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Media Contact: Jennifer Pickering, LEAF Executive Director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Truth Wingfield, LEAF Communications Coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | 828.686.8742
LEAF's 36th Festival Highlights Voices Of Tradition and The Megaphone Project In May
Black Mountain, NC – LEAF’s 36th Festival is delighted to present a Voices of Tradition themed lineup and a one-time installation of the Megaphone Project, an Australian based interactive playground of sound. The twice-annual four-day cultural music and arts festival takes place May 9th-12th, 2013, immersed in the Blue Ridge Mountains and centered around Lake Eden, at Camp Rockmont, in Black Mountain, NC.
With support in part by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, eclectic Voices of Traditions inspire the LEAF lineup this May from American folk, vocal jazz and gospel to Tibetan traditions, Zimbabwean afro-pop and classical choral customs. These artists include headliner and R&B icon Mavis Staples, Appalachian songbird and LEAF favorite Abigail Washburn, jazz diva Lizz Wright, the female voice of Tibet Yungchen Lhamo, king of kid-hop Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, southern gospel trio Como Mamas, N.C. balladeer and storyteller Sheila Kay
Adams, choral director and educator Milt Crotts, of the Blue Ridge Orchestra and a quintet of regional songstresses known as Sirens In The Round. Other headlining musicians include roots-reggae heroes Steel Pulse, urban Latino culture-mashers Ozomatli, the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, led by the bluegrass legend and Zimbabwean maestro Oliver Mtukudzi & the Black Spirits.Patrons can expect to see other diverse LEAF performers like Unifire Theatre, Green Grass Cloggers, Art Farm and Whee Ahh Faerie Kin. For the night owls, a Garden of Eden themed costume party will overtake Eden Hall late Saturday into the wee hours of Sunday with a soulful performance from The Broadcast. In celebration, all festival goers should dress according to the theme - pixie dust and fairy wings highly encouraged!
The world-traveling Megaphone Project will land along the shoreline of Lake Eden for this May’s LEAF Festival, turning the lake into an interactive sound field that allows people to discover a game of sound and physical play. Producers Lauren and Rus Snelling help bring the project to life from the minds of creators, directors and core artists, Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey, in collaboration with Jesse Stevens, David Wells and an extended circle of associate artists around the world. 18 “striking red megaphones of different shapes and sizes recreate the miracle of wireless tin-can telephones, and the joyful manipulations of voices that are naturally reinforced through simple acoustics," according to themegaphoneproject.com. “Voices then mysteriously and ambiguously return via a custom wireless audio network. The megaphones create an interactive performance field for both the public and the artists. In the field of megaphones, the audience creates a lively environment of play and enjoyment that is all their own invention.”
LEAF, a family and friend tradition, provides a diverse weekend festival experience that also includes a juried art show; over 50 free healing arts workshops; a dance hall with plenty of contra, salsa, swing, and professional instruction; outdoor adventures with camping and lake activities; the LEAFlet Kids Village, with two stages and an extraordinary amount of activities; a Southern Fried Poetry Slam with $1000+ in prize money; food vendors to explore culinary customs and styles known as Cultural Gastronomy; plenty of handmade craft vendors, and much more. LEAF will also offer a new general store provided by French Broad Food Co-op, for essential items that are easy to forget. Detailed store items and the official location will be available closer to the festival.
Tickets must be purchased in advance, online at leafticketsales.org or by phone at 828-68-MUSIC (686-8742). Adult tickets for Extended Weekend (Thursday - Sunday) are $184, Regular Weekend (Friday - Sunday) are $159 and Single Days are $47-$57. Tent camping is only allowed for weekend ticket holders. Discounted passes are available to local residents (Community tickets) and for children ages 10 through 17 (Youth tickets). Children younger than 10 are free and all kids must be accompanied by an adult. Adult and youth volunteer positions are also available, visit the LEAF website for an application at theleaf.org/index.php/thefestival/volunteer.
Proceeds from LEAF Festival fund outreach programs such as LEAF Schools & Streets (LSS). LSS is currently has 11 resident teaching artists working weekly with 16 music and arts programs in five schools and seven outreach centers. Encompassing the festival weekend, over 20 of the LEAF performing artists will be participating in LSS arts-in-education workshops, residencies, and enrichment concerts in local schools and centers. LSS has worked with over 35,000 local youth since 2004. After the festival, LSS is presenting a family-friendly outreach performance and school field trip opportunity with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo. Attend an “Educational Informance with the King of Kid-Hop” on Monday, May 13th at 11 a.m., located at The Orange Peel in downtown Asheville, N.C. Admission is $3 for children under age 18 and $5 for adults. All ages are permitted. Tickets are available at the Orange Peel box office, www.theorangepeel.net. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call 828/68-MUSIC (686-8742) or visit theLEAF.org. LSS provides this special low cost event to make this outreach performance accessible for schools, families & the community.
Photos available on theLEAF.org Press page below and by request.
For additional information or promotional materials for the Megaphone Project, contact Lauren Snelling ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
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The Spring LEAF 2013 Performing Arts Lineup:
Mavis Staples • Steel Pulse • Ozomatli • Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band • Oliver Mtukudzi & the Black Spirits • Abigail Washburn • and our Sunday festival closer, to be revealed very soon!
Solas • Papa Grows Funk • MC Yogi • Lizz Wright • Ben Sollee • Honey Island Swamp Band • Yungchen Lhamo • Dirk Powell Band with Riley Baugus • Orgone • Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Contra with Elixir & The Mean Lids, called by Nils Fredland & Diane Silver • Late-Night Techno Contra with DJ Jor-D & caller Maggie Jo Saylor • The Broadcast • Como Mamas • Matuto • Sheila Kay Adams • Talavya • Sirens in the Round, featuring Laura Blackley, Mary Ellen Davis, Cary Fridley, Kellin Watson, and Lyric • Blue Ridge Orchestra • Unifire Theatre • Green Grass Cloggers • The Spring Chickens • WWC Old-Time String Band • Royal Kingdom of Happyland • Freewheelin MaMas • Art Farm • Toy Boat Circus Tent • Warren Wilson Gamelan Ensemble • Asheville Community Movement • Whee Ahh Faerie Kin • 40 Fingers & A Missing Tooth
LEAF Schools & Streets Resident Teaching Artists: Adama Dembele • Christine Garvin • Erinn Huntley • Gary Bradley • Imhotep • Kuumba Zuwena • Lisa Zahiya • Nina Ruffini • Santos
