Sam's Place, Music for the Spirit, hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman at the Ryman Auditorium. If an artist's star shines from the goodness in their heart then the artists she shared the stage with that night are the brightest stars of all.

  

SteelDrivers rock the Ryman!!

July 27, 2015

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

The SteelDrivers took the stage at the Ryman Auditorium July 23^rd as part of the “Bluegrass Nights” series. Hot from the success of their new album “The Muscle Shoals Recordings” on Rounder records which debuted on the Billboard Bluegrass chart at #1 they are not your ordinary Bluegrass band.

  

“Fathers and Sons”....Michael and Dylan McDonald at the Ryman

June 17, 2015

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

The famous Muddy Waters album (that album cover says it all) seemed to fit the spirit of the show Michael and Dylan McDonald played at the Ryman Auditorium recently. You can see and hear the influence of Michael's legacy on his son Dylan's music but Dylan has forged a style that is uniquely his own.....(read more)

In Memory of Brian Farmer..Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Ryman

Feb. 14, 2015

Nashville, TN.

Review and Photos by Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Last night the Ryman Auditorium exploded!!! Not in the physical sense, but in the spiritual/emotional sense. It was the second night of a 2 show run for the Tedeschi Trucks band at the Ryman.  

Ain't that America

Jan. 30, 2015

Nashville, TN.

Review by Vicki Langdon and Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos by Vicki Langdon and Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Americana is the new word for American music today, drawing from the various roots of our current music scene including Country, roots-rock, bluegrass, blues, etc....Well Carlene Carter returning home to Nashville's Ryman Auditorium (Arguably the HOME base for Americana) for a stellar performance, opening the show for John Mellencamp's stellar performance, just has to be Americana in it's purest form. 

Saturday Night at the Grand Ole Opry....Passing the Torch in 2015

Jan.4, 2015

Nashville, TN.

Review and Photos by Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Saturday Night at the Grand Ole Opry has always been special for Country Music. The first Saturday night of 2015 saw the Oldest member, Jimmy Dickens, memorialized after his death Jan.2^nd and what may soon be the youngest member, Emi Sunshine (rumors are flying that this will happen) closing the show with Marty Stuart.  

Music City, USA threw a Birthday party for Jerry Lee Lewis!

October 17, 2014

Words by Butch Worrell

Photos by Butch Worrell

(Cake and Book photos by “Bird”)

Jerry Lee Lewis turned 80 and launched a “Birthday” tour which touched down at the “Mother Church of Country Music”, Nashville's The Ryman Auditorium October 4^th.

Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam…..The best show of CMA week

By Butch Worrell
     Nashville, TN

 Thirteen years ago Marty Stuart started a Country Music tradition. At 10PM, right after the CMA awards are over Marty started putting on a show he called the Late Night Jam.

Not only does the show feature Him and his Fabulous Superlatives (Kenny Vaughn on lead guitar, Paul Martin on bass, and Harry Stinson on drums), he invites musical friends of all types to come play. This photo gallery is of his opening segment. It also features Eddie Stubbs the Opry announcer and fiddle player and the Opry Square dancers.

Emi Sunshine Steals the Show!

By Butch Worrell
     Nashville, TN.

 Marty Stuart, having been hired at age 14 to play with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, has an affinity for young people trying to make it in the music business.

Temptations and The Four Tops at the Ryman

By Butchie (Butch Worrell)
Nashville, TN

Temptations and the Four Tops rocked the Ryman

Primus…..Gone Country??

By Butch Worrell

      Nashville, TN

Les Claypool’s Primus rolled into Nashville for a show at the “Mother Church” of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium.   

Even though Jay Lane’s setlist art might suggest that Primus is going country let me assure you that is not the case! Primus is still that funky, earth shaking musical style all of it’s own.  If the ghost of Captain Ryman was around that night I’m sure his mind  was blown away  by the music.  As was everyone in attendance.

“Just Exactly Perfect” An evening with Weir, Robinson, and Greene at the Ryman

By Butch Worrell
      Nashville, TN

The weather was perfect.  The venue was perfect. The audience was perfect.  So were Bob Weir, Chris Robinson, and Jackie Greene.

                    

How often do you get three great artists like this together in the “Mother Church” of Americana music to perform their (and our)  favorite songs? Unfortunately only once. But if the universe were to give a second chance for those that missed this, it would truly be a miracle.