The top country music location in Scotland has narrowly decided to prohibit the display of the Confederate flag due to its negative connotations with slavery and white supremacy.
The Grand Ole Opry in Glasgow held a vote, with a close margin of 50 to 48, to uphold a ban implemented by the venue’s management committee last month. The emergency meeting on Monday marked the end of a contentious internal conflict, which led to the president of the committee stepping down two weeks ago.
The row centred around the use of the red and blue cross in a flag-folding ceremony – known as the American Trilogy and accompanied by the eponymous Elvis Presley hit – at the end of every club night.
On Tuesday, Vice President Karen McCulloch announced that there will be no presence of the Confederate flag at Glasgow’s Grand Ole Opry.
She stated, “It is disheartening that some members were unwilling to recognize the need for our club, as well as others, to modernize and cease the use of a flag that has become associated with harmful ideologies in America and other parts of the world.”
“We took a strong stance against racism and it is a great relief that most of our members agreed that this was the correct course of action.”
The Guardian understands that in recent years, and in particular since the Black Lives Matter movement grew to global prominence in 2020, there has been increasing discomfort about the flag’s associations among Opry members and visitors, and some bookings cancelled because of its prominence.
The National Theatre of Scotland had previously considered using the Opry as a potential location for a show, but has since retracted its interest. They informed the management that the flag is now recognized as having racist associations.
The ongoing argument is being displayed on the social media accounts of Opry members. Some are expressing worries about turning away black and Asian guests, while others are calling for unity among members for the benefit of the club. Additionally, one member has accused those who allegedly tore up their membership cards at the meeting of acting immaturely.
The establishment, established in 1974 and quickly gaining popularity in Glasgow, draws devoted fans who don traditional western clothing and participate in line dancing to live music.
The venue can accommodate 450 people and has three levels with two dance floors. It has also featured performances from bands such as Teenage Fanclub and Franz Ferdinand.
The Opry is not just a music venue for musicians and promoters, but also a social club that promotes inclusivity, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
A promoter expressed to the Guardian: “As with many others, I endorse the choice and trust that this will resolve the issue in a wonderful and hospitable location.”
According to award-winning Scottish writer Nicole Taylor, known for her film Wild Rose which features Jessie Buckley as a single mother and aspiring country singer, the Opry is a place she holds dear. She describes it as a welcoming, inclusive, and easily accessible venue where both young and older audiences can be found mingling.
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As a teenager, Taylor frequented the Opry on Saturday nights and was captivated by the genre that conveyed emotions. This resonated with her upbringing in a city where discussing feelings was not the norm. She believes that there is a country song for every possible emotion.
Paul Kerr, a contributor to Americana UK focusing on the Scottish music scene, proposes that the Opry embodies a traditional form of country and western music, reminiscent of the cowboy era complete with imitation guns and fast-draw contests.
“Accompanying this are older individuals who may not be as attuned to the evolving perspectives on the Confederate flag, especially following Trump’s election.”
The musical groups that perform at the Opry represent a traditional style of country music that is closely tied to Nashville and the southern region. I believe that the almost half of members who chose to keep the flag did so in order to uphold these traditions, rather than showing support for any racist connotations.
The venue in Nashville, Tennessee, where the Country Music Awards prohibited the use of the confederate flag in 2022, is the inspiration for the Opry’s name. Up-and-coming artists like Luke Combs have distanced themselves from this symbol, while established acts like the Chicks and Lady A have also rebranded, recognizing the exclusion that people of color and the LGBTQ+ community have long experienced in the country music industry.
Kerr stated that there is currently a growing movement within the country music industry questioning the lack of representation of black artists and people of color in their audiences.
Source: theguardian.com
