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Mad Tea Party
 Asheville’s innovative folk duo performs original songs as well as novelty jazz and old-time music from the ’20s and ’30s.
They’ll sing and play ukulele, banjo, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, fiddle, kazoo, slide whistle, horns, bells, whistles, and more! Silly to sincere and delightfully refreshing.
“It’s a rare night when I can walk out of a bar at 2 AM and feel a little more innocent than when I came in” (Steve Shanafelt, Mountain Xpress).
They’ll make you laugh and make you think, and they will most certainly entertain you.
Magic of African Rhythm
www.whosethatrecords.com  Weaves the "rhythmic thread" that links drumming, singing,dancing, and visual artistic expression together -- NGOMA!
The Shabu Family is the Magic of African Rhythm. Maisha lived and "grew" her music in Africa for 20 years, performing with Miriam Makeba and others. Baba worked as an Artist and Textile Designer in Africa for 20 years.
Mabinti was born into the music and dance culture of West Africa and is known for her vibrant dancing, drumming, and teaching. Teli, "Djembefola" (master drummer), powerful dancer, and skilled teacher;
And Taji, fiery dancer, drummer, and visual artist supreme are both young and skilled at bringing other young people into the flow and the magic. LEAF in Schools & Streets Artist
The Meantime Ramblers
Performing on Saturday and Sunday  Traditional kickin’ Cajun…accordion, pedal steele, French vocals, & fiddle.
Some outrageously talented and devoted musicians, Bob Willoughby, Cary Fridley, Barry Benjamen, and more join together to get you dancing.
Mecca Bodega
Performing on Saturday  Percussive, imaginative rhythmists w/ eclectic hypnotic tribal grooves. Didgeridoo, Dulcimer, Drums, & more. From NYC, featuring imaginative rhythmists Marc and Paul Mueller.
Mecca Bodega has been featured on National Public Radio broadcasts of "New Sounds" on WNYC and Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" with Simon 7 of Didjworks.
They've recorded film scores, most recently for director Jonathan Demme for HBO's "Subway Stories” and appeared in this film.
Menage
www.meccabodega.com Performing on Friday and Saturday  Luscious and original. Asheville's own Menage delivers a mix of blues, swing, jazz and soul that will croon and swoon its way into your heart.
Wow! These girls sure know how to entertain. Mary Ellen's on upright bass, Sarah's on Guitar and Rhett's on percussion.
The music is so fresh and lively; it'll make you wanna slap your Mama.
Hope you catch these fine singers. They are making quite a splash in Western North Carolina.
Open Road Bluegrass Band
Performing on Saturday  Hews as close to the core of traditional bluegrass as the tuning pegs of Monroe's mandolin. Old-fashioned hasn't sounded this good in quite some time.
“Best Bluegrass Band, 2003, 2002, 2001. These musicians make tradition exciting”. –Westword, Best of Denver 2003 Awards.
"These guys are a revelation... This is soulful stuff…It's terrific music that'll bring a smile to your face." –Bluegrass Unlimited
Phil Jamison
www.openroadbluegrass.com Performing on Saturday  Assistant Director of the Swannanoa Gathering and coordinator of Old-Time
Music & Dance Week, Phil is nationally known as a dance caller, musician & flatfoot dancer.
His flatfoot dancing was featured in the film, Songcatcher, for which he also served as Traditional Dance consultant.
He also plays fiddle and banjo, teaches mathematics and Appalachian music at Warren Wilson College, and writes articles on traditional dance for The Old-Time Herald.
Phil & Gaye Johnson & King Pup Radio Hour
www.swannanoagathereing.org  The reigning couple in radio regionally for more that 25 years now. Sweet songbird of the South Gaye and genial mandolin player Phil have performed at festivals and shows all over the U.S. but always came back home to do a radio show.
From their "Cornbread and Sweetmilk" shows, through the “Radio Flyer” days to their present
“King Pup Radio Show-Small Time Opry”, they‚re the down home folks presenting local music and radio from our part of the south.
Their new show features the best in "Old Time" Country and Bluegrass music. These days they've hit the road again, recording at halls, colleges and festivals throughout the area-it‚s now syndicated to stations and countries around the world.
Tune them in at http://www.radioyur.com/ and hear the broadcast from LEAF.
Riley Schilling
www.radioyur.com/philngaye.html
Riley is a young artist exploring mostly the fields of poetry and
acting in this playful land of life. In a recent journey to Taos, New
Mexico, he came to powerful realizations that there is a point to all this
mess in living through modern turmoil and that point is ART! A newly
devoted patron to creativity and nonviolence, Riley is looking to bring
about creative playshops geared towards enhancing the childish curiosity and
imagination that is distinctly human which can reshape our daily lives into
never-ending adventures of artistic and aesthetic wonder.
Sangita Devi
 Chants to the Divine
Ken Cope
Celtic workshops and jams
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River Guerguerian
 Multipercussionist/composer/educator who has been performing professionally for 20 years with such groups as the BBC Concert Orchestra, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Ziggy Marley & Gypsy Kings. He’s performed at International Music Festivals in New York, Berlin, Moscow, Edinburgh, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Istanbul, and has recorded on over 50 albums and film soundtracks.
The Workshop will focus on: learning common Middle Eastern rhythms; how to achieve a well rounded tone and make your drum sing; building upon our own naturally-given internal rhythm; and how to play harmoniously with other people.
"Bring any kind of drum, and a few extras will be available"
Robert Thomas
www.guerguerian.com  Piano playing that goes well with morning coffee, provocative yet reflective and nurturing to the soul.
Music influences that range from Keith Jarrett to Peter Kater. A morning ritual for the earlyrisers at LEAF.
Roberta Kogut
 Roberta Kogut has called throughout the Southeast at festivals
such as Merlefest, Florida Folk Festival, Florida Spring Frolic and Gamble
Rogers Festival with a repertoire of fun and flowing dances that thrill
experienced dancers and a clear, beginner-friendly delivery.
Robin & Linda Williams and Their Fine Group
 “This is the real deal, the kind of heartfelt, genuine musical performance that built the foundation of all country and bluegrass music decades ago yet remains timeless and appealing across the ages.” —BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED
Roger Howell
Known for their rich harmonies and original songwriting. Joined by Jim Watson, a founding member of Red Clay Ramblers, on bass & distinctive harmony vocals, and bluegrass veteran Jimmy Gaudreau on mandolin and mandola, they‚ve charmed audiences for more than 25 years and with frequent appearances on “A Prairie Home Companion” and “Grand Ole Opry”. They‚re not pretending to be down home friendly, they really are. www.robinandlinda.com Performing on Sunday  Award winning fiddle player Roger Howell has a wall full of ribbons from a lifetime of music learned, played and shared growing up on Banjo Branch in Madison County.
Rosario Carelli & BANTABA
 "We are the drum". In the tradition of "Babatunde Olatunji", Rosario shares the fun, magic and healing power of the drum. Teaching easy to grasp West African rhythms and songs,
Rosario uses the drum as a tool to create community, with peace and respect for all.
Salseros 828 & Maria Voisin
 Creative approaches to traditional Salsa dance, predominantly Cuban style and "Salsa Casino Rueda".
Rueda is a dynamic and innovative social dance called by some "The sexy Cuban Salsa Square Dance".
Scott Baxla
Shanti
www.salseros828.com   SALSA!!! Cuban musicians who understand and love Cuban dance music.
Son de Cuba has performed at The Founders Hall, Havana Social Club, 13th Annual Latin American Festival in Charlotte, The Orange Peel and has opened for Barbarito Torres of The Buena Vista Social Club.
Son De Cuba's all Cuban Lineup includes: Nicolas Marquez on Timbales and Congas, Liliana Gonzales on Vocals, Alina Marquez on Keyboards Alberto Lopez on Hand Percussion and Backup Vocals, Kelsey Marquez on Congas and Joe Rothenberg-Lapaz on Bass, Guitar and Lead Vocals.
If you like to dance, Son De Cuba will provide the music!!!!!!!!!!
Performing on Friday |
Stuntology w/ Sam Bartlett
 Sam’s parents entertained with party games, stunts and his dad were an inventor, and expert screwdriver thrower. As a teen, Sam juggled, unicycled, balanced things on his nose and did acrobatics.
This extended into learning parlor tricks, stupid games, and pranks. Bartlett’s specialty is stunts anyone can do, the body of knowledge he calls, “Stuntology” and is participatory and for all ages.
Typical stunts include: picking up a shopping bag with your teeth, 15 ways to amuse yourself with a straw, how to immobilize someone with 1 finger, etc...
In Bartlett’s words, “A good stunt is something you can learn in a few minutes and then spend 10 years perfecting.” Also see him playing with Wild Asparagus.
Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited
 Thomas Mapfumo, born in Marondera, Zimbabwe in 1945 is also sometimes
called the Lion of Zimbabwe. He is responsible for blending traditional Shona mbira music with western instruments and a political message full of innuendo and traditional proverbs.
He established the musical style, chimurenga (the Shona word for struggle). Political & musical leader. The band explodes, inspires, & takes you on an African journey.
Twirla
thomasmapfumo.calabashmusic.com Performing on Saturday  Interpretive Rock n Roll Baton Twirler.
The #1 in the NATION! Participant in Miss Exotic World and New York City Burlesque Festival.
Wah!
www.twirla.com  The musician and spiritual seeker known as Wah! and her band create a seductive spirituality with a unique mix of pop, reggae and world music.
Wah! has spent a lifetime immersed in spiritual pursuit, beginning yoga and meditation at age 17, studying in Europe, India and Africa.
Wah! opened for Courtney Love (Hole), toured with Krishna Das, and went on to work with producer Herb Graham, Jr. on OPIUM, a dreamy collection of R&B trip-hop songs about life.
Latest releases, JAI JAI JAI and LOKAHA, continue her unique approach to music, weaving devotion with hip production and industry talent.
Wild Goose Chase Contra Band
www.wahmusic.com Performing on Saturday     An exciting dance band from western NC with an eclectic style that blends traditional and modern tunes.
Bob Kogut and Tim Higgins play together with such synergy that their sound seems to flow from the same mind.
Karen Gaughan and Skip Metheny not only provide rhythm that is tight and driven, but are each masterful soloists as well.
Together, they propel dancers to new levels of fun.
Wild Asparagus
Performing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday  Irresistible & energetic Celtic & contra rhythms mesmerize listeners & propel dancers. Simply the BEST.
A five-person band from Western Massachusetts. Drawing upon music from New England, the British Isles, and Canada,
as well as classical sources, Wild Asparagus takes an original approach to the traditional dance music of our folk heritage.
Using their unique blend of instruments, creativity, and skills, they offer a sensitive and powerful performance.
Since 1984, Wild Asparagus has been highly successful in bringing their music to dances and concerts throughout the United States.
Sosh Howell & The Jazz Action Figures
www.wildasparagus.com Performing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday  Swingin out with 30's era swing dance these cats will inspire and
instruct you onto the dance floor.
Lisa Schiess
 Women’s Drum Circles and workshops.
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- Mountain Trail runs & Hikes with Bruce and Shonnie
Mountain Trails Hike on Sunday
Run and hike the trails of Camp Rockmont! Join Bruce & Shonnie Lavender at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the Boat House for an enjoyable and scenic run along the trails.
These are social & athletic outings (if you're running too fast to chat, you're running too fast) for runners of all levels (leave no runner behind).
Experience the natural beauty of the Southern Appalachians up close and witness extraordinary views of Mt. Mitchell and the entire festival below. On Sunday at 8:30 a.m. we will again meet at the Boat House for a hike for hikers of all levels.
Bring water and a snack for both events.
- Ryan Cecil
National Trials Bike Champion and highly ranked in the world. He will be doing an impressive and captivating demo. - Wild For Life
A center for the rehabilitation of wildlife brings animals and information to share and educate. - $1000+ Poetry Slam
- Old Time Fiddle Contest
- Open Mic Talent Contest
- And of course some more...