CLIFTON FORGE—The Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry, The Virginia Opry, will open its 32nd performance season by teaming with The Historic Masonic Theatre to present “Cash Unchained at The Virginia Opry” on Fri., March 31, at 7:30 p.m.
In 2022, Cash Unchained became one of 12 bands that make up The Virginia Opry, and James Tamelcoff, the band’s leader who is a guitarist and vocalist from Culpeper, Va., performed two shows with The Virginia Opry in 2022, one at Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington and one at the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel’s Washington Hall. He performed with Keith Bryant, also a member of The Virginia Opry, on both shows.
“Cash Unchained at The Virginia Opry” will feature Tamelcoff and his band paying tribute to “The Man in Black,” one of country music’s most iconic performers.
Tamelcoff has been touring across the country presenting the music of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, covering Johnny’s early hits on Sun Records and his later ones on American Records.
The Virginia Opry made its debut on Oct. 17, 1992, on stage at The Historic Masonic Theatre when Appalfolks of America Assoc. owned and operated the theatre that was operating under the name of the Historic Stonewall Theatre.
Tamelcoff and Bryant opened The Virginia Opry’s show at Lime Kiln Theater on April 30, 2022, which featured Chris Lane with opening acts by Ashley Cooke and Lily Rose. More than 2,000 attended the show.
Executive Director Justin Peery, a member of The Virginia Opry along with his older brother, Stephen; make up Gentlemen South, one of the Virginia Opry’s 12 bands. Justin has scheduled two Virginia Opry shows at The Historic Masonic Theatre, two at the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel and Conference Center and one at the Jackson River Sports Complex’s River Rock Amphitheatre.
On Feb. 17, 2017, the Virginia General Assembly passed a resolution honoring The Virginia Opry for completing 25 consecutive years of producing country music shows in the Alleghany Highlands.
Governor Ralph S. Northam signed “Senate Bill 283” that Senator R. Creigh Deeds filed in Jan. of 2020 to designate The Virginia Opry as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry. The bill passed the Virginia Senate 40-0 and the Virginia House of Delegates by a 93-6 vote.
After owning and making restoration improvements to the theatre for 12 years, Appalfolks of America donated the Historic Stonewall Theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003, and The Virginia Opry has performed in the theatre each year following The Historic Masonic Theatre’s Grande Re-opening in July of 2016, following the completion of a $6.9 million restoration project.
Tickets for “Cash Unchained at The Virginia Opry” are $25 to $30 depending upon seating locations, and they may be reserved by calling (540) 862-5655 or going online at www.historicmasonictheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the theatre’s box office at 510 Main St. in Clifton Forge.
