RISING APPALACHIA RELEASES OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “CUCKOO”
INDEPENDENT
America’s adored World-Folk music group, Rising Appalachia, have already had a career-defining year and it’s not yet September. Sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith have led the band to new heights in 2019; releasing their much-anticipated LP Leylines which was met with high praise from fans and critics alike. This week, the band released the official video for the song “Cuckoo” via Billboard Magazine, who called the song a “perception changer” that “channels their southern roots.” Later next month, the band will showcase at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, TN before kicking off a two month Leylines release tour in Telluride, CO on Sept. 20.
The video for “Cuckoo” showcases Rising Appalachia’s unique view of the south. Song shares with Billboard that “my sister [Chloe] and I have spent the last 10-plus years of our chosen career really wanting to tell our version of a very ornate south that is vastly diverse and mystical and magical—and not what is often the stereotypical delivery of the southern story.” The “creative intention” behind the band is in part an attempt to shine a new light on the south and to showcase the region’s creativity and diversity. The song itself is an adaptation of a traditional fiddle tune, and was taught to the sisters by their mother who prioritized cultural richness and diversity in their upbringing.
Leylines has been a defining record for the sister-led band, garnering praise from a wide swath of critics and solidifying their place in the greater Americana musical movement. Brooklyn Vegan called “Speak Out,” one of the album’s standout tunes featuring Ani DiFranco, “an appealing dose of fiddle-fueled folk and close harmonies.” NPR praised album closer, “Resilient,” as an “uplifting, original folk anthem” and Rolling Stone called their sound “protest music for the modern age bolstered by delicate, skillful musicianship and otherworldly vocal harmonies.”
On Leylines, Leah and Chloe are joined by longtime members David Brown (stand-up bass, baritone guitar) and Biko Casini (world percussion), as well as two new members: West African musician Arouna Diarra (n’goni, talking drum) and Irish musician Duncan Wickel (fiddle, cello). The sonic textures of these two cultures are woven into Leylines, enhancing the stunning blend of folk, world, and urban music that has become Rising Appalachia’s calling card.
As the calendar flips to September, the band will showcase their distinguished brand of World-Folk music in Nashville at AMERICANAFEST. Advocacy has always been an important part of Rising Appalachia’s musical mission. Fans and fellow artists looking to join the conversation of using one’s talent for the greater good should consider attending one of the panels Leah and Chloe will be speaking on regarding how to best match music and mission. A full schedule of appearances and showcases can be found below.
Thursday, Sept. 12:
Performance: Madison House Block Party: 3:15-3:30pm (@ Basement East)
Panel: Pete Seeger at 100: Carrying The Legacy Forward: 4-5pm (@ The Westin)
Official Showcase: 11-11:45pm (@ 3rd & Lindsley)
Friday, Sept. 13:
Performance: WMOT Day Stage: 1-1:40pm (@ War Memorial Auditorium)
Panel: Artistry & Advocacy: 2:30-3:30 (@ The Westin)
For the entirety of the band’s fall tour, Rising Appalachia is offering a limited number of VIP packages for each show. VIPs will receive early entry into the venue, an intimate pre-show acoustic performance and a group conversation with the band, as well as early access to the band’s tour merchandise, and a signed collectible tour poster.
Rising Appalachia
Leylines
(Independent)
Release Date: May 3, 2019
Tour Dates
September 6-7 – Sisters, OR – Sisters Folk Fest
September 10-15 – Nashville, TN – Americana Music Festival & Conference
September 20-21 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House
September 27 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
September 28 – Steamboat Springs, CO – String Music Pavilion
September 29 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Music Hall
October 2 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
October 3 – Seattle, WA – The Neptune
October 5 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
October 6 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
October 7 – Ashland, OR – Ashland Armory
October 9 – Arcata, CA – Van Duzer Theatre
October 10 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theatre
October 11 – Nevada City, CA – Osborne / The Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center
October 12 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
October 15 – West Hollywood, CA – The Troubadour
October 17 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
October 18 – Buena Vista, CO – Ivy Ballroom at the Surf Hotel
October 19 – Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s
October 20 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre (with Ayla Nereo)
November 9 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
November 10 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
November 11 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
November 14 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School Of Folk Music (2 shows)
November 15 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
November 16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
November 20 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton
November 21 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
November 23 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios
November 24 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
November 25 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
November 26 – Montreal, QC – L’astral
November 27 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
November 29 – New York, NY – The Bowery Ballroom
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