Amythyst Kiah brings her powerful vocals and stellar songwriting to the Blue Ridge Music Center on Saturday, August 8.
Shay Martin Lovette will open the show at 7 p.m., in the outdoor amphitheater at the base of Fisher Peak. The Music Center is located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and based in Johnson City, Kiah’s commanding stage presence is matched by raw and powerful vocals, accompanied interchangeably with banjo, acoustic guitar, or a full band, with eclectic influences spanning decades. In the words of Rolling Stone magazine, “Kiah is one of roots music’s most exciting emerging talents, blending a deep knowledge of old-time music with sensibilities spanning classic country to contemporary R&B.”
Kiah’s song “Black Myself” was nominated for a Grammy for Best American Roots Song. The song was included on Songs of Our Native Daughters, a collaborative project with Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell. Our Native Daughters was nominated for Duo/Group of the Year at the 2019 Americana Honors & Awards, and “Black Myself” won 2019 Song of the Year at the Folk Alliance International Conference.
Lovette is a singer-songwriter hailing from the Appalachian foothills of North Carolina. He has placed in nationally recognized songwriting contests like MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Competition and Telluride’s Troubadour Songwriting Competition. The audience will recognize him from performances at music festivals such as MerleFest, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and Carolina in the Fall.
This concert is part of the Blue Ridge Music Center’s series A Place in the Band: Women in Bluegrass and American Roots Music, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. This project was made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Park Foundation.
Tickets are $20, and available at the door the night of the show. Purchases by credit cards are encouraged. Tickets purchased in advance for any of the 2020 Blue Ridge Music Center concerts canceled earlier this year will be accepted for admission. Parking is free.
The Music Center is taking several precautions during concerts to make the experience as safe as possible for visitors. Those who have a fever, cough, aches and pains, loss of smell or taste, difficulty breathing, or are sneezing and coughing, are asked to please stay at home.
Concert attendees must follow these guidelines:
Maintain six feet of distance between groups throughout the evening, including when standing in line and selecting seating locations in the amphitheater.
When in high traffic areas, concertgoers must wear a mask to protect others.
A hand sanitizing station will be set up near the admission gate Added precautions may slow entry to the amphitheater, so arriving early is encouraged.
For more information, visit
Midday Mountain Music performances are offered free from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The Music Center also offers scenic trails for novice and seasoned hikers. For more information, visit BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org or call (866) 308-2773, ext. 212.
