Sarah Jarosz: Polaroid Lovers Tour
ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- Limited Number of Polaroid Lovers Tour VIP Experiences available, including: • One (1) general admission ticket • Pre-show soundcheck performance • Q&A with Sarah • Group photo with Sarah (Sarah stays on stage) • Exclusive poster signed by the artist • Early entry into the venueSARAH JAROSZ Four-time GRAMMY winner Sarah Jarosz has announced her new album, Polaroid Lovers. The record is set for release on January 26th, 2024 via Rounder Records. To mark the occasion she has shared the album opener, “Jealous Moon,” and its companion video. WATCH HERE. The song finds Jarosz backed by a decidedly more electric band, with her Texas lilt as clear and evocative as ever. Polaroid Lovers is available for pre-order today digitally and on vinyl with gray, lavender, orange and green splatter variants. Indie retailers will also have a special blue and green splatter vinyl. For more information visit https://store.sarahjarosz.com/LE RENLeftovers, the debut album from Montreal’s Le Ren, stitches together a patchwork of personal songs about different relationships: those we share with mothers, lovers, and friends. Lauren Spear, the artist behind Le Ren, created a physical quilt to mirror the assemblage of stories that comprise her album: a coming-of-age collage that collects over four years of past experiences and finds their present meaning. “When I think of leftovers, I think of things that have been cast aside,” she says. “When they’re picked back up or remembered, they can be repurposed… Leftovers came to mean a collection of feelings and moments of the past that still remain relevant to my present.”Leftovers was originally scheduled to be recorded in LA in early 2020, but the pandemic forced Le Ren to reconsider the kind of album she wanted to make, and how she wanted to make it. Taking the time to revamp old songs and bring the past to bear upon new ones, she distilled years of material into ten tightly executed tracks united by the swooning pluck of her guitar and the crystal clear timbre of her voice. In April 2021, she met with producer Chris Cohen in a rented house in Portland, Oregon, where they had to wait for a neighborhood boy to stop making noise outside before they could record. The album came together much like the patchwork of her quilt, with collaborators Kori Miyanishi, Cedric Noel, Saltwater Hank (Jeremy Pahl), Eliza Niemi, Kaïa Kater, Aaron Goldstein, Buck Meek, and Tenci (Jess Showman) recording their parts separately from across North America. The result is a timeless assemblage of love, heartache, celebration, and lessons hard-learned, written and performed by a musician who has honed the subtleties of her craft.Spear studied bluegrass as a teenager on Bowen Island/Nex̱wlélex̱m, a small municipality on the Canadian west coast. In adulthood she dove headfirst into Montreal’s (/Tiohtià:ke’s) music scene, expanding her artistry into contemporary folk, rock, and country. With the release of her EP Morning & Melancholia in 2020, Le Ren earned comparison to the deft musicianship and sparse, eloquent lyrics of John Prine and Neil Young.
Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show
– ALL AGES- SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEBILL KIRCHEN’S HONKY TONK HOLIDAY SHOW For a real taste of seasonal cheer, nothing says joy to the world like Bill Kirchen singing “Daddy’s Drinkin’ Up Our Christmas!” Bill Kirchen and his Turtle Doves will make a stop on their annual Honky Tonk Holiday Tour at the Grey Eagle on Tuesday 12/12. Featured is a sleigh-full of rarely heard holiday numbers from the blues, rock ‘n’ roll and honky tonk bags: “Silent Surfin’ Night,” “Truckin’ Trees for Christmas,” “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin,” and more. But be ye not afraid, there’ll be so much more than holiday songs of questionable taste; you can count on a truckload of dieselbilly classics, rockers, and country weepers to take the edge off the holiday fuss. So mark your calendars and check ’em twice – Santa Claus is back in town! Kirchen is touring with his all-star Texas guys – Jack Saunders on bass and Rick Richards on drums. Bill Kirchen is one of the fortunate few who can step on any stage, play those trademark guitar licks which he created for the seminal Commander Cody classic, “Hot Rod Lincoln,” and elicit immediate recognition. As a founding father of the proto-Americana group Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Kirchen wrought a diesel-fueled guitar hook that drove their Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top 10 nationwide. Kirchen went on to the Grammys where he was nominated for Best Country Instrumental in 2001. He has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dan Hicks, Maria Muldaur, Hoyt Axton, Hazel Dickens, Gene Vincent and Link Wray, and has toured the world as guitarist with Cody, Nick Lowe, Hoyt Axton and Emmylou Harris. Bill Kirchen was inducted into the Hall Of Fame of the Washington DC Wammie Music Awards in 2001, alongside Dave Grohl and John Phillip Sousa. He joined a remarkable list of prior inductees including Bo Diddly, Duke Ellington, Ruth Brown, Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline, Shirley Horn, Emmylou Harris, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. His recent disc, Transatlanticana, entered the Americana Radio Chart Top 10 in 2018, joining his extensive catalogue of over 2 dozen albums, from the Commander Cody discs on through his current 12 releases on the Proper and Last Music Company labels. Bill’s latest releases are Back from the Ozone, a Lost Planet Airmen reunion CD out in October 2023 and, from 2021, the LPs Waxworks and Tombstone Every Mile, along with The Proper Years and Tombstone on CD and in all digital formats, all on the Last Music Company label. Washington Post: “Seldom has traveling across the rock and country landscape been this much fun” Guitar Player magazine: “The Titan of the Telecaster…cuts loose with some of the fattest, gnarliest low-down twang imaginable” Rolling Stone: “A musical treasure, a fantastic player, and, in these roots-conscious times, very much a pioneer, Bill Kirchen is one of our best.”
Chatham Rabbits
– ALL AGES – SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE CHATHAM RABBITSThere is something warm and instantly familiar about the beloved roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Chatham Rabbits’ Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Leaning into each other’s strengths, their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans along the way and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that first brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Chatham Rabbits recorded and released their beloved debut album, All I Want From You in 2019. This set the standard for their sophomore release The Yoke is Easy, The Burden is Full—the centerpiece song “Oxen” was named “Top Folk Song of 2020” by Paste Magazine. Nurtured by central North Carolina’s fertile, influential music scene, Chatham Rabbits’ sound continues to evolve in their expansive third album, If You See Me Riding By (2022), which was simultaneously released with a television series, On the Road with Chatham Rabbits, on PBS-NC. The McCombies ingenuity during the Covid-19 crisis led to the creation of their mobile concert experience, The Stay at Home Tour, which took the duo to 194 neighborhoods in 2020-21. The pair is currently recording their fourth album of poignant original songs and continuing to foster their tight-knit fan community across the US.JON CHARLES DWYERJon Charles Dwyer’s songs embody the spirit of the Appalachian mountains he is married to: all poverty stricken loss and desire set against the backdrop of the most beautiful springtime of love and fresh hope tumbling over those hills and down to the valleys below.
OUTPOST: Part of This
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Part of This is a dynamic power rock trio hailing from the picturesque town of Tryon, North Carolina, nestled in the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Formed by three passionate musicians with a shared love for both rock and alternative genres, the band is making waves with their distinctive sound. Alex lays down the groove on bass and also takes the lead with his powerful vocals, delivering raw emotion with each lyric. Rich, a virtuoso on the guitar, adds sonic brilliance, weaving melodic rock riffs with an alternative twist that captivates audiences. Jay’s thunderous drumming provides the rhythmic foundation that propels their music to new heights. What sets Part of This apart is their ability to blend Alternative rock with an indie spirit, creating a musical fusion that’s as refreshing as it is electrifying. Their original compositions resonate with a lively, moody, and anthemic retro vibe, taking listeners on a sonic journey. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of musical influences, Part of This crafts songs that are both introspective and relatable. Their lyrics delve into the human experience, touching on themes of emotions, life experiences, and the pursuit of dreams. Part of This released their debut album “Just Fine” in 2023. This album showcases the band’s journey and commitment to their craft, offering a rich tapestry of songs that resonate deeply with listeners. Each track on “Just Fine” is a testament to their dedication to authenticity and musical innovation. With an ever-growing fan base and a sound that defies easy categorization, Part of This is poised to make their mark on the alternative rock scene. Stay tuned as they continue to rock stages and deliver their unique blend of melodic prowess, indie charm, and unadulterated passion.
**CANCELED** OUTPOST: Don Merckle
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE Don MerckleA darkly honest and wry singer/songwriter out of Charleston, South Carolina, Don Merckle’s songs are firmly planted among the fertile mixed traditions of American music. He is a workman’s poet, capable of delivering a rock and roll growl or a quiet dose of smoky barroom introspection with equal passion. He has led the popular Appalachian/Irish outfit Loch Ness Johnny, co-fronted the rambunctious Alt-Country American Gun, and founded the lively Don Merckle & the Blacksmiths. In his current solo work he is leaning into more stately and thoughtful singing which highlights the darkly emotional lyrical contours that are the hallmark of his best material. Don has shared stages with acts like Drivin’ N Cryin’, Lucero, Shooter Jennings, The Avett Brothers, Cracker, and more. He has a sound and feel that ably captures the ineffable blend of roots music and rock and roll at the heart of his songs.
Odie Leigh
– ALL AGES – STANDING ROOM ONLYODIE LEIGH Beginning with a bet between friends to see who could go viral, Odie Leigh’s musical journey has always been a bit unconventional. Hailing from suburban South Louisiana, where Lil Wayne and Tim McGraw carry equal reverence, Leigh’s musical influences are as contradictory as the area she grew up in. Singing in school choirs and church praise bands as a child, Leigh didn’t find her voice until 2020 gave her the solitude to create her own sound, free from the judgment and influence of the New Orleans music scene. Once described as “folk-misfit,” Odie Leigh’s songwriting reflects an earnest and fervent search for identity through the confusion of growing up culturally-adjacent in an area with so much history, tradition, and faults. Guided by the classic folk, blues, and country music that floods the southern soundscape, and shaped by her self-taught finger-picking style, Leigh’s music is an eclectic glimpse into feeling stuck in all of life’s in-betweens.KING STRANGKing Strang is the ragpunk, old-timey, and always fun one man band project of Michael Sinner, proudly represented by Portland’s Flail Records. Using influences of traditional folk music as well as 40’s jazz sounds, King Strang blends the old with the new in all of his music. Often playing a resonator guitar, stomp box, and kazoo, King Strang upholds a consistently jazzy barroom sound that remains unique from his work in incredible projects such as the Bridge City Sinners and Clyde and the Milltailers. King Strang’s music is nothing if not music to have a good time to. On his recent record “The Second Coming”, Michael Sinner is joined by Lightnin Luke on the fiddle, bringing even more old time vibes. With lyrics about religious folklore, love and longing, and apathy, King Strang brings a little something for everybody with a love for old time music and incredible jazz vocals.
Pretty Little Goat + The Wilder Flower
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLYPRETTY LITTLE GOAT You’ve never “herd” anything like them. Grassroots music at its finest, Pretty Little Goat formed in 2013 through their common grounding in the deep well of tradition found in the mountains of Western North Carolina. As young lovers of old-time music, Pretty Little Goat began winning string band competitions right away with their hard driving style. Since then, they have been drawing inspiration from a diverse array of sources, coupled with a lifestyle close to the land, to create a unique collection of timeless original music. Pretty Little Goat sees traditional music is a living art form – vibrant and evolving – and their energy and creativity on stage reflect that. They will get you dancing with a diverse array of old-time fiddle tunes, swingy country two-step numbers, and rollicking mountain hoedowns, while in turn offering heartfelt ballads and sweet harmonies. Pushing out a sound unidentifiable by time, their music is “as close as we will ever be to our past while being as current as we need it to be” (Mike Ashworth, Steep Canyon Rangers). Don’t miss the Goats! THE WILDER FLOWERThe Wilder Flower hails from Pickens SC & Brevard NC. We grew up in the thick of Appalachian bluegrass and old time music, fiddling and picking in the Y/JAM programs and with friends. As young musicians, we worked our ways onto stages at IBMA, MerleFest, and America’s Got Talent, and won blue ribbons at the South Carolina Old Time Fiddler’s Convention and beyond. We finally met in 2020 at Hagood Mill, where Madeline won the South Carolina State Fiddler’s Championship. Grounded in the language of our instrumental training, our collaboration flexes between folk, Americana, bluegrass, and Old-time tunes. Vocally, we thrive on three-part harmonies, whether a two-chord old-time ballad, or a modern, minor-filled melody, and instrumentally, we feature bluegrass banjo tunes, fiddle and clawhammer string-band songs, flat-picking guitar tunes, and everything in between. The Wilder Flower continues to write and tour throughout Appalachia and around the south eastern United States.
Lydia Loveless
– ALL AGES – STANDING ROOM ONLY LYDIA LOVELESSEndings are messy. Falling in love is messy. Change is messy. Perhaps, change is the messiest of them all. Especially when eyes are on you; when you blast out of adolescence onto stages across the country, then into your twenties, onto more stages and, finally, into your thirties—all on those same stages. The stages that Lydia Loveless has sung her heart out on, has collapsed on, and laughed on, all mirror the stages of her life thus far for the world to see. When Loveless released her first album over a decade ago, she was still a teenager whose songs of debauchery, guzzling alcohol and doing cocaine were an audio wet dream for a certain type of listener who not only wear their music tastes on their (tattooed) sleeve, but in the lifestyle that they emulate: “outlaw” music with brains – akin to Steve Earle, Drive-By Truckers and Lucinda Williams, vintage country heart with a heartland rock soul. In the end, the music industry is still sadly a man’s world and, as such, Loveless grew up in the spotlight (or perhaps, more accurately, the bar lights) while she was placed on a pedestal. Her voicemail greeting is a tongue-in-cheek ode to this: “Hi, this is Lydia Loveless, savior of cowpunk. Please leave a message and I will get back to you.” The time between their late adolescence to now is defined by a shelf full of records, hundreds of thousands of miles on the road, and a ribbon of heartbreaks pockmarking their trail. Loveless is a fiercely brave writer who bluntly assesses their life in song: their struggles with alcohol and depression, and the uncertainty of not only the future, but what piecing together the past will mean for the present. In 2020, they put out their excellent fourth full-length Daughter on their own label, Honey, You’re Gonna Be Late Records, with encouragement from their friend Jason Isbell, but could not tour behind it; the one consistent throughline in Loveless’ life was impossible due to the pandemic. They were living in North Carolina with their boyfriend at the time, stuck, away from the stages they grew up on, isolated from their family, and going stir-crazy. As the world came undone and then back together again, Loveless returned to Columbus, where their career first began. Starting anew, Loveless found part-time work at a recording studio (Secret Studios) and began processing the last two years of their life. The title of their new album, Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again, came easy—like a mantra from the heavens. REESE McHENRY
Western Carolina Writers
– ALL AGES – SEATED SHOW- LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLEWESTERN CAROLINA WRITERS Western Carolina Writers was established in 2019 by Nick McMahon, along with Jesse Frizsell and Thomas Yon, as a traveling “Songwriters-In-The-Round” style show. The idea was to take turns performing original songs with fun moments of collaboration at venues all over Western North Carolina. After about a dozen increasingly successful shows, McMahon started inviting other area songwriters to participate. And now, after around 150 shows featuring close to 80 different local artists, the concept has become even more popular, fun and diverse. Last year, Mcmahon and current project partner, Stephen Evans, decided to take this show into the listening rooms and out of the noisy bars and breweries so the songs could really be heard and appreciated. With three recent magical & successful songwriter showcases at The Grey Eagle and at Ayurprana Listening Room in Asheville, NC, this decision has proven to be the right move. This show will be another stellar display of wonderful local songwriters while featuring Amanda Platt, Morgan Geer of Drunken Prayer, Laura Blackley, Kate Thomas of Dirty French Broads, Kevin Smith of Planefolk, Keith Minguez, Thomas Yon, Mike Hollon, and Ryan Price!
OUTPOST: Velvet Truckstop
– ALL AGES- STANDING ROOM ONLY- RAIN OR SHINE From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Velvet Truckstop is a seasoned musical powerhouse that delivers a high-energy mix of Southern Rock and jam-fueled Cosmic Americana every time they take the stage. VT has recorded/performed live with many notable musicians, including: Tom Constanten (Grateful Dead), Ike Stubblefield (Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia Band), Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd), and John Keane (Widespread Panic). Following the success of their first full-length album, “Sweet Release” (voted No. 5 on WNCW’s Top 20 regional charts), they went on to command stages at top events, including multiple performances at SXSW in Austin, Texas; the Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam (2009- 2019); and the French Broad River Festival (2019). After extensive touring throughout the East Coast, the band cut their second album, “Southbound and Down”, produced by Johnny Sandlin (Allman Brothers/Widespread Panic) in Muscle Shoals Alabama.Velvet Truckstop is pleased to announce their third album “Reckless Abandon” will be released in 2022. Band Members are: Jamie Dose (guitar/vocals); Josh Gibbs (lap steel/guitar and vocals); Will Nicholson (bass); and, Jor Sutton (drums).
