It's been nearly 15 years since a new group called Arrested Development slammed into the world of hip hop with defiant lyrics of what? Hope. How dare them! Apparently the world was ready for the change as AD ripped 2 Grammy awards, one for best new artist and one for best rap single, which was a first. Seeing Arrested Development live is not only a trip, but a journey to other lands and places not found on any map-emotional destinations tattooed deeply on the human heart. As crowds sway, dance, laugh, cry and, in some cases, even get in touch with who they were created to be, the group transports true believers beyond themselves, creating a current connecting body, mind and soul. www.arresteddevelopmentmusic.com

Few African artists have received the sales and media exposure of Habib Koité. Called "Mali's biggest pop star" by Rolling Stone (in an infamous article in which Bonnie Raitt compared Habib to Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn), Habib has also received raves from widely-read publications such as People, Entertainment Weekly and the New York Times. Habib draws on styles from the different regions of Mali, rather than solely on the music of his particular area as most Malian musicians do. Habib has gained a strong fan base by integrating the rock and folk sounds of the Western world, without watering down his cherished Malian roots. Habib descends from a line of griots, traditional troubadors who provide wit, wisdom and entertainment and his charisma and magnetism translates across cultures.
www.habibkoite.com

Javier Garcia is the picture of the complete artist: composer, arranger, producer, guitar & percussion player, and gifted singer. It is these talents Garcia brings to the incredibly diverse fusion of rock, hip-hop, ska, calypso, funk, reggae and tropical rhythms that mesh together into the unique new pop sound found in his music that has been described as "a musical narrative for Miami as sweet as kissing your honey on the beach to a swaying reggae beat, as danceable as a 3 a.m. Cuban jam session" - "a Grade: A album ...represents the future of Latin's tropical style" and "one of the freshest and most fun discs of the year" www.javiergarcia.net

Whether performing her own poetically evocative material or the compositions of her influences, friends, and peers, Nanci Griffith possesses a powerful gift for inhabiting the songs she sings - for communicating unspoken intimacy and heartache through her tender voice and lilting, delicate phrasing. Born in Austin to "West Texas liberal" (her words) parents, Griffith began performing at the tender age of 14. She came to Music City as one of the brightest lights in a new generation of artists merging country with folk and pop music that included Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakum, and Steve Earle. Her admirers are legion (Bob Dylan specifically requested that she sing "Boots of Spanish Leather" at his historic Madison Square Garden anniversary concert), and her awards appropriately numerous: five Grammy nominations, including a win for her gracious 1993 recording Other Voices, Other Rooms. Griffith is a fiercely loyal person - her band, The Blue Moon Orchestra, has been with her since 1986.

Local Singer-songwriter legend, David Wilcox, brings his deeply observant lyrics and music that moves the feet as well as the soul back to LEAF. "There's a reason so many of these songs are about joy and what it means to be really alive," David says. "There's been a change in perspective, how I see the world. These songs are fun and they offer a way of seeing this life as a heartfelt adventure. My favorite songs are the ones that have been to the depths of the darkness and shine a light on the way through." The music is a reflection of a life well-lived. www.davidwilcox.com

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Corey Harris has been touring and recording professionally for more than a decade. He got his start as a simple New Orleans street singer, occasionally driving his car to Mississippi, Texas and beyond to ply his trade. Since then, he has brought his roots and reggae tinged blues music to such far-flung locales as Mali and Guinea West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. LEAF is excited to have this J.D. and Katherine T. McCarthur grant winner back on our stages and part of our community.
www.coreyharris.com

Buille is: Niall Vallel - Acclaimed throughout the world as one of Ireland's greatest concertina players. Paul Meehan - a product of thriving Irish music scenes in Manchester, County, Armagh, and Cork. Caoimhín Vallely - like his older brother Niall, pianist Caoimhín grew up in Armagh and began tin whistle lessons at the Armagh Pipers Club before moving to the fiddle. Together Buílle are, in the words of The Irish Times, "As fresh a breath that's blown through traditional and roots circles in a long, long time."
www.vallelymusic.com/buille.htm

The Lizards are a New England based dance band featuring a trio of musicians fervent with the desire and talent to ignite flames under dancing feet. With a wide ranging and hopelessly eclectic repertoire including everything from Irish and Scottish traditional jigs and reels to Balkan, blues and swing tunes (often juxtaposed next to each other) the Latter Day Lizards bring excellent musicianship, playfulness, drama and unrelentingly infectious rhythm to their dance performances. With Peter Barnes on piano, guitar and flute, Bill Tomczak on clarinet, sax and drum and Dave Langford on guitar and fiddle, they blend swing, rock-and-roll and jazz influences with traditional foot-stomping dance music to make an innovative, spontaneous and rhythmically inflammatory sound. www.latterdaylizards.com

Presiding over his Funky Nation is Big Sam, formerly the trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who blows the funk out of his trombone and refuses to let the audience sit still. Between solos and trombone riffs, Big Sam second-lines (a uniquely New Orleans style of street-dance) and gets the crowd going both in movement and in replies to his call-and-response MC-style. A talented group of jazz-trained musicians makes up the Funky Nation, bringing with them the improv-style associated with jazz and the horn-heavy front section that's the hallmark of big band funk. Theirs, and Big Sam's, exuberant dancing and playing, afford them a rare opportunity to let loose. Big Sam's Funky Nation has undeniable personality, as well as masterful chops.
http://www.bigsamsfunkynation.com/

Since forming in 1988, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys have emerged as one of the world's most respected practitioners of American roots music, western swing, rockabilly, and traditional country. They play it like they invented it. They've played the Grand Ole Opry and Late Night With Conan O'Brien and now we're excited that they'll be bringing their great old time rock and roll to LEAF. "I think of us as just a rock and roll band. A rock and roll band that's letting the roots show," says bandleader Big Sandy. The group ascribes to a vintage aesthetic from Kingsman's 1957 custom Magnatone guitar to Jeff West's stand up bass and Trimble's vintage kit, these guys play instruments that were used when this style of music was just coming into existence. Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys transcend their genre the same way all iconic artists do by creating music so good, songs that are so well written, that the genre is simply a launching pad for the integrity of the art. This music is timeless.
www.bigsandy.net

Growing up in a Creole-speaking home in St. Martinville, Nathan eagerly sought out the music of zydeco originators such as Clifton Chenier. When he was too young to actually attend a Clifton Chenier dance at a St. Martinville club, he hovered by the window-sized fan at the back of the building to hear his idol, only to have the bill of his baseball cap clipped off by the fan when he leaned too close. Later, while recovering from a serious illness, Nathan decided to dedicate himself to learning the accordion. That dedication blossomed into an illustrious career, encompassing seven albums and spanning close to two decades.

The Steep Canyon Rangers have carved out a special spot in the world of bluegrass music, creating a sound that looks forward and backwards at the same time. First formed in the stairwells and kitchens of Chapel Hill, NC, the Rangers arrive from varied musical backgrounds. On stage and in the studio, Woody Platt, Mike Guggino, Charles Humphrey, Nicky Sanders, and Graham Sharp have perfected their ensemble approach using fierce dynamics and seamless harmonies. The Rangers base their sound around a stunning catalogue of original songs, drawing on the sounds of early bluegrass, honky tonk, and blues. In 2006 the International Bluegrass Music Association voted Steep Canyon Rangers the Emerging Artist of the Year.

The sound of Bambu' Station is best described as heavy, natural, and relentlessly captivating. From its' music to its' lyrics, Bambu' Station's sound is very percussive, profound, and inviting to any listener. Their live shows are filled with a brilliant spirit, harmonies, and an alluring quality. They are certainly one of the most significant artists representing reggae music in this generation.
http://www.myspace.com/bambustation

The Great Bear Trio is quickly becoming one of the most exciting and talked about contra dance bands in the nation. With a strong and growing fan base in their native northeast, Great Bear is now bringing their unique brand of high-energy folk music to festival stages, concert halls and dance floors across the country. Brothers Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand are both still in their teens but display a mature and seasoned musicality beyond their years. The core of Great Bear's instrumentation has always been twin fiddles and piano (ably supplied by mother Kim) but the line up is frequently augmented by mandolins, guitars, banjo and an assortment of percussion including the African djembe and the Australian didgeridoo. Andrew and Noah compose and arrange the majority of Great Bear's material, drawing heavily on Celtic and Appalachian fiddling traditions for their melodies but with plenty of room for improvisation and an occasional alt-rock or world beat groove creeping into the rhythm section. www.vfiddle.com/vgbt.html

"Secret Agent 23 Skidoo" is a seasoned musician who has performed nationally with a live hip hop band for over ten years. He has created a buzz amongst our LEAF staff and indeed with the Western North Carolina community for his fun vibe and positive message. His performances combine hip hop beats, reggae, bluegrass, funk, and blues with inventive word play aimed directly at a child's mind.
www.childstyle.org

Akira Satake first discovered the banjo through his older brother 's Flatt and Scruggs recordings while growing up in Osaka, Japan. After relocating to New York City in his early 20's he spent two decades honing his innovative banjo style in venues from Village clubs to Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He went on to master the shamisen (Japanese banjo) in his own original style, and has made it an important part of his repertory. Satake garnered international attention with his collection of original compositions, "Cooler Heads Prevail," and shared the 1998 German Music Critics ' Award for Best World Music Recording with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He has performed and/or recorded with such artists as Shawn Colvin, Jim Lauderdale, Hazel Dickens, Andy Statman, and Tony Trischka. He's produced award-winning CDs for Tim O 'Brien, Mamadou Diabate, Johnny Cunningham, and flamenco guitarist Gerardo Nunez. American banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka calls Satake "a brilliant banjoist with a split-level passion for the fiery breakdowns of southern Appalachia and the kaleidoscopic rhythms and melodies of World Music.
http://www.akirasatake.com/music.asp

This 9 piece Salsa Orchestra draws inspiration from 1970's New York Salsa. Although based in Asheville NC, the group has Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, and American roots. Formed in 2005, Nuevo Montuno has been gigging around the Southeast, and pushing the Salsa movement forward wherever they go. Lush trombones, a superb rhythm section(conga, timbales, bongos, bass, piano), and clever improvisations by singer Manuela Soler give the group its infectious, tropical sound. Irresitably danceable!
* sonic bids

With songs steeped in southern elegance, Shannon Whitworth's impact in the world of Americana music over the past several years has created lofty expectations by fans nationwide. So pure, strong and heartfelt, she catches the ears and touches the hearts of even the most unsuspecting bystander.

Ashley Chambliss will be providing your morning piano groove on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Eden Hall. She has studied music at Berklee in Boston and has been playing coffee shops, listening rooms, and festivals since 1994. Ashley also plays in a trio with long-time LEAFers Chris Rosser and River Gueguerian. Watch for their set in the intimate setting of the Barn! www.ashleychambliss.com

Come listen to Becky Stone. It's like paying a visit to a favorite aunt. Listen to stories about Br'er Rabbit and Jack, African American songs and games, local history and tales from cultures other than her own. You will love the stories and enjoy her. She has been telling stories throughout Western North Carolina for twenty years at libraries, schools, universities, festivals, and special events when she hasn't been acting, or singing or dancing, or baking apple pie.

Born Dieu Merci Mapumba Cilombo in a small town of Kolwezi in RD Congo, this artist is a typical child of the nouveaux musique rumba du Congo. With inspirations like Papa wemba, Youssou N' Dour and Richard Bona to name a few, Mapumba is a singer, song writer, composer, producer and a multi instrumentalist whose creativity evolves with every single performance. Mapumba makes a simple sound inspired by different styles from his ethnic elements to modern sounds of soul music all blended by his rich velvet voice and unique style of musical arrangement. Singing in Congolese Swahili, Chiluba, French and English, when you listen to Mapumba you get a sense of freshness in creativity from one song to the next. And not the typical monotone sounding albums you get out there... This is a true creative that is following right into the foot-steps of the likes of Salif Keita and Angelic Kidjo by re-defining Afro-world music. www.mapumba.co.za

Spoken word artist Minton Sparks is in a category all her own fusing poetry and her intoxicating gift for storytelling into a series of one woman performances punctuated with world class music. Sparks peeks over the edge into the warm spot where most would prefer sleeping relatives lie. In April, 2007, Sparks released her first book of poems with performance DVD, Desperate Ransom. In the past two years, Grammy-nominated Sparks was featured nationally on the NPR's All Things Considered and internationally on the BBC's Bob Harris Show, along with the syndicated Woodsongs' Old Time Radio Hour. She performed at the Americana music festival MerleFest, receiving a thunderous reception, and toured with John Prine. In 2006, she wrapped up a four part Tennessee Performing Arts Series, Minton Sparks and Friends featuring Nanci Griffith, Jessi Colter and Rodney Crowell.. Sparks accompaniest John Jackson played on the road for 7 years with Bob Dylan. www.mintonsparks.com

Rahim AlHaj, virtuoso oud musician and composer, was born in Baghdad, Iraq and began playing the oud (the grandfather of all stringed instruments) at age nine. Early on, it was evident that he had a remarkable talent for playing the oud. Mr. Alhaj studied under the renowned Munir Bashir, considered by many to be the greatest oud player ever, and Salim Abdul Kareem, at the Institute of Music in Baghdad, Iraq. Mr. AlHaj won various awards at the Conservatory and graduated in 1990 with a diploma in composition. He also holds a degree in Arabic Literature from Mustunsariya University in Baghdad. In 1991, after the first Gulf War, Mr. AlHaj was forced to leave Iraq due to his activism against the Saddam Hussein regime and began his life in Jordan and Syria. He moved to the US in 2000 as a political refugee and has resided in Albuquerque, NM ever since. Rahim's music delicately combines traditional Iraqi maqams with contemporary styling and influence. His compositions are about the experience of exile from his homeland and of new beginnings in his adopted country. His songs establish new concepts without altering the foundation of the traditional Iraqi School of Oud.

Captivating audiences of all ages! Vincent has performed at universities, festivals, churches, schools, weddings and parties. He has come through the suffering of the Rwanda Genocide to become grassroots ambassadors for progress and hope for Rwanda nation. His troupe is dedicated to raising international awareness of Rwanda's unique traditional dance, song and instruments . Vincent Nsengiyumva was born and raised in Rwanda, Central Africa. He began playing traditional instruments and dancing at age seven. At age eighteen, Vincent began perfoming with Rwandan National Ballet. He has traveled the world as a cultural ambassador for Rwanda. In addition to performingon stage, Vincent is an experienced teacher of African drumming and dance. www.nsengiyumva.com

Masters of the African form of stilt dancing and ancient mystical masquerades, Zulu Connection spellbounds its audiences with its colorful and elaborate costumes, tremendous heights, extraordinary acrobatics and magnificent dance moves. In the course of a concert the program entertains, but educates as well on African customs, history, musical instruments, masquerades and legends, dispelling common held myths.
www.zuluconnection.com

The Bob Moog Foundation honors and supports the legacy of electronic music pioneer Bob Moog by celebrating, teaching and documenting innovative thinking in electronic music. The foundation aims to touch people's lives through
experiential creativity and exposure to the boundless realm of sonic reality. To find out more about our goals, please visit our website at www.moogfoundation.org. Join us at LEAF for an interactive musical experience."

The newly formed UNF Brass Ensemble performs music for brass spanning the 17th through 21st centuries. This dynamic group of under-graduate music students has already received recognition, having been invited to perform at the 2006 International Trumpet Guild Conference. Off-campus performances include Church of the Good Shepherd, Riverside Presbyterian Church, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville, Mandarin, Nease, Lake Brantley, and Winter Springs High Schools. The ensemble was recently featured in the Riverside Fine Arts Project Listen series, and will appear at the North Florida Brass Band Festival in Tallahassee in February 2008, and the Lake Eden Arts Festival in May 2008. Graduating members have been accepted to and offered scholarships to DePaul (Chicago), University of Illinois, University of Florida, SUNY Purchase (New York), and Queen's College (NYC), and have been winners and finalists in national and international solo competitions.

Cis Hinkle discovered contra and square dancing in 1980, and has been calling dances for more than 20 years now. Her love of the music, movement, and members of the dance community is evident in her clear instruction and gentle humor, and has made her an ideal ambassador for this uniquely American style of dance. She has shared this love with dancers all over the United States, Canada, England, and Denmark.

Darrell Rose is a master African drummer who plays in the West African tradition with his band Afrikan Drum Festival. He has played internationally with Corey Harris, among other well-known names in the music industry, and has played on tour and recorded with The Wailers. It is his involvement with and commitment to teaching young people, however, which distinguishes Darrell from other talented musicians.
www.darrellrose.com .LSS

Whether he's singing about catfish, pontificating on possums, extolling the virtues of dandelions, telling wild snake tales, or wailing out a jivey harmonica tune, - naturalist, author, storyteller, and recording artist, Doug Elliott, will delight you with a lively collection of traditional stories, woodslore, legends, and outrageous personal narratives, all flavored with regional dialects, lively harmonica riffs, and more than a few belly laughs.
www.dougelliott.com

Making their fourth appearance at LEAF, this middle school marimba band from Evergreen Community Charter School, is a dynamic, exciting, inspiring group to watch and to dance to! Their ensemble, directed by Sue Ford, includes kids ages 11 to 14. Their repertoire consists of African music and a variety of other styles. Check out this unique school band playing on handmade Zimbabwean style marimbas and other handmade percussion instruments. .LSS

Gan Anim is a group of muscians, originally hailing from around the US and British Isles, all now located in Asheville North Carolina. With Sean Southerland on guitar, Ken Cope on whistles and concertina, Jeanne Chirdon on tenor banjo, Suzannah Park on vocals and Jack Devereux on fiddle and uilleann pipes, the group tastefully interprets traditional Irish music. Gan Anim draws on Irish instrumental music and the ballad traditions of the British Isles and American South to create music that is energetic, engaging, and rooted deeply in tradition.

Kumar Das is a New Yorker who has performed Internationally from his native Bangladesh to Japan and throughout the US. He has been instructed and mentored from the age of 3 by his father, then by world class master musicians, and is presently a disciple of Pandit Samir Chatterjee. Kumar has multiple National Artist's Gold Medal Awards in Classical Tabla music. Kumar Das has received many honors and awards in recognition of his musicianship. He was selected to do a cultural tour throughout Asia showcasing Bengali music. He teaches and performs Classical Eastern and Western Music, jazz and other contemporary genres. http://www.kdasmusic.com/ - LSS

This teen band's sound is solid funk and rock morphed to alternative punk creating a unique sound with an energy that has left crowds from numerous shows exhausted, shocked, and sprawled on the ground. Their show is fun for all and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goal: to awe as many crowds as possible. They do this using the weapon of pure fun and their great talent and music put together producing a show definitely worth seeing!

The Blue Dragons blend the classic sounds and instrumentation of jazz, americana, rock and blues into a vibrant and exciting live performance. The female vocals and accompanying harmonies are reminiscent of the late jazz divas; combined with the improvisational acoustic and electric instrument work, The Blue Dragons provide an original sound from a familar place.

Gotta Move is an original musical stage show celebrating science. We sing songs, slide down ramps, drop rubber chickens, make toilet paper dance, and get you excited about physics. Come explore forces, motion, gravity, friction, air pressure, and flight in this high-energy theater program. In the past two years, we have presented this show to over 18,000 children in 17 counties. The Health Adventure is a health and science museum for children and today's families, dedicated to improving health awareness, promoting wellness lifestyles, and increasing science literacy through programs and exhibits. www.thehealthadventure.org.

Andy has been teaching and dancing professionally for 25 years. She toured internationally with the Green Grass Cloggers for 5 years then joined the NC-based modern dance company, Wall Street Dance Works, performing throughout NC and SC. She now teaches dance at a high school for the performing arts in Atlanta, GA, where she also works as a freelance contemporary choreographer.

Four time award winner Becki The Balloon Lady is sure to amaze. Said to be the McGuiver of balloons with speed that rivals Jackie Chan's hands. Becki's crazy and colorful inflatable art will blow your mind.

Capt. Josh and the CADETS: Local theatre artist Josh Batenhorst and the CADETS (Committed Actors Doing Entertaining Theatre Society) of ArtSpace Charter School bring an original performance to life. These committed young artists (grades 6-8) will showcase the power of linking schools and after-school programs with local artists, this show promises to be a unique and fun-filled experience for all ages! Capt. Josh wants YOU to do drama! Join local theatre artist Josh Batenhorst for an exciting (afternoon/morning) of creative drama! Play games, make your own short plays and show-off your ability to show-off! Fun for young and old alike. .LSS

Friday, May 9, 6 PM - Puppet Show with Ventriloquist Cathy Kielar. Cathy and her puppet friends lead the fun with stories, songs, rhymes and rhythms.
Sunday, May 11, 9 AM - Rhythm Circle for Families. Revive your body and spirit with drumming and make a joyful noise. Music Explorium offers drums and hand percussion to loan or bring your own. www.musicexplorium.com

Cary Fridley's singing evokes centuries of Southern voices from Memphis Minnie to Maybelle Carter. Her new band combines the honesty of folk music with the country groove of Asheville, breathing new life into classic country and blues with drums, electric guitar, pedal steel, and electric bass. Influenced by her Virginia mountain childhood and years performing at bluegrass festivals with her previous band, The Freight Hoppers, Cary's natural affinity for folk music shines is highlighted by her ability to reach the heart and soul of an audience.
http://www.caryfridley.net/ - LSS

LEAF is excited to welcome Charmaine and her very talented band back to our stages. The Boston Globe had this to say, "There were simply no limits to her skills. Charmaine Neville performs blues, jazz, funk, rhythm & blues, rock and World Beat with astonishing range. She sang with open-hearted brilliance, switching voices (a mean impression of Louis Armstrong), scatting like a jazz diva & rocking like no tomorrow."
www.charmainenevilleband.com

Checik will be perfoming/instructing Soko African dance and drumming. He feels music and dance are major resources in both the academic and physical classroom and wishes to pay homage to diversity and community through his teaching. Chieck resides in Wilmington, NC and has founded the Soko African Dance Ensemble and opened the Living Art Boutique. He teaches African Dance, Drum, and history in Wilmington and all around the US to anyone eager to learn.
www.sokolab.com - LSS

Flag Movement Workshop & Stilt-walking

Over the last ten years Frank's passion for being a repository of plant knowledge has grown steadily. He has studied with Herbalists, Shamen, Vaidyas, Sangomas, Green Witches, Doctors, Professors, and Medicine Men around the country and world. They have initiated him into many ways of walking with plants. He makes a wide range of medicines and foods to share with his family, friends and community.

HOT DUCK SOUP, Burnsville, North Carolina's own great little old-time jazz swing ragtime blues jugband performs their toe-tapping, finger-snapping, fly-swatting, knuckle-busting, head-scratching, hip-swiveling music on banjos, guitars, ukuleles, cornets, kazoos, slide whistles, animal calls, assorted trash, and a washtub bass.
www.hotducksoup.net

Imhotep is a Mardi Gras Indian relocated to Asheville and now teaches at Vance Elementary. .LSS

Isaac Akers is a young fiddler who has performed at many regional festivals including the Eno River Festival, the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, and Merlefest in 2003. He began playing fiddle seven years ago at age 7. He has been described as an "Old Soul" with an uncanny feel for Old Time fiddling at such a young age. Isaac has won many regional youth fiddle competitions and recently performed with The Duhks. He is currently playing Old Time, ragtime, Irish, and dabbling in swing.

Jim Nave' brings more than twenty years of experience to the craft of presenting poetry on stage. He is one of the cofounders of Poetry Alive! and has been active of the Poetry Slam community since 1991. In addition, he has memorized over 600 poems and performed thousands of shows in the U.S. and abroad. For the past ten years, he has co-taught with Julia Cameron author of The Artist's Way. Nave' holds his MFA in poetry from Vermont College. He splits his time between Asheville, NC and Taos, NM. .LSS
www.jamesnave.com www.jamesnave.com

Jamuna was born in Moscow, the granddaughter of a wandering gypsy. She attended Moscow's Classical School of Music, Russia's leading college for jazz and pop. But she put her classical education on hold, preferring to play on the streets and in the subways of Moscow, to really reach the people. It was during a deeply spiritual visit to an Indian ashram that she was reborn as Jamuna - from the mysterious river of the same name. Jamuna's musical career flourished and she toured and performed around Russia and Europe, appearing in top theaters and on national television. Jamuna's performances weave a rich tapestry of traditional Russian folk, Gypsy, Ukrainian and Soviet-era songs and a new kind of music she calls "city folk". She sets each song in a historical and cultural context. She has witnessed recent and dramatic Soviet history and freely shares her experiences with listeners. www.jamuna.us

John performs traditional Aztec Dance in full warrior style regalia. Students (audience) participate in a "Friendship Dance", inspired by the pow-wow "two-step" dance of the North American Plains. John has been performing since 1983, and has performed and taught at theatres, festivals, art centers, colleges, universities, and schools throughout the United States. In 1996 John produced OLD MAN KOKOPELI, collaborating with Atlanta based company Gateway Performance Productions to create a work inspired by his Native American Pueblo Indian heritage. His artistic background includes dance and theatre training at the University of New Mexico and international study in Spanish Dance in Spain. In 1990 John was invited to join the Aztec dance troupe, EHECATL (the wind), by the troupe's founder, Paz Zamora. This dance troupe is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is comprised of members of various Native American tribes from different regions of Mexico and the United States. Since then, John has performed with EHECATL in the U.S. and Mexico. He has also toured nationally as a principal performer with Naa Kahidi Native American Theatre, Daystar Native American Dance Theatre and several Spanish/Flamenco Dance Companies.
www.johnjaramillo.com

JAM, an abbreviation for Junior Appalachian Musicians, is a new addition at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts of a program that started in other NC counties. The goal of JAM is to give local youth in 4th through 8th grades the opportunity to study instrumental music of the area with master musicians. Group classes in fiddle, guitar, bass and other instruments meet weekly.
www.BlackMountainArts.org.

LEAF is always honored to have this incredibly talented singer/songwriter grace our stages. Sonic Bid Artist!
www.kellinwatson.com

Acoustic Dessert from Keowee Chamber Music. Combining finesse with superb artistry, these classically-trainedusicians bring high groove to world beat performing an eclectic blend of beautiful tunes for flute, violin, cello and guitar.
www.keoweechambermusic.org

A group of kids in Asheville's Klondyke Community rose to the challenge that if they could organize themselves for 3 months, LEAF in Schools & Streets would provide them a mentor and performance costumes and tshirts. The kids range in ages from 3-13 and meet in their neighborhood weekly learning dance and song routines. They created the name themselves and have taken pride in their performances. The dance and music has given them focus in hope admist many challenges including one of the Coyotes being the victim of a shooting last year. They now dance in his honor as he continues to heal.

Ancestral Rhythms has been with Western North Carolina Arts Agencies (WNCAA), since 2003, doing artist-in-residencies and performances for the Transylanvia County Schools, Avery County Schools, Marion Elementary and local schools in the Asheville area.
www.myspace.com/alisakuumba

Lance Mills is a guitar pickin', singin', songwritin' fool.His love of old blues, country and bluegrass are evident in the sound of his music, but there's a little rock and roll in the mix.....hillbilly dust on blue suede boots. He is an award-winning songwriter, a good cook, a papa and a husband

Meet at the Kids Village to participate in the fun of being involved with LEAF's Parade! Join Drummers, Stiltwalkers, Puppets, Dancers, and more for a romping good time. See music schedule for time.

"Latin Dance Performance and Instruction. Asheville's premier Latin Dance Company specializing in creative approaches to Modern Salsa Dance."
www.salseros828.com

Join Melanie MacNeil, aka "melmacpink", for a fun filled hour of hoop bliss! This workshop will include the history of hoops, how to move, excercise, and play in a hoop. Join in on hoop games, hoop dancing and a special performance to finish! Appropriate for kids 5 and up. So join the fun and hoop it up! Hoops are provided, although are limited. If you have your own hoop, please bring it! Hoop to see you there!
www.ashevillehoops.com

Michael and Jaya teach a variety of swing dance styles from Jitterbug to Lindy Hop to Charleston and Blues dance. They conduct workshops to all levels of dancers across the country any given weekend of the year, and during the week teach swing dance in Asheville, NC. A century of great blues and jazz music has inspired generations of dancers and innovators to create this colorful and various truly American art form: swing dance. It is carefree and athletic, and Michael and Jaya make it easy and useful for dancers of all backgrounds or no experience at all.
www.michaelandjaya.com

Mizilca is currently based in Asheville, where she teaches Transformational Bellydance for both children and adults. This approach to the dance integrates movement with energy-work and chakra exploration as well as with the art and joy of storytelling. Mizilca also performs locally, regionally, and nationally and has been a staple part of the LEAF experience for five years! Come share in some gypsy magic movement fun at the Kid's Village with Mizilca!
www.transformationalbellydance.com

PAPERHAND PUPPET INTERVENTION ~ Since 1998, we have been using corn starch, bamboo, your old house paints, and other assorted junk to create giant puppets, masks, shadow plays, and performances for all ages. We tell stories, beat drums, paint cardboard, sew cloth, get sweaty, push boundaries, and carry heavy things to help make the world a better place. 
www.paperhand.org

Assistant Director of the Swannanoa Gathering and coordinator of Old-Time Music & Dance Week, Phil is a nationally known as a dance caller, musician & flatfoot dancer.

Graham Hackett is a veteran stage performer and educator with over a decade of professional stage experience with numerous credits as an event producer. In each capacity, the work centers on personal and community development through cultural awareness. As Founder and Director of POETIX, an experiential arts program centered on spoken-word poetry, Graham serves a broad range of youth populations including juvenile inmates, public, private, and charter schools, community centers in housing projects, and partners with numerous arts education and social service providers to offer the power of personal expression through innovative, media-saturated workshops. Besides being Designer, Director, and a Performer of The Poetix Lounge spoken-word event series and The RANT & RAVE: A Celebration of Free Speech, Graham has also performed at The ECHO Project Festival, the Lake Eden Arts Festival, and Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival, as well as Westside Rhyme in New York City. http://www.poetixonline.com/

Randall has been delighting audiences of all ages for over twenty five years. A master of comedic timing, he uses audience interaction for comedy and illusion coupled with a wide range of juggling techniques. Employing a variety of objects, including the ever popular flaming torches, Randall blends humor, skill and danger to engage his audience. His finale is a mind blowing exhibition of fire eating that leaves people perplexed and amazed.
www.mountaincircusarts.com

Contra Caller

As the sun sets over LEAF, something special happens in front of the fireplace inside Thunderbird Lodge. Friday and Saturday evenings, the vaudeville-style storytelling of Sarah Eshan creates a magical setting entertaining children of all ages. Her stories, characters, and songs take audiences places that span the globe and connect them to ancestral and cultural roots with laughter and the occasional lesson for life. Come experience the storytelling spirits with her!

LEAF Youth Slam Master

The Blue Fairy, aka Alina Ever on stilts, sprinkles magical fairy dust and blessings of well-being on festi-goers tall and short, one and all.  Close your eyes, make a wish... and so it will be.
www.alinaever.com

Tribalesque specializes in traditional and modern ethnic dance styles from the Middle East, India, and Latin America. We have combined these influences to create our signature style. Our performance repertoire is suitable for festivals, weddings, parties, clubs, and any other special occasion. our website:
www.tribalesque.com

Fire performance to enchant your senses. Unifire brings the dangerous world of fire into a tamed realm in which the senses are enlightened and enchanted. These talented performers bring fire alive with grace, control, and agility. A unique experience not to be missed whether you are young or old!
www.unifiredance.com

The Warren Wilson College Folk Choir, under the direction of Dr. Milton Crotts, is committed to the performance of a variety of musical styles and the exploration of music and singing traditions of many cultures. These talented college students have grown up in the traditions of folk, world, and classical music. They bring to the stage a diverse interest in Appalachian ballads, Celtic tunes, Early American Shape-note singing, African traditional singing, and Early European music. Their performances are filled with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Visit http://www.warren-wilson.edu/~music/ for more information Warren Wilson College is a liberal arts institution with many degree offerings.