Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small

Ashlee Watkins and Andrew Small come to Lotus from the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. Their acoustic instrumentation (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and exquisite vocal harmonies channel a golden era of Appalachian music that encompasses old-time, bluegrass, country, and folk. Award-winning songwriters, the duo mix originals, obscure gems, and Americana classics in their sets – from heart-breaking songs of lost love and hard times to foot-stomping breakdowns. “Ashlee and Andrew have got it – that primal but elegant approach to their instruments, and their remarkable vocal blend that only comes out of a deep and undeniable love for old-time country music” (Marshall Wilborn).