Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards

Best thought of as a collective rather than a fixed band, Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards has featured a rotating cast of unmatched talent since its official founding in 2014. At its core lies Cortese herself–serving as both the gravitational center around which the group organizes and the creative engine that fuels the compositions that emerge from it. Performing live in trio or quartet configuration, these artists produce music as rich and intricate as any symphony, as heartfelt and true as any country classic. Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards ties together driving rhythms, broad creative vision, and resonant harmonies to create forward-leaning American Roots music that sweeps you up in its current, carrying you away from your everyday worries and into the arms of its cathartic embrace.

Laura Cortese has built a career weaving together a musical tapestry as diverse as it is masterful, highlighted with experiences like playing the Newport Folk Festival with Pete Seeger in 2009, standing onstage at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York with Band of Horses in 2009, and a stint touring alongside Uncle Earl in 2007. She has recorded with artists ranging from Aoife O’Donovan and Brittany Haas to Tao Rodriguez Seeger and Session Americana, and has released 7 albums under her own name–All in Always (2016), Into the Dark (2013), Simple Heart (2012), Two Amps 1 Microphone (2011), Acoustic Project (2010), Blow the Candle Out (2007), Even the Lost Creek (2006), and Hush (2004). She has toured across the globe, acting as an ambassador of American music on behalf of the US State Department by performing and teaching in India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Estonia, Greece, Ukraine, and Montenegro.

Learn more at https://thisislauracortese.com/

Ashley Virginia

From Greensboro, North Carolina, Ashley Virginia is an artist who has gained attention for her unique songwriting style of introspective poetry and interesting harmonic structure. Her sound has been described as "raw, contemporary angst" by Americana Highways.

Like the spiritual daughter of Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney, her style falls somewhere between '70s Country cool, West Coast cosmic Americana, and ‘60s Rock ‘n’ Roll. While attending a masterclass in Greensboro, 14-Grammy award winning songwriter, Emmylou Harris, categorized Ashley Virginia’s writing as “unique and unusual”. In 2021, she released her debut album, "and life just goes on living" tackling themes of mental health, healing, and social-political commentary.

Ashley’s second album, “the colors in my dreams” will be released on February 16th. This project was funded in part by the North Carolina Arts Council. Recorded in a historic farmhouse in Glendon, North Carolina, by Black Rabbit Audio, Ashley Virginia was joined by 15 different musical friends and collaborators. Together, they lived on the property for eight days to immerse themselves in the creative process. Rehearsals for the session were intentionally excluded beforehand. Rather, Ashley Virginia created and distributed charts and demo recordings, resulting in the collaborative and improvisational recordings that make up the album.

Learn more at https://www.ashleyvirginiamusic.com/

The Biscuit Eaters

"The Biscuit Eaters," a bluegrass band located in Surry County North Carolina is comprised of the Wilkerson family including: Sam age 15, Jo age 12, Maggie Jane age 10, Silas age 8, Molly age 6, and Mom and Dad who are both too old to mention.

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/thebiscuiteatersnc/