From Bob Dylan to Beyonce, every song on Rising Appalachia’s new covers EP, Folk and Anchor, was carefully selected for the album not just because they were some of bandmate sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith’s all-time favorite songs, but because they each tell a story in and of themselves.

As most music fans and musicians are aware, artistic preservation, not to mention self-preservation, demands a little break from time to time to recenter, write, and relax. So, when the wildly popular world-folk group Rising Appalachia announced to their fans that they’d be taking a creative sabbatical from the road and social media in 2024 to work on new music, they were met with nothing but love and encouragement from their long-supportive fanbase.

As world travelers for nearly two decades, Rising Appalachia have merged multiple global music influences with their own southern roots to create the inviting new folk album, Leylines. Remarkably the band has built its legion of listeners independently -- a self-made success story that has led to major festival appearances and sold-out shows at venues across the country.

Starling Arrow is an all-star cast of spirit-folk songstresses featuring Leah Song and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia, Tina Malia, Ayla Nereo, and Marya Stark. The members of the female-fronted super-group share a common devotion for the love of songwriting, which they elegantly capture in their debut album, Cradle, out now. The artists of Starling Arrow are brought together by a mutual love of beauty, the power of music as a sanctuary, and the deep joy of encountering the muse.

DelFest, the festival brainchild of Del McCoury and his extended McCoury family, is celebrating its 15th year in 2023, and for those who’ve been all 14 years or those looking to make their first Memorial Day memories with Del and the gang, today is the day everyone’s been waiting for: The initial DelFest 2023 lineup is here!

“New Orleans is super special for Leah and I,” says Chloe Smith, who along with her sister Leah Song, fronts the wildly popular world-folk group Rising Appalachia. “We lived here for about seven years. It’s our soul home. We learned so much music here and we wrote so much music here.” Her words can be heard introducing the group’s crowd-favorite tune, “Indigo Dance,” on their brand new release, Live From New Orleans at Preservation Hall—available for download or streaming now.

Starling Arrow is an all-star cast of spirit-folk songstresses featuring Leah Song and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia, Tina Malia, Ayla Nereo, and Marya Stark. Powerhouse songwriters in their own right, and innovative leaders within the industry, the joining of the 5 songwriters and singers have created a potent gift of synergy. All share a common devotion for the love of songwriting which they have elegantly captured in their debut album, Cradle, due out January 2023.

Starling Arrow is an all-star cast of spirit-folk songstresses featuring Leah Song and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia, Tina Malia, Ayla Nereo, and Marya Stark. Powerhouse songwriters in their own right, and innovative leaders within the industry, the joining of the 5 songwriters and singers have created a potent gift of synergy. All share a common devotion for the love of songwriting which they have elegantly captured in their debut album, Cradle, due out January 2023.

The latest standalone single from sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith—better known as world-folk troubadours Rising Appalachia—is all about gratitude. The song, “Thank You Very Much,” is an uplifting slow-burn, adding layers of the band’s world music leaning instrumentation one at a time until the final, swirling refrain. It’s simple. And lovely. And certainly meaningful to its intended recipients.

Rising Appalachia has certainly put their mark on Appalachian Folk Music. They have curated these traditional folk roots with other musical cultures that span the globe. Their ambitious creativity, exceptional musical craftsmanship, and highly independent personalities has yielded them world wide appeal and massive respect in the music industry. They march to the beat of their own drums.