Candi Jenkins w/ Carri Smithey
Candi Jenkins blends country and folk songs shaped by truth, grit, and the courage to start over. Her project began after canceling her wedding on the day of the ceremony—a moment that inspired her cornerstone song “Wild Blue.” The experience sparked a new chapter of healing and courage to speak the truth. Blending classic country warmth with cinematic western imagery, Candi creates music that feels intimate, emotional, and deeply human. She has opened for Clay Street Unit and Jason Boland & The Stragglers, with upcoming performances supporting Son Little and Andy Frasco. Her voice is raw, her stories are real, and her art is rooted in the belief that transformation is always possible.
Eternally Grateful
Eternally Grateful is an Americana Duo, Trio, Acoustic Band, and Electric Band, revolving around the core duo of Ben Williams and Cooper Pearce. Having played over 600 shows since 2023, they have risen to be among the most sought after bands in the NC music scene. The style is best defined as “Jamericana” with Indie, Bluegrass, Jazz, and more mixed in through the prolific songwriting and prodigious guitar work of Cooper Pearce, and the Eclectic Mastery of Ben Williams on the upright bass, garnered from 50+ years experience in Jazz, Blues, and Southern Rock. Eternally Grateful strives to make a true, energetic connection with their audiences, and is a must see act for any live music lover
River Shook w/ Nathan James Hall
River Shook is an artist in constant evolution. After a decade spent making their mark oncountry music, River Shook is closing the door on their first project (Sarah Shook & the Disarmers) and entering an exciting new era, debuting as a solo artist. River’s reputation for writing strikingly honest and transformative lyrics and their penchant for tapping elements of indie rock and pop music have forever cemented them as a country artist who exists to energetically push the boundaries of their genre into the future. River has delivered high-energy performances with the Disarmers at major festivals like SXSW, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Under The Big Sky, Pilgrimage, and the Long Road in the UK. They’ve supported Willie Nelson, Tyler Childers, Lucero, and the Indigo Girls. They’ve sold out headlining shows in venues from New York City to Los Angeles, from Barcelona to Stockholm, and many more. River’s “Talkin’ To Myself” was the theme song on the Apple TV+ show High Desert and two of their songs (“New Ways To Fail” and “Keep The Home Fires Burnin’”) were featured in the 2021 movie Lorelei, starring Pablo Schreiber and Jena Malone. River and the Disarmers will appear as themselves in the Kyle Gallner/Samara Weaving/Kyra Sedgwick upcoming film Carolina Caroline with several songs featured in the film as well. River will also appear as themself in an Ethan Hawke-directed/Rolling Stone-produced documentary about Merle Haggard alongside legends like Steve Earle, Phoebe Bridgers, and Willie Nelson, later this year. To promote the last Disarmers record Revelations, the New York Times ran a full artist profile on River Shook (the article appeared in print and online). Prior Disarmers releases garnered accolades from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Paste, PopMatters, No Depression, and the Wall Street Journal. The Disarmers’ sophomore album Years was named Best Rock Album of 2018 by the Chicago Tribune. When they’re not writing for their debut solo album, River is back on the road backed by a full band of heavy hitters, a growing collection of never-before-heard songs, and a sterling reputation for raw, emotionally charged performances. River continues to captivate audiences and connect with new fans with an unmistakable sound that appeals to a wide-spectrum of music fans: classic country purists, indie rockers, pop lovers, and beyond. Their handpicked band is stacked with badass talent and musical prowess, from the hypnotic drums to the ripping lead guitar, from the soul-grounding bass to the heart-soaring pedal steel. Onstage and off, River Shook isn’t just an artist – they’re a force of nature
An Evening With Possum Jenkins
Flat Iron Opry Featuring Carri Smithey Band wsg: Johnny Alright and Stevie Klinefelter
We’re starting a monthly residency with our buds in Carri Smithey Band. A Sunday matinee at 3pm with Carri Smithey Band and special guests! Bring the family and spend the day with us!
Sam Frazier and the Side Effects + Lemon Sparks
The Ain’t Sisters
Fun, eclectic folk rock. Fronted by the deliciously androgynous duo Arrie Bozeman and Barb Carbon, the Aints deliver high-energy performances of their wildly diverse original music. Joined by the hardest working men in rock n Roll, Richie Jones on the Boom Chick thwackita whackita, and Justin Boudreau, aka BooDreamy, masterfully holding down the rhythm section and making everybody swoon with their gorgeous licks. Think Indigo Girls meets Dream Theater but with a little Birdcloud in the mix. If ya ain’t sisters, what are ya?
The Tan and Sober Gentlemen + The Wilson Springs Hotel
Chris Acker
In a genre full of tall tales and marketable lies, New Orleans’ Chris Acker crafts candid songs – weaving his wit and woes into a body of work that exposes the stale plight of the American Songster to the honest, and sometimes hilarious, light of day. In the tradition of Guthrie and Prine, Chris lends a quavering voice to the half-rotten romance of the unremarkable and unrefined. Regardless if you’re sitting by a backyard fire on a muggy Louisiana night or standing stage-side in some far flung town, when you hear Chris Acker playing, you’re hearing the end result of countless hours of observing the masters of the craft…and the end result of repeating their mistakes. From the folk revival through the golden age of country music, deafened by punk shows and brass bands alike, Chris’s songwriting is a nod to the absurd yet muted brilliance that inhabits the molded corners of the bars he patrons and cratered street he treads, paired with a pained honesty that merits a long second look. Acker released his fourth full-length album, Famous Lunch, on Gar Hole Records in October of 2024. Famous Lunch contains some of his best work yet: laid back, country-rockers like “Wouldn’t Do For You (Buddy)” and “Shit Surprise” (which Paste Magazine called a “song of the year contender” in 2024), a few raucous, bar-ready joints like “Don’t You Know (Who I Think I Am)” and “Bunn Machine”, and tender, folky triumphs like “Stubborn Eyes” and “Eyelash”, all showcasing Chris’ gift of building “vivid scenes at an impressively low word count” (No Depression). Acker tours solo or with his band The Growing Boys — Zach Thomas (bass), Nikolai Shveitser (pedal steel), Dave Hammer (guitar, vocals), Sam Gelband (drums, vocals), and occasionally Howe Pearson (piano).
Time Sawyer w/ Drew Foust
Time Sawyer’s name reflects the pull between the past and the future. The character Tom Sawyer evokes the rural background and love of home that the band shares. Time is a muse for songwriting; it’s the thread that runs through life, bringing new experiences and giving us a sense of urgency, while still connecting us with our past. The folk-rock band has performed on the stages of some of the Southeast’s most iconic festivals, including Merlefest, Floydfest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Albino Skunk Music Festival, and Carolina in the Fall. They’ve shared bills with American Aquarium, John Craigie, Hiss Golden Messenger, Langhorne Slim, John Moreland, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Wood Brothers, Susto, and many more. In March 2020 the band started a variety livestream called “Sam on Sunday.” The show originated out of necessity, as the pause button was hit for live shows, but quickly, connecting with friends, family, and fans each week became just as important. As live music returned, the project transformed into “Sam on Someday,” bringing together guest artists of widely varying genres to create memorable, one-time-only collaborative experiences. Time Sawyer’s songs call out the attitudes and behaviors that lead to our divisions – the way that we show understanding to our friends and family, without thinking about how folks outside our social circle are experiencing their own problems, and are, at heart, just like us. The music does what might seem impossible. It holds listeners accountable, but at the same time, draws them in and makes them feel good about what we all have in common. One of Time Sawyer’s goals has always been for listeners to feel a sense of community and connection during the show, and then to keep it with them, long after the music ends. Written by Jody Mace
