USA folk-roots duo Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno are heading to the UK for a short tour in late May/early June 2022, including appearances at two festivals: Bluegrass Omagh in Northern Ireland and Fire in the Mountain in Wales.
Based in North Carolina, Vivian and Riley combine wide-ranging influences from traditional folk and contemporary Americana to old time, bluegrass and Cajun. Leva’s compelling songs and evocative voice are complemented by Calcagno’s harmony vocals and exquisite musicianship, with the duo’s instrumental combinations including acoustic guitars, fiddle and clawhammer banjo. Their debut album was released in 2021, produced by acclaimed Grammy-winning Cajun musician Joel Savoy, and was warmly received across the folk scene (FRUK review here).
Although still only in their early 20s, the two musicians have impressive musical pedigrees. Vivian grew up in Virginia, going to fiddle festivals with her parents, who are both acclaimed folk musicians in their own right. At nine years old, she started writing songs and performing with her father, James Leva. Vivian’s debut solo album (which also featured multi-instrumentalist Calcagno) was released in 2018 while she was still a college student. That same year she was named in Rolling Stone as one of the top ten country artists to watch.
Riley Calcagno has also been immersed in traditional music from a very early age. Originally from Seattle, he spent time learning fiddle directly from old masters of the style and co-founded stringband The Onlies when he was just eight years old! Riley later graduated from Oberlin College & Conservatory and is an in-demand musical collaborator and sideman. He has performed with luminaries including Rhiannon Giddens, Kris Drever, Bruce Molsky, Rachel Baiman and Altan.
Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno – 2022 UK tour dates
Fri 27 May Bluegrass Omagh, Northern Ireland
Sat 28 May Bluegrass Omagh, Northern Ireland
Sun 29 May Bluegrass Omagh, Northern Ireland
Tues 31 May Sheffield – The Greystones (with Jake Blount)
Weds 1 June London – Green Note
Thurs 2 June Lewes – house concert
Sat 4 June West Wales – Fire in the Mountain festival
Sun 5 June West Wales – Fire in the Mountain festival
Tues 7 June St Davids – Tabernacle
More info and ticket links at vivandriley.com