Maybe you're a fan of old-time country, gospel and bluegrass but don't have very many places to hear these classic styles of music. Maybe you want to go out and hear live music without having to deal with a bar's smoky atmosphere and inebriated spectators. And maybe you want something to do that the whole family can enjoy and get a good meal while you're at it.

In Northwest Missouri, you have numerous opportunities to do just that thanks to several opries that offer a fun, safe and lively atmosphere.

"Some people ... they'd rather go to Branson (Mo.) and pay big money," says Mary Lou Snyder, manager of the Gower Goodtimers Opry in Gower, Mo. "They don't realize that there's a lot of good music in these small towns."

Here are some of the opries you can check out for yourself in our area:

BYRON'S COUNTRY MUSIC THEATRE

When: 7 p.m. Saturdays

Where: Northtown Opry, Edgerton, Mo.

Cost: $12.50 seniors, $13 adults

Info: Call (816) 471-6779

What to expect: Opened in Nov. 2008 and founded by Byron Jones, Byron's Country Music Theatre hosts between 150 to 200 visitors in a theater-style setting. Mr. Jones says his opry features both new and old country along with bluegrass and gospel played by different guest musicians, with a few laughs thrown in.

"It has a lot of variety, but it has a lot of guests, a lot of comedy," Mr. Jones says. "It's considered a family show, so it will satisfy the young folks and the old folks."

RAMBLIN COUNTRY

MUSIC SHOW

When: 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of each month

Where: Gentry Lions Hall, Main and Gentry St., Gentry, Mo.

Cost: $5

Info: Call (660) 562-8874

What to expect: For the last five years, band leader Mike Duley has hosted his Ramblin Country Show, playing everything from older tunes by George Jones to modern numbers by Kenny Chesney. The opry holds 175 people with room to dance, and you can purchase a hot meal at each performance, with offerings like pork tenderloins and grilled pork chops to fried chicken with all the trimmings.

NORTHWEST OPRY

When: 2 to 5 p.m. every Sunday

Where: 216 W. Third St., Maryville, Mo.

Cost: $4 donation

Info: Call (660) 927-3620

What to expect: The Northwest Opry will celebrate its sixth anniversary this October. Its large dance floor is usually filled with guests listening to bluegrass, country and gospel performed by the house band, and every third Sunday, there is a potluck lunch at noon. But what Northwest Opry emcee Donna Smith says makes the opry particularly exciting is how many players from the crowd will get on stage with the band.

"We have to 10 to 15 people on stage. Anybody that wants to play an instrument and do a number with us, everybody lines up across the stage and everybody takes a turn," Ms. Smith says. "We don't have a special guest because everybody that's on our show is special to us."

DARLINGTON OPRY

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturdays

Where: Darlington, Mo.

Info: Call (660) 726-5188

What to expect: Going on 30 years and counting, the Darlington Opry, founded by Marlin and Lou Morrow and Lloyd and Dorothy Graham, hosts a show of old-time country music performed by the house band the Grand River Pickers with special guests each week. The opry also recently removed seats to make room for a dance floor and features a snack bar, the occasional potluck and gives away door prizes at each performance.

COUNTRY CABIN JAMBOREE

When: 6 to 9 p.m.

Where: Country Cabin Cafe, Savannah, Mo.

Cost: Free

Info: Call (816) 324-7969

What to expect: The nearly 100 people who show up every week at the Country Cabin Jamboree come for several reasons. One would probably be to hear an all-star band of eight to 10 musicians representing different area opries. But it's mainly for the smoke-and-alcohol-free atmosphere where gospel, bluegrass and country western regularly get attendees moving.

COUNTRYSIDE JAMBOREE

When: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays

Where: Countryside Hall, Cameron, Mo.

Info: Call (816) 718-1776

What to expect: The skilled musicianship of Wayne Hoover the Countrysiders, for starters. While the Countryside Jamboree just celebrated its fifth anniversary this summer, owner and band leader Wayne Hoover says he's playing with one of the best bands he's had in his 40 year career. The 75 to 80 people that come out won't hear much of what Hoover calls "bubblegum country." Instead, they'll hear a bit of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and to get the crowd moving, the occasional Jerry Lee Lewis tune.

"People like to get out there and dance fast, so I like to throw something at them like that once in a while," Mr. Hoover says.

GOWER GOODTIMERS OPRY

When: 7 p.m. Fridays

Where: Goodtimers Hall, Gower, Mo.

Info: Call (816) 424-6655

What to expect: For one thing, food. A potluck starts at 6 p.m., one hour before each performance. But what makes the 20-year-old Gower Goodtimers Opry the place to be for the crowd of 100 to 125 who show up is the welcoming atmosphere for singers and musicians. The house band features members of all ages, including a couple of high schoolers, but it's the players in the crowd who steal the show, including kids as young as 3 years old.

"They love it, of course, their parents love it, and it just gets them acquainted with music and with the stage," Ms. Snyder says. "Everybody, no matter how good, how bad, is welcome to play and sing."

BARN DOOR OPRY

When: 7:30 p.m. the first and third Fridays each month

Where: Ravenwood, Mo.

Info: Call (660) 582-2341

What to expect: A name that reflects the space. Barn Door Opry co-owner Vicki Walker says the building used to be the home of the Ravenwood Creamery before it was converted back in 1999 to a barn-like building complete with barn boards and decorative antiques. But this show is a seated affair for the usual 140 people that show up, with a 10-member house band and special guests each week singing classic country, gospel and bluegrass.

OLD TOWN JAMBOREE

When: 7:30 p.m. the first and third Saturdays each month

Where: Hamilton Community Arts Theatre, Hamilton, Mo.

Cost: $10

Info: Call (816) 583-2635

What to expect: Formerly in Old Pattonsburg, Mo., the Old Town Jamboree moved to its current location in March. It was a good move. They regularly have 200 to 300 people in the Hamilton Community Arts Theatre and have had a couple of sell-out shows. They have a house band but keep things fresh, with special guests each week and the occasional curve ball, like hiring an Elvis Presley impersonator or adding a horn section.

"The quickest way to change the show to me is to add guests so they don't have to listen to the same thing," says owner Tim Dunagan. "It's just something different, that's the key, I think, just switching it around."

For even more opries in our area, go to www.mokanopry.com

Lifestyles reporter Blake Hannon can be reached at blakehannon@npgco.com.