Rising Appalachia with Paper Wings at Mystic Theater, Petaluma, CA

Rising Appalachia plays a folk concert at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, California, with Paper Wings on the bill. It is an evening for listeners who love Appalachian string-band music, Southern soul and gospel-rooted harmony, and for anyone drawn to music that carries a conscience along with the melody.

Rising Appalachia is the folk duo of sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith. Their live shows bring together fiddle, banjo, guitar, upright bass and layered vocals, in a sound that reaches toward roots traditions from around the world.

About Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia was founded by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith in the early 2000s. Raised in Atlanta and steeped in the musical traditions of the American South, they built their reputation on fiddle, banjo, guitar, upright bass and close vocal harmonies that draw on gospel, work songs and mountain ballads.

What sets them apart from the mainstream Americana revival is how openly they weave social justice themes into their work. Their music is rooted in environmental activism and cultural preservation, and they have partnered with Indigenous and immigrant communities and drawn on traditional medicine practices. They place themselves within the Slow Music Movement, a philosophy centered on sustainable touring.

The Setting

The show takes place at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, a Sonoma County town north of San Francisco. A theater room suits this music, where the harmonies and the stringed instruments can be heard up close.

Getting Involved

The tour runs a Street Team for fans who want to help spread the word in their own towns. Volunteers print and put up flyers at favorite local spots such as yoga studios, coffee shops and colleges. In return, the band offers them admission to this show for themselves and a few friends. Anyone interested can email the Street Team with their name, age and city, and the team replies with instructions.