Theo Lawrence
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLYTHEO LAWRENCE For the past 10 years, Theo Lawrence has been making a name for himself as France’s favorite songbird. A truly one-of-a-kind Country singer and genuine keeper of the flame, Lawrence came into his own on his Austin-made 2023 LP release, Cherie, and on his latest all acoustic album, Pickin’ & Singin’. Lawrence pens classic love songs, and delivers with a croon straight out of the Charlie Rich and Ray Price golden years. In recent years, he has played a pivotal role in reviving an interest for Country Music in Europe, and with his recent move to Austin, TX, Theo Lawrence is bringing his honed craft back to its American cradle. LESLIE MENDELSON With her enchanted voice and evocative songwriting, Leslie Mendelson has won the hearts and minds of both an adoring fanbase and fellow artists alike. No less than Jackson Browne has declared, “Leslie’s melodies are timeless. They reach me way back in my youth somewhere. I hear traces of Burt Bacharach and Carole King, and hooks and passages that remind me of the pop songs I grew up hearing on the radio,” while The Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dylan shares: “Voices like Leslie’s can get away with almost anything. Along with being a great songwriter, this leaves her with few if any peers.” A Grammy Award-nominated artist, Mendelson returns this summer with her fourth studio album, After The Party. For this latest effort, she collaborates with not one, but three producers: the legendary Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt), the young, in-demand Tyler Chester (Madison Cunningham, Sara Bareilles, Sara Watkins) and her longtime songwriting partner, three-time Grammy Award-winner, Steve McEwan. Recorded at Jackson Browne’s studio Grove Masters in Santa Monica, CA, she was joined by an ace band featuring guitarists Waddy Wachtel and John Jorgenson, bassists Leland Sklar and Derrick Anderson, and drummers Jim Keltner and Abe Rounds. “Collaboration was so important to me with these songs. My previous album, If You Can’t Say Anything Nice… looked inward and was often colored by the dark socio-political climate circa 2018 and 2019 when it was written. Throw in the pandemic during which it was released, and it just became really clear that I needed to have fun making music again,” explains Mendelson. “When the opportunity presented itself to have both Tyler and Peter produce me, along with Steve who’s been with me since the very beginning of my career, it felt as if the stars had aligned and were demanding that I indulge in the joy of creating with all of these musical geniuses who wanted to work together.”
PATIO: Dawn and Hawkes
LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEALL AGESDAWN & HAWKESMiranda Dawn and Chris Hawkes first met when he crossed an Austin barroom floor and asked her to dance. The first time they sang together they found a sound Texas Monthly calls “undeniably intimate”. Their initial duo effort, Golden Heart, climbed to No. 25 in Billboard’s Folk chart and landed at No. 2 in iTunes singer-songwriter albums and kicked off a whirlwind of cross-country touring and co-writing. Dawn and Hawkes recorded their second album, Yours and Mine, in between tour dates with influential artists Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski, Patty Griffin, Old 97s, Robert Earl Keen and showcasing at festivals like Austin City Limits, Folk Alliance, AmericanaFest, South By Southwest and TEDx on tours in the US and abroad in Denmark, Germany and Australia. “We’d tour, come home inspired, record a song, tour, rinse and repeat” explains Dawn. Acoustic Guitar hails the musicality of Yours and Mine, as “Impeccable vocal harmonies and instrumentation” Huffington Post summarizes “Transcendent alternative-folk — you will find yourself craving more from this amazing, dynamic duo.” While touring, the duo stored their possessions and lived on the road, drawing a lyrical soundtrack from American deserts and mountains, to the South Australian coast while navigating a shared journey through mortality, grief and compassion for differing perspectives. Upon returning to Austin, they finished self-producing their second full-length album, The Other Side. The Austin American Statesman calls it “10 new tracks of sweet folk-rock — instantly appealing tunes — rooted in the singer songwriter heyday of the early 1970’s, they also fit well into the modern-day indie-folk revival.” In a time when the world seems more divided than ever, Dawn and Hawkes celebrates hope and finding our common humanity – in the words of Performer Magazine with “songs of introspective bliss, this singer-songwriter team genuinely helps the listener feel the spirit of life”
Sam Lewis w/ Elana Brody
ALL AGESSEATED SHOWLIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE (guaranteed seating in first 3 rows)SAM LEWIS Sam Lewis has collaborated with everyone from Leon Russell to The Wood Brothers. Chris Stapleton dubbed him “a modern Townes Van Zandt”. He’s often labeled with some form of the word ‘soulful’ (some comparing his voice to molasses), Lewis’ style meets at a juncture of many different genres however he’s discovered what most musicians spend lifetimes working for; the place where feel-good music meets vital social commentary. A decade worth of touring his studio efforts (mostly solo) he has captivated audiences all around the world with his songs and stories that are glued together with a unique stage banter he’s developed from performing in numerous music halls, clubs, theaters, festivals, music cruises and the occasional living room. SOLO (2020) is a solo-acoustic album featuring new songs as well as reimagining previously released songs. Recorded at Southern Ground Studios in Nashville in front of a live audience SOLO is an intimate snapshot that captures Lewis in his element and is certain to be a fan favorite for years to come. ELANA BRODY Atop the West Allegheny mountains, in the least populated county east of the Mississippi, Elana Brody grew up on a farm surrounded by untamed forests as far as the eye could see. Every season, she’d see new plants and animals appear. Rhododendrons, mountain laurel and wild orchid lady slippers. Beavers in the pond and barred owls in the spruce forests. Brody’s family kept a reverential practice of going on quiet walks where she learned to keep her eyes and ears wide open, like a tracker. She brings this kind of attunement to her music—listening for the new, noticing the earthly details and staying agile in every moment. On her forthcoming album, The Garden, Brody brings us back to her childhood homestead, with its fireside harmonies and songs to celebrate the earth’s glory. With no sonic stimulation outside of the winds and wild animals, Brody began making music early. She sang folk songs with her sisters and strung together lines of ecstatic poetry at age four. With the nearest grocery store an hour and a half away, they would listen to, memorize and re-enact musicals on the long drives over the mountains in their gold Ford Explorer. When her family moved to the small town of Staunton, Virginia, she went to the local performing arts high school where she honed her piano skills and learned to catch the wild melodies that flew through her imagination. Brody has remained a prolific songwriter with her honeyed vocals at the center of songs that bloom in a musical ecosystem full of pop, folk, cabaret and gospel sounds.
PATIO: Stephen Evans & the True Grits
ALL AGES LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVESTEPHEN EVANS & THE TRUE GRITS After many years of vacillating between being a professional musician and building a nest in Asheville, NC, Stephen Evans finally asked his friends, Brian Shoemaker (bass), Sam Hess (drums), and Woodstock (mandolin), to form the True Grits and make some music together in 2014. The very next year, Stephen Evans & the True Grits released their first LP “Something to Bleed”. Inspired to release more music, they followed two years later with their EP “Under the Bridge.” Both records received local and regional praise for their passion and creativity. Stephen’s strong melodic songwriting style is a blend of vivid imagery, darkness, and hopeful optimism. There’s no denying the feeling that shines through with his evocative vocals and lyrics. Songs like ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘The Garden’, ‘Cherokee Hills’, ‘Shining Star’, and ‘Buzz of Bees’ are beacons of his folk rock song craft. With radio play on Western North Carolina radio stations, as well as shows around the region, Stephen Evans & the True Grits are becoming a local favorite. “Buzz of Bees” is their latest album, released in December of 2022, of folk rock with some songs dipping their toes into other styles like Americana, Latin Folk, and Vaudeville. Singles from the LP, ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘Winning the Day’, and ‘Estefania’, are already receiving radioplay on local stations as well as national online radio and music podcasts. Look for Stephen Evans & the True Grits playing fun live shows all around the area to support this beautiful album. “…overall, I highly recommend this album for those who enjoy folk rock, poetic lyricism, and an engaging sense of fun. The album is a journey through different stages of life, confusion, heartbreak, revelation, and acceptance.” – Alison Price of WNC Original Music Podcast
PATIO: Electric Blue Yonder
ALL AGES LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEELECTRIC BLUE YONDERElectric Blue Yonder is a musical group like no other, featuring Beth Hataway and Johnny Veres as its core members. Their music takes the listener on a journey through space and time, blending influences from folk, rock, and ambient music into a unique sound that is both familiar and alien.Beth’s haunting vocals and Johnny’s intricate guitar work are the perfect match, creating a sonic landscape that captivates audiences and leaves them spellbound. Their music touches on themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in an ever-changing world, conveying heartfelt emotions and genuine experiences.Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Electric Blue Yonder continued to showcase their music through virtual performances and interviews, captivating audiences with their otherworldly sounds and unique blend of space-folk. Their debut album, “B/TST Between Space and Time,” was released just two weeks before the pandemic began, but the band’s unwavering commitment to their craft enabled them to overcome adversity and continue to create and perform.Their sophomore album, “Mourning Sounds,” takes listeners on a metaphorical journey through the process of loss and grieving, highlighting the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and find a way forward. The album’s message of friendship, perseverance, and radical acceptance resonates deeply, garnering critical acclaim from prestigious outlets such as American Songwriter, Americana UK, and V13.With their innovative blend of musical styles and themes, Electric Blue Yonder has established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of indie music. Their continued growth and evolution as artists, while staying true to their unique sound and vision, is a testament to their talent and commitment to their craft.Their highly anticipated album, “MicroPARTY,” promises to be a celebration of life’s small moments, with catchy hooks and danceable beats that will have listeners grooving along in no time. The album’s production is said to be top-notch, with expertly crafted layers of synths, guitar riffs, and vocals that create a sonic landscape that is both immersive and exhilarating. Electric Blue Yonder’s music is a beacon of hope in a world that is ever more complex and uncertain, reminding listeners that the human spirit is capable of reaching for the stars. Their unique sound and commitment to their craft are sure to inspire and captivate audiences for years to come.
PATIO: Blue Cactus
ALL AGES LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEBLUE CACTUS Led by kindred spirit songwriters Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez, Blue Cactus got their start among the active honky-tonk circuit of North Carolina, developing an electrified twang that now branches out effortlessly into folk, alt-country, and psychedelic-tinged rock. Blue Cactus has supported a diverse set of artists over its eight-year history (The War & Treaty, Town Mountain, and Junior Brown, among others), Stewart’s introspective lyricism and Arnez’s skill for lush arrangements making the band potent in the studio and on stage. Praised by No Depression for their ability to paint “beautiful pictures of limitless possibility” in roots music, Blue Cactus has drawn comparisons to Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. Their sophomore album, Stranger Again, released in 2021 on Sleepy Cat Records, nabbed enthusiastic attention from tastemakers including No Depression, American Songwriter, FLOOD Magazine, Talkhouse, and INDY Week. Following their critically acclaimed 2017 debut and a string of singles in 2020, Stranger Again saw the band taking their sound to an ambitious new plane, where country-rock and light psychedelia mingle, vocals soaring over twangy slide guitars and propulsive basslines. Between the comfort of classic country and the glamor of 70s rock, Blue Cactus resuscitate a fleeting style of honest-to-goodness country music considered valueless to a “new” country music where songwriting is officiated by financial analysts and teams of marketing plutocrats instead of woebegone troubadours. With a high lonesome twang, a Lucinda-like southern drawl, and blistering guitar techniques, Blue Cactus exercises the honky-tonk muscles to firmly bear the flag for a new generation of country music.
PATIO: Anna Kline
ALL AGES LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEANNA KLINE“[Anna’s] voice is a marvel—powerful and expressive—with a keening, gorgeous vibrato that brings forth images of a displaced Depression-era farmer’s wife, mourning the loss of her land to the dust.” (DeSoto Magazine).Anna Kline grew up in a small town between Memphis and the Mississippi Delta. Hailing from a long line of musicians and singers, she was raised on a steady diet of hymns and folk, three-part harmonies, blues, and Memphis soul. She and husband, John Looney, formed Grits & Soul, and promptly set up a home base in Asheville. For the next five years they crisscrossed the Southeast, appearing at MerleFest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Suwannee Springfest & Suwannee’s Magnolia Fest, Countryfest in Belgium.In 2017, they moved back to John’s home state of Kentucky and kept writing, performing, and playing in the region. John went on tour with John R. Miller. Anna sang harmony and played square dances with The Local Honeys. In 2021, Anna and John formed Swift Silver and put out a self-titled album drawing on their love of Memphis soul, blues, and country.Lately Anna takes the opportunity to strike out on her own, playing solo shows, sharing songs and poetry, revealing her musical vision in a new way. Her writing is directly influenced by the redemptive strains of gospel, the drawling tremolo of rhythm and blues, and the raw twang of rural American life.“Anna Kline’s vocals perfectly compliment the lyrics that speak to her move to Kentucky, and finding her personal rhythm amongst an inspiring web of human curiosity and creative emotion.” — A VOICE IN THE MOUNTAINSAs a solo act, she keeps good company, whether opening for Graham Sharp of The Steep Canyon Rangers, collaborating onstage and off with Kentucky stalwarts The Local Honeys, and sharing songwriter rounds with Tiffany Williams—among others.Anna co-wrote “Last Mule in the Holler” with her friend, Montana Hobbs of The Local Honeys, which appeared on The Local Honey’s recent self-titled album, and songs from Swift Silver’s debut album were recently featured on ESPN’s True South Season 5 featuring Tompkinsville, Kentucky. Anna is also part of a Kentucky Roundtable discussion for Ari Wallach’s PBS series A Brief History of the Future, currently airing on PBS. She is currently working on a collaborative songwriting and album project called Thinking Like a Mountain.
Bob Dylan’s 83rd Birthday Celebration: Hosted by George Trouble and The Zealots
– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEGEORGE TROUBLE AND THE ZEALOTS CELEBRATE BOB DYLAN’S 83RD BIRTHDAYThe Zealots and friends will pay tribute to Bob Dylan’s just after his 83rd birthday at the Grey Eagle, Sunday, May 26th. To salute the work of one of the most influential and complex artists of our times, the Zealots are drawing from their roots. Asheville based singer/songwriters and rockers George Trouble and The Zealots, with special guests, bring their exuberance, strong craft and diverse range of styles to the Dylan songbook, promising a night of celebration. Wear your leopard skin pill box hat!
Tommy Prine
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLYTOMMY PRINE Tommy Prine’s debut album This Far South (released 6/23/23) is not only a long-awaited introduction but a testimony to Prine’s 20s and the loss, love, and growth that has defined them. Co-produced by a close friend and kindred musical spirit, Ruston Kelly, and beloved Nashville engineer and producer, Gena Johnson, the album is rich and dynamic from cathartic jams to nostalgic storytelling. “I feel like I’ve learned more about myself in the last year and a half than I ever have in my life,” Prine says. “And I think that speaks a lot to doing something that I’m passionate about. I love and respect the craft. Just hitting the road and doing what so many people before me have done and will continue to do, it’s really resonated with me. I think it has transformed me into the person that I am meant to be.” Prine is currently crisscrossing the country playing full band headlining shows as well as festivals. Last year, Prine opened for Tyler Childers on the “Send In The Hounds Tour” and was named one of Amazon Music’s 2023 Breakthrough Artists to Watch. He wrapped up 2023 by making his Grand Ole Opry debut in December. The son of late songwriting legend, John Prine, Tommy Prine grew up in Nashville surrounded by music, art and writing. As a child, he thought all parents were musicians, as his father “going to work” meant performing shows for adoring fans and writing songs. Tommy learned to play guitar by watching his father play, copying the ways his fingers moved and inadvertently developing his own singular style. Summers in Ireland lent their own inspiration, as did 10 straight years camping at Bonnaroo. Prine’s musical tastes grew to become decidedly eclectic, spanning John Mayer, Outkast, Bon Iver, the Strokes and more. It wasn’t until Prine reached his mid-twenties, though, that he considered a career of his own in music and began to share with others the songs he wrote in private. His songs were quickly met with excitement and enthusiasm, which sonically brings together a colorful patchwork of musical influences and lyrically explores existential questions and emotional experiences. USA Today: Tommy Prine isn’t standing in the shadow of his dad, John Prine. He’s ‘walking next to it’ Inside Hook: Tommy Prine and the Honor of Expectations Garden & Gun: Tommy Prine Finds His Voice CIGARETTES @ SUNSETCigarettes @ Sunset is a five-piece band based in Boone, North Carolina. Comprised of bassist and backup vocalist Wells Whitman, drummer Ethan Moore, violinist Sarah Vann, rhythm guitarist and lead singer Garrett Dellinger, and lead guitarist Ryland Bagbey. The band’s music juxtaposes driving guitar riffs, drums that swerve out of country and punk, with swelling violin, and Dellinger’s semi-autobiographical lyrics anchor the band in both time and place. Their live shows turn any venue into an intimate and energized space, amalgamating shoegaze, old time, and indie rock into a whirlwind of sound.
Sam Burchfield & The Scoundrels w/ Palmyra
ALL AGESSTANDING ROOM ONLYSAM BURCHFIELD & THE SCOUNDRELS Sam Burchfield was raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, where he learned to play and learned to write. His youth was steeped in the mossy creeks and deep ravines of those ancient woods, and they imbued him with the gift of song. Now in his thirties, Burchfield raises a small family in the North Georgia mountains and continues to find inspiration in the rivers and ridges of Southern Appalachia. His latest album ‘Me & My Religion’ was produced with his touring band, The Scoundrels. It is the first collaboration for the group after years of paying dues to the highway. Colin Agnew (drums), Trygve Myers (bass), and Ryan Plumley (guitar) accompanied Burchfield to Muscle Shoals, Alabama along with Nashville producer, Rachael Moore, to record the album of 7 days. “It’s certainly the most upbeat record I’ve ever released,” reflects Burchfield. “We crafted many of the songs together on countless stages, and most were then tracked live in the studio, which just felt right.” This 10 track album is almost equal parts Americana, psychedelia, indie folk, and Southern rock. All these flavors combine to support the album’s main theme. As seasoned listeners will expect, Burchfield’s lyrics are far from on the nose, as the declarative title would suggest. ‘Me & My Religion’ is an exploration of mankind’s toil for meaning in a world of vapid consumerism and commercialism – one in which we have become deaf to our own harmony with nature. Despite the weight of these ideas, the album feels like a lighthearted sojourn through the backwoods of our imagination. PALMYRA“Like the best folk often does, [Palmyra] balances melancholic yearning with intimate beauty, crafting a dance of lovely harmony and unadorned instrumentation.” -Under The Radar, 2023 “Their voice(s) drips with a beautiful desperation, every single word holding an earnestness you don’t find just anywhere anymore.” -The Alternative, 2023 Established in the Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra’s set explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies and earnest songwriting. The trio captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them), often described as a distant cousin of the progressive folk band, Punch Brothers, mixed with elements of Oliver Wood or the Avett Brothers. Palmyra’s songs are intimate and contemplative, with arrangements that allow them to create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. The trio’s sound is a nod to Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, apparent through their stirring craftsmanship and dedication to a folk-driven, innovative experience throughout each unique live performance.
