Over 50 country music lovers boarded the big Crossroad Tours bus in front of Annie's Country Jubilee Theatre in Tonganoxie, KS early this morning bound for Allerton, IA and Beth Hunter's Night Sky Opry. Stopping briefly at the Lawson/Holt exit on I-35 to pick up David George, Annie's musical director and lead guitarist and Marvin Bredemeier, Annie's fine fiddle player, their family and friends and again at Toot-Toot's Restaurant in Bethany, MO for lunch, we rolled up in front of the Allerton Community Center, a half-hour before showtime, greeted by Beth and husband Frank.
Marvin and Vance Monday kicked off this great show in a classic fashion, playing "Back Up And Push" on twin fiddles and a little later in the evening, returned with "Ragtime Annie" and "Bile That Cabbage Down." Vance got a big hand as he returned to his regular haunt behind the steel guitar, and played a song he wrote sometime ago to commemorate this very show entitled "Night Sky" while Marvin made the rosin fly with the "Beaumont Rag" and "Orange Blossom Special." Lila Monday, Vance's wife, hit a home run, singing "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down," "Invisible Tears" and "Mr. Man In The Moon" and we always enjoy listening to Night Sky's song stylist and bass player Mark Bailey sing and tonight it was "You And Me Goin' Fishin' In The Dark" and "Hillbilly Rock" a little later in the show. Drummer Jim Robinson showed his vocal talents off with a song written by Dave Irwin (Beth Irwin or Lizzie Lou's husband) entitled "Say A Prayer For Daddy" and returned the second half with Waylon's "Can't You See." Jim's brother Tom Robinson who handles both the lead guitar and keyboard duties here at Night Sky got a big hand as he sang the jaunty "Watermellon Crawl" for the appreciative audience. David George played some awesome licks here tonight and was featured on vocals by his two favorite artists, Buck Owens' "Love's Gonna Live Here Again" and John Conlee's "Rose Colored Glasses."
Beth Hunter will never be remembered as just a singer.......she is a consumate entertainer who makes every song an adventure. She began the evening singing "Who Says You Can't Go Home" with Tom Robinson, then it was a couple of Anne Murray songs, "A Love Song" and "Snowbird," "Now And Then There's A Fool Such As I," "Never Ending Love For You," "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On," Patsy Montana's "Cowboy's Sweetheart" and with help from Annie & the crew, her patent "Washing Machine Song."
Johnny Hudson is one of those rare individuals who we believe can sing anything and make it sound great. He will be appearing at Riordan Hall, Belle Vista, AR with Vance & Lila Monday at their country show, May 22nd and every 4th Saturday of the month thereafter. Tonight he showed his great versatility and range with "Crying My Heart Out Over You," "Keith Whitley's "Don't Close Your Eyes," Tracy Lawrence's "Paint Me A Birmingham," Willie Nelson's "Angels Flying Too Close To The Ground" and returned the second half with "Make The World Go Away," "Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine" and Travis Tritt's "Anymore." Great performance!
Although her CD "Memories Of Nashville" was actually released almost two months ago, Annie Dunavin was presented a big bouquet of roses by Beth, who along with the audience congratulated her on the success her project has enjoyed, both here and abroad. If you haven't had the opportunity to purchase this CD, we highly recommend you consider it. It's a great tribute to classic country music and details are available at Annie's website: www.anniescountryjubilee.com . Annie began her set tonight with Connie Smith's "Nobody But A Fool," then "Don't Touch Me," "Bonaparte's Retreat," "Slewfoot," "A-11," "If The Truth Hurts" and just an incredible job on "Sweet Memories." The entire crew joined Annie on stage to close the show with "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." Thanks to Terry & Annie Dunavin - Frank & Beth Hunter for their kindness and hospitality (Below) The Night Sky Opry 5-3-09 l. to r. David George, Mark Bailey, Marvin Bredemeier, Jim Robinson, Beth Hunter, Johnny Hudson, Lila Monday, Vance Monday, Annie Dunavin, Tom Robinson
