With all the craziness in the world right now, LEAF could not be rolling around at a better moment. “LEAF is about so much more than a festival,” says promotions coordinator, Jefferson Ellison. “It’s about reminding ourselves that there are beautiful hearts in the world striving to make our world a better place through sharing our creative gifts with the people we love. The community that is here and their hunger and appreciation for art feeds back into us. We are thrilled to be able to bring this festival to the area twice a year and look forward to seeing everyone next weekend!”

Dig Local will be giving away 2 WEEKEND PASSES which include access to the festival Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20 AND camping so you and a friend can join us for FREE! (Read on for details)

As a sponsor of the 49th Annual LEAF festival, we at Dig Local can’t wait to see the amazing musicians in this year’s line up which includes some BIG names such as Angelique Kidjo’s Remain in the Light, The Wood Brothers, Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, Niyaz with Azam Ali, La Santa Cecelia, Southern Avenue, We Banjo 3, Nattali Rize, Brandon Taz Niederauer, Huun Hurr Tu, Imagine Circus, to name a few.

Here are some interesting facts about a few of the musicians:

ANGELIQUE KIDJO

4 Time Grammy Award Winning Beninese AfroBeat Superstar Angelique Kidjo will be bringing the fire to the main stage on Saturday 10/19!  BBC rightly titles her "The Queen of African Music," The Guardian's "Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World," and Forbes' first woman to be listed among "The 40 Most Powerful & Influential Celebrities in Africa." Angelique Kidjo carries the weight of a continent on her shoulders through her pioneering music, renown humanitarian work, and undeniable legacy. 

THE WOOD BROTHERS

Nashville-based American Folk trio The Wood Brothers will be bringing their innovative blues and jazz-infused roots music to headline the Lakeside stage.  From sold out Red Rocks Concerts to a legacy of packed out halls and venues across the Southeast and nation, The Wood Brothers blend soul-stirring songwriting with a dizzying level of musicianship that makes the heart soar with every listen.  

CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES

Headlining the festival on Friday 10/18 is none other than Cory Henry and The Funk Apostles! With YouTube videos touting nearly 20,000,000 views, not only is Cory one of the most highly acclaimed piano and keys innovators of our time, but LEAF has the rare opportunity to host him as he is on pace to sell out his upcoming Spring tour.

ABOUT LEAF

The LEAF Festival, which was founded in 1995, was created as an inter-generational celebration of world culture that uses music, arts, and creativity to champion artistic expression, instill cultural competency, and build a diverse & welcoming community. For 24 years, LEAF Festival has grown into an epicenter of music, art, creativity, and culture for thousands of families across America. Resting within 200 acres of beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain country, LEAF Festival features 6 performance stages, 8 family adventure villages, over 100 vendors, over 400 performing artists, and dozens of interactive activity centers awaiting your exploration! Yet of greatest importance is that your family arrives safely and comfortably into the grounds – well informed and prepared for an incredible weekend experience.

“We rely on our LEAF Values of being mission-driven, remaining open and keeping a ‘You Got This’ positive attitude to push through any adversity that comes our way,” states Ellison. “The work that we do goes right back into our communities with proceeds supporting over 12,000 youth annually in LEAF Schools & Streets and LEAF International 365 days a year. Maintaining that kind of impact is always a driving force.”

LEAF is creating a Global Arts Center in the historic Club Del Cardo on Eagle Street with plans to open Fall 2019. This engaging experience is being designed for “Cultivating Cultural Curiosity” while honoring the rich history of the place. Locals and visitors can enjoy educational experiences rooted in music, art, community and culture. The 3,300 sq. ft. center will feature an interactive world map where visitors can explore a wide range of cultural art forms, an international immersion room that will transport visitors across the globe through a sensory experience, and a global sound underground to encourage experimentation with unique musical instruments from around the world. A virtual reality mini-theater, intimate performance stage, interactive artist workstations and an area dedicated to preserving the history of the Club Del Cardo are also highlights of the Center. Programmatic offerings like the Artist in Residency Program and merit-based engagement curriculum add another layer of attractiveness to this project. Hosting ongoing monthly workshops series, offered by international, national, and local Teaching Artists, will serve as a bridge for global connections and greatly diversify Asheville’s current cultural offerings.

Look for the Dig Local crew who will be making our way around the festival (and likely dancing in the front row!) Holler if you want your picture taken to be included in our famous “Recap Video” which will come out shortly after the festival. 

Dig Local is proud to host an exclusive giveaway for two adult weekend passes (including camping) to LEAF Festival! CLICK HERE TO BE ENTERED TO WIN! The winner will first be announced in Monday's Weekly Scoop newsletter.

LEAF Festival is October 17-20 at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, NC. Tickets are available at theleaf.org. To learn more about LEAF Community Arts, be sure to check out their Dig Local profile.