19-05-2025
OpSong's return to Clayton to partner with North Country Troopers Assisting Troops
CLAYTON, N.Y. (WWTI) – Operation Song's annual visit to the Clayton area has seen tremendous growth over the last four years and the organization is only planning for bigger and better things.
Operation Song will make its fourth trip to the north country for Nashville's Salute to the Trooper concert on Friday May 23 for a 7 p.m. concert.
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The event has local veterans collaborate with country music songwriters to tell stories about their lives. Some of the songs are about life in the military while others are about everyday life and experiences.
This year's event will be at the bigger Clayton Opera House after having the first three shows at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel.
Moving to the bigger venue is something that makes Operation Song's Executive Director Mike Beyer happy.
'Clayton is just one of those picturesque towns and it's so exciting to see this event grow,' Beyer said.'
Beyer did add that the hotel will still be plenty involved with the events this weekend.
The new venue is also intriguing to songwriter Baker Grissom, who is from Little Rock, Ark. Grissom likes the Clayton Opera House to a classic country music venue.
'This place (the opera house) is kind of like Grand Ole Opry,' Grissom said. 'They have those overtones like a church.'
Beyer has been with the organization for a number of years. He is a retired Army First Sergeant, OIF/OEF Veteran, musician, and songwriter. Beyer is also an alumni of Operation Song and knows the collaboration process between the songwriters and veterans.
'Our songwriters connect with the veterans,' Beyer said. 'It gets their mind going and they get excited. After talking about an hour, they loosen up.'
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Beyer added the songs range from emotional to lighthearted. He added there's a massive a catalog of songs from different perspectives of military members.
Grissom said he loves having songwriting sessions with the veterans and telling their stories.
'Songwriting is the biggest therapy session in the world,' Grissom said. 'Songs are kind of a way that you can say something that you didn't know would come to you.'
Next year marks the a milestone fifth trip to Northern New York for the event. Beyer said the organization already has big plans for the 2026 show.
'Year five is coming up soon and we have to up our game,' Beyer said.
Performances are informal and are reminiscent of a 'songwriters round,' which is a type of live music event where several songwriters gather to perform their original songs, often in a circle with the audience surrounding them.
It's like shows like VH1's 'Storytellers' and live venues like the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
Grissom will be joined by other songwriters AJ Kross, Kelli Johnson. He said he can't wait to perform with them on Friday night.
'I know AJ and Kelli and we'll tell stories,' Grissom said. 'Talk about the song and go back and forth… we just go on down the line. You can't get anywhere else.'
Tickets are available at the Clayton Opera House website or by calling 315-686-2200.
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