PATIO: Asheville Junction
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVEASHEVILLE JUNCTIONAsheville Junction is a bluegrass/Americana band from the high country of North Carolina. Their lively, entertaining shows feature hot fiddlin’, vocals, harmonies and much more. Folks find themselves singing, clapping, and toe-tappin’ along to the music. Asheville Junction formed when mother-daughter duo Tierra and Maria Raiti moved to Asheville and joined up with long-time local musicians Brad Pope on upright bass, and Ken Sager on dobro.Tierra Raiti: Fiddle and Lead SingerTierra Raiti, lead and harmony singer and fiery fiddler for the band, has been noticed as a formidable rising musician and invited to appear on the Woodsongs International Radio Show in 2022. Tierra is a featured singer and player on Galax to Toledo Tracks. Recordings from this album have been played in roots and Americana radio shows around the world. Tierra is a phenomenally accomplished and versatile singer and fiddler, having won numerous fiddle contests and violin competitions, as well as singing competitions and scholarships ranging from jazz to classical to country. Ken Sager: Dobro and GuitarKen has been a musician all his life. He began performing violin publicly at the age of 10 and played electric guitar for large audiences at 13, and ever since has loved playing for live audiences from 1 to 10,000. Sharing music with other musicians and listeners has become a long-running conversation for Ken. He has performed on more than 40 albums for other groups and soloists, and even released a solo album Here in 2007. Ken is also the 2004 State Flat Pick Guitar and Mandolin champion. When not playing music Ken enjoys poker, fly fishing and traveling with his wife Sherri.Brad Pope: Bass, harmony and occasional lead vocalsI was born and raised in Asheville, NC. I have a lot of family around these parts, and that exposed me at an early age to old time, bluegrass and just goodle mountain music. 22 years ago I heard dwightyoakamacoustic(net) CD and it socked me in the eye and I said ‘I WANNA DO THAT!’ So my Mom got me a guitar for Christmas that year, and I sat down and taught myself guitar, and as time went on, mandolin and bass. In other music, I play tenor guitar and mandolin with the Lazybirds. In the spare time that I rarely see at my door, I’m a painter as well. I also love pasta, crocodiles, Shel Silverstein, late night ice cream, crickets when they’re crickin’, crows, trains and turtles.Maria Raiti: Rhythm guitar, harmony and occasional lead vocalsWhen Maria and her daughter Tierra lived up north, Tierra was taking classical violin lessons, but kept expressing passionate interest in bluegrass fiddle. So Maria picked up a guitar and mother and daughter discovered joy and bonding in playing music together at local jams, and eventually bluegrass bands. Maria always joked with friends and family that one day she would move and take her talented daughter to Nashville. Then in August of 2021 Maria and Tierra actually made the move, no joke. Except instead of Nashville, they stopped and got off at The Asheville Junction!
OUTPOST: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Liam Purcell & Cane Mill RoadRapidly rising on the bluegrass scene, Billboard-charting artists Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road perform internationally and stateside winning both industry awards and the hearts of fans who turn out to see them at some of the industry’s most iconic venues. Growing up just down the road from Doc Watson, Liam Purcell leads Cane Mill Road as they rock the traditional bluegrass standards they were raised on, yet boldly write original music with roots in the fertile grounds of bluegrass, old-time, and Americana. Their powerful arrangements and dynamic stage presence have landed them main stage slots at legendary festivals across the country. Named Momentum Band of the Year by IBMA in 2019, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road have been recognized as one of the fastest growing bands in the industry. Their latest release “Roots” debuted at #6 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Charts, joining their three previous albums for a total of 12 weeks in the Top 10. In 2022, bandleader Liam Purcell turned heads by sweeping the Rockygrass Instrumental Championships on Guitar, Mandolin, and Banjo, becoming the first person in history to do so.
OUTPOST: Snake Oil Medicine Show
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Snake Oil Medicine Show From Asheville, North Carolina, Snake Oil Medicine Show is a dedicated group of artists and musicians who love and respect tradition in acoustic music, but who also share an even stronger passion to shape its future. Snake Oil’s goal is to convey positive energy and ideals to their audiences through music and art. Fantasies become three-dimensional, technicolor props and mysteriously gargantuan puppets at festivals and larger shows. Improvisation rules as guest musicians, rappers, freestylers, artists, puppeteers, dancers and jugglers often grace the stage. Snake Oil Medicine Show features some of the hottest talents around, no two performances are ever the same! Snake Oil was founded by Guitarist and guru songwriter George Pond in 1993, whose witty, Dr. Suess-like lyrics explore everything from the golden rule to quantum physics. This sheriff now plays the electric as well as upright Bass and is considering attending Clown College where he will use the power of Humor to promote World Peace Through Music and Art! The group has been playing across the globe for 3 decades as Psychedelic Bluegrass-Rock Pioneers!
The Wildmans + Sad Daddy
– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMIITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLETHE WILDMANS The Wildmans come from the hills of Floyd, Virginia, in the heart of the Appalachian mountain music tradition. From campsite jamming at festivals and fiddler’s conventions and a college level music education comes the foundation for musical exploration that sets this group apart, taking the audience on a musical journey that reflects the growth and passion of these talented musicians. The band features award winning players: Eli Wildman, first place winner in mandolin at the Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention, 2018 and 2019, first place winner at the Mount Airy Fiddler’s 2017, 2018, 2019 Aila Wildman, first place winner in Old Time Fiddle and Best All Around Performer at the 83rd annual Galax Old Fiddlers convention in 2018 Victor Furtado, winner of the 2019 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo, and first place Old Time Banjo at Galax 2015, 2016 and 2019 The group has appeared on stages large and small, performing in festivals such as Red Wing Roots, Chantilly Farm’s Bluegrass and BBQ festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass, Floyd Fest, and The Steep Canyon Rangers’ Mountain Song Festival. They also regularly represent young talent along the Crooked Road in regional fiddler’s conventions. Having shared the stage with talents such as Bela Fleck, The Steep Canyon Rangers, The Steel Wheels, Danny Knicely, Sammy Shelor, Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, and more., these young musicians are making their way in the American stringband scene.SAD DADDY Since 2010, Sad Daddy, whose members are based in Arkansas and in Texas, has traveled down many a road–together and separately–at times focusing on their solo projects and then reuniting for a band project. The four members, Brian Martin, Joe Sundell, Rebecca Patek, and Melissa Carper, all conspired and united in the sudden spare time of 2020 to create their third album, Way Up in the Hills. With a long and dedicated history of making their audiences happy, Sad Daddy is emerging rejuvenated with Way Up in the Hills. With a more down-home and old-timey feel than their previous albums, they all stretched themselves a bit to create a common theme and new songs together. Unique to Sad Daddy, all of the members sing lead and write original tunes–the convergence of influences and interpretation of feeling into sound is a stylistic blend of the very best elements of American Roots Music. From the sounds of early blues, jazz, and jug bands to early country, folk, old-time, bluegrass, soul, and funk, they combine many influences, creating an indefinable genre of their own.
Mighty Poplar
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYMIGHTY POPLAR At its heart, bluegrass music is about what happens when you commit to the moment. The joy of improvisation keeps the music fresh, and the fun of crafting ideas on the fly keeps the musicians on their toes. This true spirit of bluegrass infuses the self-titled record from Mighty Poplar, a new all-star roots project featuring Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse, Noam Pikelny and Chris Eldridge of Punch Brothers, bassist Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) and fiddler Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings) coming March 31, 2023 on Free Dirt Records. Regarded as some of the finest players of their generation, the playing is never showy and always in service of the song. Though Pikelny, Eldridge, Garrison all knew each other from their early work with Punch Brothers, impromptu backstage jams with Marlin at festivals across the country were the key that unlocked the project. A lifelong song collector, Marlin selected and sang lead on most of the songs here, bringing classics as well as deep cuts from greats like Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard, John Hartford, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Norman Blake. Throughout, the songs and tunes are as immediate and emotionally impactful as the playing is tasteful. Gathered knee-to-knee in a rural studio outside Nashville, the collaborative 10-track album emerged organically over a few days. “It felt so special and effortless; it didn’t take work,” says Eldridge, “other than the work and effort we’ve put in the rest of our lives.” With their debut album, Mighty Poplar has captured the fierce and playful energy of an all-night jam between old friends who just happen to be grandmasters of the music.
Andrew Marlin String Band at Asheville Masonic Temple
– ALL AGES- FULLY SEATED SHOW- AT ASHEVILLE MASONIC TEMPLE (80 Broadway St) ANDREW MARLIN STRING BAND Andrew Marlin is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based out of Chapel Hill, NC. He’s known for his captivating songwriting, presented both lyrically with his band Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange) and instrumentally under his own name. During the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, Marlin recorded two dynamic, instrumental albums, Witching Hour and Fable & Fire, which followed up 2018’s Buried in a Cape. Witching Hour, which was released February 5, 2021, is redolent of bluegrass and American roots music soundscapes; rich fiddle and mandolin weave through powerful, coursing tunes. Folk Alley said the record “showcase(s) Marlin’s ingenious ways of dwelling in a tune and turning it inside out, grounding it in tradition but carrying it out to new heights through brilliant innovation.” Fable & Fire, which was released two short weeks after Witching Hour, draws more from the sounds of Irish roots music and is reminiscent of the melodies that came over from the Emerald Isle to early Appalachia. Red Line Roots called the album a “masterpiece” and that “Andrew’s instrumental songs have a way of speaking volumes without actually having any words within them. Rich palettes of emotion, place, space and vibe that in all my years of listening to instrumental records, I am yet to find an equal to.” Each album was recorded in a different recording studio but largely had the same crew of instrumentalists, all of whom are close friends and trusted collaborators. Nashville guitarist Jordan Tice and fiddler Christian Sedelmyer have worked closely with Marlin before, as have guitarist Josh Oliver and bassist Clint Mullican, both of whom tour and record in Watchhouse. Award winning fiddler Brittany Haas joined up for a tune on Witching Hour, and Fable and Fire features cellist Nat Smith on every track. Marlin will be joined by Sedelmyer, Mullican, and Oliver on this May tour. Outside of summer festival appearances at notable events Newport Folk and Telluride Bluegrass, this tour marks the first time these songs will be performed live in the west. Marlin has produced six albums of original works of American roots music with Watchhouse and regularly contributes instrumental performances to other artists and albums. Recent work includes playing mandolin on recordings for Tyler Childers, Waxahatchee, Dead Tongues and Phil Cook. Marlin is also an in-demand producer, and has produced albums for artists including Mipso, Kate Rhudy, Rachel Baiman and Ismay. Over the last decade, he has toured with Watchhouse throughout the U.S and Europe and appeared on high profile programs such CBS This Morning’s Saturday Morning Sessions and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. As a band Watchhouse has headlined and sold-out notable rooms including the Ryman and Red Rocks.JOSH KIMBROUGHJosh Kimbrough is a fingerstyle guitarist and composer from Chapel Hill, NC. He learned to play guitar studying Freddie King instrumentals and Fernando Sor classical guitar pieces. His 2020 Tompkins Square Records debut, Slither, Soar & Disappear, has been called “Utterly Moving” by Record Crates United, and “A Triumph” by Folk Radio UK. On it, small ensembles of double bass, flute, strings, mandolin, banjo, and drums adorn his nylon and steel string guitar work.
PATIO: Carley Arrowood
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDCARLEY ARROWOODCarley Arrowood is already a veteran when it comes to the bluegrass music scene. Touring for five years with Darin and Brooke Aldridge found her gracing notable stages all over the country, including 13 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, and even overseas for performances in Prague, Czech Republic and Ireland. In 2017 she received one of three Instrumentalist of the Year Momentum Awards given to rising young artists from the IBMA. Now a thriving solo artist, Carley continues to catch ears with her long-awaited debut album from Mountain Home Music Company, “Goin’ Home Comin’ On”, released in April of 2022. She continues to make her mark as a singer, a songwriter, and of course a cutting-edge fiddler, and her forthright delivery of every song shows an uncommon poise for so young an artist. Her music continues to reach new heights as she prepares to release her sophomore album from Mountain Home, another collection of mostly original songs that paint a picture of astounding versatility and musicianship that will enchant listeners everywhere. Be on the lookout for this release later in the summer of 2023.
OUTPOST: Anya Hinkle
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINEAnya HinkleWith vivid storytelling, vibrant musicianship, and arresting honesty, Anya Hinkle explores the beauty ofsong craft through the lens of the Appalachian string band tradition. Originally from the mountains ofVirginia, Anya’s music is steeped in the tones of folk and bluegrass and seasoned by travels across theworld. A founding member of Asheville-based bands Dehlia Low (Rebel Records) and Tellico (OrganicRecords), Anya released her first full-length album under her own name last year on Organic Records.No Depression hailed music from that project “one of roots’ music gems…”
CANCELED: OUTPOST: Songs From the Road Band w/ special guests Red Clay Revival
***THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED***- ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- THE OUTPOST (521 AMBOY RD)Songs From The Road Band is an Asheville, North Carolina based bluegrass supergroup featuring Mark Schimick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Wharton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). The band takes flight with virtuosic picking, singing, and grammy award winning songwriting. Several of their most recent singles have gone to the top of the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. They have 6 studio albums available at all musical outlets.Red Clay RevivalBorn in the soul-basted countryside of Alabama, and brought to the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains to marinade and mature, Red Clay Revival delivers an experience that reshapes the parameters of “roots music” as its known. Songsmith extraordinaire, Doug McElvy, lays a solid foundation at the epicenter of Red Clay’s musical magnitude. McElvy’s skillful, heart-driven compositions are orbitted by the most noteabble and virtuosic musicians in the industy today. For the 2012 full-length debut, “Barefoot,” McElvy teams with resophonic guitar guru, Billy Cardine, as creative consultant and coproducer. The album features collaborations with decorated pros, such as; Keller Williams, Larry and Jenny Keel, and Tim carbone of Rail Road Earth. “Barefoot” received stellar reviews and accolades from industry peers, and listeners alike. The title track earned a spot on Relix Magazine’s widely distributed July-August 2012 compilation disc. For the 2014 EP, “Chilly,” McElvy and Cardine again pair in production, recruiting the talents of world class violinist, Casey Driessen, and beat master Jeff Sipe for backing elements. “Chilly” delivers nothing short of pure musical gold. Red Clay Revival’s powerful live performance harnesses an energy that electrifies any room, leaving audiences with an embedded musical experience.
CANCELED: OUTPOST: Mile Twelve w/ Zoe and Cloyd
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Mile Twelve is back in motion. From the first manic, dissonant downbeat of their virtuosic new record, Close Enough to Hear, you’ll discover a band that is ready to explode from a restless pandemic-induced hiatus. The first track “Romulus,” glides and rages as the narrator wrestles with the ultimate impermanence of the empire he’s forged. Next comes the magical realism of “Johnny Oklahoma,” the youth who volunteers to be fired out of a cannon for the good of his community, in one big beautiful nihilistic burst. These musicians are clearly working through some hard questions posed by the last few years. You’ll hear the same warmth and innovation that earned the band IBMA’s 2019 Album of the Year nomination and 2020 New Artist of the Year Award, and that’s gained them an international reputation as one of the most dynamic groups in contemporary acoustic music. The title track “Close Enough to Hear,” is a stripped down dream of all that we missed so dearly in those early, terrifying months of lockdown. Something else is close enough to hear on this new album. You’ll notice the presence of two new members: fiddler and vocalist Ella Jordan and mandolinist Korey Brodsky. Take note of the new dimension they add to the band, and their ability to lock in with founding members Evan Murphy (guitar, vocals), Catherine Bowness (banjo), and Nate Sabat (bass, vocals). These aren’t session players; this album captures the formation of a new coherent unit. Zoe and Cloyd Klezgrass. This one word may best describe the vast musical world of Asheville, NC duo Zoe & Cloyd. Springing from rich and complementary traditions, the artistic stylings of fiddler/vocalist Natalya Zoe Weinstein and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist John Cloyd Miller fit together in a harmonic dovetail. In 2022, the band was an official showcase artist at the IBMA World of Bluegrass, featured guest artists for the Davidson College Holiday Gala, as well as hosts of A Swannanoa Solstice at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. Their fifth studio album, Songs of Our Grandfathers, is set to release in May of 2023 on Organic Records, just before their international debut in Northern Ireland.Zoe & Cloyd delight audiences with soaring harmonies and heartfelt songwriting, seamlessly combining original bluegrass, klezmer, old-time and folk with sincerity and zeal.
