Rising Appalachia with Paper Wings at The Freight, Berkeley, CA (Night Two)

Rising Appalachia plays a folk concert at The Freight in Berkeley, California, with Paper Wings on the bill. This is the second night of their run at the venue, a good fit for anyone drawn to Southern soul, Appalachian string-band music and roots songs with a conscience, and for listeners who like their live music rooted in community and place.

What to Expect

Rising Appalachia is a folk duo, and their sound is built from fiddle, banjo, guitar, upright bass and layered vocal harmonies. The songs draw on gospel, work songs and mountain ballads, and they bring in international roots music alongside the traditions of the American South. Expect an evening of close harmony singing and string-band playing from a group whose music carries social and environmental themes as part of its character.

Paper Wings share the evening as the opening act. This is a standing concert night rather than a workshop or retreat, so the shape of the evening is that of a live show: a supporting set, then the main performance.

About Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia was founded by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith in the early 2000s. Raised in Atlanta and steeped in the musical traditions of the American South, they built their reputation on the pairing of string-band instrumentation and vocal harmony. Their music merges Southern soul, Appalachian traditions and international roots influences into a politically engaged sound grounded in environmental activism and cultural preservation.

They stand apart from the mainstream Americana revival by working social justice themes, traditional medicine practices and partnerships with Indigenous and immigrant communities directly into their work. The duo has also placed itself within the Slow Music Movement, a philosophy that emphasizes sustainable touring.

The Place

The Freight is a venue in Berkeley, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Rising Appalachia's Berkeley dates are a chance to hear this music in a setting suited to acoustic, voice-forward performance.

Community Street Team

Rising Appalachia invites fans to join their Street Team. Volunteers put up flyers at favorite local spots such as yoga studios, coffee shops and colleges, and in return receive tickets to the show for themselves and a few friends. Those interested are asked to share their name, age and city of residence with the team, who reply with instructions.