Fly Away to the Cascades with Rising Appalachia at the Showbox

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Sisters Leah and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia are bringing their eclectic sound back to the Pacific Northwest this fall as a part of their 2016 Resiliency Tour. The band’s musical style is all their own, combining traditional folk music with soul, beatboxing, jazz, classical, gospel, hip-hop and more. Think Woody Guthrie meets spoken word meets underground jazz speakeasy meets DIY. If you enjoy Hurray for the Riff Raff (check out KXSU’s General Manager Priscilla’s review of their show earlier this summer!), you’ll want to see this Rising Appalachia show.

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Photo by Chris Hess

In addition to managing, producing, and marketing all six albums, Leah and Chloe are also staunch activists, using their music as a way to connect art and justice. Their single “Filthy Dirty South,” off their 2012 album of the same name, comments on the harmful practices used to extract environmental resources from the south. Inspired by tragic incidents like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the use of fracking in the Appalachian Mountains, the song evolves into a call-to-action to protect the unique and beautiful region that is the south. In 2015, the band announced a new project called “The Slow Music Movement.” The movement aims to promote sustainable touring practices, to bring music back to its roots as a public service where musicians engage with the world, acting as influencers, storytellers, and consumers of culture.

The opener is traveling singer-songwriter Dustin Thomas. This beatboxing, soulful artist uses his voice to sing anthems promoting peace and unity, and advocates for awareness of social and environmental justice. Thomas’ laid back style should be a great start to what is expected to be an uplifting evening.

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Get your Americana on with Rising Appalacia and Dustin Thomas at the Showbox on November 10. Tickets and information can be found here.


EMMA PIERCE | Southern-born, PNW-raised | KXSU Music Reporter

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