PATIO: Charlie Marks & Jay Skaggs
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDCHARLIE MARKSCharlie Marks is an old-time, roots banjo and guitar picker. His sets blend traditional folk tunes with originals, ranging from foot-stomping banjo tunes to heartfelt ballads. With a sound described “as fresh as it is timeless”, Charlie brings a raw energy and earnestness to the stage that has captivated audiences across the country.JAY SKAGGSJay Skaggs is an alt country singer out of central KY, with influences ranging from traditional music to alternative music. His songs tell tales from traveling the states, living in the street and dealing with our times today. Jay has been described as “grunge country” and “a highly caffeinated John Prine” (American songcatcher) and also drawn comparisons from Bob Dylan to Colter Wall. His music is found on YouTube and bandcamp. You can also stream Jay’s Red Barn Radio performance where ever you stream music. Take a listen to the *Okay Lucky You* EP @ jayskaggs.bandcamp.com
PATIO: Laura Lamb w/ Lillie Syracuse
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDLAURA LAMB “Laura Lamb’s voice was made for live music” – Mspmag.com Laura Lamb found her voice at a young age while watching her mother’s family gather around a grand piano in Minneapolis, Minnesota singing songs by artists like Carole King, Norah Jones and Etta James. She remembers learning how to harmonize with her grandparents, while developing her smooth & melancholy voice. “It was a strange feeling to sing and bring my parents’ friends to tears. It felt really special to be able to make people feel emotional as a young kid.” She began writing songs after receiving her first guitar at age 12. Fast-forward to college days when Lamb first discovered Nashville, Tennessee. She was quickly swept under the wings of hit Singer-Songwriter and Monument Recording Artist, Cailyn Smith (Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Meghan Trainor) who gracefully mentored the young artist in her songwriting and performance skills. Before she knew it, she was showcasing her new Nashville co-written songs at coffee houses near her college campus in St. Paul, MN. After selling out her first big show in downtown Minneapolis, she made the brave move cross-country to Music City. Today, she has honed her craft while creating music some of Nashville’s finest songwriters and musician’s. She’s debuted her music at the Bluebird Cafe and has played Girls of Nashville – which showcases up and coming singer-songwriters. The independent artist has been preparing her next record with hit producer, Misa Arriaga (Kacey Musgraves), which will display her unique voice and emotion. The first single, Bluebird recently won top 10 in the NSAI 21st Annual Song Contest out of 3000 submissions.LILLIE SYRACUSE In velvet streams of joy, grief, and love, Lillie Syracuse’s voice and music fill the golden spaces of the in between. It is in these spaces that Lillie explores the stunning complexities and heart-scapes of the human experience. For a decade, Lillie honed her craft in Nashville, TN, where she wrote and released her debut album Coming Up Diamonds in 2020, with producer and Grammy-nominated drummer Mike Marsh (The Avett Brothers, Dashboard Confessional). It was growing up in Pumpkintown, SC, the cradle of Table Rock Mountain, where Lillie’’s heart was woven from the forests’ moss-covered trees, waterfalls, birdsong, and red mountain clay. The Appalachian Mountains have now called Lillie home. She lives in Brevard, NC, with her wife and their three pup-children, where she writes and records new music for release in 2023. Lillie’’s hope in song-craft is to foster shifts towards deeper self-love, acceptance, and magic in the lives of those who hear her music.
PATIO: Carpal Tullar
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDCARPAL TULLAR Carpal Tullar is the name of both the recording project of Asheville-based Chris Tullar, who has been recording his original music for over 20 years, and the band who plays Carpal Tullar tunes live (with some cover songs added to the mix). The music is infectious, lyrically witty, upbeat rock, and spattered with influences from the greats of the 1960s and 70s. The live band is comprised of Chris on vocals, keys and guitar, Dave Baker on harmony vocals, guitar, and keys, Rob Heyer on bass, and John McKinney on drums, and they have been playing together as Carpal Tullar since 2015. Carpal Tullar has been played on 98.1 The River, WNCW, Asheville FM, appeared on NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast, opened for Tiffany, and even made a musical appearance on the popular NPR radio show Car Talk. In 2022, Carpal Tullar’s song, TSA, was chosen by Holy Crap Records as a top ten song of 2021. The video for that song was chosen for the Crowd Favorite award at the 2022 Music Video Asheville awards.
PATIO: The Cheeksters
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDTHE CHEEKSTERS The Cheeksters were formed in 1990 soon after Mark and Shannon Casson met by chance on a train in London, England. Mark hails from the UK, while Shannon was born and raised in Tennessee. They started performing music together as a duo with Mark on guitar and vocals and Shannon playing bass guitar. They soon released their debut album “ Stranger Things Have Happened “ in 1992, followed by “ Hey, What’s Your Style ? “ in 1994. The couple relocated to Nashville in 1996 and began working with producer Brent Little at his all- analog studio Cream Puff Recorders. So far they have recorded four critically acclaimed albums at Cream Puff – “Skating On The Cusp“ (1999) , “Nineteen Sixty Five“ (2005) , “Movers and Shakers“ (2007) , “The Golden Birds“ (2011) – They released two singles this past year and continue to write and record music here in Asheville.The Cheeksters combine the best of what made music great in the 1960’s with a winning, fresh pop approach that delights audiences. In the studio the group has produced six albums of timeless, tuneful, terrific pop that has real staying power. Onstage the versatile five-piece band turns out its straightforward catchy pop confections, bringing to mind a swirling variety of influences : Memphis soul, Carnaby Street pop, swampy rhythm and blues, and more. They somehow manage to channel Burt Bacharach / Hal David pop, Dusty Springfield’s diva soul, T-Rex’s manic boogie and the pomp of David Bowie often in the same song without sounding derivative.Mark and Shannon have called Asheville home for the past twenty years. The Cheeksters current line-up has performed live together for the past 12 years and is made up of Mark Casson (vocals, guitar, piano) , Shannon Hines Casson (vocals, bass guitar) , Jay Moye (piano, guitar) Mike Baker (drums) and Jerome Widenhouse (trumpet).
PATIO: John Allen Keck
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDJOHN ALLEN KECK John Allen Keck is originally from California, but now lives in Asheville, North Carolina. While living in California, John had a record deal with Epic in the 90s with his band “Hand of Fate.” John has played with people from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. His earlier stuff was Alternative Rock. John stopped playing music over 25 years ago, but started writing songs and playing again in 2018. John’s music is influenced by Tom Petty, U2, Jason Isbell, Radiohead, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and The Beatles. His EP, “Let You In” is his first release since “Hand of Fate.”
PATIO: Abby Posner
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDABBY POSNER Abby Posner is a queer, working musician in Los Angeles. Best known for her ability to play any instrument that she can find, twisting genres, and pushing the boundaries of folk, roots, and pop music making her “Genre Fluid.” From banjo riff to looping pedal she does it all. Absolutely outstanding! The full package – instrumentation, songwriting, chatter, stage presence. Just an outstanding musician and human being. Concerts at Our House
PATIO: Stephen Evans & The True Grits (CD Release Show)
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDSTEPHEN 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 have 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 ‘1000 Roses’ 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.
PATIO: Shake a Leg
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDSHAKE A LEG Local singer-songwriter Josh Pierce has been writing and sharing songs for 25+ years. Originally hailing from central Illinois, Josh initially made Asheville his home in 1995. Since then, his zig zag travels have included WNC, northern Florida, Kentucky and now back in Asheville. Along the way Josh has continued to honor his passion for live music (LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER) and songwriting. Blending elements of folk, blues, country, and rock and roll, Josh aims to connect with the audience…and have a good time along the way. After years of playing open mics, restaurants, and bars as a solo artist, Josh knew that it was now or never to start a rock and roll outfit. When moving back home to Asheville in 2022, he quickly reconnected with friend (and bass player) Jody Stevenson aka “Skilly” to form SHAKE A LEG. “SHAKE A LEG brings unique and energetic songs that come straight out of Josh’s daily life and travels”. David Boughner – local roots rock weirdo
PATIO: Leah Marlene
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDLEAH MARLENE Leah Marlene is a songwriter, artist, and producer with a deeply rooted desire to create art unlike anything you have heard before. With a unique, engaging voice and a songwriting style that combines elements of folk, rock, pop, soul, funk, jazz and more, she cannot be put into a box. Leah grew up in a house full of music and guitars as her father, Derry Grehan, is a songwriter and lead guitarist with the Canadian band, Honeymoon Suite. He passed along his knowledge and passion for writing and performing. Leah began singing and writing her own songs at a very young age and never looked back! She has been performing professionally since the age of ten and releasing music since she was thirteen. Leah has been making writing trips to Nashville since she was 13, and after graduating high school, she made the move there where she spent two years studying songwriting at Belmont University. She then returned back to the midwest to produce her latest album, “Many Colors.” Now twenty-one years old, Leah most recently came off an incredible run on season 20 of American Idol, where she released her latest original single, “Flowers” and placed second runner up of the season! Leah is a lover of people and her greatest hope is that her music may meet you exactly where you are at and help you feel whatever it is you need to feel in a given moment.
PATIO: Buck Curran
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDBUCK CURRAN No Love Is Sorrow is the latest album by guitarist-singer-songwriter Buck Curran. Since 2005, Buck has recorded and performed as one half of the psych-folk duo Arborea. To date, Arborea has released five albums, including 2013’s ESP-Disk’ release Fortress of the Sun (All Music Favorite Folk & Favorite Singer-Songwriter Albums 2013). Buck has also produced several various artists compilations: We Are All One, In the Sun: a tribute to Robbie Basho (2010), Basket Full of Dragons – a Tribute to Robbie Basho Vol II (2016), Ten Years Gone: A Tribute to Jack Rose (Tompkins Square 2019), along with the archival live recording; Robbie Basho Live in Forlì, Italy 1982 (2018).Buck has developed his intense, intimate and mesmerising approach to live concerts through two decades of playing and touring extensively throughout the US, UK, and Europe with Arborea, performing key shows and festivals (Green Man Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, etc). He also draws inspiration from the deep well of Folk and Rock of the 1960s (Robbie Basho, Bert Jansch, Peter Green, Tim Buckley, etc.)In 2016 Buck released his first solo album Immortal Light, followed in 2018 by Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas, listed among the ‘Best Albums of 2018’ according to Folk Radio UK and Aquarium Drunkard.In April of 2020 Curran released his third solo album ‘No Love Is Sorrow’. Later that month he was interviewed by Jason Woodbury for Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions. In May 2020, Premier Guitar Magazine published a feature article and NPR published a Tiny Desk Concert recorded at Buck’s apartment in Bergamo, Italy. No Love is Sorrow was also listed among the ‘Best Albums of 2020’ by Folk Radio UK and Aquarium Drunkard. Curran’s music invokes swarming natural forces, looking for the borderline between the real and the sublime and, maybe, the supernatural ~ Jesse Jarnow/Relix Magazine There’s a burning darkness to these songs, as Curran’s rough-hewn voice and droning psych-folk melodies curl like smoke, but there’s also a desperate hope that cracks the surface ~Lars Gotrich/NPR-Tiny Desk Guitar tones linger and reverberate with a mystical translucence ~ Dusted Mag The elegant tones that neo-folk artist Buck Curran draws from voice and guitar have a capacity to linger in the air long after the notes have faded. Recorded at the American guitarist’s home in northern Italy shortly before the area went into lockdown, ‘No Love Is Sorrow’ is a beautiful piece of work, interspersing space, atmospheric instrumentals with more complete songs like spooky western “Ghost On The Hill’, the ballad “Deep In The Lovin’ Arms of My Babe'” and the title track. Curran sings with the gravelly decorum of Mark Lanegan but the songs remain, bewitchingly, just over the next horizon. – 8/10 Peter Watts/UNCUT Magazine
