Abita Opry Media - 2012-04 featuring the Petty Bones, The Bourbon Brass Band, Stale Bread Scottie, and Johnny Dilks

MEDIA - AO2012-04

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.

The Petty Bones
A long time favorite of the Opry. Anne and Jerry Crowell are some of the favorite members of the Abita Opry family. They have a wonderful variety of traditional songs that they perform with some great harmonies. Anne has a very rich voice that enhances any song she performs, and Jerry loves to pick on that vintage Gibson tenor banjo that was given as a donation to the Opry. Harvey Jones on mandolin is always entertaining, and Bobby Belloni keeps the rhythm going on the bass.

The Bourbon Brass Band
The Bourbon Brass Band is a traditional New Orleans Jazz Band. The Brass bands go back to the turn of the 20th century when brass bands were hired to play as a funeral procession went to the cemetery. Many of the musicians also played in the dance halls and in the bawdy houses in storyville. They performed bluesey ragtime in those places. They blended these musical styles in the gospel tunes they played in the processions. The blending of these styles and the development of improvisational additions to the tunes all were important contributions to American classical music better known as Jazz.

Stale Bread Scottie
This is a first-class jug band performing some very rich vintage songs. Some of their best songs are their version of songs that were originally written and performed by a relatively little-known but influential group, the Mississippi Sheiks, who played and recorded in the Mississippi Delta in the 1930s. The Sheiks originated songs that later became standards among the musicians who followed. Songs like "Sitting on Top of The World" were originated by the Sheiks. The Kitchen Men play these songs with a lot of energy and the group features one of the best washboard players you will ever hear.

Johnny Dilks & The Highway Kind
This is a big group of musicians. Johnny really puts on a show. He performs some great standard country songs with the group's own twist. They provide a very interesting blend of country music augmented by a horn section. He has performed all over the country, and is now located in the New Orleans area. He has appeared at many local festivals and in clubs in the area. We had the pleasure of hearing Johnny at one of our jam sessions where we found out that he could yodel as well or better then most people who enhance their songs with that technique.