LEAF is proud to announce the lineup of performing artists for the Fall 2013 LEAF Festival, taking place October 17-20, 2013 in Black Mountain, NC. Headlining the 37th festival is the unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots that is Dr. John & The Night Trippers; Belgian polyphonic Afrobeat queen Zap Mama; the voice of a country and the son of a legend, Mali’s Vieux Farka Toure; and Western North Carolina’s own folk rockers, Acoustic Syndicate, performing an official record release show for their first album in almost a decade.Take a sampling of folkloric flavors this Fall:  the roux of New Orleans [Soul Rebels Brass Band, 101 Runners] and Cajun Country [BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet]; the spicy Latin heat of Grammy-winners Grupo Fantasma and salsa/cumbia/timba dance band Orquesta GarDel; nostalgic nuances of soul & vocal jazz from the James Hunter Six and Lake Street Dive; a hint of Hebrew with New York’s Metropolitan Klezmer; an essence of East Africa with Uganda’s Samite; and right back to the rootsy aura of Appalachia with some familiar favorites [John Cowan Band and Rising Appalachia].These artists and others provide a soundtrack that is only a portion of the LEAF experience. Combining a great diversity of names and faces with a myriad of dancing [Contra, Latin, Cajun, Bhangra], poetry and puppetry slams, healing arts workshops, folk art & handcraft exhibitions, camping/watersports/outdoor adventure, and the LEAFlet Kid’s Village [a festival in and of itself], LEAF never ceases to offer new and exciting cultural connections.The Fall LEAF 2013 Performing Arts Lineup:Dr. John & the Nite Trippers • Zap Mama • Vieux Farka Toure • Acoustic Syndicate [Album Release Show]Soul Rebels Brass Band • Grupo Fantasma • James Hunter Six • BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet • John Cowan Band • Rising Appalachia • King Britt • Lake Street Dive • 101 Runners • The BlueBrass ProjectContra with Giant Robot Dance & Rodney Miller’s Rhythm Raptors, called by Sarah VanNorstrand & Maggie Jo Saylor • Late-Night Techno Contra with DJ Jor-D • LEAF International Bequia Youth with Steel Pans • Dirty Bourbon River Show • Robin & Linda Williams • Underhill Rose • Orquesta GarDel • Samite of Uganda • Richard Wood & Gordon Belsher of Prince Edward Island • Metropolitan Klezmer • The Moon and You • Hobey Ford’s Goldenrod Puppets • and SO MUCH MORE to be announced, including the full LEAFlet Kid’s Village lineup and the LEAF Schools & Streets Resident Teaching Artists programs!Tickets and volunteering opportunities are available through LEAF’s website or by calling the LEAF office at 828-686-8742. Tickets are sold in advance only, so get yours today!LEAF, a non-profit organization, builds community and enriches lives through the arts – locally and globally – with festivals, community events, and arts in education programs. LEAF’s mission is Connecting Cultures & Creating Community Through Music & Arts. LEAF’s three main branches include the twice-a-year festival, LEAF Schools & Streets, and LEAF International.

At the 41^st LEAF Festival this past weekend - Oct. 15th to 18th - 12,000 people gathered around the majestic Lake Eden to celebrate the Spirit of New Orleans – a powerful capstone event to both honor LEAF’s 20^th Anniversary Year (2015) and its New Orleans roots.  The New Orleans-themed Festival featured Grammy-award winning Aaron Neville; the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band; Dumpstaphunk led by Ivan Neville; long-time LEAFers and former New Orleans’ residents Rising Appalachia; returning LEAF performers Rebirth Brass Band; The Revivalists, playing from their Men Amongst Mountains LP; and  rhythmic wizard Charmaine Neville.  In addition to hundreds of other musical and roaming performers, LEAF also welcomed Artists at Large: Roosevelt Collier, Bashiri Johnson, Farnell Neutron, Khris Royal, Ben Hovey, Imhotep and Jaden Carlson.

The thousands in attendance came not only for the six stages full of music, but also for the traditions that have become staples in the LEAF tradition: LEAF Fiddle Contest; Healing Arts Village; Ziplining, Lakeside Activities and Camping; LEAF Hike; LEAF Member’s Party; Healing Arts Village; Roaming Performing Artists; LEAF Parade (Mardi Gras-style this Festival); LEAF Southern Fried Poetry Slam; LEAF Arts Ed Pavilion (formerly called the Outreach Pavilion);  Fire Performance by Unifire Theatre; Community Tribal Drum Circle; Eats & Brews from Local, Independent Restaurants and showcases from LEAF Schools & Streets students and LEAF International programs.  Asheville's own Corner Kitchen served up New Orleans inspired cuisine for Culinary Passport holders.

“LEAF was an incredible container for all our cross pollination of muse and spirit, states Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia and we were delighted to connect with old friends and dance our tails off all weekend to pretty much every band on the stage. We are incredibly thankful that LEAF has such a solid relationship with New Orleans and that the bridge between Appalachia and the bayou remains as strong as ever”.  LEAF achieved the creation of this container by recognizing that a New Orleans-themed Festival should be just as educational as it is celebratory.  To answer that call, LEAF welcomed Chief Shaka Zulu, a native of New Orleans and a Mardi Gras Indian, hosted the showing of “We Won’t Bow Down” documentary; performed Afro-Caribbean New Orleans fusion through Soul Feather; and hosted the Voices of Congo Square Pavilion.  Voices of Congo Square served as an epicenter of New Orleans education and outreach and a gallery for the Mardi Gras Pocohantas Indian tribe.  Due to Katrina and the gentrification of many traditional African American neighborhoods and cultural epicenters, many long time elders and Big Chiefs (title for a tribal leader) are no longer able to afford to sew their ceremonial suits.  LEAF supported this rich authentic culture by hosting a feather drive throughout the weekend, which raised $1,700 providing three Big Chiefs feathers they need to sew their regalia once again.  A portion of the donations from the feather drive also supported local arts education for youth through the LEAF Schools & Streets program.

To the dreamers, wanderers and believers of infinite possibility, LEAF is excited to unveil the lineup of performing artists for the Fall 2016 LEAF Festival, taking place October 20-23, 2016 near Asheville at the majestic Lake Eden in Black Mountain, NC. We invite you explore a ‘Carnival of Wonder’ with performances by Balkan Beat Box, Beats Antique, Squirrel Nut Zippers and many more! Be prepared for performances that will ignite your imagination with a family adventure you will remember forever. Tickets are available at www.theLEAF.org/tickets.  Children 10 years and under are FREE.

“Music, art, and culture has the power to inspire our minds, enliven our hearts, and awaken our souls. In this powerful time of global transformation, may we never forget the importance of living our creative dreams and sharing what we love with the world. For the 43rd LEAF Festival, we welcome you to experience the magic & mystery of a Carnival of Wonder!” ~ Ehren Cruz, LEAF Performing Arts Director 

After a long hiatus, the Squirrel Nut Zippers is pleased to return to the stage for their first set of tour dates since 2009 with an appearance at LEAF Festival.  2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Squirrel Nut Zippers most celebrated and commercially successful album Hot.  Originally released in the summer of 1996, Hot sold over 1.3 million copies and inspired a renaissance in swing.  Beats Antique is making a big cross-country jaunt to promote their latest album, Shadowbox, arriving early October.  The LP features a track entitled “Killer Bees”, which is about ‘standing up against prejudices’ according Billboard. Third World celebrates their 43^rd Anniversary show as the LEAF Festival community gathers at Lake Eden for the 43^rd time since 1995. LEAF also features long-standing traditions such as the Southern Fried Poetry Slam, Toybox Puppetry Slam, Contra, the LEAF Parade, a Unifire Theater performance - and showcases with over 600 LEAF International and LEAF Schools & Streets youth performers led by a global host of teaching artists.

43^rd LEAF Festival | “Carnival of Wonder” | Oct 20-23, 2016

Balkan Beat Box | Beats Antique | Squirrel Nut Zippers,

Third World (43^rd Anniversary) |  Solas  | Here Come the Mummies,

Too Many Zoos | Chali 2Na & The House Vibe | Dar Williams

Mystical Arts of Tibet | Vaud & the Villains | Leah Song of Rising Appalachia 
The Hip Abduction | Frank Solivan & The Dirty Kitchen | Shel | Ranky Tanky
Zoe Jakes & Lisa Zahiya Presents: House of Tarot

Ursula Rucker | Jaden Carlson Band | The Primate Fiasco | The Screaming J’s
Arouna Diarra & The AZA Band | Dynamo | The Roamin’ Jasmine | Crystal Bright & The Silverhands

Bayou Diesel | Indigo de Sauza | Ethan Crump | Space Cowboys & Cosmic Girls | Nex & DJ Kutzu 
Paradiso & Rasamayi | Miss T’s Art V Boogie | Unifire Theater | Ka Amorastreya | Trillium Dance 
  Zulu Connection | Faerie Kin | Clan Destiny Circus | Nu Paradigm | Illuminera Studios 
Contra Feat: Elixir, The Coffee Zombies, DJ Jor-D, Buddy System, Lisa Greenleaf & Emily Abel
43^rd LEAF Poetry Slam, 5^th Toybox Puppetry Slam, 2^nd Welcome to Mars Showcase, and many more…