Rising Appalachia

Rising Appalachia is an American Appalachian folk music group, led by multi-instrumentalist sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith. Their music is rooted in the landscapes of Atlanta, New Orleans, and the southern Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia. The group blends a diverse range of instruments, including banjos, fiddle, cello, upright bass, baritone guitar, djembe, and world percussion, as well as styles, including Americana, world, folk, and soul music.

Rising Appalachia is noted for their nonconformity to the mainstream music industry. From the outset the Smith sisters independently managed and financed their music. Their musical career began with a gift of music for their close circle. The unexpectedly positive reception spurred them to establish Rising Appalachia as a group.

The collective's identity has evolved through various phases, including a stint as R.I.S.E., during which they released the live album Evolutions in Sound. They worked to unite art with activism and community engagement, which led to the inception of the Rise Collective: a diverse assembly of performers, educators, activists, and artists. This collaborative effort worked in various artistic media, from acro-yoga to fire spinning and sound workshops.

Rising Appalachia has played musical festivals across the globe. They have released albums such as the crowd-funded Filthy Dirty South as well as Leylines.