The seed of an idea was long simmering, something discussed excitedly over coffee between Johnny Brenda’s booker Brandy Hartley and musician Birdie Busch. Brandi, inspired by a night of music she attended in Chicago called “Devil in the Woodpile” and Birdie by old television variety shows like that of Johnny Cash’s and Dick Cavett’s in the 70’s, made plans to have a night at Johnny Brenda’s that brought a lot of their co-conspiring to light. Thus we present the inaugural unarguable Philly Opry on Friday February 12th, the night of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and the kick-off for all St. Valentine weekenders with their dance cards eagerly in hand.

Hosting and performing the night with her band will be Birdie Busch, and joining her as featured acts will be local songsmith Scott Pryor and the traveling honky-tonk harmony-tastic Sweetback Sisters. Tying them all together like the fine embroidery of a nudie suit will be Esposito Bandito and Sneaky Cheese weaving stories of Wild West Philly and other special guests. As you may have guessed, dressing up in your finest country flare is crazily encouraged and will be celebrated upon your arrival to the revival.

If there is a special place in your heart for everything from the Texas Swing dancehalls of the fifties to the eccentricities of Roger Miller, to the journeys and arrivals of American songwriters to the spirit of everlasting melodies, we recommend you come on out to this one time only affair.

FEEL. HEAR. DO. Real time ya’ll. Take pictures. A thing to show grandkids of the future and weirdos who appreciate it…or weirdos your grandkids bring home who will think you’re the coolest ever. Time is a soft pretzel and our hearts broken bells ringing! Philly Opry!

The music of Philly’s Emily 'Birdie' Busch is natural. There is no pretense, nothing forced or processed - just delicate, beautiful melodies and deceptively simple lyrics that resonate deeply upon further discovery. Inspired by writers like Paul Simon, Gillian Welch and Neil Young, there is a distinct jubilance to her writing that is informed with a sweet sorrow, creating a musical balance that is at once comfortable, familiar and still unique. One of Philly's sweetest voices...

Like their pseudo-sister role models, the Davis Sisters, the Sweetback Sisters sing country songs in close, surrogate-sister harmony and matching dresses. Their repertoire combines several of the Sisters' passions -- country music from before they were born and new interpretations of those traditions -- to create a fresh take on what it means to be country. The Sweetback line-up features the lavish voices of Zara Bode and Emily Miller joined by an all-star cast of instrumentalists including: West Virginian triple threat Jesse Milnes; Stefan Amidon on drums; Philly's stringed slayer Ross Bellenoit on rippin' Telecaster, and a the newest Sweetback Sister Bridget Kearney on bass. Their debut EP Bang! was released in early 2007 and earned them a spot on A Prairie Home Companion's talent contest for twenty-somethings. A full length album Chicken Ain't Chicken is scheduled for release June 30th on the Signature Sounds label.

Pryor hails from the woods of North Carolina and Virginia, but now calls Philadelphia home. Drawing on heritage that spans the urban and the rural, Pryor’s songs revel in the grit, bone and redemptive seeds to be found in each. From swimming holes to skyscrapers, from plows to asphalt playgrounds, Pryor stitches together the strange and mundane bits of a weathered and heroic Americana. Filled with wonder and longing, Theater for the Weary is ultimately defined by the triumph of earnest joy in spite of the facts — supported by the delight-filled clatter and swoon of new-found musical friends and collaborators. Produced by Devin Greenwood, recorded by Bill Moriarty, and featuring musicians that Pryor hand-picked from his favorite local bands (including Buried Beds, West Philadelphia Orchestra, Amy Pickard, Hoots & Hellmouth, and Birdie Busch), Theater for the Weary reflects Pryor’s growth as a songwriter and collaborator, and his expanding artistic vision.