PATIO: The Loudes
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDTHE LOUDESThe Loudes formed in 2018 as a 3 piece acoustic-electric punk-folk band, digging in with an aggressive all original format. Over the next few years Sam Barker and Tony Preston expanded the band to a five piece. From the deep archival talents of lead guitarist Glen Case they added many cover tunes to their song list with Kaiya Pelletier’s soulful, sassy vocal skills completing the circle.Gritty original and cover material are their hallmark, ever transmitting the great fun and joy of performing for live audiences. They have been playing professionally around the greater Asheville area for the past few years, pausing only briefly for Covid Cloud to pass by.
PATIO: Jody Carroll
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDJODY CARROLL “Jody Carroll does not play the blues so much as he inhabits them, with a definite Americana tinge. His dark and haunting tales embody roots music to its fullest..” Amos Perrine – No Depression 2021 “You have to wonder if he didn’t strike the same deal as delta shaman Robert Johnson..” The Oregonian, Portland Oregon Jody Carroll is an Acoustic Delta Blues / Slide Guitar and Banjo Master whose influences range from players like Robert Pete Williams, Fred McDowell, King Soloman Hill & Doc Boggs and to the likes of Bert Jansch, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, John Fahey and Pete Seegar. His sound is a pure original statement with high relevance to the folk traditions. He is a regular performer at Merlefest and has toured with acts such as Buddy Guy, Johnnie Winter, Honey Boy Edwards and many more. He is a blues & Roots performer and songwriter who effortlessly creates bold interpretations of old Blues and American Folk music, his own songs, stories and improvisational musical journeys. He is a Finger style/slide guitar master and amazingly soulful singer blending flavors of old Blues, Folk, Mountain music, Jazz and Rock all together into a true power packed gumbo. He has toured with or shared the stage with legends such as Buddy Guy, Honey Boy Edwards, Jack Owens, Louisiana Red, R.L Burnside, Johnny Winter, John Mayhall, Roy Rodgers, George Thorogood, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeski, Leo Bud Welch, Robert Cray, Robyn Trower, John McEuen, Charlie Musslewhite, Canned Heat, Robert Earl Keen, Sonny Landreth, Shameka Copeland, Paul Geramia, Sonny Landreth, Roy Bookbinder and even members of Metallica once back in 1987 (strange story). He is also a regular performer at Merlefest.
PATIO: Afton Wolfe
– ALL AGES- LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVEDAFTON WOLFE Afton Wolfe is Mississippi. Born in McComb, and growing up in Meridian, Hattiesburg, and Greenville, Mississippi, the roots of American music are in his DNA. Mississippi is the birthplace of at least three American art forms: country music, blues music, and rock and roll. Meridian is the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers, while the Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the blues, and the first rock n’ roll notes ever played according to intelligent music historians, came from Hattiesburg. Additionally, he spent his musically formative years in and around New Orleans, where the humidity of the Mississippi combined with the Cajun seasonings, the jazz, zydeco, creole, and gospel music and his Mississippi roots coalesce to add resonance and depth to his blues/country/rock influences. Afton’s first band experience was back in the late 90s with Hattiesburg post-alternative pop outfit Red Velvet Couch (1998 to 1999) where he developed his stage presence and also was able to release his first album and learn a bit about sound, recording, mixing, and engineering. After a short break, Afton came back strong with the avant-garde, instrumentally diverse Dollar Book Floyd (2001 to 2002), which featured Amy Lott, Tim Keith, and Mike Stokes, and released a very pivotal album, Red and White. During this period Afton began to naturally incorporate country music and delta blues into his musical playbook. After the Dollar Book Floyd project ended, Afton moved to Nashville and formed The Relief Effort, a rock power trio, with whom he recorded two more records: Don’t Panic (2004) and At Your Mercy (2005). After a hiatus from performing and recording, Afton wrote, composed, and sang all of the songs contained in Petronius’ Last Meal. This was recorded in 2008 with the likes of Charlie Rauh, Craig Schenker, and Dan Seymour. Alcohol, academia, the quest for a better mix and a perfect album cover, and a voyage across the country to live in Washington for a few years kept this project on hold for over a decade. Finally, after a dozen or so years, the project was released in the Summer of 2020. Dark, tense, and moody was the flavor of the 2020 summer season, and the EP along with its two singles “Slingshots” and “Interrogations” fit the season too perfectly. Afton used the momentum of Petronius’ Last Meal and the tension of the pandemic and surrounding climate to fuel his creativity again. And his upcoming release Kings for Sale is the product of that. The new record defies genres while still being distinctly Afton. The new record, slated to be released in June of 2021, was produced by Oz Fritz (Bill Laswell, Tom Waits, The Ramones, Bob Marley, Ginger Baker and many others) and featuring an enviable assortment of great musicians, including but not limited to Cary Hudson (Blue Mountain, Taylor Street Grocery Band), Daniel Seymour (David Olney, Tommy Womack), Adam “Ditch” Kurtz (Great Peacock, Carrus and Kurtz), Ben Babylon (SpoBro, Sir Please), Laura Rabell, Kristen Englenz, Blaise Hearn, Rebecca Weiner Tompkins, and several more.
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.
