Rising Appalachia is led by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, raised in Atlanta in a household filled with banjos, harmony singing, and contra dances. Since forming in 2005, the band has built an independently managed career through busking, touring with a traveling circus across Europe, and collecting songs in Ireland, Bulgaria, and Colombia. They have performed at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Red Rocks, and NPRs Tiny Desk. Their ten-album catalog includes Leah and Chloe, Scale Down (2007), The Sails of Self (2010), and Leylines, which features guests Ani DiFranco and Trevor Hall.

Mood and energy: Rootsy, harmony-driven, folk-Americana with global influences. Recommended uses: Uplift, community, folk listening.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 5 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved.

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: A cornerstone act of the conscious-folk movement with genuine independence, cross-cultural songwriting, and a substantial catalog.