Opry Night will feature a trio of Pocahontas County bands specializing in old-time and traditional bluegrass music: The Elk River Ramblers, the Hefner Family and the Viney Mountain Boys.

These bands will be playing to honor the memory of Alan Dutchess, a member of the Elk River Ramblers and former member of the Viney Mountain Boys, who passed away unexpectedly last week. Proceeds from the concert will be used to establish a music scholarship in Dutchess' name.

Opry Night takes place Saturday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Youth 17 and younger are admitted free of charge.

The bands will be joined by a number of Pocahontas County musicians whose lives have been touched over the years by Dutchess and his music.

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Dutchess was a regular on the Opera House stage, as well as at the Dunmore Jamboree, Allegheny Echoes and the Elk River Inn at Slaty Fork. As a teacher and mentor, Dutchess generously shared his love of music with young and old alike.

The Ramblers are Terry Richardson on guitar and Paul Marganian on fiddle, guitar, and vocals. With a foundation in old-time and celtic music, The Elk River Ramblers also branch out into bluegrass, klezmer, and surprising renditions of contemporary pop music.

Pocahontas County’s own Viney Mountain Boys feature Doug Scott, Richard Hefner II, David Kershner and Jody Harrison. Drawing from influences that include the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Flatt and Scruggs, the Viney Mountain Boys’ old, traditional bluegrass brings out the purist fans as well as a young set of new fans.

A son of Mill Point, Bill Hefner is one of the most noted flat pick guitar players in West Virginia. A founding member of the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, he is also an accomplished mandolin player. Together with wife Elma Hefner, daughters Julia Williams and Melissa Totten, The Hefner family performs traditional and gospel music.

The Pocahontas County Opera House is located at 818 Third Avenue in Marlinton. Performances at the Opera House are informal, family-friendly and open to all. The entrance and main seating are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend; special accommodations can be arranged upon request by calling 304-799-6645.

The Opera House Performance Series is presented with financial assistance through a grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Financial support for this concert is also provided by Pocahontas County Drama, Fairs and Festivals, Pendleton Community Bank, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and the Law Office of Roger D. Forman.