A Different Thread

Some things are just meant to be. Alicia Best (US) and Robert Jackson (UK) met while busking on the cobbled streets of Ireland and discovered both a musical and personal harmony that was serendipitous. In the decade since forming A Different Thread, Best and Jackson have taken their act on the road, touring over a dozen countries, supporting artists such as Milk Carton Kids and Jody Stephens (Big Star), and garnering critical praise from the likes of Folk Radio UK, which hailed the duo as “warm, deep songwriters that have drank from the well of 20th century tradition.”

Their new album, Over Again (out May 26’), was written during a period of transition, marked by their arrival stateside and a solar eclipse. Recording began in their tiny home studio, continued in Sylvan Esso's Betty's (The Mountain Goats, Watchhouse), and finished at Alma Vale Studio (Phantom Limb/Yola, Elles Bailey) in the UK.

Their sound is transcontinental, blending Jackson's British folk rock background with Best's North Carolina-bred alt-country melodies. Informed by their life experiences (navigating visas, vanlife, love across oceans) and liberal commentary on both environmental and social justice topics, the album mixes electric guitars with Appalachian dulcimer, gospel-tinged vocals with honky-tonk fiddle. While inspired by artists like Gillian Welch, The Avett Brothers, and John Prine, A Different Thread maintain a distinct sound that is all their own.

Alicia and Robert see the creation of Over Again as a testament to the power that music has to heal and transform: “For us, this album marks a new beginning—like a rebirth—as we shed negative cycles to work towards a brighter future.”

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

MaisCéu

MaisCéu, the musical persona of Jimmie Griffith, hails from Minas Gerais, Brazil, seamlessly blending the rich traditions of Brazilian music with influences from his dual upbringing in Brazil and living in Western North Carolina, his chosen home. Born to a Brazilian mother and a North Carolinian father, Griffith’s formative years were deeply shaped by this cultural duality. His music defies easy classification, acting as a harmonious bridge connecting languages and cultures, offering a universal expression that transcends geographical boundaries.

MaisCéu’s musical talent has earned him recognition in several songwriting and performance competitions, including the Best Featured Song award for "Trilha do Acamari" at the River Arts International Festival. He also won the Reeves Theater Singer/Songwriter Showcase Final, the prestigious 9th annual LEAF/NewSong Songwriter Competition, leading to performances at the LEAF Festival in Black Mountain, and was the runner-up in the 22nd NewSong Performance and Songwriting Competition at Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, NC. MaisCéu’s music gracefully dances between dualities, reminiscent of sunlight piercing through a summer storm, capturing the essence of life's multifaceted experiences.

MaisCéu Trio is a versatile ensemble that serves as a vibrant bridge between cultures, blending rich Brazilian rhythms with deep American musical influences. The group’s sound is shaped by Jimmie Griffith’s unique upbringing in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and his later life in Western North Carolina. By weaving together these dual cultural threads, the trio creates a universal sound that connects with a wide audience, regardless of their familiarity with the specific traditions being explored.

The trio’s foundation is built on Griffith’s acclaimed songwriting—recognized by honors such as the 9th Annual LEAF/NewSong Songwriter Competition, the Reeves Theater Songwriter Showcase, and Best Featured Song at the River Arts International Festival. Griffith, formerly of the Brazilian-fusion group Banana da Terra, leads the ensemble on guitar, vocals (sung in Portuguese), and flute.
The group is anchored by a versatile rhythm section of high-caliber musicians:

Jonathan Priest (Drums/Percussion): Priest is a dedicated student of global rhythms. He established his reputation backing legendary artists such as Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers) and Eek-A-Mouse. A staple of the regional scene, he brings a deep, eclectic pocket to the trio's rhythmic foundation, drawing from a vast array of global influences.

Tim Salt (Bass): Providing a grounded, melodic foundation, Salt is known for a rhythmic "dirtiness" and a "tastefully edgy" tone. His playing moves seamlessly between the intricate, syncopated patterns of Brazilian music and the tight, danceable grooves of the Motown and Stax eras—skills honed through his work with the funk/R&B group Soul Benefactor and Banana da Terra.

Together, the MaisCéu Trio delivers a compelling Brazilian fusion, integrating the complexity of Brazilian and world rhythms and jazzy chord progressions.

Learn more at https://maisceu.com/

Songs Of The Folk

A.T. and Lauren Cason were born in different parts of the Carolinas and met while studying music in college in the early 2000’s—they have been singing and playing together ever since. Both hold Master’s degrees in music yet maintain the heritage of their place and people, having grown up in musical families that embodied the traditions of the area. The combination of their training and the roots of their Carolina Piedmont upbringing helped the couple naturally craft a unique and authentic American folk music sound that’s as current and innovative as it is steeped in the folk, country, and blues music influences of the American South. The sound of Songs of the Folk is aptly described by Folk and Honey, one of the UK’s leading folk music publications:

“Their original songs have a slick, contemporary musicianship underlying them..their tasteful instrumentation always helping to bring their rootsy subject matters to life.”

Having performed for years throughout the Eastern US, the Casons moved to England where they spent several years touring extensively in the UK, making a name for themselves within the music circuit of England by playing in a variety of venues from historic folk clubs in Cambridge, Colchester, and Norwich to internationally-recognized venues such as the Glasshouse International Centre for Music in Gateshead and the Queen’s Hall Theatre in Kent. They have also achieved international acclaim for their song, A Feeling I Get, a semi-finalist in the 2024 International Songwriting Competition.

After releasing numerous singles, an EP titled Songs of the Folk, and their first full-length album, Sun-Scorched Land, A.T. and Lauren are set to release their second LP entitled In the Old Kingdom, all of it recorded in a centuries-old converted barn in Maldon, Essex and the first Church of England parish chapel, St. Michael’s in Woodham Walter, built in the 1500s.

The Casons moved back to their mountain home in Western North Carolina and continue to perform both domestically and abroad. They are also passionate about taking their music to those in distressed situations, such as at homeless shelters, rehab centers, and prisons through their non-profit organization, For the Folk (www.forthefolknc.org).

The Casons are certainly at their best when performing live. Their musical bond is gripping and palpable and as they tell stories alongside the tunes this connection transmits to audiences, creating a truly engaging experience. A concert of Songs of the Folk is a concert of well-crafted music and lyrics, pleasant harmonies, intricate instrumentation, and original storytelling. Audience members leave impressed by the songwriting and fingerstyle guitar-playing, entranced by the refined vocal harmonies, and enamored with the exceptional lyricism, but most importantly, each person leaves feeling like an old friend of the Casons and a part of the Songs of the Folk.

Learn more at https://songsofthefolk.com/