For years, I’ve told Alexa to play “Harmonize” and “Resilient” as I’ve sung along in my kitchen while preparing meals for our kids. Leah Song and Chloe Smith are the sisters of Rising Appalachia…
A few weeks ago, Orcas Island had the pleasure of welcoming Leah Song and bandmate Duncan Wickel to the charming little Victorian Valley Chapel…
Click here to listen to them playing “Harmonize” and here to listen to “Resilient.”
If you haven’t heard of this band, here is their “Harmonize” video – recognize the islands in the background?
And here they are amid their NPR Tiny Desk Concert playing “Resilient”…
As described on their website…
Rising Appalachia is an internationally touring folk ensemble steeped in the soul of the South. It is the brainchild of Atlanta-raised sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, rooted in the rich musical traditions of their family and their journey into song as performers, writers, and song catchers. They have that touch that only siblings can have. And now, fresh off the press, they present their first album of cover songs Folk & Anchor, a carefully curated collection of remakes. From Bob Dylan to Hozier, Erykah Badu to Beyonce, hear these songs in a voice uniquely their own. Recorded at Echo Mountain in Asheville, North Carolina, the band has leaned into new renditions of old favorites, showcasing their wide range of style and sound.
Rising Appalachia makes music as a reflection of their times, blending Americana music with lyrics, rhythm and poetry of our times. The band’s unique sound was shaped by Leah and Chloe’s soulful vocals, simple instrumentation, and seamless harmonies, unique to siblings steeped in the multi-generational music of the South. They are joined by a host of incredible musicians who bring their own cultural influences, enriching the blend of Appalachian, Irish, Americana, Latin and world roots music that defines the smooth sound of Rising Appalachia.
Fronted by Leah and Chloe, and featuring full-time members David Brown (upright bass, baritone guitar), Duncan Wickel (fiddle, cello), and Biko Casini (drums and percussion), expect to be swooned into a tapestry of silky sounds. Their journey has taken them around the world, from sailboat tours across British Columbia to street theater festivals in Southern Italy, a full-time busking career in New Orleans, and traditional song studies in Ireland, Bulgaria, Latin America, and beyond.
They also continue to immerse in community building, cultural exchange programs, traditional folkloric studies, and music gathering everywhere that they go. Their dedication for nearly two decades to their craft has led them to acclaimed appearances (Telluride and Bluegrass Festival, Preservation Jazz Hall, Bob Boilen’s Tiny Desk Concert, Red Rocks, and many more) and sold-out concerts at venues across the world. Through their music, Rising Appalachia bridges culture and stories, creating connections that resonate deeply with their audiences of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Expect a boot-stomping banjo tune alongside an acapella ballad… all mashed up with breathtaking cello, a flatpicking guitar medley, and undeniable groove.
Eschewing established industry norms, Leah, Chloe, and their team have followed the invitation to intuitively and independently forge their own path. Sixteen years and seven studio albums in, this is their first full cover album and welcomes you into an ambitious adventure that has already taken these medicine women around the world and back. Come and make this music your own.
What a wonderful concert it was!
Coming up at Victorian Valley Chapel on December 12th is the John Reischman and Eli West Christmas Concert. See you there!….
Join us for the continuation of the Christmas Concert series at Victorian Valley Chapel established by the late Susan Osborn.
John Reischman is one of the premier mandolinists of his generation. He’s a master instrumentalist capable of swinging between re-inventions of traditional old-time tunes, deconstructions from the bluegrass repertoire, and compelling original tunes, many of which have become standards. He’s also a powerful bandleader, touring his band the Jaybirds all over Canada and the United States. A member of the groundbreaking Tony Rice Unit, Reischman’s mastery of bluegrass, old-time, swing, and multiple Latin American musical styles, coupled with an Old Master’s sense of tone, taste, and musicality, has brought him a global reputation as one of the finest mandolinists of his era. But most of all, he’s an understated visionary, the kind of master craftsman whose music is virtuosic without ever being flashy and who is renowned for his impeccable taste and tone as an artist. John Reischman embodies the true spirit of acoustic music in the 21st century.
Eli West is a Seattle-based multi-instrumental musician and interactive graphic designer. With an interest in angular phrasing and non-traditional improvisation within the historic precedents of bluegrass and old-time music, his playing both grounds and pushes the ensembles he is involved with. Well-known for his work with Norwegian fiddler Olav Mjelva, Cahalen Morrison, Jayme Stone and more, the Seattle-based singer and multi-instrumentalist oozes understated talent. He has released three records as half of the new/old-time duo Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, which tours regularly throughout the US and Europe. Eli is an active ingredient playing guitar, banjo, and bouzouki with both Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project and John Reischman and the Pine Siskins.
Here’s a little taste until then…
