The Ringgold Depot Opry offers a spotlight for talented local musicians, the show's executive producer said, and Saturday's show welcomes Chattanooga-based outlaw country legend Roger Allan Wade and friends.
Thom Cavin said Wade is the most famous musician that has played the opry in the five seasons Cavin has produced the show. Cavin said that's because most of his work has focused on up-and-coming talent in the area since he retired from a 20-year Nashville-based career in media and entertainment and moved back to the area.
"The whole time I was working in Nashville, I was planning what I was going to do to get back to Chattanooga," Cavin said in a phone call.
Now in its third decade, he said the opry's early shows were basically a jam session, or musical free-for-all.
But about five years ago, Cavin said he and business partner Greg Hopkins were brought in to add their expertise to the event as a way to bring more visitors to Ringgold.
"That's one of the things that we introduced to the Ringgold Depot Opry was some really good local writers that were able build their careers on those little shows," said Cavin, who grew up in the Walker County side of the Chattanooga Valley.
The monthly second-Saturday shows are family friendly, affordable at $10 (cash only), and bring in a diverse array of music and entertainment, he said. Most events are alcohol-free, but Cavin said alcohol will be served at this show.
After the outlaw country show featuring Wade on Saturday, Cavin said next month the opry is planning a classical jazz contemporary Christian performance with James Ward, and in May, the opry will hosts its ballroom dance event with a 14-piece brass band featuring the music of Dolly Parton.
Last month, the opry featured Chattanooga-based musician Jimmy Tawater, Cavin said, who played a rock 'n' roll tribute covering hits from the 1950s to the 1970s.
(READ MORE: Ringgold, Georgia celebrates Dolly Days on Saturday, May 13, 2023)
Along with his work on the opry, Cavin founded both the Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia songwriters associations as well as producing events that spotlight local talent for the past 15 years. As a long-time television producer, he said the videos of the opry shows really help artists book bigger gigs and grow their careers.
Roger Allan Wade
Wade is best known for songs like "BB Gun," "D-R-U-N-K," "Poontang" and the theme song of his cousin Johnny Knoxville's show "Jackass," "If You're Gonna Be Dumb." Much of Wade's recordings are simply his voice and guitar, telling often hilarious stories of hard living and honky tonk Southern culture.
Wade said he's looking forward to a big night Saturday in Ringgold.
"I'm very grateful that folks like Thom and everybody that's running that place are working to keep the music alive around here," Wade said in a phone call. "I'm truly grateful for all their efforts and providing a wonderful venue for folks to come to."
He said he's played the opry several times over the years and has been treated like a king every visit.
Wade said that on Saturday he will be playing with his grandson, Roland Dixon. Dixon is one of his favorite singer-songwriters ever, he said, and not just because they're related.
"If I ever get that good, I'm going to get myself a cape," Wade said of his grandson.
Musicians Nick Bevins, Vic Burgess and Pete Murcott will also be playing a few of their songs to open the show, Wade said.
Chattanooga music
Being from a smaller city like Chattanooga gave Cavin the empathy to want the best for local artists and support them in their careers, he said. Nashville was different — a city where people move to with big country music dreams that usually never come true, he said.
"Look at how many leave with just a guitar case," Cavin said. "They're begging to get out of here. It'll devour you."
(READ MORE: Music fundraiser concert to benefit special needs park planned for Ringgold, Georgia)
Cavin said he's just one piece of a bigger community trying to create a better environment for musicians here.
There are multiple local musicians that he's proud to have helped grow their careers. Robby Hopkins and Ryan Oyer are two of several songwriters who've spring-boarded from the opry and songwriters association shows into bigger careers, Cavin said.
"They're booking bigger shows, writing better songs, writing bigger songs with bigger co-writers," Cavin said.
Burgess, Oyer and Jack Endelouz recently all released songs on the same day, Cavin said, and they all were playing an open mic at a Chattanooga brewery this week.
"When I see stuff like that, I'm very proud because these guys bring this sense of community to their shows," he said. "They may play a cover here and there, but it's really about their songs. I'm 110% behind people like that."
Contact Andrew Wilkins at awilkins@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.
Contributed Photo / From left, Jimmy Tawater, drummer Steve Vincent and Alan Locke perform at the Ringgold Depot Opry show in February. On the right, the show's executive producer, Thom Cavin, joined the band for a song to finish the night.