The Shadow
After returning to Rockbridge County from New York City, Justin Peery recruited Stephen Peery, his older brother, to form Gentlemen South, a country music duo that has expanded to become a seven-piece band.
Justin, who graduated from Alleghany High School, returned from Manhattan in 2010 where he was working in the fashion industry as a photographer and purchased Good Place Farm outside of the City of Lexington.
After forming Gentlemen South, the brothers performed at the Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, at the George’s Hotel in Lexington and at Good Place Farm. After being inducted into The Virginia Opry, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry, Gentlemen South performed in The Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge.
In June of 2022, Gentlemen South expanded its group to include Robert Peery, Justin and Stephen’s father who goes by “Steve,” and four other musicians who opened The Virginia Opry’s “Tribute to George Strait” show headlined by the Brian Buchanan Band at the Jackson River Sports Complex’s River Rock Amphitheatre in Covington.
The group features Johnny King from Alleghany County, lead guitar and vocals; Randy “Stix” Akers from Roanoke, drums; Billy Berberette from Clifton Forge, bass guitar and vocals; and Jerry Wood, fiddle.
Both Justin and his father play the trumpet and perform as vocalists, and Stephen, a vocalist, plays piano and keyboard.
Justin recalled when Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family were asked to leave the Little Red Hen in Lexington because of their affiliation with President Donald J. Trump.
He said, “They were spending a week at Good Place Farm, and after they were asked to leave the Little Red Hen where they had gone for dinner, they returned to Good Place Farm without mentioning the incident.”
“That was on the evening of June 21, in 2018, the day that she and her family checked in at Good Place Farm, and she was so gracious, not mentioning the incident at all.”
Justin continued, “I learned about the incident on the national news the next day, and Sarah asked where she and her family could go for a peaceful day, and I recommended Douthat State Park where they wound up spending a relaxing day.”
Dignitaries from around the world and political figures from the U.S. have stayed at Good Place Farm, including U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions and his wife who spent their 50th wedding anniversary there.
Last week, a party of 21 from the Netherlands stayed at Good Place Farms, and guests from Europe, India and other nations have been guests as well.
Justin pointed out that Good Place Farm has no political affiliation and that Good Place Farm’s Country Inn and Bed and Breakfast features 11 suites.
