Zoe & Cloyd bring love to Valentine’s concert

On Saturday, Feb. 11, the Black Mountain Center for the Arts offers up some sweet harmonies for Valentine’s weekend with Zoe & Cloyd, first-place winners of the 2015 FreshGrass Duo contest.

Husband and wife duo Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller are known for their soulful charm and passion for traditional American music. Founding members of the acclaimed Americana trio Red June and long-time veterans of the Asheville music scene, the couple has been playing a February concert at the arts center since 2009. This year their old Red June partner Will Straughan make a special guest appearance.

Zoe & Cloyd released their debut duet album, "Equinox," in April 2015. Featuring original and traditional repertoire spanning bluegrass, old-time and folk, the album showcases the elegant simplicity of two instruments and two voices. Audiences and critics delight in the couple’s close harmony and the simplicity of their approach.

Miller's foundation in traditional bluegrass and old-time Appalachian music, coupled with his modern sensibility, combine to make him a natural musician and performer, accoring to the duo's website. He is a 12th-generation North Carolina native and the grandson of pioneering bluegrass fiddler Jim Shumate. He is well known for his haunting mountain voice as well as his instrumental prowess and award-winning songwriting. Miller is a first-place winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and a recipient of an Artist Fellowship for songwriting by the North Carolina Arts Council.

Weinstein also comes from a musical family, according to the website. Her father is master jazz pianist, and her grandfather was a professional klezmer musician. She is an accomplished fiddler in a variety of styles as well as an inspiring singer and songwriter. While trained classically in her home state of Massachusetts, Weinstein spent many years fine-tuning her bluegrass and old-time fiddling with some of the country’s top traditional musicians. Now a mentor to many young players, she is a sought after instructor and in high demand as a teacher and session musician.

BMCA’s intimate listening room is the perfect venue for the up-close experience of these two ringing voices and their musical prowess, she on fiddle, he on guitar. Come cuddle up on a cold winter night for the heartwarming, toe-tapping music of this authentic duo.

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is at 225 W. State St. Tickets to the show are $16 and typically sell quickly. For more or to purchase tickets visit blackmountainarts.org, Eventbrite.com or call 669-0930.

Cupid draws his bow

Who: Zoe & Cloyd

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11

Where: Black Mountain Center for the Arts

Cost: $16