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 Clifton Forge.
In 2022, Cash Unchained became one of 12 bands that make up The Virginia Opry. James Tamelcoff, the band’s leader who is a guitarist and vocalist from Culpeper, Virginia, 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.
Tamelcoff and Bryant opened The Virginia Opry’s show at Lime Kiln Theater on April 30, 2022.The show featured Chris Lane with opening acts by Ashley Cooke and Lily Rose. More than 2,000 people attended the show.
“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 Cash’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 Association owned and operated the theater, then operating under the name of the Historic Stonewall Theatre.
Executive Director Justin Peery, a member of The Virginia Opry along with his older brother, Stephen, makes up Gentlemen South, one of the Virginia Opry’s 12 bands. Justin Peery 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.
Gov. Ralph S. Northam signed Senate Bill 283, filed in 2020 by Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, January 2020 to designating 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 theater each year following The Historic Masonic Theatre’s grand reopening in July 2016, following the completion of a $6.9 million restoration project.
Tickets for “Cash Unchained at The Virginia Opry” start at $25 and may be reserved by calling 540-862-5655 or visiting www.historicmasonictheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the theatre’s box office at 510 Main St. in Clifton Forge.
