Abita Springs Opry Media - 2006-05 Featuring the Abita Strings, Joe manuel and Keith Cole, Sunpie Barnes, Gina Forsyth, and the PineEars

MEDIA - AO2006-05

The Abita Springs Opry is a series of music concerts held six times a year and is produced by a nonprofit organization, Abita Opry Inc. The show has the mission of preserving and presenting Louisiana "Roots" music. Our music is played primarily acoustically, in its original form.

Our main thrust is old-time Country, Bluegrass, and traditional Southern Gospel music, but we often present other forms of traditional Louisiana music such as Cajun, Zydeco, Irish, or other types that reflect the many different groups of people who are part of our diverse culture.

Abita Strings

This home town bluegrass ensemble is one of the Opry's "House Band". Setting the pace for every show, the Abita Strings have taken Traditional to another level.

Joe Manuel and Keith Cole

Joe Manuel is an expert craftsman and possesses an intricate knowledge and zeal for vintage string instruments, their specifications and sensibilities. He is also a master guitarist and mandolin player, who is accomplished in several diverse musical forms. In addition he also teaches, composes, records and performs music. Joe is joined by Keith Cole, another multi-talented musician.

Sunpie Barnes

Sunpie Barnes is a former College All American and Professional Football Player and his current day job is as a ranger and naturalist at Jean Lafitte National Park. But what brings Sunpie Barnes to our stage is his tremendous talent on the piano accordion.

A true Renaissance Man - Sunpie has traveled to over 35 countries playing his own style of blues, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Louisiana music. In addition to being a musician, Sunpie has acted in several feature length films including Point of No Return, Under Cover Blues, The Gates of Silence, The Big Easy series, and several more.

Gina Forsyth

Gina Forsyth is an award-winning singer/songwriter, violinist and guitarist. Her southern roots dig deep into the soul of American culture and bloom forth in the form of pertinent, powerful lyrics that rest on the branches of vivid melodies. Steeped in a wide array of influences, she has successfully linked the traditional to the contemporary, the erudite to the instinctual and the accomplished to the unrefined.

Born in Florida and raised in Alabama, Gina grew up on hymns, country songs and old time fiddle tunes. In 1983, she moved to New Orleans studying classical and jazz violin at Loyola University. She quickly grew to love Cajun music, even moving at one point to Lafayette to steep herself in Cajun music.

The Pine Ears