Grits & Soul forge a powerful connection between hard-driving bluegrass, barroom honky tonk, Celtic, Southern gospel, and slow-burning blues. Don't miss this amazing duo from Asheville, NC, with special guests Rye Baby opening the show!
$7 Adv – $10 Door
Doors @ 7 PM
At the heart of Grits & Soul are songcrafters Anna Kline and John Looney. Based Asheville, North Carolina, they continue to make their mark, not defining themselves by genre but bending the rules to create their own distinctive sound. As the name suggests, Grits & Soul represent the best parts of their Southern heritage by taking the influences of mountain bluegrass and classic country and fusing it with those of Mississippi soul and blues.
On the heels of their 2013 Merlefest IBMA showcase and the release of their debut album, the duo continues to attract the attention of audiences in the Southeast. Over the past year they received coveted invitations to perform at Merlefest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Albino Skunk Festival, and Suwannee Springfest, to name a few. Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine gave the team a glowing review for their debut effort, calling Flood Waters "intriguing and enveloping." The recording highlights the collaboration of a gifted lyricist with a talented arranger, both with a shared sensibility of stirring melodies and powerful story lines.
Working together for four years now, they continue to hone their sound and songs onstage together, logging thousands of highway miles and hundreds of performances. Anna's powerhouse voice is “mesmerizing -- growling, slurring, soaring, swooping, note-bending, word-bending...they're all a part of her power-packed technique," says Bluegrass Unlimited. John is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, setting the tone with his interpretation of classic melodies, while his skills as arranger shine through their original material.
This combination of talented musicianship and compelling songwriting proves Grits & Soul are a memorable musical team. Their voices blend together in seamless harmony. Their collaboration forges a powerful connection between hard-driving bluegrass, barroom honky tonk, Celtic, Southern gospel, and slow-burning blues.
Grits & Soul Official Site
Grits & Soul on Facebook
Grits & Soul on iTunes
Based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Rye Baby is a high energy folk/americana duo that's been hard at work traveling and playing their brand of back-to-the-basics folk/roots/blues/country music all over the southeast since early 2014. Consciously taking elements from the aforementioned styles and creating something distinctly their own as-opposed-to rehashing a particular sound. This sonic backdrop lends itself beautifully to Jennifer's unique perspective on storytelling.
Jennifer Brumlow and Callie Harmon met in mid 2012 through performing in the local Chattanooga music scene and were brought together by their love of old country and roots music. By early 2013 their friendship had blossomed into a romantic relationship. Their previous musical endeavors had also dissolved. So, the two began working on material together, playing locally, and honing their craft before settling on their name and beginning work on their first recordings.
Their debut E.P., Cowboy Chords was written, produced, and recorded (on an iPad) by the band throughout 2014 and was made available online as each song was completed. A final mastered version is now available on iTunes, CdBaby, and Bandcamp.