OLIVER WOOD

Always Smilin’

Oliver Wood is a mainstay of modern-day American roots music. The frontman of The Wood Brothers since 2004, he's spent the 21st century blurring the boundaries between folk, gospel, country-soul, and Americana, earning an international audience and a Grammy Award-nomination along the way. Now, with his debut solo album, Always Smilin', Oliver reimagines that tradition by presenting his sharp songwriting, savvy guitar chops, and one-of-a-kind voice in a new light. It results in an 11-song collection that evokes the swagger of a Saturday evening picking party one moment and the solemnity of a Sunday morning gospel service the next.
  As its title suggests, Always Smilin’ is first and foremost an album of celebration. Songs like “Roots,” “Fine Line” and "Molasses" focus on brighter topics, from finding one's center to embracing a simpler way of living. That diversity is reflected throughout: on gospel covers like "The Battle is Over (But the War Goes On)" and "Climbing High Mountains
(Tryin' To Get Home)"; on country-soul standouts like "Soul of This Town” and on the tongue-twisting, purely Oliver Wood-esque songwriting craft of “Kindness."
  An album of bridges, Always Smilin’ draws on a wide range of collaborations. Guests include bandmates from Oliver's musical past and present, from mentor and co-writer Chris Long (who performed alongside Oliver in legendary Atlanta roots-rock band, King Johnson) to percussionist Jano Rix (Oliver's partner in The Wood Brothers). Blues heroine Susan Tedeschi, Hiss Golden Messenger's Phil Cook, Medeski Martin & Wood's John Medeski, Tedeschi Trucks Band's Tyler Greenwell, Nashville staple Phil Madeira, and singer/songwriter Carsie Blanton also make appearances. For Oliver, the goal was simple: to collaborate freely with a mix of old friends and new partners, embracing a new level of independence.
  Embracing the full range of Oliver Wood's musical heritage, Always Smilin’ builds upon
the blues and gospel sounds he explored long before The Wood Brothers' formation to the American roots music he's been making during the past two decades. It's an album of collaborations and communal recordings, spearheaded by a longtime team player who, for the first time ever, is making the final decisions himself. There will be more Wood
Brothers music in the future, but this is an album about the present. An album about right now. And right now, Oliver Wood is smiling.

Dori Freeman

Ten Thousand Roses, the fourth studio album from singer-songwriter Dori Freeman, showcases an artist who has cemented an inimitable signature sound while simultaneously establishing her as capable of a wide variety of styles. Freeman is about as “bonafide” as an Appalachian artist can be:  she was raised among a family of musicians in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Yet here she shows how multifaceted she is as an artist and how eclectic she is as a person, defying and expanding notions of what it means to be someone from the region, a young woman in the music industry, and as an Americana artist.

Her soaring alto and singular style are on fine display throughout this collection of nine originals and one cover. She wrote the songs during the pandemic, when, like millions of others, she stayed home and spent more time outside. “I really observed and appreciated nature during that time,” she says. Natural elements such as storm-clouds, wildflowers, and spiders show up as motifs throughout the record, which examines everything from being deeply in love with someone to realizing that you don’t need another person to complete you.

Effective Monday, March 21, 2022, Harvester Performance Center will no longer require proof of vaccination or a negative test result to attend our shows. In addition, we will no longer require masks to be worn during performances. 

The Harvester may still implement COVID precautions such as masking and entry requirements on a per-show basis when requested by the artist. When special protocols apply, we will clearly indicate them on the show’s ticket page so that guests can be prepared when they arrive. 

In addition, if you feel ill, are running a fever or displaying other symptoms, or have been exposed to COVID-19, please refrain from attending Harvester events. This helps us keep other guests, staff, volunteers and performers safe and healthy. 

We are pleased to be able to update our precautions as the CDC revises its own guidelines. We will continue to monitor public health guidance and may adjust our protocols as conditions change. For the latest information, visit the FAQ page on our website and the ticket pages for the events you wish to attend.

If you have questions about our protocols or the requirements for a specific show, please contact our box office at 540-484-8277 or info@harvester-music.com. 

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you to the Harvester!