On March 14th, Hatchet Coffee in Boone presents an all ages, pay what you can live music series featuring singer-songwriters "in the round." Hatchet Coffee will be transformed into a listening room and feature 4 musicians who will share stories, sentiments, and inspiration in between original song performances. The performers for the evening include: Alexa Rose, Earleine, Shay Martin Lovette, and Meris Gantt.

Alexa Rose:
Alexa Rose has the rare ability to find strikingly original melodies that nevertheless sound like they must have existed for a long time, stored away maybe in the ether of creativity, self-evident and awaiting discovery. Moving deftly between complex dexterity and heart-tugging familiarity, Rose achieves a sound that pushes gently alongside the bright vocal experimentalism of Joni Mitchell and Joanna Newsom while maintaining the brassy attitude and simple refrains that run straight through American roots music from mountain ballads to rock n roll. Amidst the sea of earnestly soft-sung songs on the Americana circuit, Rose’s voice stands out with depth and complexity, capable of gymnastic yodels and deep resonance. Rose’s sound evokes the likes of Hurray for the Riff Raff and Margot Price, but she cultivates her own hard-working perspective without imitation or posturing. What separates her from the crowd is a tangible, relatable sense of hunger and realism about the sacrifices of the road, the elusiveness of fulfillment, and the bittersweetness of dreams.

Earleine:
Born in Clarksville, Tennessee, just 40 miles outside of Nashville, Earleine grew up immersed in musical culture. At 18 she picked up the guitar, and soon began writing her own songs. Earleine made her way to the Blue Ridge mountains in the Spring of 2016 to expand her musical horizons. Since moving to Boone, Earleine has found a type of songwriting inspiration only mountain air can bring. Genuine and shockingly honest, her songwriting is mixed with poetic lyricism, and dreamy harmonies that seem to lift hard time memories into ephemeral realms. Earleine's style is Americana music with a swirl of folk, rock, and roots under a blanket of soul. 

Shay Martin Lovette:
Boone, NC based songwriter and musician, Shay Martin Lovette has been honing his craft on tour in support of his latest album 'Swifter Drifter' since it's release in the summer of 2018. His homespun original folk-rock songs are beginning to make waves across the southeast and beyond and even in Europe where the Berlin, Germany based new folk music curator and playlister, Songpickr selected 'Swift Drifter' as one of his top albums of 2018. The album was also recently voted #61 on WNCW Public Radio's top 100 albums of 2018. Lovette has performed at Merlefest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, and Carolina In The Fall in the past and plans to record his follow up to 'Swift Drifter' in 2019.

Meris Gantt:
Music roots run deep in Meris's family. She grew up dancing in the kitchen to the likes of Gillian Welch, Guy Clark and New Grass Revival. She started performing at an early age and received a BFA in Music Theatre from Elon University. 

Meris moved to Boone shortly there after and began exploring her passion for songwriting. She founded the Boone based band Mountain Radio in 2011, eventually melding into her current project Handlebar Betty. Her songwriting is honest and to the point; exploring life's journeys with longing, regret and the silver linings that lie in between.

Laced with elements of bluegrass, folk, blues and soul, Handlebar Betty creates a unique sound that is dark, driving, and earthy; bringing forth a genuine and soulful approach to acoustic/electric music. 

When: March 14, 2019 
PHONE: 828-278-7505
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: 150A Den Mac Dr., Boone, North Carolina 28607
For more information, visit: http://www.exploreboone.com/includes/calendar-of-events/Sounds-Grounds-Music-Series-at-Hatchet-Coffee/20450/