Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia plays a live folk concert at Tipitina's in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is an evening for people drawn to roots music with a conscience: Southern soul, Appalachian string-band tradition and international folk sounds, performed by the sister duo Leah Song and Chloe Smith.

What to Expect

This is a concert, built around the music of Rising Appalachia. The band is known for fiddle, banjo, guitar and upright bass, with layered vocal harmonies that draw on gospel, work songs and mountain ballads. Their sound carries political and ecological concerns alongside the tradition: environmental activism, cultural preservation and social justice run through their work.

The band places itself within the Slow Music Movement, a philosophy that emphasizes sustainable touring. That outlook shapes how they work as well as what they play, and it tends to give their shows a communal, grounded feel rather than a polished spectacle.

About Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia is a folk duo founded in the early 2000s by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith. They were raised in Atlanta and steeped in the musical traditions of the American South. Their reputation rests on blending those traditions with international roots music.

What sets them apart from the mainstream Americana revival is their explicit integration of social justice themes, traditional medicine practices, and partnerships with Indigenous and immigrant communities.

The Place

Tipitina's is a music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the setting for this Rising Appalachia show.

Getting Involved

Rising Appalachia 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. In return, they receive tickets to this show for themselves and a few friends. Those interested are asked to get in touch with the Street Team with their name, age and the city they live in, and instructions follow from there.