Zoe & Cloyd release third album with White Horse show

Internationally acclaimed musicians Zoe & Cloyd will celebrate the release of their third album, "I Am Your Neighbor," at the White Horse Black Mountain, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25.

The duo embodies the qualities of eclecticism and variety that are valued in today's music scene on their latest project, which was produced by Jon Weisberger and is now available from Organic Records.

Drawing on deep family and musical roots, the duo — Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller — have crafted a collection that moves effortlessly from authentic old-time sounds and pointed, heartfelt originals to startling, yet seamless blends of styles as diverse as bluegrass and klezmer.

With the help of thoughtful and spirited support from bassist Kevin Kehrberg and banjo player/guitarist Bennett Sullivan, the duo offers beautifully matched harmonies and strong, inventive musicianship in a compelling variety of material and arrangements.

With their latest single, "Only Game In Town," Zoe & Cloyd bring classic wry humor, harkening back to bluegrass tradition. The traditional lament of “Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still” is a frank exploration of relationship tensions, while the folk-flavored “Build Me Up” serves as an impassioned plea for the planet. 

“Zoe & Cloyd’s love for the musical legacies they’ve inherited comes through in their

impeccable mastery of them,” said Weisberger. “But they’re not afraid to bring them forward, either, and their sense of when and how to blend them in new and distinctive ways is one of their greatest musical strengths.”

With the release of their first three singles from the new collection — “Looking Out For You And Me,” “Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” and “Berditchever Sher” — Zoe & Cloyd served notice that eclecticism, fidelity to tradition, themes of social engagement and more can stand side by side in one body of work. Now, with the release of "I Am Your Neighbor," they reveal that, with the right talents, an even greater variety can be woven into one harmonious whole.

Hailing from opposite ends of the Appalachian mountains, the duo is comprised of Weinstein, a renowned fiddler and vocalist and award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Miller .

Their show is as diverse as their upbringing. 

Coming from a lineage of klezmer and jazz musicians, Weinstein trained classically in her home state of Massachusetts before moving south in 2004.

Miller, a 12th generation North Carolinian and grandson of pioneering bluegrass fiddler, Jim Shumate, is a first-place winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. He earned an Artist Fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council for songwriting .

As founding members of the acclaimed Americana trio, Red June, and long-time fixtures of the Asheville music scene, the couple shifted focus to Zoe & Cloyd in 2015. 

Their debut recording, "Equinox," as well as their 2017 album, "Eyes Brand New," were both met with high praise. The duo has continued to gain momentum with their brand of “New Appalachian Music” at performances and festivals all across the country.

Zoe & Cloyd delight audiences of all ages with soaring harmonies and heartfelt songwriting, seamlessly combining original folk, klezmer, old-time and bluegrass with sincerity and zeal.

At their Album Release show, Zoe & Cloyd will be joined by Kevin Kehrberg on bass and Bennett Sullivan on banjo and guitar.

Kehrberg is a master of the upright bass having performed jazz, bluegrass and old-time music all over the world from Indonesia to Kyrgyzstan, Japan and beyond. He is a much sought after session player and the chair of the music department at Warren Wilson College .

Sullivan is also highly regarded performer and educator, renowned for his skills on banjo and guitar and the originator of the online teaching platform, Tunefox .

A veteran of countless stages, Bennett has toured with many bluegrass greats and performed with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell in their Broadway musical production, Bright Star .

Tickets for the album release concert are $15 in advance, at whitehorseblackmountain.com, or $18 at the door door. Admission for children, ages 12 and under, is $7.