Little Ryman Music Hall gives amateurs a place to play

Travelers driving in between Muscle Shoals and Cherokee may have noticed a garage right off the road addressed at 18210 U.S. 72.

If you pass by on Friday nights around 6 p.m., you might see a number of vehicles surrounding the place.

Get close enough, and you’ll start to hear music. A mix of gospel, country, folk, bluegrass, rock or anything else someone felt like playing that night.

That converted garage is Little Ryman Music Hall. Inside you’ll find anywhere from 50-100 folks either listening to music or pickin’ and grinnin’ away at a number of instruments — guitars, banjos, mandolins, fiddles and even an upright bass.

“It’s family oriented,” said James Lindsey, who manages the place. “We open with a prayer. We don’t allow any drinking. We try to keep it for family entertainment.”

Little Ryman began in 1998 when Harley and Leola Kent opened the doors to their converted garage.

Lindsey said he became friends with Harley 21 years ago.

They had a number of friends who wanted a place to play music and sing together. A place that was friendly to amateurs who just wanted to have fun and fellowship.

Little Ryman hosts an event each Friday night from 6-8:30 p.m. Around 15-20 musicians play and sing each week.

“Anyone who wants to can come in, put their name on the board and sing or play if they want to,” Lindsey said. “(Harvey) started this place to give amateurs like me a place to play music. We don’t charge admission. The ladies donate food to share. We charge for coffee and drinks so we can replenish the stock. We have a raffle every week to earn a little and keep the place going. We also take donations to help keep the lights on. Rick’s Farm Market donates a basket every Friday night, and some of the ladies bring other stuff.”

Lindsey said people come from as far away as Tupelo, Mississippi, and Savannah, Tennessee, to perform.

The stage is typically filled along the back with those playing instruments, and they strum along with the different singers who take to the microphone.

Though Little Ryman is a live music venue, the place takes its family-friendly nature seriously.

There is no smoking, foul language or alcohol. A sign on the door as visitors enter says “No drunks allowed.”

“I think the key to (how long the event has been going) is the fellowship,” Lindsey said. “There’s not many places where friends can gather like this. I tell people I enjoy the music, but I enjoy the fellowship more. I look forward to it each week.

“Anybody that wants to sing just has to sign the board. If they get started in the wrong key, we’ll get them going. We don’t cull anybody. It usually turns out pretty good. We have some really talented people. People come from all over, because there’s not many places like this. Harley said this is the place for the non-professional musician to have their moment on stage.”