A new group called Nashatoga has a vision of bringing the Nashville sound to Saratoga Springs by transforming the Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) into the city’s own mini-version of the Grand Ole Opry.

“We hope to bring different talent from Nashville on a regular basis and what we envision is someday turning the Universal Preservation Hall into a mini-Grand Ole Opry,” Alan Zura, co-founder of Nashatoga and long-time promoter of the arts and music, said.

The group’s first go-around will attempt to raise money for the UPH by offering a performance at the historic facility on Friday, May 2 and one at Siro’s on Saturday, May 3. The group also has another show scheduled at the Hall during Saratoga’s racing season on August 29, which will include a different pool of Nashville musicians.

“We feel coming back during the racing season will introduce a lot of people to the facility who don’t have a clue that it exists,” Zura said. “If you look at the demographics of racing people in general they come up from Florida, the Carolinas and Texas which are all hot beds of this kind of music, so we think we are onto something that could really be big.”

Zura has teamed up with singer songwriter Teddy Larkin and producer Michael Webb to create the Nashatoga group. Friday and Saturday’s shows will feature performances by Nashville musicians which include Teddy Larkin & Tennessee Bloodline, Michael Webb, Rick Schell and The Wrights.

Larkin and a group of musicians calling themselves Nashville Bloodline will act as the house band for the evening’s performance. He envisions something out of The Band’s acclaimed “Last Waltz” concert with the group acting as the house band for the various performers.

“The musicians are very excited to come and bring the Nashville sound to a great racing city like Saratoga Springs,” Larkin said.

According to Larkin, the night’s music is not just country, but more along the lines of Americana featuring the artist’s own songs including an array of covers by such musicians as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Cougar Mellencamp.

I think this will be something that people really want to go to in the summer time,” Zura said. “It’s a nice diversion from the races that hopefully everyone will walk away thinking it was a good time.”

The money for the concert is being put up by Zura himself and all proceeds raised through donations and a raffle will be put toward restoring the UPH. The group is not going in as a not-for-profit, but they do hope if it turns into something big, then they can seek sponsorship elsewhere.

The group will also be opening an office in downtown Saratoga Springs this summer, which will act as an office for Nashatoga and Zura’s Roth Tickets International—a ticket and travel company that provides seating to sports, theatre, concerts and various other special events.

The UPH, located at 25 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs, is a 135-year-old-building, which eight years ago was nearly condemned, only to be re-opened to host the city’s acclaimed First Night. Since then the Hall has become a place for performances, weddings, luncheons, galas and other business and private functions. Today, UPH is the largest year-round performing arts venue in Saratoga Springs.

In 2006, UPH received $200,000 and was named an “Official Project” of Save America’s Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Since attempts to restore the historic facility began, UPH has received more than $2.5 million in donations towards its restoration.

“Down in New York City you have the house that Ruth built at Yankee Stadium, up here you have the potential for your own jewel and that’s what the Hall projects to me,” Zura said.

Tickets for Nashatoga are free of charge and can be acquired by calling 518-369-1425. You can learn more about the concert by visiting: www.myspace.com/nashatogagroup

“At this point the sky is the limit,” Zura said. “The fun for me is going to be seeing it materialize and trying to make it better.”