Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia plays Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, Georgia, in a folk concert for anyone drawn to roots music with a conscience. The duo, sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, blend Southern soul, Appalachian string-band traditions and international roots music. It suits listeners who come to a show for the songs and for what the songs stand for, whether that is Americana, mountain ballads, gospel and work songs, or music tied to environmental and cultural care.

What to Expect

This is a live folk concert. The band's sound is built on fiddle, banjo, guitar and upright bass, with layered vocal harmonies at the center. Those harmonies draw on gospel, work songs and mountain ballads, and the music carries the band's long-held concerns: environmental activism, cultural preservation and social justice.

Rising Appalachia sets itself apart from the mainstream Americana revival by bringing those themes directly into its work. The band has also partnered with Indigenous and immigrant communities and draws on traditional medicine practices. It places itself within the Slow Music Movement, a philosophy that emphasizes sustainable touring.

About Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia is a folk duo founded by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith in the early 2000s. Both were raised in Atlanta and grew up steeped in the musical traditions of the American South. Over the years they built their reputation on the combination of string instruments and close sisterly harmony that defines the band. Their politically engaged sound is rooted in the stories and songs of the region, and in a wider interest in roots music from around the world.

The Setting

The evening takes place at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, the city where Leah Song and Chloe Smith grew up. For fans of Southern folk and string-band music, it is a fitting place to hear a band shaped so closely by the American South.

Before You Go

No experience or preparation is needed. This is a concert, and you are welcome to simply listen. If the music's themes of land, community and cultural memory speak to you, you will find plenty to take in. Check the event page for the current schedule, as times and details can change.