Howdy, country fans!
Turner resident Jake Nacrelli has been playing music in the area for about eight years. Two years ago, he started his band, Jake and the Hill People, but something was missing.
“When I was first coming up playing music, me and my friend Simon, my lead guitar player, traveled to Austin and Nashville. We had dreams of moving to a place like that,” he said. “The more we thought about it, we decided we would rather bring Nashville to Oregon rather than go somewhere else.”
That’s when he started The Oregon Opry, based off the world-famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The first show was in February 2024.
The Oregon Opry highlights country artists from the Pacific Northwest.
“Opening acts are always Oregon,” said Jake, “but it's highlighting NW country music of the whole region.”
“There’s a lot of different branches that stem from original country music — outlaw country, bluegrass, Bakersfield sound…We like to have artists that write their own music and play some of the traditional stuff, too.”
Currently, the Oregon Opry hosts a show once a month, highlighting three artists from the northwest. “The more people that show up the more we can do it,” said Jake. “My goal is that if enough people enjoy it, we can do it even more than once a month.”
Keep an eye on linktr.ee/oregonopry for upcoming shows.
Upcoming shows
The Oregon Opry with Tylor & The Train Robbers, Jake & The Hill People, Alison Self
8 p.m. August 31 at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre
$15 in advance; $20 day of show. Click here for tickets.
PDX Takeover
September 28 at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre
Scott Roger | Falloff Photography