WJCT Public Media and the Jacksonville Music Experience welcomes Black Opry Revue to the WJCT Soundstage on Thursday, February 15.
***This is a Seated Show
Doors at 7 p.m.
Black Opry Revue at 8 p.m.
A collective of Black country, blues, folk and Americana artists, Black Opry was founded in Nashville as a supportive network where Black artists – long overlooked and disregarded in the country-music space – could be heard and celebrated. Over the last few years, the collective has continued to grow, putting Black country artists on stages across the country, their performances earning praise from Rolling Stone, NPR, Nashville Scene and more.
One of the most valuable aspects of country music is its versatility and diversity in sound. Country, blues, folk, and Americana music often overlap or weave together, and the artists touring as part of the Black Opry Revue explore all of those sounds and intersections.
Joining the Black Opry Revue for the collective’s WJCT Soundstage performance will be Nashville soul-blues singer and guitarist LAYNA, Birmingham country/hip-hop artist Lori Rayne, New Orleans based singer-songwriter Mia Borders and Wilmington, NC singer-songwriter Jared Michael Cline. (Scroll below to stream music by each artist and read their full bios).
***This is a Seated Show
Doors at 7 p.m.
Black Opry Revue at 8 p.m.
Read More about the Black Opry
Black Opry Revue showcases Black country and folk singers
-The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Black Opry: a joyful, supportive celebration of Black artists
-NPR
The Black Opry Revue Fosters Vital Connections for Black Country Musicians
-Nashville Scene
A Black Country Music Fan Didn’t Feel Safe at Concerts. So She Started a Movement
– Rolling Stone
JME and WJCT welcome the following artists as part of the Black Opry Revue:
LAYNA
Blending the colorful sounds of Blues, Pop, and Soul, LAYNA’s music has been quoted as “unique” and “intimate.” And while being a storyteller at heart, she finds a voice for the voiceless and sings for change. Her songs have told stories about substance abuse, driving under the influence, capitalism, injustice and others yet to be told. Her voice, smooth like the fretboard she plays so well, has been compared to Tracy Chapman and Sara Bareilles.
Lori Rayne
Born in Birmingham, AL, Lori Rayne is anything but ordinary when it comes to her take on country music. Growing up in one of the most historical places in the south, Birmingham, AL, it’s no secret that Lori Rayne has had a plethora of influences when it comes to southern culture and music. With influences heavy in ‘90s hip hop, blues and country, Lori Rayne brings her own twist to the music she creates. With her soulful voice, coupled with storytelling lyrics, and country beats and vibes, there is truly a uniqueness there. Lori released her debut EP entitled 1926, dedicated to her granddad and is continuing to write and record new music in Nashville.
Mia Borders
A native of uptown New Orleans, Mia Borders’ powerhouse vocals and compelling songwriting have made her a perennial figure in the regional music scene. Heralded locally and nationally as one of the city’s best talents, Borders has shared bills with B.B. King, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lee Fields and Marc Broussard, among others. Her live shows are regularly praised as “deeply funky” (USA Today) and “confident and cool” (The Times-Picayune). Her expansive catalog includes six LPs, various live albums, five singles, and three EPs – including 2019’s “well-steeped in classic soul” Good Side of Bad (Offbeat Magazine). Borders’ latest self-produced singles include, “Sweater Weather” and “Right on Time,” all released under Borders’ own label, Blaxican Records.
Jared Michael Cline
An active performer, musician, and songwriter in Wilmington, NC, Jared Michael Cline aims to connect with his audiences on a level that digs deep below the surface of each and every person in attendance. Citing his influences as “life, love, and pain,” he has no problem using his pen to address thoughts and feelings that are essentially taboo, or plainly, unspoken. Continually growing and developing, Jared Michael Cline shows immense promise as an artist and songwriter, and will certainly be one to touch even the hardest of hearts through his music.
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