'Too wild to comprehend.' Grand Ole Opry outfits worn by The Shootouts make rock hall

The Shootouts debuted at the Grand Ole Opry last year in style.

Wearing handmade outfits, splashed with vibrant hues of yellow, orange, purple and pink, the Americana and honky-tonk band with ties to Stark County was playing music from a new album.

But that wasn't the last time the attire would take center stage. Created by Jen Boyne, a designer from Nova Scotia, a portion of the outfits will be showcased at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in the "Cleveland Rocks" exhibit starting this week and running through 2025.

The exhibit includes artifacts from Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, The Black Keys, Devo, Michael Stanley, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, the Raspberries and others.

"It's an incredible honor to be included in an exhibit highlighting notable musicians from Northeast Ohio," said Ryan Humbert, a North Canton resident and lead singer and guitarist for the band. "To even be mentioned in the same breath as some of our heroes is truly humbling."

Amanda Pecsenye, director of curatorial affairs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, said that despite being a relatively new group, The Shootouts "have cemented their place in the legacy of Northeast Ohio with their critically acclaimed albums and lauded performances at the historic Grand Ole Opry."

She added that "the custom western wear the band provided is an eye-catching addition to the exhibit."

From Nova Scotia to Nashville to the rock hall

So how did a western swing band from Northeast Ohio connect with a clothing designer from the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia?

"She's good at what she does and she's a fan of the band," Humbert explained. "She said, 'I'd love to work on something for you.'"

Behind the music Bass player for The Shootouts takes musical journey to Nashville

Boyne said she first reached out to Humbert through Instagram about two years ago.

"We had a great connection from the beginning," she said. "I think we were just waiting for an excuse to work together."

"Ryan had a pretty clear vision of what he wanted for the band," Boyne said. "Because the shirts were debuting on the Opry stage, we wanted them to be bold and to be noticed. I have a real connection with color.

"I wanted the shirts to have a classic and authentic appearance. That was important."

Details include flowers and a deep golden yellow yoke, as well as piping, fringe and intricate stitching.

"I wanted to change the traditional western shirt design a little bit but not so much that it was super noticeable," Boyne said.

Humbert sketched out a rough design idea and sent it to Boyne.

"She took that, improved upon it, and blew us away," he said. "They are just beautiful, high-quality garments."

The ensembles echo the colors of the cover for the band's third album, "Stampede," Humbert noted.

"Stampede" reached No. 4 last year on the Americana Music Association Radio Album Chart, spending 13 weeks in the top 10. The Shootouts also were nominated for Best Honky Tonk Group at the 2023 and 2024 Ameripolitan Music Awards.

The Shootouts will be performing in Kent and Hartville

The Shootouts have now performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville four times − February, July and December last year, and this past January. The band also features Emily Bates, harmony vocals and acoustic guitar; Brian Poston, lead guitar; Kevin McManus, bass and harmony vocals; and Mark Butto, drums.

The band's next Grand Ole Opry performance is scheduled for July 6. Tickets, starting at $53, can be purchased at https://www.opry.com/artists/the-shootouts. More bands will be announced for the 7 p.m. show.

The Shootouts are also headlining the American Roots Festival in Kent and performing at 7 p.m. Friday at The Kent Stage. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Free tickets are available at https://kentstage.org/.

The group also will be performing at 7 p.m. May 23 at the Hartville Kitchen Restaurant, 1015 Edison St. NW, part of the Hartville MarketPlace. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Hartville concert cost $30 to $40 and can be purchased at https://hartvillekitchen.com/events/. The restaurant can be reached at 330-877-9353.

'They really are a work of art.'

Humbert said the custom outfits almost didn't arrive in time for their inaugural show on the Opry stage.

"(Boyne) shipped them into the country and they got stuck in customs," he said. "We had them shipped directly to Nashville and we got them two days before our debut at the Grand Ole Opry."

Seeing the outfits and touching them for the first time was special, Humbert recalled.

"The attention to detail, the custom embroidery and rhinestones, and the quality of the work is just incredible," he said. "Everyone who has seen them just loves them. They really are a work of art."

Shootouts' outfit designer on rock hall: 'It's almost too wild to comprehend.'

Boyne designs clothes under J. Boyne Western Wear, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia.

"I go to bed every night excited to wake up and get back to work in the morning," she said.

"My dream is fulfilled on a daily basis," Boyne said. "But the even cooler part is that I work for clients who are fulfilling their dreams."

"I am so beyond grateful to Ryan and The Shootouts for including me in their journey," she said. "They were a joy to work with. “

Seeing some of her work exhibited in the rock hall is overwhelming, Boyne said.

"It doesn’t even seem real," she said. "It’s almost too wild to comprehend."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com. On Twitter (formerly X) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Outfits worn by The Shootouts at Grand Ole Opry displayed at Rock Hall