Rising Appalachia at Earth Day Music Festival, Springfield, MO

Rising Appalachia performs at Earth Day Music Fest, an outdoor music festival at Jordan Valley Park in Springfield, Missouri. It suits anyone drawn to roots music with a conscience: folk, Southern soul and Appalachian string-band sounds, played by the sister duo Rising Appalachia, Leah Song and Chloe Smith.

What to Expect

This is a festival gathering built around live music and the spirit of Earth Day. Rising Appalachia's sound blends fiddle, banjo, guitar, upright bass and layered vocal harmonies, drawing on gospel, work songs and mountain ballads alongside international roots music. Their songs carry an engaged, political edge, rooted in environmental activism and cultural preservation, which makes an Earth Day setting a natural fit.

Rising Appalachia also has a street team for people who want to take part before the day itself. Volunteers print and put up flyers at their favorite spots around town, such as yoga studios, coffee shops and colleges. In return, they receive admission to the show for themselves and a few friends. Those interested can contact the band's street team with their name, age and city, and the team replies with instructions.

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 musical traditions of the American South, they built their reputation on a combination of fiddle, banjo, guitar, upright bass and close vocal harmony. Their music merges Southern soul, Appalachian string-band traditions and international roots influences.

They stand apart from the mainstream Americana revival by weaving social justice themes, traditional medicine practices, and partnerships with Indigenous and immigrant communities directly into their work. The duo has consistently placed itself within the Slow Music Movement, a philosophy that emphasizes sustainable touring.

The Setting

Jordan Valley Park is in Springfield, Missouri, which makes this a good stop for music lovers across the Ozarks and the wider region who want a festival day outdoors with a band whose values match the occasion.

Before You Go

The festival is open to anyone who enjoys live folk and roots music, and no experience or preparation is needed. Street team volunteers should be ready to share their name, age and city when they reach out. Since the festival takes place in a park, it is sensible to dress for being outside.