White Squirrel Weekend

One night, in the middle of the night, there were a series of noises coming from above, which led to a series of thoughts. It sounded like something was working. Building something.. A nest for its family? A trap for its prey? This led to more thoughts about unseen things at work. A God? A voice in your head? It all feels kind of made up until someone responds to it. 

Less means more. That’s kind of always how it’s been with us. This time, the rules were simple: we can only use what we work with live, and whatever we put down on tape must be accomplishable on a stage in a live setting. That’s always seemed to be when we’re at our best. Or most twitchy. Many times, we’ve made records that we loved and then, after figuring out how we’d perform it live, we end up falling in love with the live arrangement because being a 2-piece band, it took some real risk and struggle which led to innovation which gave it a whole new life. (Consider the tortured grape.) So with this one, we just started there and worked backward. The result encapsulates, more than anything we’ve done before, the sound of our live performance. Resulting in what one might consider, by definition, a definitive album.

Rock-n-roll ain’t dead and gone. Quite the contrary, truth be told. The purity and rebellious nature of rock music in the 21st century has circled back to the underground where it all exploded from decades ago — back to the “you had to be there” moments of melodic bliss, of sweat and serenity only found in the presence of soaring six-string riffs and thunderous percussion ’round the midnight hour. For over a decade, Andrew Scotchie has carved out his place as one of the premier rock-n-blues artists in Asheville and greater Western North Carolina. In a Southern Appalachian town known for Americana, bluegrass, and mountain music, Scotchie has emerged from the depths of the city to become a bona fide rock ambassador for this new, unknown, and promising chapter of the genre.

Led by the lyrical craftsmanship of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Clint Roberts, the distinctly Appalachian, old-time sound of Asheville’s Holler Choir combines haunting harmonies, stirring string compositions, and heart-wrenching ballads, yet hardly conforms to a stereotypical genre. Call it a confluence of old-time, Americana, and bluegrass, but, by its own exceptional design, the sound and atmosphere of Holler Choir are singular. Robert’s wordcraft and explosive vocal range are met with the dulcet clawhammer banjo plucking of long-time collaborator Helena Rose and the sturdy timekeeping of upright bassist Norbert McGettigan. With a rotating cast of gifted musicians featured on Holler Choir’s recordings and electrifying live performances, it’s no wonder they are the band to watch in 2023.  

The band’s inception began when recording Robert’s 2022 solo release, entitled “Mountain Air”. That fortuitous collaboration of gifted roots musicians at Asheville’s Crossroads Studios proved to be the genesis of an unmistakable new sound built on that shared experience. Produced by Grammy award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Michael Ashworth, of The Steep Canyon Rangers, the five-song EP lit the fuse, and Holler Choir was well on its way to delight audiences throughout the southeast and beyond.  

For their debut full-length record, “Songs Before They Write Themselves,” Holler Choir again teamed up with producer Michael Ashworth. Set for release in the summer of 2023, the album was tracked in the historic Echo Mountain Studio’s church room and boasts the engineering prowess of Jason Richmond (Avett Brothers, Rising Appalachia), and was mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Kim Rosen.  

According to Roberts,“Holler Choir” could be a double entendre. A choir that hollers, or a choir from the hollers of western North Carolina. What their sound and vision exude leaves the meaning up to you.

Formed as western North Carolina’s live music scene rebounded in the post-Covid era, Brevard’s Lazy Rooster established itself in a series of local appearances built around a hometown venue’s Honky Tonk Thursdays.  The quintet is fronted by Nashville transplant Randy Elliott, with a set list filled with songs from artists like Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, Whiskeytown, Sammy Kershaw, Levon Helm, Ricky Skaggs, Drive-By Truckers, Marty Stuart, and more, punctuated by classic country favorites and select originals from Elliott and bandmates.  Members include guitarist Warren Givens, best known locally for his work supporting the Steep Canyon Rangers; drummer Alex Santeiro, whose resume includes stints with Florida salsa and blues-rock groups; pedal steel guitarist Bennett Sullivan, a nationally acclaimed banjo player with a long list of credits to his name; and bassist and Grammy-nominated songwriter Jon Weisberger.  Reflecting a web of personal and professional connections and the musical cross-currents of their home turf, Lazy Rooster serves up a muscular blend of classic and outlaw country, Americana, and roots rock that harkens back to the dynamic genre interplay of the 80s and 90s.

Hellbender Taiko is celebrating its 15th year as part of the Davidson River School’s “drop-out prevention” curriculum. Taiko is an ancient form of Japanese drumming that has been used in everything from royal courts to jazz and modern music. Our ensemble has played in various shows, parades, and festivals in Western North Carolina and produced one album entitled
“Beyond”.  The students that have been a part of this ensemble learn and grow in a relaxed environment where musical ability is stressed less than having fun and “going for it”. The result is an ensemble that works together to sound great. “One Drum, One Sound”!

Woody Platt is a Grammy Award-winning bluegrass guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. A native of Brevard, North Carolina, Woody was a founding member of the acclaimed Steep Canyon Rangers, helping to shape modern bluegrass. He earned induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and toured alongside actor, comedian, and banjo player Steve Martin for more than a decade.

His debut solo album, Far Away With You, features an all-star lineup, including Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Del McCoury, Darrell Scott, and Shannon Whitworth, showcasing his distinctive voice and musicianship. In 2025, Woody continues to resonate with audiences with his band, Woody Platt and the Bluegrass Gentlemen.

As bassist and vocalist for Grammy Award-winning Bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters, Brevard’s Travis Book has established himself as one of the best ensemble musicians in acoustic music. Since 2020, his weekly Travis Book & Friends show has honed his skills as both band leader and follower, showcasing his ability to bring the best out of the musicians he assembles for these memorable collaborations. For the White Squirrel Festival, he’s enlisted his longtime bandmate Jon Stickley (Jon Stickley Trio) and WNC mandolin legend Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers) for a set of acoustic music with no boundaries. Old-school three-part harmony, modern super-creative picking, songs from the vast American songbook, unmatched vibes… this will be an unforgettable and unique set that is not to be missed!

Saturating in the fats of southern and classic rock vinyls, Barrett Davis, Eric Henninger, and JT Linville abide. Having bathed in the musk of sweaty shirts and holy jeans, these three renegades have drawn first blood with their new title, Free State of Mind.

Barrett Davis leads this outfit with his songwriting and passion for roots music. Davis is currently branching out from his previous folk record, The Ballad of Aesop Fin, featuring artist Woody Platt. 

Gratefully so, Davis has recently received the opportunity to lend his original song “Toe The Line” towards Woody’s breakout solo record, “Far Away With You.” 

Davis continues to carry his weight and hopes to make a difference in the world through music by bringing joy to people’s hearts and sparking fond memories of days gone past.

Dave Desmelik is a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist whose musical focus is on original compositions. What attracts listeners to Desmelik’s tunes, old and new, is the element of authenticity incorporated in them. There is no sugar-coating involved. His songs are not wrapped in false smiles; rather, they are stark and open and tend to settle on the pulse of everyday life. An unclosed and evolving journal of thoughts set to music and melodies in prose and instrumental performance. Desmelik was born and raised just outside of Atlanta, GA, but has traveled and lived in a multitude of landscapes. He currently resides in Brevard, NC. He was an original member of Onus B. Johnson, a successful band based in Flagstaff, AZ, in the late 90s and early 2000s. This band was on the front wave of jamgrass while maintaining a passion for songwriting. Today, Desmelik continues to pursue an ascending path as a solo artist.