What it's like to make your Opry debut with a Grateful Dead member | The Pick

When Aaron Raitiere stepped on stage last weekend for his Grand Ole Opry debut, he kept some pretty good company close by.

Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, the Oak Ridge Boys and Anderson East joined Raitiere during his two-song debut, a moment the singer-songwriter described Wednesday as "really somethin' else."

"My mom hopped up and sang a song we had written together," Raitiere told The Tennessean. "Bob Weir and Anderson East played guitars, and the Oak Ridge Boys sang. It was like some dream or weird hallucination."

He added, "I really just called some people up. I guess sometimes all ya gotta' do is ask. That was a moment that I doubt will ever be recreated, and I was thankful to be in the dead center of it."

• Listen for yourself: A sharp, rising Nashville songwriter, Raitiere released last week his debut album "Single Wide Dreamer," co-produced by East and Miranda Lambert. He played the album's title track and "Cold Soup," a tune Raitiere described simply as "one of the better songs I've got." Give his new music a spin here.

Matt Leimkuehler, Tennessean music reporter here, back with another week of music headlines from Music City.

God, it's brutal at the Opry House

Yes, Olivia Rodrigo made her super-duper anticipated Nashville debut Tuesday night with a sold-out "Sour" tour show at the Grand Ole Opry House. Arguably the most sought-after concert in Nashville this year (so far), Tennessean reporter Dave Paulson scored a ticket to the "Brutal" affair. What did he think?

• From the driver's seat of the show: "She may be a pop star, but this was a rock show and one of the loudest I’ve been to in a while," Paulson told me Wednesday.

• Hop into the Tennessean's review and concert photos here.

'Her Country' at Grimey's

Nashville music journalist Marissa R. Moss released this week "Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be," an essential book about a class of women who refused to "shut up and sing" in becoming creative pillars for Nashville and beyond.

• Don't just take my word for it: Why listen to a guy talk about this essential story when you can hear from the author? On Saturday afternoon, Moss visits Grimey's in East Nashville to read from the book and chat with journalist-creator Sarah Rodman. Kentucky troubadour Kelsey Waldon joins to perform a short set of tunes. Find more information at grimeys.com/events.

Fest watch continues

Let's talk Bonnaroo this week. Head to bonnaroo.com and take a look at this year's festival poster. Erase the headliners. What are five must-see acts remaining on the bill? Mine go something like* ...

• Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: A no-brainer and something festival-goers may never get another chance to see.

• Zach Bryan: The hype around his new album "American Heartbreak" (which, I know, we've already plugged here once) just continues to grow.

• Arlo Parks: Been hearing a ton of Parks on Nashville station WNXP and can't wait to catch her in-person.

• Joy Oladokun: She released one of the Tennessean's favorite albums last year — "In Defense of My Own Happiness" — and should be an excellent fit for the Farm.

• Billy Strings: He brought out Marty Stuart, Les Claypool, Ronnie McCoury and Bob Weir during last weekend's Ryman residency. Who's going to crash the Bonnaroo show?

*This could change by the time Bonnaroo happens (or by the time you read this email, because nothing is forever).

Now, read on for more headlines from Nashville this week.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What it's like to make your Opry debut with a Grateful Dead member