– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers write songs for screaming from the passenger seat. A nashville based, east coast born rock band inspired by modern punk, classic blues, and indie sad girls, the group embodies the spirit of a DIY band, recording all their own music in a barn-turned-studio in their backyard. Their gritty guitars, raucous grooves, raging feminine energy and frank, witty lyricism have gained them a dedicated following on social media and a Spotify stream count in the multi millions. Check out the links below to hear more and watch them live.
Shauna Dean Cokeland is an acoustic folk pop artist with lyricism beyond her years and over 500,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, comprised of real, engaged fans who know all the words to her songs—even the unreleased ones. Hailing from a small beach town in Maryland with dreams of taking over the world as the “Last Best Pop Star”, her long anticipated latest single asserts, she is bold and confident and weaves tantalizing stories in her songs. Inspired by all things 2000s, Britney Spears, Eminem, Kesha, Tyler Childers, and low rise jeans, her infectious brand of Y2K nostalgia combined with a teenage passion for both emo and country music has fostered a sense of community among the Gen Z that’s hard to put to words.
McKinney is a queer femme bass player and singer/songwriter living in Asheville, NC. She is a resident artist with LEAF Global Arts and has a been a regular performer at the LEAF festivals for the past 6 years. She grew up touring with an empowerment concert tour that educates youth about mental health resources. Her diverse and inclusive ensemble combines elements of rock, jazz, blues, funk, and soul to craft songs that resonate with authenticity and vulnerability. She released her debut single in 2021 entitled “Stay,” produced by Josh Blake at Echo Mountain. You can feel the desire she has to create new music that stays true to her unique sound. With new music, coming in 2024, produced by Ted Marks & Thommy Knowles, this young woman is ready to take her place as the next powerhouse coming out of Asheville.