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Join us for this recent MerleFest discovery, a Scottish trio that is certainly rooted in the traditional music of Scotland, but also incorporates Eastern European, Progressive Jazz and American Old-Time influences into their most unique sound. Ayrshire-born John Langan sits upon an a foot percussion rig of his own devising and fronting the trio on guitar and vocals. To his right stands Alastair Caplin, a classically trained violinist equally discerning in both the London Prog-Folk/Jazz scenes he occupied for years and also the blistering traditional reels and jigs of his native Outer Hebrides. Stage left is the domain of Angus-born Dave Tunstall and his deep double bass bowing. They are in the midst of an intense East Coast tour that included Louisiana and Georgia immediately following their MerleFest debut, and they play the High Gravity Room at Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River Thursday evening, along with Paul Thorn.

Justin was raised in coastal Virginia, and has spent his life studying that state’s Piedmont Blues tradition. When it comes to his guitar heroes, he’s also inspired by the likes of Phil Cook, J Roddy Walston, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Bon Iver. But his true music loves is prominent on his latest album “Golden Country Volume 1”, and on a new single, a traditional African American spiritual inspired by a 1929 Blind Willie Johnson recording. “The blues is not a box,” he says. “They try to make it seem like it’s just twelve bars or it’s gotta be sad or it’s gotta be this or that, but if you listen to so much old pre-war blues, there are so many feelings involved. There’s happy blues, sad blues, just got paid and spent all my money blues, gonna go see my girl late at night blues, there’s blues for anything. It doesn’t have to be a specific form or feeling, it can be whatever you want it to be, but you know it when you hear it.”

Martha Spencer is a singer-songwriter, mountain musician and dancer from the Blue Ridge Mountains (Grayson County) of Virginia. She grew up in the musical Spencer family and learned to play several instruments (guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, dulcimer, mandolin) and flatfoot/clog at a young age. This Whitetop Mountain Band was originally formed in the 1940s by Martha’s uncle, legendary fiddler and luthier, Albert Hash. Since then, she’s also worked with the Wonderland Country Band, the Blue Ridge Girls, the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program, and assorted other duos and groups. Most of her upcoming shows look to be in SW Virginia and East Tennessee, but she’ll stop by Studio B for a visit with Roland on Wednesday to play some songs from a fun new album coming out May 28th.

Chris Smither “taps his foot to keep the rhythm, much like the late blues legend John Lee Hooker. His finger-picked guitar lines are sleek, unhurried and insistent. And then there’s the voice – equal parts gravel and molasses.” (NPR). “Cast your mind back to the first time you heard Hank Williams, Big Bill Broonzy or JJ Cale and remember how good it felt. Think of the opening encounter with Leon Redbone or Leo Kottke. They say newcomers to Chris Smither’s brand of country blues-tinged southern folk experience those same emotions. It’s true.” (Maverick) These are just some of deserved descriptions of the man whom we’ve loved hosting for decades now, and he’s got a wonderful new album – his 20th – as he approaches his 80th birthday. He plays the Grey Eagle in Asheville Wednesday evening.

Don't forget that we'll be broadcasting live from the Watson and Cabin Stages on WSIF 90.9 in greater Wilkesboro during Merlefest. Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | Asheville, NC

Sunday, May 12, 2024 | The Fillmore Charlotte | Charlotte, NC

Sunday, May 5, 2024 | Visulite Theatre | Charlotte, NC

Did you know fellow Texans Hayes Carll and the Band of Heathens have a history of jamming together? “We’ve played a lot of music together over the last 10 years,” says Carll, “and our creative relationship continues to evolve into its own thing. Hayes & The Heathens is that thing.” “This sort of medicine show, revival, rock and roll circus is a unique presentation of our music,” adds Ed Jurdi of Band of Heathens. “I think anyone who loves the spontaneity and chemistry of a live performance is going to be in for a magical evening. I know we’re going to have a good time!” They’ve collaborated on some new material together, and Hayes and at least a couple of the Heathens pay us a visit on Wednesday morning before their show in Asheville that evening, following their Tuesday Knoxville show.