The award-winning and versatile Appalachian-folk-fusion singer-songwriter, teacher, and arts program designer Ash Devine is based the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina and Floyd, VA and has been referred to as one of the last ‘true folk troubadours’. Devine is known for her unique finger-style ukulele and guitar capabilities, and for her participation in activism through music, education, and the arts. In addition to producing several albums of original music, Ash has performed and studied along side Nobel peace prize nominee Patch Adams M.D., Smithsonian folk ways award winner Sheila Kay Adams, Grammy award nominee David Holt, and a number of other renowned folklorists, musicians, and social activists. Her versatile Appalachian folk revival-fusion sound is bursting with stylistic variety, relatable story, and historical facts. Her music is infleunced in style by Traditional Appalachian, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Jean Richie, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Maybelle Carter, Leslie Riddle, Ani Difranco, Kate Wolfe, Bob Dylan, and reggae/world music influences such as the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and west African traditional music.
In 2015 Ash Devine starred as the legendary Maybelle Carter and musically directed the play “Esley: The Life and Music of Leslie Riddle”. From 2016-2018 Ash Devine studied Appalachian traditional folk songs from the Western, NC area with Smithsonian Folkways Award winning ballad singer Sheila Kay Adams. In 2018, Devine was invited to join a group of WNC Appalachian song carriers to perform at the Library of Congress at the American Folk Life Center in Washington, DC. Devine performs all original concerts, blended traditional/contemporary/original variety style concerts, a one woman show about the legendary Carter Family and the influences and origins of the music they played, and Devine performs personalized therapeutic and formal concerts for the care setting. See the rest of Ash’s interesting and unique biography below.
“Ash Devine’s music has a classic folk sound without pretense, Devine is the real deal.” –Tret Fure (Award-winning songwriter and producer)
Beyond incredible musicianship, Devine’s unique strength is stage presence and connection with her audience. Comparable to Pete Seeger, Ash gently weaves themes of social and environmental justice into her performances, while encouraging the audience to join in song.
Socially Distant Spring-Summer Performances 2021
- Friday, June 18th 2021: Blacksburg, VA- Moon Hollow Brewing Co. 6:00-9pm- Outdoors
- Saturday, June 26th: Black Mountain, NC- Art Opening and Concert/Cookout 6-9pm: Flood Gallery and Fine Arts Center – Partially outdoors
- Saturday, July 3rd- Asheville City Farmer’s Market– AB tech Campus 10am-1pm
- Sunday, July 18th– Prices Fork, VA at Moon Hollow Brewing Company 5-8pm
- Saturday, July 24th–Salem, VA- Parkway Brewing Co. 1:30-4:30pm w/ F.M. Turner
- Friday, August 6th-Blacksburg, VA Stepping Out Music and Arts Festival 2pm w/F.M. Turner
- Sunday, August 8th-Blacksburg, VA Moon Hollow Brewing Co– 4-7pm
- Sunday August 15th– Salem, VA Parkway Brewing Co. 1-3pm
- Friday, August 27th- Blacksburg, VA Rising Silo Brewing Company– 6-9pm
- Thursday Sept. 2nd– Floyd Yoga Jam Festival @ Beer Garden 5:30-6:45pm
- Friday Sept 10th- Roanoke, VA Sweet Donkey Cafe-6:30-9pm
- Saturday September 11th- Blacksburg,VA @ 5:30pm-8:30pm Moon Hollow Brewing Company
- Sunday, September 19th-Floyd, VA Floyd Americana and Folk Festival
- Friday, October 2nd- 3rd Street Coffee House Concert Series- (Facebook only)
- Saturday, October 9th– Little Switzerland, NC The Orchards at Altapass-1-3pm
- Saturday October 24th- Black Mountain, NC Lake Eden Arts Festival
- Oct 31st-Nov 6-John C Campbell Folk School ” Uke Can Do It!”-Intro to Ukulele week long immersion– register at John C. Campbell Folk School
- More dates TBA ! contact bookashdevine@gmail.com for more info about booking
“Ash Devine’s vocals whisper like an old timey back woods wind. ” Beth Simpson (producer)
Biography:
Originally from the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, Devine is based in the Western North Carolina region near Asheville, NC. Ash’s music and work as a teaching artist is influenced by her international travels with activist M.D.Patch Adams, and her upbringing in southern Appalachia.
From 2007 to 2014 Ash Devine traveled internationally with activist Patch Adams, M.D. to perform in medical facilities, orphanages, social service centers, and nursing homes. Inspired by Patch, Ash designs and facilitates therapeutic Interactive Music Programs in retirement communities, homes for disabled persons, and other care settings.
In 2015 Ash Devine starred as the legendary Maybelle Carter and musically directed the play “Esley: The Life and Music of Leslie Riddle”. From 2016-2018 Ash Devine studied Appalachian traditional folk songs from the Western, NC area with Smithsonian Folkways Award winning ballad singer Sheila Kay Adams. In 2018, Devine was invited to join a group of WNC Appalachian song carriers to perform at the Library of Congress at the American Folk Life Center in Washington, DC.
In 2017, Devine received a graduate certificate in Gerontology from Appalachian state University, with aim to deepen her ability to provide meaningful music programming for older adults, and inter-generational groups. The “adult day community folk choir” designed and directed by Ash Devine, included 20 older adult participants with various levels of memory loss and dementia related conditions. In addition to her concerts in folk venues, private events, and house concerts, Ash performs and teaches nationally in nursing homes, schools, homes for disabled, adult day care centers and community based events.
Ash’s unique background and ability to connect with her audiences through story and sound makes her music deeply relatable and emotionally compelling for people of all ages.
Ash Devine is award winning:
1st place Brown Bag Songwriter Comp: 2010
1st Place Music Selection Twin Rivers Media Festival 2009
1st Place Best Composition: Downtown Music Lab 2004
Visit Ash’s Electronic Press Kit
Ash Devine, the Appalachian folk tradition, and Maybelle Carter
In summer 2015, Ash Devine blew audiences away with her finger picking Carter scratch style when she starred as legendary country stars Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family in the Parkway Playhouse production of “Esley: The Life and Music of Leslie Riddle”. As co-musical director, Ash Devine authentically re-created the Carter family sound. In 2018, Devine directed and co-produced A tribute to Carter Family and Women in Old Time at the White Horse Black Mountain, NC. In 2020, Devine developed a one woman show highlighting stories and songs from the Carter Family, and the origins and history of their music. Ash offers concerts featuring traditional folk music from WNC and music of the Carter Family. Concerts are available solo or with a band accompaniment.
“Ash Devine and Saro Lynch Thomason did a fine job, and really caught the essence of that dry yet driving Carter family harmony.” Grammy Nominee Musician and Folk-Lorist David Holt, Grammy nominee, folklorist and Award-winning musician
” Ash Devine was channeling Maybelle Carter.”-Minnie Powell (Musician )
Ukulele workshops and private lessons 2021:
Ash Devine offers beginning and intermediate Ukulele Workshops and private lessons online for adults and youth.
To schedule a Uke workshop or lesson series, please contact Ash Devine at bookashdevine@gmail.com
Just listened to you at Odd Fellows here in Floyd, VA. Bought your new CD. I realy enjoy it. You have great spiritual insight and the world needs more folks like you…Ken
Ash I miss you! Come back.
dropped by to say hi and let my friends know about your beautiful music <3 hope to see you soon, Oceans of Love, Susan
Ash:
Lovely of you to share your music this afternoon, inpromptu, in Hana. “I’ll Fly Away” made me weep. Oh glory, high praise.
Nicely done, and thank you,
Tim
Aloha Ash,
I wanted to thank you for sharing your songs. I regret not grabbing my fiddle and joining you on your island tour. Clyde said you shook the whole building in Kapaa, nearly to the ground.
The CD you gave me unfortunately didn’t play. I wanted to hear the song about the earth having things to say…
I hope you will read my book sometime and let me know what Aunties and Uncles you liked best. Take care,
mo
Hello Ash I love your new songs!!
I would like to help you get the word about your music.
Mark
Helping my clients and business networking partners put up FREE to low cost small business websites, get them found on local search, work to keep them there, and help build a strong local twitter target market.
Hi Ash. Barb told me you were coming to Seattle. I’d love to buy you a meal and here your stories from the road. I’ve got a few road stories since I saw you as well. The biggest is I’m moving out of the NW in Feb.’16. Going cross country by car. Miami, Jamaica, Paris, Amsterdam, London, New York…The plan is to just keep gigging. Check out my new art page at fineartamerica. Just type in my name. Happy Trails
Dear Sweet Ash, So sorry to have missed the show last night in Bburg. It was a hard day on the farm and sleep in the afternoon would not come. Thanks for the invite. We love you and hope to see you again soon. Ed and Randye
Listened to you last evening at Dogtown in Floyd, VA. Amazing voice and very versatile with the instruments. Like the audience participation as well.
Ash….Thank you so much for sharing your talents with the residents of Warm Hearth Village. It was a most enjoyable evening. I hope that you can come back soon.