Chatham County Line w/ John Mailander: Holiday Tour 2024
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY CHATHAM COUNTY LINE Launched a little more than twenty years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina, Chatham County Line built a devoted local following on the strength of their genre-bending live show—an intoxicating blend of bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll—before breaking out internationally with their 2003 self-titled debut. In the years to come, the band would go on to release eight more critically acclaimed studio albums, top the Billboard Bluegrass Chart four times, collaborate with the likes of Judy Collins, Sharon Van Etten, and Norwegian star Jonas Fjeld, earn two gold records in Norway (where they were also twice nominated for the Spellemannprisen, Norway’s equivalent of a Grammy), and share bills with everyone from Guy Clark and Lyle Lovett to Steve Martin & Martin Short and The Avett Brothers. NPR hailed the group as “a bridge between bluegrass traditions and a fresh interpretation of those influences,” while Uncut lauded their “powerful melodies and gorgeous harmonies,” and Pitchfork dubbed their music “timeless.” The band’s latest release, Hiyo, marks the band’s first release since the departure of their longtime banjo player and serves as something of a reintroduction to the roots stalwarts, complete with new sounds, new collaborators, and a whole new lease on life. Recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain studio with co-producer/engineer Rachael Moore (Kacey Musgraves, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss), the collection finds the trio—Dave Wilson (lead singer/guitarist), John Teer (fiddle/mandolin) and Greg Readling (bass/pedal steel), embracing change at every turn, experimenting with fresh sonic palettes and innovative approaches to their core instrumentation. The songwriting remains classic Chatham County Line here—rich, evocative tales of love and heartbreak, joy and sorrow, righteousness and revenge—but the settings have evolved to incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and more electric guitar and percussion than ever before. Given the group’s string band roots and decades spent singing around a single microphone, the results are nothing short of revelatory, taking an enduring sound and injecting it with a thrilling new spirit of discovery and vitality. JOHN MAILANDER John Mailander is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, TN. As a performer, producer, composer, and recording artist, John is known for his voice on the fiddle, mandolin, and other stringed instruments. He is a member of Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, and the leader of his own project, John Mailander’s Forecast. His playing can be heard on albums by Billy Strings (including the Grammy-winning album Home), Noah Kahan, Joy Williams, Lucy Dacus, Molly Tuttle, Joe K. Walsh, Chatham County Line, and many more. His newest album, John Mailander’s Forecast: Let The World In, will be released in January 2025.
FREE SHOW: Dave Desmelik
FREE SHOW!! DONATIONS ENCOURAGED ALL AGES SEATED SHOW DAVE DESMELIK Dave Desmelik is a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist whose musical focus is on original compositions. What attracts listeners to Desmelik’s tunes, old and new, is the element of authenticity incorporated in them. There is no sugar coating involved. His songs are not wrapped in false smiles, rather they are stark and open and tend to settle on the pulse of everyday life. An unclosed and evolving journal of thoughts set to music and melodies in prose and instrumental performance. Desmelik was born and raised just outside of Atlanta, GA, but has traveled and lived in a multitude of landscapes. He currently resides in Brevard, NC. He was an original member of Onus B. Johnson, a successful band based in Flagstaff, AZ in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. This band was on the front wave of jamgrass while maintaining the passion for songwriting. Today, Desmelik continues to pursue an ascending path as a solo artist. A seasoned veteran of recording and performing, Desmelik states of his career thus far, “I have recorded in state of the art studios and bedroom closets. I have performed on big festival stages for numerous people and in lonely corners in dive bars for three people and the bartender. Either way, what you get is me with my eyes closed getting lost in these songs. I have chosen the life of a songwriter and musician not because I wish to, or have to, but because I want to and need to. It is my therapy and in this regard the door to my sessions are open.” Desmelik has released 18 albums to date as well as two albums with his former band Onus B. Johnson. Onus B. Johnson was a Band Finalist at the 2001 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition and was voted Flagstaff’s best band three times. He was the winner of the 2002 Flagstaff Awards for Music Excellence (FAME) award for best singer-songwriter. Desmelik’s song “If It’s Good For You” was chosen in the Top 25 Songs of 2010 by Indie-Music.com. His albums have placed on the EuroAmericana Chart, Roots Music Report, Freeform American Roots Chart, and North Carolina Roots Radio Chart. Dave’s albums have also been voted in the “Best Releases” by the listeners of WNCW radio as well as being voted in the “Best Of” Mountain Xpress Readers’ Poll. His recordings have been reviewed in a number of reputable publications and online music sources such as Maverick Magazine (UK), Southeast Performer Magazine, americana-uk.com and nodepression.com (Flyinshoes Reviews) to name a few. He has toured extensively in support of his songs including numerous performances in the USA and UK. Some notable artists Desmelik has opened for and/or shared the stage with are Paul Thorn, Drivin’ N Cryin’, Tony Furtado, Robbie Fulks, Chuck Brodsky, Richard Buckner, The Black Lillies, Cary Hudson, Bow Thayer, Shawn Mullins, Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey among others. If you listen to Dave Desmelik’s songs, whether lyrical or instrumental, you may become pleasantly fixed in the simplistic realness of them and if you hear Desmelik in a live setting you may realize that there are no tricks, just a genuine venture into the highs and lows of life.
Melissa & McKinney
FREE SHOW!! DONATIONS ENCOURAGED ALL AGES SEATED SHOW MELISSA AND McKINNEY Meet the dynamic mother-daughter duo whose powerful blend of blues, rock, americana, funk, and soul creates a musical experience that resonates deeply with audiences. The mother, a passionate vocalist, draws from the depths of her soul, channeling her life experiences into raw, evocative performances. Her daughter, an energetic bassist and vocalist, infuses every note with funk influences, crafting a sound that’s both contemporary and timeless. Together, they are not just musicians but also storytellers, using their lyrics to explore themes oftrauma and resilience. As songwriters, they connect on a profound level, weaving their personalnarratives into captivating melodies. Outside of their musical endeavors, both women serve as cultural arts and educators at LEAF Global Arts, where they inspire others through the transformative power of music. They also co-organizea music festival dedicated exclusively to showcasing women musicians, championing female talent in a male-dominated industry.
Chatham Rabbits (Album Release Show)
ALL AGESPARTIALLY SEATED SHOW (please note the two options of SEATED or STANDING when purchasing) 7PM DOORS / 8PM SHOW CHATHAM RABBITS From North Carolina comes one of the state’s most beloved musical outfits, Chatham Rabbits When you see North Carolina folk duo Chatham Rabbits on stage, you’re getting the real deal: heartfelt lyrics over guitar and banjo, an instant connection with audiences, and banter that can only come from a married duo that spends way too much time together but still manages to be in love. Austin and Sarah McCombie quit their day jobs in 2018 — he was a financial adviser and she was a teacher — to devote their full focus to music. Amid a busy touring schedule, the two find energy to run their farm in central North Carolina’s Chatham County, a work ethic and connection with the earth that comes through in their songs. Over the years and with the help of their unabashedly loyal fanbase, their story caught the attention of PBS NC, which is currently airing a series titled On the Road that follows the couple as they nurture their farm, their music, and their relationship. The television series was nationally syndicated in 2023. Chatham Rabbits has received high praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter Magazine, Paste Magazine, No Depression, and their 2022 album If You See Me Riding By was produced by Saman Khoujinian (Dead Tongues, Watchhouse), and a new album is slated for early 2025. JOE TERRELL
Drag Queens in Limousines: Celebrating 25 Years of Mary Gauthier
ALL AGES FULLY SEATED SHOW 6PM DOORS / 7PM SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE MARY GAUTHIER Drag queens in limousines, nuns in blue jeans, dreamers with big dreams, they all took me in.” – “Drag Queens in Limousines,” Mary Gauthier What out lesbian moves to Nashville at 40 to start a troubadour career? Who goes from playing open mics to playing the Newport Folk Festival in one years time? It’s been 25 years since Mary Gauthier, now revered songwriter, released her groundbreaking debut album Drag Queens in Limousines. Eighteen months after this record was released, the response was so incredible that she hung up her chef’s coat, moved to Nashville, and started to make her mark as an exciting new voice in the songwriting world. “Drag Queens in Limousines” is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. It turns out, that’s all of us. For twenty-five years, Mary Gauthier has brought all kinds of folks from all walks of life together with her deeply personal, yet paradoxically universal work. By writing about what matters most to her, having the courage to sing what’s often too hard for us to say, and delivering the work authentically, Mary Gauthier opened the gate and widened the path that many who came after her have traveled. Join us in celebrating twenty-five years of the unique, courageous songs of Mary Gauthier. JAIMEE HARRIS The Next Queen of Americana-Folk” – NPR
The Local Honeys
ALL AGES STANDING ROOM ONLY THE LOCAL HONEYS Though many artists are defined by place, only a handful of artists come to define the places they’re from. The Local Honeys are Kentucky and Kentucky runs through their veins like an unbridled racehorse. When a master songsmith like Tom T Hall calls an artist “a great credit to a wonderful Kentucky tradition” it’s time to pull up a chair and pay attention. As it pertains to The Local Honeys he was right on the money. For almost a decade the duo (Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokley) have been an integral part of the Kentucky musicscape. They’ve paid their dues, garnering countless accolades and accomplishments (tours with Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, praise from the New York Times) and have become the defining sound of real deal, honest-to-god Kentucky music. With their self-titled debut on La Honda Records, (home of some of today’s most gifted songwriters; Colter Wall, Riddy Arman, Vincent Neil Emerson) the duo have set forth on a journey to create something true to themselves while pushing the envelope within the traditions they hold dear. Carefully crafted vignettes of rural Kentucky soar above layers of deep grooves and rich tones masterfully curated by longtime mentor Jesse Wells, Grammy nominated producer and musician (Assistant Director at the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State). “Jesse grew up with sisters. He was cut from the same cloth as us and we knew he would understand what we wanted to do.” What they ended up with is the most nuanced, moody, deep-holler sound they have captured to date. “This is the first time we’ve actively gotten to express who we are and where we’re from” says Linda Jean, “The songs on the album speak for us,” adds Montana “they’re about what we know, reflections of us as people. We realized we have the power to add our own narrative into Kentucky music.” Through that realization the two were able to uncover and dissect themes unique to Central Appalachia and in turn their own lives, capturing small moments in time that deliver thunderous results. The Local Honeys come from a long line of storytellers, a lineage of strong Kentucky women that aren’t afraid to tell it like it is and their self-titled La Honda debut is proof it’s in their bones. The duo have mastered the art of telling a good story. The narratives and landscapes they weave into song, the deep understanding and love they share for old time traditions, their undeniable charisma and charm, and their blatant disregard to follow the rules make it clear the duo is poised to become not only the defining voices of their home state of Kentucky but the defining voices of a new Appalachia.
Kristy Lee
ALL AGESSEATED SHOW (GA) “PAY WHAT YOU CAN” TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENEKRISTY LEE Kristy’s career started in the early 2000’s with an exclusive deal through Target Stores across the U.S. releasing her 1st album, Lifescapes. She’s been touring the U.S. and overseas for the last 20+ years. Her latest release (Aug 2023), The Olive Tree, debuted at #1 on the iTunes blues charts. Kristy’s raw authenticity has captured the hearts of a loyal international fan base as well as some of music’s top names. She has toured and shared the stage with Leon Russell, Zac Brown Band, Indigo Girls, G. Love & Special Sauce, Jack Johnson, Jason Isbell, Sister Hazel and Imagine Dragons – to name a few. She has played some of the most prestigious music festivals in the world including BluesFest Australia, the Hangout Fest, 30A Songwriters Festival, Cayamo & The Rock Boat Festivals at Sea, and her own conception, the Unleashed Women’s Music Festival in Pensacola, Florida. Kristy also landed an original song, “One Night Romance” with G.Love & Special Sauce on the album, Sugar, featuring 60’s soul legend, Mary Clayton (The Rolling Stones, Gimme Shelter) – it is the ultimate incarnation of the “Dirt Road Soul” Kristy Lee has become known for. Her music transcends genres, lifts heavy spirits and promotes the healing that we all sometimes need. Her songs tend to be true stories of her own journey, her loved one’s struggles and accomplishments, and overall positive messages that the world can relate to – and needs to hear. Kristy’s unique style of music is the background music to all our lives.
Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast (Album Release Show)
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY A NOTE FROM THE BAND: In an effort to best support and uplift our physically, emotionally, and financially impacted local community, we’re now offering discounted tickets (50% off) for our upcoming album release show at The Grey Eagle on Friday November 8th for those that need the relief. Full priced tickets are also still available for those unaffected by Hurricane Helene. We will also welcome anyone at the door on the night of the show free of charge. No one will be turned away as capacity allows. We love you, Asheville. CAITLIN KRISKO & THE BROADCAST After the unexpected death of her mother in 2023, ‘Blueprints’ is an introspective reflection on the waves of emotion that follow such a loss. Caitlin Krisko delivers soaring melodies while simultaneously pouring her soul into the center spotlight of the album. Gut wrenching ballads like “Haunted By You” performed to near perfection, sit comfortably next to groove heavy rock anthems like “Piece of You”. Blueprints puts the listener in the front seat for the Krisko experience as she turns to the music to capture her grief in songs like “Have To Say Goodbye” and “Blue Monday”. Uplifting the listener with songs like “Devil On Your Side” and “Operator”, her songs are celebrations with storytelling lyrics that take you for a full spectrum ride. Powerful drums, driving bass, and raw blues and rock guitar are hand squeezed into every nook and cranny of the album, delivering a saturated roots rocks experience done with a masterful and heartfelt touch. HUSTLE SOULS Hustle Souls, based in Asheville, NC, masterfully blend Retro-Soul, New Orleans Brass, and Americana into a unique and captivating sound. Lauded by American Blues Scene as a “generation-jumping mashup of new school second line funk with old school vintage soul,” and described by Bluestown Music as “intimate soul…with a Curtis Mayfield like warmth,” the band has earned a spot as one of Music Connection Magazine’s “Hot 100 Live Unsigned Artists & Bands.” DETECTIVE BLIND Detective Blind is a 3-sister indie rock band from Asheville composed of Montgomery (guitar/vocals), Andersen (drums), and Kittredge (bass). They have been rocking stages for several years performing their own music, which they continue to release on all streaming platforms. They also cover a wide variety of classics to current day favorites. The trio have tight harmonies, solid grooves, and a strong positive energy. Detective Blind has preformed in many states including New York, Montana, Tennessee, South Dakota, and of all over western North Carolina at countless breweries, and festivals, where they have gained a hardy local following.
An Evening With Carbon Leaf
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLY 6PM DOORS / 7PM SHOW CARBON LEAF Carbon Leaf’s fifteenth studio album, Time is the Playground is both a call to action and an embrace of the moment. Marrying nostalgic storytelling to nuanced, folk-infused indie rock, the Richmond, Virginia band embroiders heartfelt melody and harmony with acoustic and electric instrumentation to create a 12-song rumination on time, love and personal growth that’s equal parts urgent epiphany and contented exhalation. “Everybody says people don’t listen to albums anymore,” mulled Carbon Leaf frontman Barry Privett, holed up in a coastal cottage. “So, the challenge for us was to make something that felt good to get through from beginning to end … to listen to like a story.” Originally formed as a college cover band in 1992 and with over 3,500 famously enthused live shows together, Carbon Leaf helped to define the aughts indie rock that they ultimately outgrew and outlasted. They first earned national recognition with “The Boxer,” a song that won the American Music Awards 2002 New Music Award and made Carbon Leaf the first unsigned band to perform before millions on the AMAs. “The Boxer” entered regular radio rotation, Carbon Leaf’s tours grew bigger and better, and within a couple of years they quit their day jobs and inked a record deal. The band’s fanbase snowballed, drawn to their infectious spirit of commitment, empathy, communion, and selfreliance – not to mention supremely crafted songs with ultra-relatable, thought-provoking lyrics. After a trio of charting albums for Vanguard Records, multiple songwriting awards and headlining shows, Carbon Leaf opted to return to the complete creative control of their indie roots. Guitarist Terry Clark, who co-founded the band with Privett and multi-instrumentalist Carter Gravatt, converted his garage into the band’s Two-Car Studio, where they’ve recorded releases for their own Constant Ivy imprint ever since. Carbon Leaf’s DIY spirit even extended to re-recording their three Vanguard albums in order to regain the rights. Due in September, Time is the Playground is Carbon Leaf’s first full-length album in a decade, during which they released two EPS and a 27-song live performance album and Blu-ray. Time is the Playground gathers the best of songs written, in fits and starts, over 15 years, alongside brand new ideas. Privett dusted off old demos and shut himself away for months to finish their stories, while also honing recent compositions. With Clark engineering, Carbon Leaf – completed by longtime bassist Jon Markel and drummer Jesse Humphrey – spent a year and a half recording and mixing the resulting songs. “Thinking about these disparate pieces of music, I began ruminating on time itself,” Privett recalled. “The band’s been together a long time. You mature a bit and see yourself in place on the timeline … rolling around the scenes of love and growth.” “I want what we create to resonate with ourselves, to the level that we want to play it for a long time to come, and where we want others to hear it and experience it,” Privett concluded.“Hopefully, listeners can glean the pieces from it that they identify with.” Time is the Playground will be accompanied by the tireless touring almost synonymous with Carbon Leaf, who’ve become a model for self-managing bands in the digital landscape.
Olive Klug
ALL AGES SEATED SHOW LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE OLIVE KLUG Olive Klug refuses to be put in a box. Working out who you are in front of an ever-growing audience is no small task, but one that the Portland-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter is up for and thriving. Olive graduated with a liberal arts degree shortly before the 2020 pandemic derailed their plans of pursuing a career in social work. Though they’d recorded and self-released the 2019 EP “Fire Alarm” from a childhood friend’s bedroom, up until early 2021, Olive categorized their music as either a hobby or a pipe dream, depending on who was asking. However, after being laid off of a teaching job in late 2020, Olive starting working as a barista and decided to commit all of their extra energy to an ever-growing community of fans online. Olive can’t help but be unapologetically themselves, something their community of fans (dubbed the “Klug Bugs” on Instagram and Discord) appreciate most about them. Their debut LP ranges from a playful Americana romp about “watching all the rules disintegrate” to folk-punk anthem “Coming of Age,” which somehow manages to reference both pop singer Taylor Swift and existential philosopher Kierkegaard in one song, to “Parched”‘s haunting modern ballad about a doomed relationship, to an indie rock closer about learning to take up space as a person with a marginalized identity. Through this no-holds-barred documentation of the struggles of their early adulthood, Klug embraces all their inner contradictions with reckless abandon. The album takes on the world with visceral and tactile images: it finds them falling in love with reckless abandon, haunted by the ghost of an old lover, waiting for fairies in the backyard of their childhood home. Olive’s work is optimistic, but not naive. Klug emerged into the scene in fraught times: for the folk landscape, for the country, for themself. By combining Golden Age folk references and contemporary narratives with ease, Olive Klug is a singular voice for the future of folk: honest, compelling, often unsure, but willing to try anyway. 2024 finds Olive in Nashville, attempting to stabilize after a 3-year whirlwind of viral niche internet-fame, nonstop touring, and music industry naïveté. Olive’s social work background grounds them in community, a word they keep coming back to when ego proves unfulfilling. After attending Folk Alliance International for the last two years, Olive is excited to solidify themselves as a fixture of the greater folk community and return to what inspires them the most about music; the catharsis and social change that is possible when people come together and share themselves through song. CREEKBED CARTER HOGAN For trans folksinger Creekbed Carter Hogan, everything good is made from the rotten stump of something else. It’s a theme they’ve become familiar with as they’ve made a life weaving stories of growing up religious around songs that pierce the soul, tickle the funny bone, and showcase a unique blend of self-taught folk picking and queer mayhem.
