Rising Appalachia at Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, CO (Night One)

Rising Appalachia plays the first of two nights at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado, a folk concert for anyone drawn to roots music with a conscience. The sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith lead the evening, bringing the Southern soul, Appalachian string-band sound and international roots influences that have defined the group since its early days.

What to Expect

This is a live folk concert built around the sound Rising Appalachia is known for: fiddle, banjo, guitar and upright bass, carried by layered vocal harmonies. The music draws on gospel, work songs and mountain ballads, and it is shaped by the sisters' upbringing in Atlanta and the musical traditions of the American South.

Rising Appalachia's work is not only about sound. Their songs carry themes of environmental activism, cultural preservation and social justice, and the duo has long worked in partnership with Indigenous and immigrant communities. Listeners who come for a night of acoustic, harmony-rich music will find it, and those who care about the ideas behind the songs will find those too.

About Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia is a folk duo founded by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith in the early 2000s. Raised in Atlanta and steeped in the traditions of the American South, they built their reputation on a blend of Southern soul, Appalachian string-band music and international roots music, delivered with a politically engaged outlook rooted in environmental activism and cultural preservation.

Their approach stands apart from the mainstream Americana revival through its explicit integration of social justice themes, traditional medicine practices and partnerships with Indigenous and immigrant communities. Rising Appalachia has consistently placed itself within the Slow Music Movement, a philosophy that emphasizes sustainable touring.

The Setting

The concert takes place at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado. This is the first night of a two-night run at the venue.

Before You Go

The Rising Appalachia tour runs a street team for fans who want to help spread the word. Volunteers print and put up flyers at favorite local spots such as yoga studios, coffee shops and colleges, and in return receive admission to this show for themselves and a few friends. Those interested are asked to share their name, age and the city they live in with the street team to receive instructions.