American Aquarium to Make Grand Ole Opry Debut

It’s a rite of passage for any artist or band. And no matter how bygone the honor and opportunity might feel to some, to any act in the country and roots realm with any notion of history, it’s a bucket list item they will cherish and remember forever.

North Carolina’s American Aquarium and it’s frontman BJ Barham we’re supposed to make their Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, May 1st 2020, which was also the day they released their latest original album, the critically-acclaimed Lamentations. But COVID put the kibosh on those plans as the Opry transitioned to a Saturday-only stripped-down schedule.

But it all worked out in the end, and perhaps for the better. Though they’ve rubbed elbows with country plenty, American Aquarium has always been considered more alt than country over their career. But they surprised everyone in early May when they released Slappers, Bangers and Certified Twangers—a delicious dive into 90s country standards and semi-hits that had people raving, and dudes annoying their wives and girlfriends by proclaiming themselves “The Charlie Daniels of…” whatever they happened to be doing after the band revitalized the old Sammy Kershaw Song “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer.”

Who knows, when BJ Barham steps into the hallowed Opry circle on Tuesday July 13th, perhaps he’ll choose to feature more original material for the band’s now 15-year legacy. But thanks to the new album, when the folks go searching, they’ll find out that American Aquarium can twang as well.

Other performers on Tuesday include Tommy Emmanuel, and (cough) Trace Adkins and Chris Janson. Of course we all can’t be there in person, so the rest of us will have to tune in via WSM online for the audio broadcast.

Signing off for now is the “Charlie Daniels of Country Journalism,” yours truly, Trigger.

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